1996 Helicopter Operators Directory

  Bamaga in July last year, thus bringing the total number of Sea Kings to seven

Aerospatiale (Eurocopter) Sa 330 Puma and As 332 Super Puma (France)

A large helicopter by any standards, seating 16 passengers, the Puma was designed to meet a military requirement for a twin engine, medium lift helicopter. The prototype first flew in 1965. The two Pumas on the Australian register, operated by Bristow Helicopters, are equipped with twin 1575shp (1181kW) Turboméca Turmo IVC turboshaft engines. Although the AS 332 Super Puma has been in production since 1978 it wasn’t until 1991 that the first two appeared on the Australian register. The Super Puma, now marketed by the Eurocopter group (formed by the amalgamation of the Aerospatiale and MBB helicopter divisions), is equipped with two 1819shp (1364kW) Turboméca Makila 1A engines and can seat up to 24 passengers. Lloyd Helicopters operates three AS 332L1s to service oil rigs in the Timor Sea. These machines are equipped with 1877shp (1407kW) Turboméca Makila engines. The other two Super Pumas here are operated by Bristow Helicopters also for offshore oil rig support.

Number of Pumas registered at 1.8.96: 2 VH-WOD WOE

Number of Super Pumas registered at 1.8.96: 5 VH-BHT BHX LAF LAG LHG

Aerospatiale Sa 341 Gazelle (France)

The Gazelle was developed as a replacement for the Alouette II series of light, general purpose helicopters for the French military services and the prototype first flew in 1967. Since then it has sold very successfully on the world market both in its civil and military roles. Power for the 341G model is provided by a 590shp (442kW) Turboméca Astazou IVA turboshaft and the helicopter can seat five. Whereas the two previous Gazelles (WLS and PWS) operated in Australia were used by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, GKK, an ex US machine imported in 1990, is privately owned by Mr R Green of Sydney.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 1 VH-GKK

Aerospatiale (Eurocopter) As 350 Ecureuil (France)

Known in Australia as the Squirrel, this six seat general purpose helicopter first flew in 1974. The majority of Squirrels in Australia are 350B models equipped with the Turboméca Arriel 641shp (480kW) engine, however three – AWK, JRD and JWD – are 350D models powered by the Lycoming LTS 101. The 350B has been replaced by a new production model – the AS 350BA, which is fitted with wider chord main rotor blades and has increased torque which gives the machine a greater maximum gross payload. At present there are 11 BA models – CHO, CPA, DGV, HBB, HBK, HRR, HVT, PTH, SGK, TVG and ZZH on the register. Eurocopter is in the process of developing the 350B3 model which will be equipped with an 860shp (645kW) Turboméca Arriel engine and have a tail rotor based on the AS 355 Twin Squirrel. The RAN has operated its six Squirrels (serial numbers N22-013 to 018) since 1984 in utility, training and survey roles, while the Army’s 18 ex RAAF machines are based at the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School in Canberra.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 41 VH-AFO AQR AWK BLA CHO CPA DGV ELP HBA HBB HBK HQO HRB HRK HRR HRX HTV HTY HVK HVT JRD JVC JWD KVN NFO NLR PTH PVM RTV SES SGK SRB TQY TVG WCD WCG WCS XKW XMR YAS ZZH

Aerospatiale (Eurocopter) As 355f Twin Squirrel (France)

The Twin Squirrel first appeared in 1979 and is a development of the AS 350 Squirrel. It is basically the same helicopter but with minor airframe modifications to accommodate two engines – the F1 model fitted with twin 425shp (320kW) Allison 250 turboshafts while the newer F2 model comes with two Allison C20F engines. The Twin Squirrel is popular with the Australian media, with five working with various television stations around the country and one, UEE, with Sydney radio station 2UE. Now based with Hevi-Lift at Bankstown, this Bell 212 was operated by Esso/BHP in the Bass Strait until replaced by a Sikorsky S-76C YS 780 in 1994.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 7 VH-HPB HSG HSV HWA NTV SEV UEE

Aerospatiale (Eurocopter) Sa 365 Dauphin 2 (France)

First flying in 1975, the SA 365 Dauphin, with its distinctive Fenestron fan-in-fin tail rotor, was Aerospatiale’s first entry into the twin engine executive helicopter market and equipped with two 641shp (480kW) Turboméca Arriel turboshafts. All currently registered in Australia are “C” models, three – PVA, PVF and PVK – now owned by Lloyd Helicopters and operated by the Victorian Police Force, and the others – HCF, LSL and NRL are in the medevac/rescue fields. The Dauphin is exceptionally well suited to this role with its spacious cabin layout that can accommodate two stretcher patients plus the medical team and a high main rotor which gives a ground clearance of over three metres.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 6 VH-HCF LSL NRL PVA PVF PVK

