AgustaWestland has made moves to expand cooperation with Kongsberg for the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of dynamic components for a range of AgustaWestland helicopters, including the NH90 helicopter. The companies have signed a protocol for an overarching agreement outlining intentions to make Kongsberg a Centre of Excellence for MRO of dynamic components in Northern Europe.

The agreement also relates to transfer of technology that includes the establishment of advanced test equipment that will enable the full functional testing of gear boxes at Kongsberg in Norway.

The newly-signed agreement will enable AgustaWestland to satisfy its industrial participation requirements in Norway and the other Nordic countries for NH90. It will also be  a major part of its support solution for the 16 AW101 Norwegian All-Weather SAR Helicopters (NAWSARH) the company is contracted to supply to the Norwegian government. 

Harald Ånnestad, president, Kongsberg Defence Systems, said: ’We are excited that we can grow our helicopter MRO business together with AgustaWestland as a valued partner and we will establish gear box testing capabilities in Kongsberg.’

Το ένατο Ε/Π ΝΗ-90 TGRA ΕΣ 841, προσγειώθηκε στις 16:21 της 29ης Ιουλίου 2014 στο Α/Δ Πάχης  Μεγάρων (LGMG) προερχόμενο απο το Marignan της Γαλλίας με πλήρωμα Γάλλων  της κατασκευάστριας εταιρείας....

Members of the NH90 team in New Zealand have a lot to celebrate: They have just completed the retrofit of four NH90 TTH helicopters at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) operational base in Ohakea.

The purpose of the retrofit was to upgrade the first four NH90s from initial to final configuration. The RNZAF operates a fleet of eight NH90 TTH, four of which were delivered already in the final form. With the retrofit, RNZAF’s current NH90 fleet has reached its final configuration. 

The retrofit was performed between September 2013 and July 2014 at the customer’s premises and following a preparatory phase in France.

The team involved took advantage of the retrofit lay-up period to perform calendar maintenance and to retrofit some spare  parts and an attrition frame.

More than 30 employees from Airbus Helicopters and partner companies, stationed at the Ohakea base, worked hand-in-hand with a network of logistical experts from Airbus Helicopters and its suppliers. The close collaboration of these teams among each other and with the customer was instrumental in completing the retrofit on time.

Similar retrofit programs are underway in other countries, with a total of 10 aircraft having already been completed. Seventeen more NH90s are currently undergoing retrofit at five different locations in France, Italy, Finland, Germany and Australia.

The NH90 retrofit program brings together specialists from different areas, such as configuration, production, engineering, procurement and support, whose transversal collaboration plays a key role in ensuring the success of the upgrades.

Airbus Helicopters has defended the NH Industries NH90 military rotorcraft following recent criticism from both the Dutch and Australian governments, describing the issues they raise as "under control".

The Netherlands in June suspended further deliveries of the NFH naval variant of the helicopter until a persistent corrosion issue is solved. And the Australian National Audit Office in late July issued a stinging report into the performance of the 11t rotorcraft in operation with its armed forces.

But Dr Wolfgang Schoder, executive vice-president light and governmental programmes at Airbus Helicopters, which has a majority stake in the NHI consortium, says the NH90 is "a mature helicopter" which is "being delivered according to our contracts".

The corrosion issue, he says, is being taken seriously "but we think we have it under control". It will roll out both corrective and preventative measures to address the issues, he says. For instance, operators are being advised of more stringent cleaning and inspection regimes, plus some "minor changes to the design" will be introduced.

"Some materials which are used are not appropriate and we will correct that," says Schoder.

"You always foresee [some corrosion] on a naval helicopter, but it is very difficult to avoid it 100%. You have to bring it to a level that's manageable, but we should have been prepared better for that," he says.

Schoder also heads up Airbus Helicopters's German operation, which, assuming parliamentary approval is given, will begin delivering NH90s to the German navy from 2018.

Any "teething problems" will be solved by then, he adds, having been worked through by early customers, notably the French and Dutch.

