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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 0699.PDF
IN BRIEF SIKORSKY CHANGE Air Methods has received a $1.9 million contract to modify a Sikorsky S-70A into the Los Angeles County Fire Department's third FireHawk. The firefighting helicopter, to be delivered in the first half of 2005, will receive a 3,790 litre (1 .OOOUSgal) belly tank with retractable snorkel, multimission interior, glass cockpit and multi- mode pilot control system. ROTORCRAFT BELLS Broussard, Louisiana-based Gulf of Mexico offshore operator Rotorcraft Leasing has taken delivery of two Bell 407 light sin gle-turbine helicopters to augment its all-Bell fleet. BOND ORDER Bond Offshore Helicopters has ordered two Eurocopter AS322L Super Puma Mkllsfora 10-year, £100 million ($176 million) BP Exploration contract to provide search-and-rescue services in support of oil operations in the North Sea. The helicopters will enter service in December 2005, one based on a production plat form in the central North Sea and one on the Shetland Islands. GENERAL AVIATION CERTIFICATION MURDO MORRISON / BERLIN Diamond Twin Star earns its stripes from EASA Austrian manufacturer is first to receive aircraft type approval from new body Diamond Aircraft Industries has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the DA42 Twin Star, the first European manufacturer to receive an aircraft type certificate from the pan- European airworthiness body. Deliveries of the Thielert Aircraft Engines Centurion 1.7-powered four-seater will begin in July, with the first handover to a US customer set for the Experimental Aircraft Association's Air-Venture show at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Diamond says its orderbook for the DA42 stands just short of 400, with 123 commit ments received in April alone. Last month Diamond began flight testing a conventional Lycoming IO-360-engined version of the DA42, pitched primarily at the North American market (Flight International, 27 April-3 May). Meanwhile, Diamond says its D-Jet very light jet will make its first public flight at April's Aero 2005 general aviation show in Friedrich- shafen, Germany and gain certifica tion by the Berlin air show in 2006. The Austrian manufacturer .has taken 170 orders for the four-seat, Williams FJ33-powered aircraft, but chief executive and majority share holder Christian Dries predicts "the market will explode following first flight early next year". Twin Star has flown into European certification history ACQUISITION Indonesian police seek additional helicopters The Indonesian police force is seek ing two medium twin-engined helicopters this year and has put on hold earlier plans to acquire up to 22 additional light single- engined helicopters. Industry sources say the police force has earmarked $20-25 million in its 2004 budget for two 12- to 15-seat helicopters and the govern ment should approve the request within the next few months. Last year the police purchased 18 Enstrom 480Bs as part of its plan to acquire 40 new light helicopters. However, with pressure to improve police transport to trouble spots across Indonesia, sources say the requirement is greater for larger cabin, longer-range helicopters. The police force now operates 15 Eurocopter BO105s and four 480Bs on surveillance missions, with another 14 Enstroms scheduled for delivery by October. The police's transport fleet is limited to one Bell 412 and this type is considered the early favourite in the new competi tion. The Eurocopter EC155 and Sikorsky S-76 will also be evaluated. Indonesian Aerospace, which is trying to set up a manufacturing partnership with PZL-Swidnik, is pitching the smaller SW-4. However, the police force is said to favour Western types having already rejected 11 PZL-Swidnik Mi-2s purchased in counter-trade. The aircraft will be used by the Indonesian navy. Additional fixed-wing aircraft are also sought to add to two Raytheon Beechcraft 1900Ds that were acquired last year. COMPETITION BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE Sikorsky aims to seal Asian S-92 deals by end of year Sikorsky is targeting the end of the year to sign its first Asian customer for the new S-92, with key government competitions in China and South Korea drawing to a close. In South Korea, bids are due in July for three large VIP helicopters. South Korea last month invited only AgustaWestland, which is pitching the EH101, and Sikorsky to participate. The manufacturers expect a contract to be awarded in the fourth quar ter with deliveries in 2006. An additional three helicopters may be acquired later to fully meet South Korea's six-aircraft VIP requirement. In China, the ministry of communications is expected to buy two large search and rescue helicopters in the second half of the year for delivery as early as 2005. The S-92 is considered the frontrunner and China will probably buy the aircraft without a formal tender Industry sources say, however, that Eurocopter is trying to submit an unsolicited bid for the AS332 Super Puma and has lined up key European government representatives in China to lobby for an open competition. The ministry already operates two Sikorsky S-76s and is negotiating to buy another two of the type or two Bell Agusta Aerospace AB139s. A deal for S-76s will probably be concluded within the next month and be fol lowed by a contract for S-92s or Super Pumas. Sikorsky delivered its first S-92 in March and has 22 firm orders from a mix of North American and European operators. China's Guangdong General Aviation Company is also a possible Asian launch customer (Flight International, 16-22 March). 32 18-24 MAY 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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