Nick:
Could be our confusion is based upon a previous statement made when this subject was aired on an earlier thread:
The next generation of helos will meet JAR Ops 3, which will get them much closer to max gross weight with helideck Cat A capability. The S-92 will perform a Cat A takeoff from an elevated helideck with a full passenger load and at zero wind at 35 degrees C with enough gas to fly about 300 NM with IFR reserves.
Can we assume that this remains correct and has been confirmed during flight testing? If so it would appear to meet the GOM profile and, as pointed out in JimL's post:
Using the inherent environmental conditions that obtain in the North Sea which appear to indicate that:
the mean wind is in excess of 20kts;
the mean deck height is just below 100ft;
the mean temperature is 10ºC;
the mean pressure is 1011; and
a mean density altitude of -536ft.
confirms that PC1 (or at least PC2e) is well within the scope of the S92 for the North Sea under almost all conditions. That appears to be good news; as we already know that the S76C+ has a similar profile and the AB139 is even better, what we now need to establish is if the same could be achieved by the EC225 - HC, any thoughts on that?
Because this performance is based upon the offshore configuration and the engines are already specified, Gomer Pylot and GOMEX no longer have to make the choice of range v performance, the choice has been made for them.