Rotor Torque

During the ceremony PolAir 7, a turboprop Cessna Grand Caravan EX 208B was also commissioned into the PASB’s fixed-wing fleet.

Ordered in November 2013through Australian Bell distributor Hawker Pacific, the 412EPi will be used for the transport of cargo, specialist equipment and personnel to support search and rescues, major crime investigations and counter terrorism operations.

PolAir 5 is fitted with a rescue hoist, SX-16 Nitesun, digital radios and features Bell’s BasiX Pro avionics system featuring four 10. 4in LCD touch screens. It will soon have installed a high definition video camera system, with a forward looking infrared capability and a microwave down-linking system.

PolAir 5 joins the PASB’s otherwise all-Airbus Helicopter rotary-wing fleet, which comprises of two AS350 B2 Squirrels, an AS355 N Squirrel and an EC135 P2+.

Contract signed for HATS EC135s

Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) signed a contract on November 17 with Airbus Helicopters for 15 EC135 T2+ helicopters for the ADF’s Helicopter Aircrew Training System.

Announced on October 31, a teaming between BDA and Thales Australia was selected as the winning tenderer for AIR 9000 Phase 7 to provide the Navy and Army with helicopter pilot and aircrew training.

To be equipped with a rescue hoist, weather radar, wire strike protection kit and pop-out floats, the EC135s will wear a gloss black and yellow paint scheme similar to thepaint scheme of the UK’s Defence Helicopter Flying School and the N52- serial prefix, The first EC135 is expected to arrive at HMAS Albatross, on the NSW south coast, in 2016.

RACQ CareFlight receives $300 million in government funding

The Queensland government will contribute $300 million to RACQ CareFlight Queensland over the next decade to assist with the operations of the state-based helicopter rescue service and to upgrade its helicopter fleet and network of bases.

“The Newman government has provided CareFlight with certainty over the next decade, enabling the service to continue to meet community expectations and needs and to commence a fleet renewal strategy that will see ageing aircraft replaced,” RACQ CareFlight Queensland chairman Rob Borbidge said.

The replacement of RACQ CareFlight’s 11 helicopters will commence immediately with the first two new helicopters, likely to be AW139s, due to arrive in early 2015.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman made the 10-year funding commitment in Brisbane on December 14.

CareFlight announced in late October 2014 the group would launch Australia’s first AW139 helicopter training centre to serve CareFlight and other AW139 operators.

A Thales Reality H Level D AW139 full flight simulator is currently under construction at its aeromedical training academy based at Brisbane Airport and will be operational in 2016.

Tiapan, Seahawk make first LHD landings

Navy embarked its first helicopters aboard its new Helicopter Landing Dock (LHD) HMAS Canberra on November 26 while alongside Fleet Base East, in Sydney Harbour.

A MRH 90 Taipan from 808 Squadron, fitted with external fuel tanks, along with a S-70B-2 Seahawk from 816 Squadron, both from HMAS Albatross, Nowra landed aboard what was then NUSHIP Canberra in the build-up to the ship’s commissioning to begin deck handling trials.

The first phase of the First of Class flight trials have begun to provide HMAS Canberra with the operational clearances to launch, recover and secure helicopters by day and night.

The next phase will see members of the Air Department work in conjunction with the Aviation Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit for the certification of deck handling procedures to handle a variety of aircraft types to and from the Canberra’s flightdeck.

Queensland emergency helicopter operations are cruising

Queensland’s Government Air Operations Centre (GAOC) based at Kedron in Brisbane is now connected to the state’s five government air bases by the installation and use of a new surface computing platform.

Developed by Sydney-based Cruiser Interactive, the new suite will be used to improve response times and the quality of information provided to helicopter crews involved in major disaster operations.

Using touch and gesture-based hardware, emergency commanders will be able to move information from personal devices to surrounding walls, tables and whiteboards, allowing detailed tasking information to be provided to helicopter crews more efficiently while improving the monitoring of crews.

“We are picking up the lessons that have been learnt from disasters over the last three years where we have experienced command and coordination challenges in tasking helicopters, particular during disaster situations,” said Queensland government air executive director Craig Phasey. “This allows us to electronicallyrecord information and provides better and more tailored information from what the aircraft have been tasked to do, and from a risk management perspective it allows additional support to the operating crew. ” Unveiled by the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Jack Dempsey on November 20, the networking platform has been funded through mining giant Rio Tinto’s $10 million, 10-year sponsorship of the Queensland Government Air Rescue Helicopter Service.

RNZN takes delivery of first ex-RAN Seasprites

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) accepted its first SH‑2G(I) Super Seasprite from Kaman Aerospace on December 1 at it’s Bloomfield, Connecticut facility.

“We are pleased to have achieved this significant program milestone, which in addition to the acceptance of the first aircraft signifies acceptance of the aircraft design,” said Greg Steiner, President Kaman Aerospace Group. “This accomplishment was the result of significant effort and cooperation between Kaman, the MoD, and the NZDF. ” The New Zealand Ministry of Defence signed a NZ$242 million contract in May 2013 for 10 SH‑2G(I) Super Seasprites, spare parts, a full mission flight simulator and related logistics support.

The RNZN will use eight of the Super Seasprites to replace its current five SH-2G(NZ) Seasprites, with the remaining pair to be used for spare parts.