Australia's MRH90 troop transports are also showing improvement, he says, noting that as "the number of flying hours" increases, costs per hour are coming down.

He stops short of dismissing the ANAO report entirely, but says it is "based on very old information".

"We have very clear availability KPIs defined with Australia to measure it and we are exchanging all the data. There is no concern from my side that we are not on the right track."

France has deployed its NHIndustries NH90 Caiman helicopters on operations for the first time, with two helicopters arriving in Gao on 3 November to take part in France's Operation 'Barkhane' in Mali.

The helicopters are from the 1er Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat, based in Phalsbourg, with the deployment coming less than a year after their entry into service within the Alat (French army light aviation).

The two helicopters arrived in Gao on 3 November after a four day ferry flight. The helicopters made 10 stops and clocked a total of 32 flying hours in the process. The longest branch was from Bamako to Gao, 4 flying hours, most of it being flown close to the deck in a tactical fashion as Mali is considered a war zone by the French authorities.

The NH90s were fitted with three extra fuel tanks (450 kg each) in the cabin for the journey, bringing the total fuel on board at slightly more than three tons. The NH90s were flying at their max gross weight (11 tons), with four crew members and some freight. At an average speed of 130 kt, this configuration gives the NH90 an endurance of five hours.

Coming from Dakar, the two helicopters entered Mali through the border town of Kayes where an Armée de l'Air C-160 Transall transport aircraft, flying out of Niamey, Niger, refuelled them on the ground, providing them each with 1.3 tons of fuel.

Entering Mali, the crew were flying with their flak jacket, guns and ammo. However the FN Mag 58 machine guns, which are due to equip the NH90 in Mali were not mounted on the helicopters yet. After a 24 hrs rest, the NH90 were back in the air to provide the crew with a first taste of the Malian theatre and some training on dusty landing zone in day and night conditions. They are now assigned to the Sous Groupement Aeromobile Hombori VIII, which includes a dozen helicopters (Gazelles, Tigers, Pumas, Cougars and now the NH90).

The NH90 has previously been deployed on operations in Afghanistan by both Germany and Italy.

Mit einem feierlichen Appell auf dem Fliegerhorst in Faßberg feierten die Heeresflieger des Transporthubschrauberregiments 10 „Lüneburger Heide“ den erfolgreichen Abschluss des Einsatzes als Forward Air MedEvac in Afghanistan und die Rückkehr ihrer Soldaten. Oberst Andreas Pfeifer, Kommandeur des Regiments, dankte seinen „Heidefliegern“ für ihr Engagement im Einsatz, aber auch den Familien und Soldaten in der Heimat für die Unterstützung.

Die Bilanz: Fünf Kontingente – 28 scharfe Einsätze – Transport von zehn Schwerstverletzten – über 1.000 Flugstunden mit dem NH90. Die Soldaten aus Faßberg haben von Mazar-e Sharif aus Rettungseinsätze in Nordafghanistan geflogen und dabei Menschenleben gerettet. Sie leisteten eine ständige Bereitschaft und brauchten nur 15 Minuten von der Alarmierung bis zum Start des Hubschraubers bei Tag und bei Nacht. Immer wenn die Besatzungen der Luftfahrzeuge gerufen wurden, ging es um das Leben von Verletzten und Verwundeten. Es war ein ständiger Wettkampf gegen die Uhr, um die „golden hour“ – die überlebenswichtigen 60 Minuten vom Auslösen des Notfalls bis in das Feldlazarett – zu schaffen.

