Originally Posted by
satsuma
Or b)............
Scottish Mountain Rescue
Casbag Edn 34
"This is a new aircraft type and certification of the oil and gas variant by the European Aviation Safety Agency was issued on the 7th May 2014. The first example of the SAR variant is
[late May 2014] being built in Milan and is expected to be completed shortly. This will be a major watershed in the project, allowing significant progress with test and certification, aircrew training and operating procedures. The second example will be built at Yeovil and is expected to be ready by late October 2014.
The top specification of flight simulator, configured for the AW189, was certified at Milan in March 2014 and this supplements a flight training device (without motion systems) that was certified in September 2013. A flight simulator configured as a SAR AW189 is due to be installed at Bristow in Dyce in mid-2015. AW189 maintenance dominates the Agusta Westland Training Academy engineering course calendar for the remainder of 2014.
... ...
The target for EASA certification of the SAR variant is believed to be October 2014. Even then, the Full Icing Protection System (FIPS) will not be certified and aircraft will enter SAR service in April 2015 with the standard icing protection system
[LIPS] only. This is an improvement on Sea King capability so it is not a huge impediment to operations. FIPS test and certification requires winter conditions and there is no replacement for a full season of challenging conditions. The final outcome is expected to be an aircraft ready to take full advantage of all that dense winter air.
November might be a more realistic target for certification of the SAR variant but if it creeps out beyond the end of the year then things start to get difficult. The DfT have stated that they are satisfied with Bristow’s back-up plan should the AW189 not be ready to enter service in April 2015. However, neither the DfT nor Bristow have stated what that plan is. Two versions exist in the helicopter industry rumour network. Version One involves using S-92 airframes but where those airframes are to come from is not clear. New S-92 for Sumburgh and Stornoway, before 2017, are also rumoured and if such a plan is in place then its delay might provide the necessary airframes. The S-92 version allows full Contract Lot 2 capability. This version alters the training load because of the need for S-92 aircrew who will later fly in AW189. Version Two involves using Agusta Westland AW139 SAR airframes. Two such aircraft are said to be currently in build. This is similar to the aircraft currently operated by CHC at Lee-on-Solent and Portland. This version of events is not compliant with the contract because of the aircraft’s smaller cabin and reduced radius of action so it would be expected to attract contract fines. EASA reports indicate the likelihood of a reduced type-rating course, allowing credit for prior experience on AW139, so the training load is expected to be reduced. The number of mountain rescuers carried would probably be no more than in a fully fuelled Sea King on a hot summer afternoon, except all the time. Hopefully, we will never need to know which version is correct."
Sources:
DfT/MCA/Bristow/AW/Pilot1/Pilot2/A N Other1/A N Other2