GKN to supply emergency flotation for Chinese AC313 helicopter
GKN Aerospace has been awarded a contract by the Jiangxi Changhe Aviation Industry Co. Ltd to supply the emergency flotation system (EFS) for the Avicopter AC313, which is the largest civilian helicopter ever developed in China.
The new EFS will give the AC313 helicopter increased survivability in the water as the system will provide flotation up to sea state 5 - ie rough seas with waves from 2.5 - 4 metres high. This will expand the mission potential of the helicopter, increasing its applicability for use in over-water missions such as search and rescue, maritime surveillance and oil and gas industry transportation. The EFS will incorporate GKN Aerospace’s new non-explosive emergency inflation technology which will lower system weight, reduce life cycle costs and increase performance reliability.
GKN Aerospace will make first delivery of a prototype EFS in 2014 and will deliver a fully certified system before end -2014.
ADS Advance - GKN supplies emergency flotation for AC313 helicopter