„Heideflieger“ willkommen in der Heimat

Viele Gäste und Angehörige sind zum Appell gekommen, um die Soldaten noch einmal offiziell zurück in der Heimat willkommen zu heißen. Oberst Andreas Pfeifer, Kommandeur des Transporthubschrauberregiments 10 „Lüneburger Heide“, zeichnete die Geschichte des Einsatzes für die Gäste nach: „Neben dem eigentlichen Einsatz Ihrer Angehörigen in Afghanistan galt es, auch die lange Abwesenheit während der Einsatzvorbereitung vor dem eigentlichen Einsatz durchzustehen. Dafür danke ich Ihnen ausdrücklich.“ Dies sei der erste Einsatz des neuen Waffensystems NH90 gewesen, betonte Pfeifer: „Sie haben dieses Kapitel geschrieben.“ Fünf Kontingente mit jeweils 65 Soldaten waren im Einsatz dabei, insgesamt mehr als 200 Soldaten. Die Forward-Air-MedEvac-Rotte bestand aus zwei Maschinen – einem MedEvac-Hubschrauber und einem Begleitschutz-Hubschrauber.

Auftrag zu 100 Prozent erfüllt

Major Frank Kuchta war im ersten Kontingent als Schwarmführer dabei. „Schwierig waren die Staublandungen in Afghanistan. Knapp zehn Meter über dem Boden wird man durch den Luftwirbel der Rotoren in eine Staubwolke gehüllt. Dabei gilt es, sich auch ohne Sicht richtig zu orientieren.“ Besonders stolz war seine Crew auf die Erfüllung des Auftrages, alle Startvorgänge innerhalb von 15 Minuten nach Alarmierung einzuhalten, und auf den Zusammenhalt innerhalb der Luftfahrzeugbesatzung: „Wir haben bei Tag teilweise deutlich weniger als 15 Minuten gebraucht. Nachts war die Zeit gerade ausreichend.“

Anspruchsvolle Bedingungen in der Nacht

In der Dunkelheit flogen die Piloten mit Restlichtverstärker-Brillen. Diese Flüge beschreibt der Schwarmführer als deutlich anspruchsvoller als bei guter Sicht am Tage. Sein Bordmechaniker, Oberstabsfeldwebel Klaus Heiselmann, betonte, wie die Soldaten innerhalb der Gemeinschaft jeden Einsatz auswerteten und auch das kritische Wort nicht scheuten, um beim nächsten Flug noch besser zu werden: „Beim Debriefing konnten wir immer alles besprechen und sind da mit einem guten Gefühl rausgegangen.“ Nicht zu vergessen ist neben der Crew auch das technische Personal. Bis zu 16 Stunden am Tag leisteten die Soldaten den technischen Dienst an den Maschinen und machten den Einsatz bei den klimatischen Extrembedingungen in Afghanistan überhaupt erst möglich.

2015: Rettung deutscher Staatsbürger aus Krisenregionen

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has received into service the last of eight operational NHIndustries NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTHs) it ordered in 2006, the defence force announced on 31 October.

The final helicopter arrived at Base Ohakea on North Island on the same day as the announcement, joining the other NH90s being used for search and rescue (SAR), disaster relief, troop transport, and cargo resupply duties.

Having selected the NH90 in March 2005 to replace its ageing fleet of Bell UH-1H 'Huey' helicopters, New Zealand signed a NZD770 million (USD600 million) contract for nine helicopters on 31 July 2006. Only eight of these are to be used operationally, with the ninth being held for spares.

Deliveries began on 7 December 2011 when the first pair of helicopters arrived at Base Ohakea on board an Antonov An-124 'Condor' airlifter. In February 2013, the NH90 completed the first phase of its operational testing and evaluation, enabling it to undertake some operational tasking.

On 28 March 2014 the Helicopter Transition Unit, which currently flies the NH90, celebrated reaching 1,000 flying hours. With all the NH90s now in place, the RNZAF will step up the retirement of the 10 UH-1Hs remaining in its inventory, with 3 Squadron transitioning over to the new type.

Air mobility support capabilities for the RNZAF's NH90s have already been released, enabling both day and night flying (including instrument flight rules), operating with night-vision goggles, daytime formation flying, winching, carrying underslung loads, and basic troop airlift.

The NH90's final release of capability is scheduled for the last quarter of 2015, with SAR and advanced SAR, fast roping and rappelling, and limited embarked operations being released by this milestone. As the smallest operator, New Zealand has become the first customer to receive into service all of its NH90s.

