Rotor Torque

Australian Aerospace hired Moorabbin based Microflite’s EC135 VH-VJB – pictured above – for a short two day demonstration tour to Navy, Capability Development Group and DMO officials in Nowra and Canberra. The company expects to bid the machine, possibly in its military missionised EC635 form, for the Phase 7 project, the request for tenders for which is expected to be issued by early 2011.

Eurocopter continues to talk to possible partners for its EC135 bid, understood to include Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Thales, and has yet to decide whether it would seek to lead a Phase 7 bid as the prime contractor, as a co-prime, or as a subcontractor.

“Yes, we have identified [areas where we would like to team on Phase 7],” Australian Aerospace CEO Jens Goennemann told media in Canberra.

“It is very much dependent on the tender documents, and there are several options for us.

One option is to be in the lead, one option can be just to be the platform provider for the training system, or a combination of both. ”Two leased EC135s are already in Australian military service. Two civil registered EC135s operated by a contractor for Australian Aerospace are based in Darwin for glass cockpit transition training and currency training for Army ARH Tiger pilots. Australian Aerospace originally provided these machines to the Army as recompense for delays to the ARH program, but the Army is negotiating contract extensions to retain the aircraft.

The EC135/EC635 is in military service with six nations, most notably Germany which operates 14 for pilot training at Bückeburg.

Chc Wins Woodside Deal

CHC Helicopters has won a contract worth up to $500 million from Woodside Energy to support that company’s operations out of Karratha in WA.

The contract, currently operated by Bristow, will initially be for five years with options for an additional four years.

CHC will operate four EC225s and two AW139s on the contract, which will sustain 150 jobs.

Mrh90 Engine Fix Coming

Australian Aerospace CEO Jens Goennemann is confident that operating restrictions on the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft that powers the ADF’s MRH90 helicopters will soon be lifted.

“With the MRH engine issue, despite being more in the hands of RTM and they [in turn] being more in the hands of Turbomeca, because the issue is more in the workshare of Turbomeca, we are on good track,” Goennemann told media in Canberra in late November. “Last week we saw the visit [to Australia] of Turbomeca CEO Pierre Fabre and I’m confident with what he brought along – good news that we will get rid of the two hour cool down period and the five hour boroscopic inspection [requirement] very soon, which is of course negatively influencing the operation of the MRH in the field. ” “We … have to prove [the solution] to the authorities, but again I am very confident in what we can bring to the table. ” The restrictions were put in place as an interim solution following the three month grounding of the MRH after a catastrophic engine failure on an ADF MRH in April.

More Funds For Tamworth Rescue Helo

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has given an additional $500,000 grant to the Tamworth region helicopter rescue service during the opening ceremony of the service’s new headquarters at Tamworth Airport on November 26. of the $4 million the service has already received from the state government, will go towards a flight planning centre, enhanced engineering facilities and upgrades to the headquarters building for the service, which is responsible for fully one-third of New South Wales.

The service held an open day at its new facilities on December 11.

Nsw South Coast Rescue Helo Starts Service

A new rescue helicopter service dedicated to the south coast of NSW commenced operations on December 1 from Moruya Airport.

The service, operated by the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Service for the summer months, became possible after additional funding from Westpac. It will cover the coastal area between Shoalhaven Heads near Nowra to the Victorian border.

“Westpac has a long and proud tradition of working with the communities in which we operate,” Westpac regional general manager for the NSW South Coast, Troy Fedder, told local media. “For us, helping to bring the Westpac Life Saver

Ah-1z Cleared For Full Rate Production

The Bell AH-1Z ‘Zulu’ Cobra for the US Marines has been cleared for full rate production by Pentagon Acquisitions head, Ashton Carter.