Agusta A 109 (Italy)

The Agusta A 109 is a high performance twin engine helicopter designed specifically for the civil market. The prototype first flew in 1971 and the first of its type in Australia, MQB, was registered to Mimair of Queensland during 1983. The A 109A MkII is powered by two 420shp (315kW) Allison 250 turboshafts and can seat up to eight passengers. NEC is operated by Transgrid (the NSW Electricity Authority), and NWD, previously operated by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, has been sold to Cook’s Helicopters of Victoria. Both NEC and LUI (operated by Gro-Air of Victoria) are A 109C models, powered by two 450shp (338kW) Allison C20R1 engines.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 7 VH-BIS LUI MQB NEC NWD TFS TMA

Bell 47 (Usa)

The Bell 47 recently celebrated 50 years of service and is one of the most successful helicopters ever designed. More than 5000 were produced in a variety of versions to meet the requirements of civil and military operators. The type first appeared in December 1945 and was used extensively by the Australian Army between 1961 and 1977, after which they were replaced by the Bell 206 Kiowa. The oldest helicopter on the Australian register is Bell 47G-2 KHJ, construction number 478, which rolled off the production line in 1952. The basic model, the 47G, is a three seater with the distinctive bubble cockpit, while a later development, the 47J Ranger, is a four seater with enclosed cockpit and fuselage first flown in 1954 and powered by a 305hp (230kW) Lycoming engine. At present there are five 47Js in the country – JAV, NHR, THH, UTB and UTZ. The Bell 47 has been licence built by Agusta of Italy, Westland in Great Britain and Kawasaki in Japan. FLI, KIP, SHP, UTB and UTZ, all ex Italian Army machines, are the only Agusta built 47s registered in Australia. HMK and ULL are the only Westland built representatives on the VH register, while there are 37 Kawasaki built aircraft operating locally. The type is very popular for cattle mustering and pilot training.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 96 VH-AET AHU AHQ ANG ATU BFL BHR BII CSE CSI CSM CSW DEF DUS FAU FJP FLI FUW HBY HCW HGM HFZ HHB HMI HMK HSA JAH JAJ JAV JCN JGF JGO JHM JKO JKR JKV JKX JRF JWA JWB JWC JWJ JWQ JWZ JWI KEB KHJ KHM KHQ KHU KHY KIO KIP KIU KSJ KSM KSO KSU LDP LDQ LEF LEH LFK LFL LIN MGF MIK MTF MTN MTQ NHR NKE OAH OCT ORC ORM OUT PSH RFE RFY SHP SJI SJA SRQ SUC SXO THH TZW UHA UTB ULL UTQ UTY UTZ ZED ZYZ

Bell 204/205 Iroquois (Usa)

Designed as a medium lift transport helicopter for the US Army, the Model 204 prototype first flew in October 1956, with deliveries beginning in 1961. A total of 56 204/205s were delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force between 1962 and 1970, and seven to the RAN between March 1964 and February 1965. In 1989 the Army assumed responsibility for the RAAF’s Iroquois and 25 are based in Townsville with the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment where they are currently used for utility and training work. At present there is one Iroquois on the civil register – NVV, a UH-1B operated by the Royal Australian Navy Historic Flight based at Nowra, NSW. The UH-1B is powered by a 960shp (720kW) Lycoming T53 turboshaft.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 1 VH-NVV

Bell 206 JetRanger & 206L LongRanger (Usa)

The prototype of the JetRanger first flew in January 1966 and deliveries began at the end of that year. The 206B is powered by a single 420shp (315kW) Allison 250 turboshaft engine and can accommodate up to five people. The military version, the Kiowa, was built locally under licence by the then Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation for the Australian Army and the RAN. Forty-four are presently operated by the Army and three by the RAN. Agusta has also built many under licence, four of which are registered in Australia – JOY, LEC, MLI and UOA. The NSW Police Department operates three – PHW, PHY and PHX. Ten, operated by Heli-Aust of Bankstown, have been modified so as to carry water buckets and can therefore be utilised as fire bombers. A stretched seven seat version of the 206B, known as the 206L LongRanger, first flew in 1974 and is powered by a 420shp (315kW) Allison 250 turboshaft giving more power and a greater range.