Like all NH90 customers, New Zealand has suffered from programme delays caused in large part by the many different configurations of the helicopter that are being developed (there are actually more versions of the NH90 than there are customers).

New Zealand has tried to avoid this pitfall by opting for a configuration that is very similar to its chief operating partner, Australia. The RNZAF's platforms come with an additional fifth multifunction display unit, RT-1851 ARC-210 radios, wet deck for the cabin, and RNZAF manufactured floor load spreaders to help prevent damage from boots and cargo (or similar).

Even so, deliveries to the RNZAF have been subject to some delay; they were originally due to be completed in late 2013.

With the programme now back on track, the RNZAF will have an extremely capable successor to its 1960s-vintage UH-1H platforms. As well as performing the overland mission of the UH-1H, the NH90 will also be embarked with the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). To this end, trials have already taken place aboard the amphibious support ship HMNZS Canterbury .

An upgrade plan is already in place, with enhanced communications as well as navigation and surveillance (CNS) and air traffic management (ATM) improvements being earmarked for the platform.

Exercise Blackbird is the RNZAF's annual helicopter mountain flying exercise. This year saw the NH-90 participating in the exercise for the first time.

Members of the Royal New Zealand Artillery called in support from NH90 helicopters during Exercise Ben Cat. 161 battery usually move their howitzer guns into place using trucks, but the powerful NH90 gives them wider access to difficult terrain and gets them into the battle far quicker.

Prior to the NH90, the Iroquois’ were used for moving the guns, but this was a significantly longer process as each gun had to be dismantled and transported in a few pieces due to their weight.

Helicopter In Flight Refuelling #HIFR #NH90 pic.twitter.com/i47eWNAxZs

Belgium has taken delivery of the last of four examples of the TTH troop transport variant of the NH Industries NH90 helicopter.

Handed over on 13 November at a ceremony at the Marignane production facility of NHI’s majority shareholder Airbus Helicopters in France, the rotorcraft will be based at Beauvechain air base near Brussels.

The NH90 TTH was joined at the delivery event by two of its sister ships, which had been on a harsh environment training exercise near the Pyrenean mountain town of Saillagouse in the southwest of France.

All four of the 10.6t rotorcraft are operated by the 1st wing of the Belgian air component. The service also has four of the NFH naval model on order, with the third example due to be handed over on 25 November and the fourth following in early 2015.

So far its Turbomeca RTM322-powered fleet has accumulated 450 flight hours with an availability of around 70%.

“The delivery of this NH90 TTH is the result of a very good co-operation between industryand the Belgian defence forces,” says Vincent Dubrule, NHI president. “From now on, NHI and its partner companies will worktogether in order to make sure the NH90 remains at the level of excellence demanded by itscrews throughout its service life.”

This delivery is the 217th for the programme, and the 38th so far this year. NHI remains on track to hand over around 52 of the helicopters this year, it says.

The first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) built in Spain has been delivered to the Spanish armed forces by NHI from Airbus Helicopters’ Albacette facility.

The NH90 will replace a number of older generation helicopters in Spanish service, and will be used to conduct a range of tactical troop transport, Search and Rescue, personnel recovery and medical evacuation missions.

Xavier Poupardin, delegated managing director, NHI, said: ‘This delivery is the proof that the NH90 is not only the best helicopter in its class to modernise the Spanish armed forces, but it is as well a true industrial partnership creating skilled jobs in Spain.

‘The Spanish NH90 programme is the result of an excellent cooperation between industry and the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the Spanish Ministry of Industry with the support of the Directorate General of Armament and Equipment (DGAM).’

NHI and Airbus Helicopters España will supply a total of 22 NH90 helicopters to the Spanish armed forces under a delivery schedule that continues through to 2019.

Wing Commander Marcel Scott (right) hands over the Squadron Pennant to Wing Commander Scott McKenzie. 

