SASless,
You are correct in that it is unusual to see OEI HOGE graphs in other than a European Flight Manual. However, for human external cargo or, in Europe, CAT Hoisting, such performance has to be ensured. (In some countries when conducting SAR it is acceptable not to have such performance during a mission but necessary during hoist training.)
Such graphs are present in the S76C+, AS332 and Bell 412 manuals (even the venerable S61 which we used to use for passenger winching in the Beryl Field) and data is available for the EH101. Unusually, the best performers are the (FAR 27 Appendix C certificated) EC135, A109 and probably the MD902 which are now quite close to OEI HOGE performance in ISA nil wind conditions (it is also expected that the AB139 will provide close to nil drop down in ISA conditions within its published MAUM).
From the Operational Specification shown to us by Widgeon, it would appear that the Canadian aircraft of choice had to be capable of a drop down from the hover of less than 60ft. It is likely that for all reasonable sectors (for short sectors the fuel load could be reduced), arrival at the point where winching had to be commenced with this performance in hand could have been achieved by the EH101 (and hopefully by the S92). (However, it was difficult to establish from the text that Widgeon showed us what the required mass would have to be.)
Such performance has always been required for passenger transfer in Europe - and some other countries in the world.
Last edited by Mars; 2nd August 2004 at 06:17.