Police to review helicopter operations even after province loses interest - Charles D'Alberto

Police to review helicopter operations even after province loses interest - Charles D'Alberto

The Winnipeg Police Service is planning to review the use of its helicopter now that the province has cancelled plans for a review of its own.

Deputy Chief Gord Perrier said Monday the police plan to look at the use of the aircraft known as Air1 in more detail than it does in its annual reports of flight operations.

No such examination has taken place since the city purchased the helicopter in 2010. The province has covered the annual operating cost, which has risen from $1.2 million in 2011 to $1.9 million in 2016.

The former NDP government pledged to review the aircraft's operation, but the Progressive Conservative government cancelled that plan and then signaled instead it will not be providing the city with annual operating increases for any specific line item, including the police helicopter.

Deputy Chief Gord Perrier said a review remains necessary.

"We are in preliminary discussions of what would a review look like, whether that's conducted by an outside entity, whether it's an internal review, whether it's jointly with the city," Perrier said Monday following a media briefing at the Winnipeg police headquarters.

"We want to really explore in depth what's the return on investment," he said, adding the police need to now how the helicopter fits into police operations and "how the community feels about a use of equipment like that and how informed they are about the helicopter, its operations and its value to the community."

On Monday, the city published a 2016 Air1 annual report that stated the helicopter flew fewer hours last year as a result of the defective infrared camera that was replaced in September.

The helicopter flew 733 hours in 2016, a drop of 27 per cent from 2015, according to the annual report. The aircraft was grounded for the entire month of August.

The RCMP loaned Winnipeg an infrared camera in September, which was installed on Air1 until a permanent new camera arrived in December.

That camera cost $560,000, with the province picking up $180,000 of the tab. Insp. John Lutz said he does not expect the helicopter to require significant upgrades for several years.

Lutz said the aircraft is indispensable to police operations and suggested its cost can't be assessed without looking at the way its use is integrated with police operations as a whole.

#Police #Helicopters #Canada #Winipeg #Aviation #Charles_dalberto #Perla_Group

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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U.S. Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter Reaches Milestone, Paving Way for Assembly, Test and Evaluation - Charles D'Alberto

STRATFORD, Conn., May 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced it successfully reached a key milestone – the Air Vehicle Critical Design Review (CDR) – for the U.S. Air Force's Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) program. This event prepares the program to proceed to assembly, test, and evaluation of the HH-60W helicopter.

The joint Sikorsky and U.S. Air Force (USAF) helicopter program team met in May with key partners from government and industry for an in-depth design review. Throughout the review, the CRH team successfully presented a design that participants were confident would meet system requirements.  Review participants included leaders from USAF and key suppliers who took part in the technical presentations.

"This milestone is an important achievement and demonstrates Sikorsky and the Air Force are well aligned on the technical requirements of the HH-60W," said Tim Healy, Sikorsky CRH program director. "We got here by conducting several milestones on or ahead of schedule, and we are committed to staying on that track as we build the first HH-60W aircraft."

In preparation for the CDR, the joint team generated more than 300 technical documents, created and reviewed over 50,000 hardware and software requirements, conducted 17 sub-system CDRs and designed 3,000 new parts. "The joint team did an outstanding job in documenting the design of the HH-60W," said Jim Andrews, Sikorsky CRH chief engineer. "We are excited to enter the build phase as the team has leveraged digital design tools to generate manufacturing efficiencies that will reduce cost and schedule. This approach will lead ultimately to the HH-60W becoming the first Black Hawk derivative to have a paperless assembly line."

The USAF awarded Sikorsky the $1.28 billion Engineering Manufacturing & Development (EMD) contract in June 2014, which includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue platform and mission systems, delivery of four HH-60W helicopters, aircrew and maintenance training systems, and support for both. In January of 2017, the USAF exercised a $203 million contract option with Sikorsky to provide five additional aircraft, bringing the total to nine. The training suite includes devices that span full-motion simulators and discrete aircraft systems, such as hoist and landing gear.

The USAF Program of Record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's rapidly aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services.

The HH-60W is an advanced variant of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter design and features increased internal fuel capability for greater range. The CRH aircraft will feature GE T700-701D engines, composite wide-chord main rotor blades to sustain maneuverability at high density altitudes, and a new fatigue- and corrosion-resistant machined aero-structure to ensure reliability and availability to USAF operational units. The design includes an advanced Tactical Mission Kit integrating multiple sensors, data links, defensive systems, and other sources of intelligence information for use by combat rescue aircrews. The aircraft is designed with a weapons and cabin configuration specifically optimized for combat rescue and recovery operations. 

"Conducting the Air Vehicle CDR demonstrates this helicopter system is well on its way to meeting the key program requirements of the Air Force," said Dave Schairbaum, USAF, CRH System Program Manager. "Successful execution of the program is essential to meet the continued demanding personnel recovery mission in today's challenging operational environment. We are working closely with Sikorsky to assure this newly designed aircraft meets the requirements, is affordable and is delivered on schedule to the warfighter."

The CRH and USAF teams will meet again in September for the Training Systems Critical Design Review.