A ceremony to mark the change of command of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 3 Squadron has taken place at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

The change of command parade also marked the integration of the Helicopter Transition Unit (HTU) into 3 Squadron, bringing the entire rotary wing transport force together under the 3 Squadron banner. The HTU is the unit responsible for the introduction into service of the RNZAF’s new NH90 and A109 helicopters.

Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Mike Yardley said the integration comes as the new aircraft develop new capabilities.

“The NH90 will now become responsible for search and rescue missions, casualty evacuation in association with search and rescue, as well as transport for NZ Police and other government and military personnel for national security requirements,” AVM Yardley said.

“The Iroquois have performed these tasks well for many years, but it is now time for the NH90 to become the primary aircraft for search and rescue and national security requirements.

“While we still have some way to go, the NH90 and A109 capabilities are developing well, and are on track to be capable of undertaking all tasks currently performed by the Iroquois by the middle of next year,” AVM Yardley said.

This year the A109 was used in initial helicopter pilot and helicopter crewman training for the first time.

During the ceremony the Commanding Officer of 3 Squadron, Acting Wing Commander (A/WGCDR) Marcel Scott handed over command to the Commanding Officer of the HTU, Wing Commander (WGCDR) Scott McKenzie.
Becoming Commanding Officer of 3 Squadron has special significance for WGCDR McKenzie, whose grandfather, Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Robert Mills also flew with 3 Squadron in the Second World War.

“My grandfather flew for 3 Squadron in Guadalcanal in 1943, and I served with the same Squadron in Guadalcanal in 2004 while serving with the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI),” WGCDR McKenzie said. 

“I’m proud to be commanding the squadron we both flew with, albeit many years apart.” 

RNZAF No. 3 Squadron

Das Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 in Niederstetten hat seinen ersten Transporthubschrauber vom Typ „NH90“ bekommen. Der Hubschrauber landete am 22.12.14 auf dem Heeresflugplatz in Niederstetten. Mit dem Erhalt des „NH90“ erreicht das Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 einen weiteren wichtigen Meilenstein in Richtung Zukunft.

Der „NH90“ stammt aus dem in Fassberg stationierten Transporthubschrauberregiment 10 und wird nun durch das Instandsetzungspersonal des Standorts Niederstetten gewartet. Mit der Erstverlegung soll nicht nur die Einführung des „NH90“ am Flugplatz Niederstetten grundlegend vorbereitet, sondern auch die gesamte NH90-Flotte bei der Flugstundenproduktion unterstützt werden.

Nach der Auslieferung durch die Firma „Airbus Helicopters“  ist der „Niederstettener Hubschrauber“ rund 440 Stunden geflogen. In Niederstetten wird er eine routinemäßige Inspektion nach weiteren 150 Flugstunden bekommen. Diese Maßnahme wird voraussichtlich bis Ende Februar 2015 dauern. Danach wird der „NH90“ wieder zurück nach Fassberg überführt werden.

Das Instandsetzungs- und Wartungspersonal hat bereits erste Erfahrungen mit NH90-Hubschraubern an den Standorten Fassberg, Holzdorf und Bückeburg sammeln können. Nun freuen sich die Soldaten, die Arbeiten in Niederstetten aufzunehmen. Ziel ist es, die Wartungsabläufe für die NH90-Flotte an die Infrastruktur und die bewährten Verfahren am Standort Niederstetten anzupassen und zu optimieren.

Der „NH90“ wird den leichten Transporthubschrauber „Bell UH-1D“ ablösen, der seit den 60er Jahren bei der Bundeswehr im Einsatz ist. Hubschrauber vom Typ „NH90“ sind schon seit mehreren Jahren im Transporthubschrauberregiment 10 in Fassberg und an der Heeresfliegerwaffenschule in Bückeburg stationiert. Von April 2013 bis August 2014 wurden vier NH90-Hubschrauber im Auslandseinsatz in Afghanistan erfolgreich eingesetzt. Dort evakuierten sie Verwundete aus der Luft.

