Australian Flying — November-December 2017

risbane-based

Sikorsky Australia

has won a $63

million contract

to overhaul and

re-purpose 10 ex-

US military Black

Hawk helicopters

for firebombing

and disaster relief operations

around Australia and New

Zealand.

The deal was signed in late July

by Sikorsky, Kaan Air Australia,

and StarFlight Australia. The

first of the surplus UH-60As will

arrive in Australia early next year.

Sikorsky has a formal contract

with the US Army Utility

Helicopter Project Office allowing

it to select the most suitable

aircraft for refurbishment.

The first two helicopters are

currently being overhauled in

Huntsville Alabama, allowing

Sikorsky Australia to carry out

work scope and benchmarking

for the Australian operation. The

remainder will be completed at

the company’s Pinkenba facility,

near Brisbane airport.

After arrival the helicopters will

undergo a three month rework,

including fitment of new high

performance engines, upgraded

main and tail rotor gear boxes

and drive train, installation of a

Helicopter Terrain Awareness and

Warning System (HTAWS) and

fitment of new hoists. Sikorsky

Australia general manager

Andrew Rushbrook said this is

the first time that a civilian Black

Hawk conversion programme had

the full backing of the Original

Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

The aircraft will be maintained

in Brisbane by Sikorsky, which

will be a boost for local jobs,

potentially creating over 50 pilot

and technical jobs, including

apprenticeships. Sikorsky

Australia will be responsible

for training initial StarFlight

crews and the company is

seeking a training partner based

in Queensland. John Skeen,

chief executive officer of Kaan

Air Australia and StarFlight

Australia, welcomed the new

agreement.

"This is a game-changer for

aviation in Australia, the purchase

of 10, plus 10 optioned Black

Hawks represents a significant

milestone for the (medium-lift)

firebombing and disaster relief

helicopter industry in Australia.”

he said. Kaan Air is a European

helicopter utility operator and

manufacturer/distributor for

AgustaWestland and Russian

helicopters. StarFlight Australia

is a joint venture between Kaan

Air Australia and LifeFlight

Australia.

Hover ban

angers operator

A recent decision by Gympie’s

Regional Council to ban hovering

helicopters at its nearby Kybong

airport will make it impossible for

helicopters to use the site.

Mike Becker of Becker

Helicopters likens the helicopter

hovering ban to preventing fixed

wing aircraft from taxiing. Becker

invested about $800,000 in

purchasing a four hectare site at

the airport with the intention of

moving some of his business there,

but is now in limbo as requests

for an urgent meeting with

council have been turned down.

Becker, who is no stranger to

locking horns with Queensland ’s

anti-helicopter lobby, also

questioned council’s decision to

allow residential development

at the airport. A spokesman

said the council was currently

encouraging feedback from the

local community on the airport

draft master plan.

Surplus US Army Black Hawks

to join Australian firebombers

ROTARY-WING NEWS

Rotors

Greg Thom presents

news and views

from the Australian

helicopter industry

72

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2017

B

Black Hawks are already

well established as

firebombing helicopters

in the United States.

TRENT BELL