Rotor Torque

A statewide approach to helicopter procurement means “operators will be encouraged to propose innovative ways of organising and delivering services that provide better value for money for the taxpayer”, with contracts structured around the ‘super regions’. Under the guidelines, operators can propose a joint venture or a consortium involving not-for-profit and/or commercial operators to encourage collaboration, sharing and innovation.

Independent aviation consultants and aeromedical retrieval experts have been engaged to assist with the development of the tender specifications.

“Specifications are directed towards ensuring faster patient care, reducedretrieval times, and bases operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a team of doctor and paramedic, or doctor and nurse available for every flight,” NSW Health advised.

The Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) said 16 current service areas are affected: Far North Coast, Mid North Coast, New England, Central Coast, Hunter, Cumberland/Prospect, Nepean, Northern Sydney, Inner West, South East Sydney, South West Sydney, Central West, Orana/Far West, Riverina/Murray, Illawarra and Southern Highlands.

MQ-8C Fire Scout files

The latest variant of Northrop Grumman’s Fire Scout unmanned helicopter, the MQ-8C, has made its first flight, with a short seven-minute hop from Point Mugu in California, on October 31. The MQ-8C takes the mission systems and sensors developed for the MQ-8B Fire Scout and fits it to a larger airframe based on Bell’s 407 helicopter, which with additional fuel tanks and uprated engine will give the Fire Scout a 12-hour endurance, or the ability to lift a 1,180kg payload.

The MQ-8C’s first flight, operated by a ground-based Navy/Northrop Grumman flight test team, took off at 12. 05pm local time and was used to validate its autonomous control systems. It was followed by a second, nine-minute flight at 2. 39pm.

“First flight is a critical step in maturing the MQ-8C Fire Scout endurance upgrade before using the system operationally next year,” said Capt Patrick Smith, Naval Air Systems Command’s Fire Scout program manager. “The systems we’ve developed to allow Fire Scout to operate from an air-capable ship have already amassed more than 10,000 flight hours with the MQ-8B variant. This system’s evolution enhances how unmanned air systems will support maritime commanders. ” The smaller MQ-8B Fire Scout is based on the Schweizer 330 airframe,while the larger MQ-8C was preceded by the Fire-X concept demonstration program, which saw the first of two unmanned Bell 407-based development aircraft fly in December 2010.

The RAN is understood to have shown some informal interest in Fire Scout for operations off its forthcoming Air Warfare Destroyers and LHD amphibious ships.

Bond takes off in Australia

Bond Helicopters launched operations in Australia in mid-October to provide offshore services to the energy industry.

The company’s launch is based around its first major contract – a multi-million dollar, five-year agreement with the PTTEP Australasia Group of Companies, part of Thailand’s national petroleum exploration and production company. Bond will initially support PTTEP’s Timor Sea operations with three 19-seat Eurocopter AS332L helicopters, until three new EC225 helicopters are delivered in early 2014.

The aircraft will fly from Mungalalu-Truscott airbase inWestern Australia.

“I am thrilled to be launching Bond in Australia, and I look forward to continuing to build our offshore business in such an exciting market,” John Boag, managing director, Bond Helicopters Australia, said.

Bond is part of the Avincis Group, a provider of mission-critical aerial services. As well as owning Australian Helicopters, Avincis has a strong presence in the North and Mediterranean seas, where it has experience serving oil and gas companies, particularly through its Aberdeen-based subsidiary Bond Offshore Helicopters.

RACQ CareFlight makes tracks

RACQ CareFlight Rescue has received funding assistance from Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Safety of Life at Sea Trust for two flight tracking systems. The $34,000 contribution covers two-thirds of the project’s total cost, which will see flight tracking systems installed on the Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg-based helicopters by January 2014.

The additional equipment meansthe service’s two helicopters can be tracked using GPS technology, improving safety for the crew and enhanced coordination during a search. Emergency services can monitor the area being searched by the CareFlight helicopter and direct other air, ground or sea assets into different zones.

Last year RACQ CareFlight Rescue helicopters conducted more than 140 search and rescue missions.

Initial ATSB report recommends size, weight calculations for winching

An initial report by the ATSB into the incident on August 31 in which a person being rescued by helicopter winch slipped from a harness and died, has recommended helicopter emergency operators carrying out winching operations consider the size, weight and medical condition of the patient to help indicate whether other recovery options offerreduced risk.

Describing the events involving Air Ambulance Victoria Bell 412EP VH-VAS that lead to the tragic fall, the ATSB said initially the winching procedure during the event appeared to proceed normally. When the paramedic and patient were approximately 30-40ft above the ground, the paramedic came in contact with branches and had to use both hands to fend off as he came through the tree canopy. At about 15ft below the aircraft the aircrewman reported the patient appeared to be moving at which time he stopped the winch for a control check. But shortly after resuming the winch he noticed the patient’s arms were not in the usual position in the strop, but continued winching in order to retrieve the patient. Despite the patient reaching cabin height and the crew’s efforts to arrest the fall, the patient slipped out of the strop and fell to the ground, sustaining fatal injuries.

Following the winching accident all winching operations were suspended involving Air Ambulance Victoria emergency medical service (EMS) helicopters. The suspension remained in place until the results of an interim investigation by the helicopter operator confirmed that an equipment fault did not contribute to the accident. In addition, Air Ambulance Victoria has, in conjunction with its EMS contractors, begun a separate investigation that will examine the availability of suitable alternatives to the current rescue/retrieval strop.

An interim report by Air Ambulance Victoria reinforced the need to critically assess a patient’s physical and medical state and any associated risks before committing to using the rescue/retrieval strop.

The focus of the ongoing ATSB investigation will be on further examination of the rescue/retrieval strop design and its potential limitations with respect to the weight and physical dimensions of a patient.