The first three Super Seasprites are scheduled to arrive in Auckland in early 2015 with the remaining seven helicopters and equipment expected by the end of the year.

To be in service by late 2016, the Super Seasprites, which are expected to serve with the RNZN until 2030, will carry the Penguin anti-ship missile for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, over-the-horizon targeting, surveillance, troop transport, vertical replenishment, search and rescue and utility missions.

The aircraft were originally built for the Royal Australian Navy and have been in storage with Kaman since being returned by the ADF in 2009.

Airbus Helicopters delivers first EC175

Airbus Helicopters has delivered its first production EC175 medium-twin to Belgium’s Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) during a ceremony at Marignane, France on December 11.

The delivery to NHV, who will use the helicopter for crew and load transfers to and from offshore oil and gas platforms, comes 10 months after the EC175 received its EASA certification and five years after the type made its first flight.

R66 Turbine Marine FAA certified

Robinson Helicopters received FAA certification on November 16 for its new R66 Turbine Marine fitted with a pop-out float system increasing safety for over-water operations.

The R66 Turbine Marine uses the same float tubes as the R44 Clipper and adds approximately 29kg to the helicopter’s empty weight. To be used primarily for emergencies, the FAA has also approved the R66 Turbine Marine for water takeoffs at reduced operating weights allowing for water operations training or limited amphibious use if desired.

A lever on the pilot’s collective activates the floats. A pressurised helium tank mounted beneath the right rear passenger seat will rapidly inflate the float tubes within three seconds. With the helium from the onboard cylinder, the floats would remain inflated for a maximum of 24 hours.

Robinson lists the base price for the R66 Turbine Marine as US$875,000.

Australian Helicopters takes Movember to new heights

It was ‘mous’ all round during November at Australian Helicopters with some of their helicopter fleet, and aircrew, emblazoned with enormous handlebar moustaches to raise money for ‘Movember’.

For the past six years, Australian Helicopters rescue crews have waged a fierce ‘Chopper Challenge’ during Movember and have raised nearly $50,000 for men’s health issues in the process.

“I’m happy that each year our staff and crew get involved in Movember and that we can creatively promote the cause and charity by adding moustaches to our helicopters,” said Australian Helicopters Managing Director John Boag. “The men’s health issues addressed by Movember are very important ones, and it’s good to see the rise to prominence of this initiative has helped to highlight these issues. ” More than $5,000 was raised this year between competing crews. A helicopter tail blade adorned with custom Movember artwork by Steve McKay helped raise an additional $610 on eBay.

EC645 T2 makes first flight

The Airbus Helicopters EC645 T2 completed its first flight on November 27 from the company’s Donauwörth, Germany facility.

Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E FADEC engines, the EC645 T2, a militarised version of the EC145, is fitted with the Helionix digital avionics suite including a four-axis autopilot developed by Airbus Helicopters.

With the ability to carry various weapons and electro-optical sensors, the EC645 T2 will also be fitted with a fast roping system, a cargo hook, rescue hoist, ballistic protective equipment and an electronic countermeasures system.

The German armed forces has ordered 15 EC645 T2s for the German air force’s Special Forces Command, which will use the helicopters for troop transport, reconnaissance, search and rescue, fire support, and medical evacuations.

USAF designates combat rescue helicopter the HH-60W

The USAF has officially designated its upcoming combat rescue helicopter (CRH), a derivative of the UH-60M Black Hawk, the HH-60W.

Sikorsky was awarded a US$7. 9bn (A$9. 4bn) contract on June 26 2014 for the production and delivery of up to 112 helicopters to replace the USAF’s ageing HH-60G Pave Hawks, which are used for personnel recovery.

Like the UH-60M, the HH-60W, referred to as the 60-Whiskey, will feature T700-GE-701D engines, composite wide-chord main rotor blades and will feature increased internal fuel capability, while increasing its internal cabin space.

The CRH’s primary mission will be to recover isolated personnel from hostile or denied territory. The helicopters will also be used for humanitarian missions, civil search and rescue, disaster relief, casualty and medical evacuation and non-combat evacuation operations.

The next major step for the CRH will be a system requirements review, scheduled to occur during 2015. Initial deliveries are expected to begin in 2019. An official name of the 60-Whiskey has yet to be determined.

Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey demonstrates firing rockets

Bell Helicopter has announced a successful demonstration of a forward-firing rocket capability for the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey was carried out at the US Army Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona in November.

From a launcher pod mounted on the Osprey’s forward fuselage Bell Boeing said the V-22s can be armed with a variety of forward-facing munitions and can hit targets with a high degree of reliability.

“These weapons, once installed, will provide added firepower and reduce reliance on forward arming and refuelling points (FARPs) which are sometimes necessary to supply short-range attack rotorcraft in support of V-22 operations,” said Bell Boeing’s vice president and V-22 program manager Vince Tobin. “Integrating a forward firing capability to the Osprey will increase its mission set. Without the need for FARPs, V-22s can be launched more frequently, and on shorter notice. ” Forward-facing weapons and armour protection are among several quick-turnaround upgrades that US Special Operations Command is pursuing after three Air Force Special Operations Command Ospreys were shot at over Juba, South Sudan in late 2013.