Number of JetRangers registered at 1.8.96: 108 VH-AAL AFV AGL AHL AJI AJU AND ANL AZH BEK BHS BHU BHY BIN BJG BLJ BLN BLO BLP BLR BPB BTV CBI COW DIB DIK EDD EPQ FHA FHF FHV FHW FHX FHY FHZ FJC FJE FUB FVF HHH HJJ HKB HPO HRE HST HTB HWS HZO JAK JBQ JGE JOY JRE JMN JRO JSM JVW JWE JWF JWK JWM JWN KHK KHR KKY KSD LAL LEC MIS MLI MXW NDE NIM NVH OKB ONS OOP PGI PHA PHY PHW PHX PHZ PLI PMO PMR RHL RLV RMJ SAI SMI SRN SWH SWI TFH TMR TVJ UBH UOA UOD UOR UPT UTS WCF WCK WCQ WOK YAW

Number of LongRangers registered at 1.8.96: 22 VH-BHF BHO BJX BKU BLL BLV CKP HHS HJL HJQ HJX HRM HTA IRE JOW LHP RHC RHQ SBC SHH SWL UTL

Bell 212 (Usa)

Basically a twin engined development of the Iroquois, the Bell 212 was first certificated in 1970. The Pratt & Whitney 1800shp (1350kW) PT6T-3B engines were designed especially for this model and drive the two bladed rotor through a common gearbox. CASA requires twin engine capability for all over water operations and therefore the 212 is used extensively in oil rig support by the Bristow and Lloyd companies.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 4 VH-EMJ HHW LAM NSA

Bell 214ST (Usa)

The 214ST was initially developed as a military transport helicopter for production and service in Iran, with the prototype first flying in 1977. Originally the initials ‘ST’ were to describe the 212 as a ‘Stretched Twin’, but the Bell company since changed this to ‘Super Transport’. The 214ST is equipped with two 1625shp (1218kW) General Electric CT7-2A turboshafts connected to a combining gearbox and can carry up to 18 passengers. At present there is only one of this type on the register and it is operated by Lloyd Helicopters.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 1 VH-LHT

Bell 222 (Usa)

The prototype of the 222 first flew in 1976 and was the first twin engined light commercial helicopter to be built in the USA. All three presently operated in Australia are the utility version (222U) powered by two 684shp (513kW) Avco Lycoming LTS 101-750C-1 turboshafts. UHJ and ZHJ are operated by Helijet of Queensland and both are equipped with floats and are used for Barrier Reef tourist operations. TSP, operated by Reef Helicopters, operates from Mackay and is used for marine pilot transfers.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 3 VH-TSP UHJ ZHJ

Bell 412 (Usa)

The Bell 412 stems from the long line of developments which commenced with the Iroquois, and is basically a Model 212 fitted with a four blade rotor. The 412 is powered by an 1800shp (1350kW) Pratt & Whitney PT6T Twin Pac turboshaft and can carry up to 15 passengers. Early imports were used for oil rig work, but the type is also used extensively for rescue and medevac operations, such as CFT, HRS, NSB and XCF. HRS is a Special Performance (SP) model with larger fuel capacity and therefore longer endurance than the basic 412. The Queensland Bureau of Emergency Services operates three – ESB, ESD and ESG. ESB is an EP (Extra Performance) model equipped with a 1800shp (1350kW) Pratt & Whitney PT6-3D Twin Pac and was reconfigured for its SAR/EMS role by Helitech of Brisbane.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 11 VH-BZH CFT ESB ESD ESG HRS NSC NSP NSV UAH XCF

Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinook (Usa)

The Chinook is the largest helicopter in Australia, with the first of type flying in 1961, and in operation with the Australian military since 1974, but because of the high operating costs there are none on the civil register. Last year saw the return of four ex 12 Squadron RAAF Chinooks from the USA where Boeing upgraded them from C to D models. The D model is powered by two 4431shp (3304kW) Avco Lycoming T55 turboshafts. The upgrade also included new, strengthened transmission, new avionics and composite rotor blades. Back in the Directory after a notable absence is the venerable Chinook. Defence traded 11 C model Chinooks for four of the upgraded and vastly more capable CH-47D.