This press release contains forward looking statements concerning opportunities for development, production and sale of helicopters. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices, budget plans, availability of funding and in the type and number of aircraft required; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in Lockheed Martin Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

About Lockheed Martin  Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

#HH60W #Lockheed #Helicopter #Military #USAF #Charles_Dalberto #Perla_Group

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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Newest Russian helicopter takes to the sky for 1st time - Charles D'Alberto

Russian Vice PM Rogozin posted the footage of the Ka-62 test flight on Twitter, congratulating the engineers and test pilots.

The Ka-62 is a multipurpose helicopter based on an experimental military model, the Ka-60. The helicopter is designed to carry up to 15 passengers or 2.5 tons of cargo. It can be flown in harsh conditions, namely at sea and in the mountains, as well as in hot and wet climates.

Modern polymer materials amount to 60 percent of the helicopter’s mass, which makes it lighter, faster, more maneuverable and durable, as well as reduces fuel usage. Serial production of the Ka-62 is expected to start in 2020.

Russian Vice PM Rogozin posted the footage of the Ka-62 test flight on Twitter, congratulating the engineers and test pilots.

The Ka-62 is a multipurpose helicopter based on an experimental military model, the Ka-60. The helicopter is designed to carry up to 15 passengers or 2.5 tons of cargo. It can be flown in harsh conditions, namely at sea and in the mountains, as well as in hot and wet climates.

Modern polymer materials amount to 60 percent of the helicopter’s mass, which makes it lighter, faster, more maneuverable and durable, as well as reduces fuel usage. Serial production of the Ka-62 is expected to start in 2020.

“It’s a next-generation, entirely digital communication complex. It provides a constant link between pilots and ground services at multiple frequencies, as well as constant emergency signal reception,” a Roselectronica representative told reporters at the HeliRussia-2017 exhibition on Friday.

WATCH MORE: Russia presents new MiG-35 fighter jet designed to potentially use laser guns

The Ka-62 helicopter might also get a specialized sea variant to be used on helicopter-carrying vessels. The full-scale mockup of this variant has a folding propeller blades and tail section to fit into the tightest hangars on a sea vessel, according to the director general of the Kamov rotorcraft manufacturing company, Sergey Miheev.

“We created a completely unique helicopter, capable to fill a vast niche [on the market], capable to be used both in military and civil operations,” Miheev told reporters.

#Helicopter #KA62 #prototype #Russian 

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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Largest weapons deal in history to include 150 BlackHawk's - Charles D'Alberto

Largest weapons deal in history to include 150 BlackHawk's - Charles D'Alberto 

The US will provide over $110 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia in the largest weapons deal in US history. In the deal, Saudi Arabia will buy a number of weapons and vehicles from the US, including the THAAD missile defense system, and 150 Blackhawk helicopters.

#Helicopters #Military #BlackHawk #SaudiArabia #USA #Weapons #Charles_Dalberto #Perla_Group

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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Second prototype of Light Utility Helicopter makes first flight - Charles D'Alberto

Second prototype of Light Utility Helicopter makes first flight - Charles D'Alberto

The second prototype of the Light Utility Helicopter, LUH PT2, made its first flight in Bengaluru on Monday and flew smoothly for 22 minutes, its creator Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd said on Tuesday. The flight was described as free of any snag.

The three-tonne-class LUH is being developed as a reconnaissance and surveillance vehicle for military and civil users.

HAL said it expected to freeze the helicopter's design by the end of this year. After necessary certification, it would manufacture it along with its components at its facility coming up in Tumakuru.

Towards that, it was improving the flight envelop or range of PT1 and would conduct a few more test flights of the two versions in the coming months.

The second prototype has a modified tail boom and other improvements over PT1, which first flew on September 6, 2016 and later during the February Aero India 2017.

HAL CMD T. Suvarna Raju called it a part of their Make in India campaign in rotary and fixed wing aircraft.

When ready, the LUH is designed to fly 350 km at a speed of 220 kmph; it can reach a maximum height of 6.5 km and carry a payload of 400 kg.

Chief Test Pilot Wing Cdr (retd) Unni K. Pillai and Test Pilot Wing Cdr (retd) Anil Bhambhani piloted the helicopter.

#Helicopter #Aviation #Prototype #Charles_Dalberto #Perla_Group

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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Helicopter lands on railing to drop off crew - Charles D'Alberto

Charles D'Alberto

An incredibly brave helicopter pilot manages to land on a narrow guard rail to drop off a doctor at the scene of a crash on Norway.

#Norway #Pilot #Aviation #Helicopters #Charles_Dalberto #Perla_Group

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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Jet owned by Elvis to be auctioned after sitting 30 years - Charles D'Alberto

ALBUQUERQUE — A private jet once owned by Elvis Presley is set to be auctioned after sitting on a runway in New Mexico for 30 years.

Elvis designed the interior, which has red velvet seats and red shag carpet. But the red 1962 Lockheed Jetstar has no engines and needs a restoration of its cockpit.

Liveauctioneers.com says the jet was owned by Elvis and his father, Vernon Presley.

It has been privately owned for 35 years and sitting on a tarmac in Roswell, N.M.

#Elvis #Lockhead #PrivateJet #Charles_Dalberto #Perla_Group

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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