Rotor Torque

The proposals form components of a report by Ernst & Young, which has been commissioned by the NSW government to review emergency helicopter services in the state. Among other proposals are reducing the number of aeromedical regions from five to two; closure of the Wollongong base and relocating it to the new base at Parramatta; and increasing the hours of operation and staffing levels at Newcastle, Tamworth and Orange.

The draft report says the changes stand to deliver approximately $6. 7 million in annual savings, while noting the government will need to source an additional $7. 3 million a year by 2020 to sustain aeromedical services.

Already the NSW government has signalled it is intent on breaking lost-standing arrangements when in November it announced that long-serving Telstra Child Flight would be replaced by CareFlight for newborn and paediatric emergency transport services. In early January the government announced Canberra-based Snowy Hydro SouthCare could lose its existing contract with the state as NSW goes to market for an operator for an expanded region that covers the whole of the southern half of the state. Currently SouthCare operates about two-thirds of missions in the southern and Murrumbidgee districts of NSW.

Notwithstanding the disaffection caused to some unsuccessful operators thus far in the early stages of the reform package, industry insiders have told Australian Aviation there is merit in the state government’s actions.

“This is the most comprehensive and best review of the six that have been conducted by NSW Health since 1980,” one said, while acknowledging a number of questions still need to be answered.

One area of concern is ensuring adequate, comprehensive coverage in what have been described as “black holes” in remote regions of the state. “Based on overseas research, helicopters need to be stationed further out… Not concentrated in the major cities. It is better to have helicopters located – each with its own on-duty medical team – further out. ” To this end, it could be argued that the current consideration being given to closing down the Wollongong base south of Sydney and relocating it to the proposed primary base in Parramatta would be better served by moving it further south to Nowra, away from the Sydney base.

The overall impact by moving bases deeper into regional areas would be far better response times to a patient on the ground – being the primary consideration rather than simply getting a helicopter airborne at further distance from an incident.

Another consideration for the review will be the effective integration of fixed-wing and helicopter aeromedical services with ground-based operations. Of interest in particular will be the extent to which other emergency services such as the police and surf rescue services maintain pure rescue missions, which in the case of police is a statutory responsibility, and leave health services available to focus on transfers and the injured.

Formal submissions to the government were due to close in February after which the NSW government says it will release its response.

The NSW Health Department declined to respond to Australian Aviation’s requests for information.

Sikorsky/Euravia partner on Australian engine support

Euravia and Sikorsky Helitech Australia have signed a two-year agreement to provide Pratt & Whitney PT6T maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for Bell 412 and 212 aircraft in the region. The companies will jointly develop an MRO strategy for Australia and South-East Asia.

UK-based Euravia owns the largest PT6T inventory and offers logistic support services, while Brisbane-based Sikorsky Helitech is one of the largest after-market support providers in the region.

A number of questions still need to be answered. . .

Enstrom under new ownership

China’s Chongqing Helicopter Investment Co has acquired Enstrom Helicopters in a move expected to boost the company’s sales in the region. Enstrom president Jerry Mullins said: “This is a major step forward (and) will provide Enstrom with the needed resources to enhance marketing efforts in China and around the world. ” The manufacturer will expand its US facility to support higher production rates.

Record turnover for Eurocopter

Eurocopter posted record turnover of €6. 3 billion in 2012 – a 15 per cent increase over the previous year – returning the company to pre-GFC levels.

The company delivered 475 helicopters last year alongside milestones that included the delivery of its 500th EC145, its first AS350 B3e and EC130 T2 uprated versions of the Ecureuil, and its first passenger door set for the Airbus A350.

Eurocopter received orders for 469 aircraft with a value of approximately €5. 4 billion.

2013 will see Eurocopter sustaining the delivery of Super Puma, Ecureuil, NH90 and Tiger, while increasing production of the EC175.

Sea Kings sold for parting out

Five of the Navy’s retired Sea King helicopters, withdrawn from service in December 2011, have been sold to Aerospace Logistics (ASL), which plans to part them out to sustain operations of the type elsewhere in the world.

Announcing the sale, then Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare said the ASL bid offered the highest return to the Commonwealth.

Clare noted the Sea Kings had flown more than 60,000 hours while in service with the Navy and that they had come to the assistance of many Australians, including during the Queensland floods two years ago.

Meanwhile Sea King Shark 07 has been kept for display with the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra.

Embraer and AgustaWestland join up

Embraer and AgustaWestland have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint-venture company to produce AgustaWestland helicopters in Brazil.

The aircraft would be marketed to commercial and military operators. The two companies said preliminary studies show strong potential for twin-engine, medium-lift helicopters in the offshore oil and gas market.

AgustaWestland’s CEO Bruno Spagnolini said: “Brazil is an important market for AgustaWestland and we believe having an industrial presence in this country will help us to further grow our business in one of the world’s fastest growing markets. ”

Kaman unmanned helo attracts top honours

Kaman’s unmanned K-Max helicopter has received honours from Popular Science and Aviation Week magazines for its proven ability to resupply combat troops. The awards come as the US Marine Corps expands the helicopter’s role in Afghanistan. To date the unmanned K-Max has completed 840 resupply missions in theatre, in the process reducing the risk of death or injury to troops.

“The recognition we have received from our Marine Corps customer and other renowned organisations is a great achievement for our employees and our partner Lockheed Martin,” said Kaman’s president and chairman Neal Keating.