Brantley B-2 (Usa)

The Brantley Helicopter Corporation was formed during World War 2, and the B-2 prototype first flew in 1953, but the first production model wasn’t delivered until 1959. Production only lasted another four years, with a total of 197 built. The first Brantley in Australia was DUO, registered in 1961 and withdrawn from service in 1976, and it wasn’t until 1992 that one, LSV, once again appeared on the register. Looking somewhat similar to the Bell 47 Ranger, the Brantley is equipped with a 180hp (135kW) Lycoming fuel injected engine and seats two.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 2 VH-LSV LSX

Cicare CH-7 Angel (Italy)

The CH-7 Angel prototype first flew in 1989 and is a single seat helicopter powered by a Rotax 582cc engine. The Angel will cruise at 90kt (167km/h) for two and a half hours on 40 litres of unleaded petrol. The ergonomic cabin and cockpit were designed by Marcello Gandini, who also has the design of the Lamborghini car to his credit. The kit, marketed by Pacific Flight Systems of Sydney, sells for about $60,000, with the tail and main rotor gearboxes pre-assembled and takes around 150 hours to construct.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 1 VH-NGL

Enstrom F28 and F280 (Usa)

The Enstrom Company was formed in 1959 to develop and produce a small helicopter for commercial and private use. The first F28 flew in 1963 with production of that model ceasing in 1978, replaced by turbocharged versions, the 28C and 280C. Current production models are the F28F Falcon and 280F Shark, which are equipped with 225hp (170kW) Avco Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD engines.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 9 VH-AYN BJY ENM FSP IJX IPE IYR JAX SHX

Hiller UH-12 (Usa)

The Hiller UH-12 series first appeared in the late 1940s and was a competitor to the Bell 47. Two basic models were produced – the UH-12E which is a three seater and the UH-12E4 which has a larger cabin and seats four. In 1970 a subsidiary of Fairchild Industries purchased production rights to the 12E which can be fitted with either a petrol driven 323hp (242kW) Lycoming engine or an Allison 250 turbine. Some of the 16 currently registered are equipped with spray booms and are used for aerial agricultural duties.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 16 VH-AGK BJJ ECK FBE FBV FOR HIL HJW HMT KAU LMA LUN MJV MKZ THA UHB

Hughes 269/300 & Schweizer 300 (Usa)

Originally designed as a training helicopter for the US Army, the Hughes 269/300 has been in production since 1961 and is powered by a 180hp (135kW) Lycoming engine. This helicopter has been very popular with operators who require a light and reliable helicopter and it has sold well in Australia over the years primarily for the roles of cattle mustering, agricultural work and pilot training. The 300C, produced by the Schweizer Company since July 1983, is powered by a 190hp (142kW) Lycoming HIO-360 engine and at present there are six on the register – CAG, CRY, LBQ, LSQ, LLZ and WZH. Schweizer has recently introduced the 300CB – B for ‘basic’, as a cheaper alternative to the 300C, and is powered by a 180hp (135kW) Lycoming HO-360 engine – AMH, CBZ and OCC are the sole representatives of the CB model in Australia.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 47 VH-ACD ADL AMH APD AUQ BBS CAG CBZ CHV CMR CRY DGD HAK HEA HFC HJD HOB HFU IHV IHW JMY KKC KKJ KZR LBQ LLZ LSQ MAY MQI MZR NHM NLK NWQ OBK OCC PHU SWQ TES THG THM THN UFX UOS UTT WAA WPP WZH XXM

Hughes 500 & Mcdonnell Douglas 500 (Usa)

Designed to meet a US Army requirement for a light observation helicopter, the prototype first flew in 1963. The Hughes 500 is a high performance single engine machine powered by an Allison 250 turboshaft, built in three versions, the basic model seating seven, the five seat executive and a utility model. As with the Bell company, Hughes allowed Kawasaki of Japan to build some of its machines under licence, five of which appear on the register – BSQ, FHL, KFZ, SYG and WLM. In 1984 McDonnell Douglas took over production and development of the 500D series resulting in the MD500E. The 500E is a longer, sleeker version of the D and both models have five bladed rotors and T-tails. There are two MD500Es on the Australian register – JHE and ONE, both are powered by an Allison 250-C20B engine.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 22 VH-AKV BAD BSQ FHL GEO HUE JHE KFZ LLC MHE NDC NLJ ONE PHL PLD PLJ PLL RMS SHD SYG WLM XAX

Mcdonnell Douglas MD520N NOTAR (Usa)

Possibly the first NOTAR (NO Tail Rotor) helicopter was the 1946 experimental Cierva W.9, powered by a Gypsy Queen engine. The engine exhaust was directed through a jet tailpipe facing to one side of the rear fuselage and used instead of the anti torque rotor. Douglas Helicopters began developing the first viable NOTAR system – the MD520N. The production prototype first flew in 1989 and deliveries commenced in 1991, with the first to be registered in Australia in April 1994. The fuselage and five blade rotor are similar to the MD500E, and the 520N is powered by a 425shp (320kW) Allison C20-R engine.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 1 VH-NTR

