helicopterra-blog

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AW139 enforces law in Malaysia

The Air Wing of the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) publicly exhibited half of its fleet of AW139s at the LIMA 2017 exhibition in Langkawi, Malaysia. The police received two white-and-redpainted AW139s last November, the fruit of a $32.5 million contract between the Malaysian government and Galaxy Helicopters, signed in October 2015. The RMP, and Leonardo Helicopters, expect a contract for four additional aircraft to be placed, although no formal tender process has yet been initiated. In fact, according to an RMP pilot who spoke to RH, Prime Minister Najib Razak promised a fifth helicopter when he was attending the LIMA 2017 show. The RMP’s two AW139s are based at Subang, and currently there are four trained pilots and six co-pilots. A few more are currently undergoing training. From Subang, the aircraft are able to operate throughout Peninsular Malaysia. They can also fly the 3.5-hour journey to East Malaysia, since the AW139 has an endurance of four hours. Once more become available, helicopters will be based at both Subang and Sabah. A pilot told RH that the rotorcraft type is mainly being used for special forces-type missions, for which it is suitable thanks to its ability to carry ten passengers and a hoist that enables fast roping. It is not used for more routine missions, such as traffic or surveillance, owing to the helicopter’s size and greater expense compared to the RMP’s fleet of Airbus Helicopters AS355 N2 and F2 aircraft. Leonardo Helicopters also supplied Weststar Aviation Services with 26 AW139s, and on 21 March, the fleet celebrated the achievement of 100,000 flying hours. Weststar is Asia’s largest user of the type. The OEM is also eyeing replacement of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Super Lynx 300 fleet with the AW159 Wildcat some time in the future. Daniele Romiti, managing director of the Leonardo Helicopters division, described Malaysia as a particular ‘bright spot’ for the company, and said that strong relationships had been forged in the country. By Gordon Arthur, Langkawi (Rotor hub)

[helicopterra-blog]

India to shop for multirole helicopter engines

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is aiming to freeze the preliminary design of its Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), so that it can be built over the next 18 months. A fullscale mock-up was unveiled at Aero India 2017 in February. The state-owned aerospace firm is also looking for engines to power the aircraft, and is likely to issue an RfI within six months. Sources familiar with the project told RH that the 12.5t helicopter would be powered by a pair of turboshafts delivering 2,500hp each. In that case, likely contenders could include Safran’s Makila/ RTM 322, Klimov’s VK-2500 and General Electric’s CT7-8. HAL officials indicated that an IMRH prototype could fly in about four years, and the target is to deliver the first helicopter by 2024. The current plan is to build at least 400 of the aircraft type. Officials said that HAL was not looking at overseas help for the project at the design stage, but they did not rule out collaboration with a foreign partner later, if required. The new helicopter will cater to Indian tri-service requirements. HAL will also focus on exports, having set its sights on replacing the ageing fleet of similar classes operated by more than 40 air forces. The IMRH will directly compete against the Mi-17, the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s rotary-wing fleet, for both domestic and global orders. HAL has been working on the project in fits and starts for almost a decade. It issued an expression of interest eight years ago and received responses from Sikorsky, Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters), Mil and AgustaWestland (now Leonardo Helicopters). However, changes in service requirements led to delays and eventually the decision to deliver an indigenous platform. By Rohit C Silva, Delhi (Rotor Hub)