The Eurocopter EC175 medium-sized twin-engine helicopter has achieved two time-to-climb records on its way to certification in early 2014. The two independently verified records include time-to-climb to an altitude of 6,000m performed in six minutes 54 seconds and time-to-climb to 3,000m, achieved in 3 minutes 10 seconds. This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation
The ATSB’s final report into the August 18 2011 crash of the ABC’s Squirrel helicopter in which pilot Gary Ticehurst, reporter Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean were killed has found incorrect inputs to an onboard GPS unit, spatial disorientation and night flying recency were likely contributing factors to the accident. The AS355F2 Twin Squirrel helicopter,
RACQ CareFlight Rescue’s Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg-based aircraft will soon be equipped with high-tech night vision goggles (NVGs) after long-time supporter Energex committed $100,000 over two years to purchase eight sets of the equipment. Currently both rescue helicopters operate without the aid of night vision goggles even though more than a third of its lifesaving
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. 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
The long-awaited tender by NSW Health for aeromedical services is poised to be released, the first step in an anticipated shake-up of how rotary-wing services are structured and delivered. The Helicopter Retrieval Network, which is aimed at increasing standardisation, will feature Northern NSW and Southern NSW ‘super regions’. In information released this month to the
RACQ CareFlight Rescue is making tracks for improved search capabilities thanks to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s (CYCA) Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Trust which has helped fund 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