MBB (Eurocopter)/Kawasaki BK 117 (Germany/Japan)

The BK 117 resulted from joint development and production by the German Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm and Japanese Kawasaki companies, with the prototype first flying in June 1979 and production commencing in 1981. The BK 117 is particularly suited to the EMS role with large clamshell rear doors which allow easy access, and with the main and tail rotors high off the ground there is less risk to crew and medics. The type can accommodate two stretchers plus doctor and medical equipment, or up to 10 passengers. The B-1 model is powered by two Avco Lycoming LTS 550shp (410kW) engines. In 1987 the NSW Police Force pioneered the use of this type in Australia with PHF, but unfortunately the aircraft crashed into Sydney Harbour during January 1988. In 1991 ChildFlight purchased BKZ, and it has been used extensively in a EMS/medevac role since then. Other operators include the West Australian Police Force (WAH) and the NSW Surf Life Saving Association (SLA), with three – BKK, BKS and BKL being up for sale.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 6 VH-BKK BKL BKS BKZ SLA WAH

Robinson R22 (Usa)

The lightest and cheapest mass produced helicopter, the prototype R22 first flew in 1975, but it wasn’t until 1981 that an example was imported into Australia. Worldwide over two thousand machines have been sold, and Robinson presently accounts for over 60% of the helicopters built in the USA. The Robinson holds every world record for its weight and class, and in 1994 Dr Bill Richards conducted the first solo helicopter circumnavigation of Australia in LPU, a Beta model. The current production model is the R22 Beta II which has replaced the standard Beta, which features a 150hp (112kW) Avco Lycoming engine and was in production since 1985. The Beta II is powered by a 160hp (120kW) Lycoming engine. At the time of writing there were five Beta IIs on the register – HII, HLH, HOF, HOH and NGU. The Mariner is the amphibious version of the Beta with three registered in Australia – HXW, YOU and YYP. The two seat R22 is used extensively for pilot training and cattle mustering.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 232 VH-ACN ACY ADF AHJ AHS AHV ATW ALC AOP AOX AQZ ARP AVL ATZ BAG BCR BFA BFG BFH BGS BHJ BHK CDO DAS DBQ ECP EWY FDL FFB FHD FHE FHI FHK FOT HAP HAS HAU HBC HBE HBG HBF HBH HBL HBQ HBR HBT HBU HBV HBW HBZ HCL HCO HCX HEF HEG HEM HEU HEV HEW HFO HFP HHF HIG HII HIJ HIP HIW HLA HLC HLH HLJ HLK HLY HMJ HMR HOF HOH HPR HPV HRO HRU HRW HRY HSC HSI HSZ HTE HTF HVB HXD HXL HXM HXW HYZ HZB IBE IXM IXN IXR JDB JFG JHC JIU JKG JKH JKI JKJ JKK JKL JKM JKN JKQ JKS JNK JNL JNM JNN JNO JNP JNQ JNT JOT JQZ JTG JTH JUI JUQ JVB JVI JVJ IXU JXT JZD JZG JZH JZO JZP JZQ JZR JZS JZT JWG JWT JWL JWV KFV KHB KHI KEE KIS KMS KSI KSY LCH LCR LFG LFN LKK LKS LLE LLF LLK LLI LLN LLQ LNF LOA LOH LON LOP LOS LOT LOX LPU LQM LQN LQU LTX LTY LTZ LUM LUO LVR NDT NGU NLL NLT NOC NOT NRJ NST OBR POR PYG RBO RPN SBQ SRP TGS THI THP UXA UXB UXN UXD UXF UXH UXJ UXM UXN UXQ UXR UXT UXU UXV UXW WHQ WHX WKF XHX XIA XIX XKS XOX XZT YCY YOU YRY YUS YYM YYP ZRT

Robinson R44 (Usa)

The R44 ‘Astro’ incorporates some of the R22 features and concepts and received FAA certification in 1992. It is presently the world’s best selling light helicopter, outperforming its little sister the R22. The first R44 in Australia, ARG, was imported in 1994. Engine, dual controls, seats four and is almost half the cost of the five seat Enstrom.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 17 VH-ACW AEG AHT AIC APM ARG AVV AVW BIQ ERI FCK HIH LOK OBG RJN YGX YKL