“This is the culmination of a lot of focused hard work by a lot of dedicated professionals,” said Col Harry Hewson, the Marines’ program manager for light and attack helicopter programs. “We spent the past two years executing a very detailed risk reduction program that tested every part of the weapons and fire control system on the AH-1Z. It performed very well in operational test last spring and I am confident that it will do as well in combat as Rescue Helicopter to the South Coast is part of our commitment to champion the things that matter in the local neighbourhoods we are part of. ” “We are extremely grateful to Westpac for the extra funding to provide this invaluable service for the region,” added Westpac Life Saver general manager Stephen Leahy. “As the NSW South Coast continues to grow and tourism increases, we recognise the need to support lifesaving services on the beach with aerial surveillance and aerial rescue capabilities, especially in remote locations. ” The service will be operational for the next three summers, but it is hoped planning and fundraising will see it extended to a full time service in the longer termthe UH-1Y is doing right now in Afghanistan. ” The AH-1Z is a development of the AH-1W, and is one of two elements of the USMC’s H-1 upgrade program along with the UH-1Y, which is an enhancement of the UH-1N. Both aircraft have received new GE T700 engines, gearboxes and four blade main rotors, plus new sensors and avionics, and largely remanufactured airframes.

The AH-1Z was at one point a contender for the Australian Army’s Air 87 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program won by the Eurocopter Tiger, and is expected to embark on its first USMC deployment in 2011.

Denmark Requests Mh-60r

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale of 12 Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin MH-60R helicopters and associated parts, equipment and logistical support to Denmark, at a total estimated cost of $US2bn (A$2. 06bn).

Heliwest’s Png Win

Perth based Heliwest has won a contract with telecommunications operator Digicell to support the construction of mobile phone towers in Papua New Guinea. Heliwest says its partner company, Helifix, “will provide skills transfer, training of PNG helicopter pilots and join Digicel in opening up opportunities for local employment. ” “The installation of communication towers across a country such as Papua New Guinea is a massive project, given the largely inhospitable terrain where many of these structures will be located,” Heliwest CEO David Grimes said. “However, we believe our Bell 212 aircraft is ideal for this program, one that is so vital to Papua New Guinea’s nation building program. ” Heliwest has also won a contract from the WesternAustralian government to provide aerial application of mosquito larvicides around the state’s southwest. To this end, a company Bell JetRanger will be equipped with spraying apparatus for the work around the Peel, Leschenault, Capel and Busselton regions.

Finally, Heliwest has won a two year contract from the APA Group to conduct aerial gas pipeline surveys in the Perth area from early January.

First Production  S-76d In Assembly

Sikorsky has commenced final assembly of the first production S-76D helicopter at its Coatesville, Pennsylvania, facility.

The machine’s fuselage was delivered from Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic on November 19, and all of its electrical and cockpit systems successfully passed acceptance tests.

Sikorsky will add the S-76D’s P&WC PW210S engines, rotor blades and gearboxes during final assembly, and will conduct acceptance flight tests and fit customer completions.

“We are a ‘go’ for final assembly and completions,” said Tim Fox, Sikorsky’s S-76 senior program manager. “This is a major achievement toward delivery in 2012. ” The S-76D is a development of the S-76C++ and features allcomposite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; a Thales integrated avionics system and autopilot; dual rotor speed for quiet mode operation with active vibration control; the P&WC PW210S engines; and an optional rotor ice protection system (RIPS) for all-weather capability.

Briefs

• Sikorsky says it plans to introduce a new main gearbox onto production S-92s as it seeks to overcome foot-pad cracking and an FAA requirement for 10 hourly inspections.

• The US Army has awarded Bell a contract to upgrade up to 18 OH-58A Kiowas to the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed scout standard under a program dubbed ‘A2D’. The announcement, which comes just days after the Army said it would refurbish a large proportion of its OH-58D fleet to a new OH-58F standard, will see the OH-58As replace combat losses suffered by the OH-58D in Iraq and Afghanistan.

• The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible sale of 60 AH-64D Block III Apache attack helicopters to the UAE.