Im ersten Quartal nächsten Jahres wird ein weiterer „NH90“ beim Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 eintreffen. Den Hubschrauber erwartet dann eine noch umfangreichere Inspektion: So lernen die Soldaten des Regiments „vom Leichten zum Schweren“ und bereiten sich qualifiziert auf den weiteren Flugbetrieb in Niederstetten vor.

Germany is proposing that 22 NH Industries (NHI) NH90 troop transport helicopters it currently has on option could be acquired and used to form a pool of rotorcraft to be shared by NATO partners.

The concept, which it calls the “multinational helicopter unit”, is part of a broader framework agreement the nation’s defence ministry hammered out with Airbus Helicopters as it looks to formalise planned cuts to its overall NH90 order.

Berlin initially committed to 120 NH90 TTHs, but in 2013 it concluded a memorandum of understanding with the airframer – which is the majority shareholder in the NHI consortium – to cut its acquisition to 80 units with 22 options. In addition, it proposed to take 18 examples of the NFH variant for use by its navy.

However, formal ratification of the deal was put on hold pending the conclusion of negotiations between the parties.

The pact must now pass before Germany’s parliament for approval before a binding contract can be signed.

Defence officials hope this can be debated by politicians either later this month or in January, leading to a firm decision in early 2015.

The ministry says the shortage of transport helicopters that afflicted the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan was in part the inspiration for its plans for the shared resource.

“By doing this we create an opportunity for smaller countries, which would not be able to support an NH90 fleet on their own, to participate in this capability and have it on a smaller scale,” the ministry says.

So far Berlin has made approaches to 20 NATO members, and has received a “two-digit number of positive responses”, the ministry says.

It proposes making a “significant contribution” to supporting the pooled helicopters, which would be located at one of the German army’s existing bases for the type, enabling them to take advantage of the maintenance and logistics facilities already in place.

Germany has so far taken delivery of 37 NH90s, with the latest example handed over last week. It has yet to declare full operational capability for the helicopter, with this milestone anticipated in late 2016.

If approved, the NFHs – to be known as Sea Lion in German service – will begin to arrive from 2018 to replace the navy’s aged fleet of 20 Westland Sea King 41s.

As part of the same pact, Airbus Helicopters will now no longer buy back 11 early production examples of the Tiger UHT attack helicopter. Instead, Germany will retain them to use as donor aircraft for spare parts and cancel a separate spares acquisition.

Berlin has cut its order from 80 to 57 of the helicopters, with the operational Tiger fleet capped at 40 examples.

The defence ministry declines to give a figure for the total acquisition cost, but it is thought to be in the region of €8 billion ($10 billion).

cf. : 

Hauptaufgabe Evakuierung: Bundeswehr plant europäischen Hubschrauber-Verband

Video report from 1 Wing at Beauvechain airbase in Belgium. 

Egress trials with a New Zealand NH90 in March 2012

[...] 

New Zealand’s NH90 story also had its downsides. There was a delivery delay of 3 years, compensated with 1,4 billion US dollars by NHIndustries. And one of the brand new NH90s was damaged up to 9 million dollars in September 2013 after a lightning strike damaged its tail and main rotors plus parts of the fuselage while the machine was on the ground. But the delay and lightning strike that didn’t have an impact on the operational capabilities of the New Zealand armed forces as a whole, like it did in Sweden.

[...]

continue at: http://airheadsfly.com/2014/12/27/ahf-special-new-zealand-nh90-success-story/

[...]

Helping out are Ralph Claussen and another German instructor pilot. “With the help of the European Defense Agency, European nations flying the NH90 are assisting each other in training. In Germany we have been flying the NH90 for much longer, and I myself have 400 hours on type now. The Belgians are doing really, really well.” The two German instructors will likely head back to their homebase of Bückeburg in Germany by January.

[...]

continue at: http://airheadsfly.com/2014/11/28/press-play-belgiums-best/

HMAS Canberra