Rotorway Exec 90 (Usa)

The Exec 90 is Australia’s first kit built helicopter officially sanctioned by CASA, however its ancestry goes back to 1958 to the American designed single seat Javelin that was available in kit form or ready to fly. The Exec 90 is a two seat helicopter with a steel tubing fuselage covered by a glassfibre skin and is powered by a 150hp (110kW) Rotorway R1 engine. The kit, marketed by an Australian/American consortium which includes Radial Engines of Archerfield, Aerostar Aviation of Caloundra and Rotorway International of America, takes about 500 hours to assemble. More complicated sections such as the rotor head are pre-assembled. The Rotorway is now being offered with Full Lotus floats, selling for $US3745 a pair. ROT was the first Exec 90 to be completed in Australia, appearing on the register in 1992, and it was with this machine that Aerostar Aviation and Radial Engines have based much of the standard for the operation of amateur built helicopters in this country.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 9 VH-AKI AVU BMR COC KOC RAH ROT TKO YCP

Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk & Seahawk (Usa)

Designed to replace the US Army’s Iroquois, the S-70A Black Hawk first flew in 1974 and is equipped with two General Electric T700 turboshafts. The Black Hawk is an all weather, day and night operational helicopter with a large cabin that can carry all elements of a 10 man infantry squad and it can also be used without modification for medical evacuations and troop supply. The Black Hawk first entered Australian Military service in 1988. The original complement of 39 has been reduced to 36, with a crash in June 1992 (serial number A25-217) near Oakey, Qld and the recent mid-air collision between two (serial numbers A25-209 and A25-113) near Townsville in June of this year. The S-70B Seahawk is superficially similar to the Black Hawk but with changes to provide shipboard compatibility. Eight of the 16 in service with the RAN were locally assembled by Aerospace Technologies of Australia, the others being built in the USA. A single Seahawk operates from each of the Navy’s six FFG class guided missile frigates, six are based at Nowra for training and maintenance and the remaining four are held in operational reserve. The primary role of the Seahawk is anti submarine warfare (ASW) operations, but it is also capable of anti ship surveillance and targeting (ASST), vertical replenishment (vertrep) – the carrying of supplies to ships, search and rescue, medevac and personnel transport. Sikorsky is in the process of developing the 19 passenger S-90 Helibug based on the Black Hawk with the view to replacing the Sikorsky 61 in the commuter, oil rig support and SAR fields.

Sikorsky S-76 (Usa)

The S-76 was designed to satisfy three markets – offshore oil rig support, executive transport and general utility operations, and it can carry up to 12 passengers and two crew. The A model is powered by two 650shp (487kW) Allison 250-C30 turboshafts, while the S-76A+ models are equipped with twin 700shp (525kW) Turboméca Arriel 1S engines. Lloyd Helicopters operate 12 S-76s, four of these are contracted to provide SAR services to the RAAF and operate from the RAAF bases at Pearce (WA), East Sale (Vic), Tindal (NT) and Williamtown (NSW), and a fifth is available to travel with the RAAF on exercises. Esso Australia operates seven 76C models – EXK, EXN, EXQ, EXU, EXW, EXX and EXZ and two A models – ECR and EMN. The 76C has a heavier frame than the A model, is equipped with state of the art Integrated Instrument Display Systems (IIDS) and is powered by two 725shp (545kW) Turboméca Arriel 1S1 engines.

Number registered at 1.8.96: 36 VH-BJR BJS BHI BHQ BHM BJR BJS CFH CPH CPQ ECR EML EMN EXK EXN EXQ EXU EXW EXX EXZ HRP HRT HUB HUG HUD JXL LAH LAI LAQ LAX LAY LHY LHZ XHA XHB XUX

Westland Sea King (Uk)

A large aircraft, being basically designed around the Sikorsky SH-3, Westland’s Sea King first flew in 1969. The Mk 50, utilising two 1500shp (1125kW) Rolls Royce Gnome H1400 turboshafts, was specifically developed for the Royal Australian Navy, and has been in service since 1975 being based at HMAS Albatross, Nowra. At present only six of the original 12 remain operational as utility transports, however the Navy is in the process of importing an ex Royal Navy Sea King to replace the one that crashed in far north Queensland in July last year, bringing the total to seven. Westland and British Aerospace Australia are upgrading the Sea Kings under the Life of Type Extension (LOTE) program, which includes an avionics update and airframe modification. At the time of writing four had completed their LOTE, and it is expected that the program will extend the craft’s life until about 2008.