Ontario-based Great Slave Helicopters has received the first twin-turbine Bell 212s converted to single-engine configuration by Eagle Copters. Developed to replace to the dwindling number of single-turbine Bell 205s, the Eagle Single conversion received Canadian supplemental type certification earlier this month.
Replacement of the 212's 1,290shp (960kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3/B Twin Pac powerplant with a 1,350shp Honeywell T53-17A/B reduces the helicopter empty weight from almost 3,000kg (6,600lb) to 2,540kg and increases useful load from 2,090kg to more than 2,490kg, says Calgary-based Eagle Copters.
Great Slave plans to use the converted helicopters for firefighting. "To our knowledge it is currently the only rotary-wing aircraft with the lifting capacity to accommodate a complete firecrew and their equipment, plus carry an adequate fuel load to support extended-range initial-attack forest fire suppression mission," the company says.
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Source: FlightGlobal.com
