The Met's EC145s are about to go Operational!
A BBC news report about the EC145s, short and in laymans terms.
http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk...?videokey=1627
Heliport sorry if this has been posted before, but if it has I missed it. Feel free to delete this if so.
V.
http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk...?videokey=1627
Heliport sorry if this has been posted before, but if it has I missed it. Feel free to delete this if so.
V.
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METS nice new exspensive aircraft's
On a serious note good luck to any ASU that can get the funding for the best equipment on the market whether that be aircraft/cameras or any roll equipment.
However it does annoy me that our ASU have to find a 10% cut in our budget next year this will be on top of increased operating costs, you can see our UEO has a tough job to find savings and upgrade equipment at the same time.
I know that each force control's it's own business plan,but this must advocates a national Air support wing where individual forces are not having to fight the bean counters, that have no knowledge of Air Support.
Sadly it only takes a Chief Constable that is Anti Air Support to put your unit behind the technology curve for some years.
Sorry probably gone off thread subject slightly.
However it does annoy me that our ASU have to find a 10% cut in our budget next year this will be on top of increased operating costs, you can see our UEO has a tough job to find savings and upgrade equipment at the same time.
I know that each force control's it's own business plan,but this must advocates a national Air support wing where individual forces are not having to fight the bean counters, that have no knowledge of Air Support.
Sadly it only takes a Chief Constable that is Anti Air Support to put your unit behind the technology curve for some years.
Sorry probably gone off thread subject slightly.
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Daft bat
I was recently informed from a very good source that the Met's new EC145s do not have FADEC installed? Can any fellow Ppruners shed any light on to this and to the reason why?
I can only guess that it to save on weight for the AUTW and taking into consideration the police role equipment.
If the above is true, where the old and defunct AS355Ns could be started and airbourne within 2 minutes, so I was told, now it takes 4 minutes to get the new EC145s manually started and airbourne.
Lastly, I understand the new aircraft have the night sun and camera fitted towards the front of the skids. Not sure which way around, however due to the postion on the skids the nightsun or camera can not be used at the same time which I find odd, considering the new a/c are "state of the art machines" and at the present are suppose to be the most sophisticated police helicopters in the world.
I am very much interested to hear from people "in the know" and what they think of the equipment setup if true?
Captain Cop!
I can only guess that it to save on weight for the AUTW and taking into consideration the police role equipment.
If the above is true, where the old and defunct AS355Ns could be started and airbourne within 2 minutes, so I was told, now it takes 4 minutes to get the new EC145s manually started and airbourne.
Lastly, I understand the new aircraft have the night sun and camera fitted towards the front of the skids. Not sure which way around, however due to the postion on the skids the nightsun or camera can not be used at the same time which I find odd, considering the new a/c are "state of the art machines" and at the present are suppose to be the most sophisticated police helicopters in the world.
I am very much interested to hear from people "in the know" and what they think of the equipment setup if true?
Captain Cop!
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Thomas coupling
Thank you for the quick response with the requested information.
Just for my knowledge, what's MEGAS and how does it differ from FADEC?
CAPTAIN COP!
Just for my knowledge, what's MEGAS and how does it differ from FADEC?
CAPTAIN COP!
Tightgit
FADEC is an electronic engine control system.
MEGHAS is the acronym used by Eurocopter to describe the Glass Cockpit Flight and Navigation instrumentation with which the Mets EC145s are fitted.
MEGHAS is the acronym used by Eurocopter to describe the Glass Cockpit Flight and Navigation instrumentation with which the Mets EC145s are fitted.
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Captain Cop
You are correct that the Met 145's have their camera and SX16 mounted on the front of the aircrafts skids. This is a similar fit to the Strathclyde Police 135 fit, one of the advantages of this is they still have the low skid configuration and don't have the problem with skid in the picture from the FLIR camera.
I do believe that the McAlpines pod has great uses, however the way forward for them is to try and slim it down and try and get the 135 back on the low skids to reduce the drag factor and aid the pilot from getting the skid in the middle of the picture just when you don't want it there.
I find it surprising that they cannot operate the camera and the SX16 at the same time, hopefully one of the Met observer can throw some light on this.
Overall they look a nice machine and it was good to see that they followed the home office paint scheme.
I do believe that the McAlpines pod has great uses, however the way forward for them is to try and slim it down and try and get the 135 back on the low skids to reduce the drag factor and aid the pilot from getting the skid in the middle of the picture just when you don't want it there.
I find it surprising that they cannot operate the camera and the SX16 at the same time, hopefully one of the Met observer can throw some light on this.
Overall they look a nice machine and it was good to see that they followed the home office paint scheme.
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Captain Cop,
The issue of whether or not an aircraft is fitted with FADEC or not is not really an accessory or delete option for the operator - it is an essential element in the very guts of the aircraft and its certification. The EC 145 is, in terms of its certification, a BK117 C2 - a development of the BK117. It is not a new type, like the EC135.
The AS355N was a very quick aircraft to start and get airborne in the police role - probably the quickest. The FADEC checks happen in a few seconds. By comparison, the FADEC checks on the EC135 take a little longer. The earlier EC135s just had the FADEC delay, which occurred before engine start. However, on the later EC135s, there is another delay after start, whilst the glass cockpit displays and all the SPIFR gubbins checks itself. This is the MEGHAS referred to earlier.
I guess that the manual engine start on the EC145/BK117C2 will be fairly quick, but they may need to wait for the MEGHAS after start, like the EC135. CPDS.
The issue of whether or not an aircraft is fitted with FADEC or not is not really an accessory or delete option for the operator - it is an essential element in the very guts of the aircraft and its certification. The EC 145 is, in terms of its certification, a BK117 C2 - a development of the BK117. It is not a new type, like the EC135.
The AS355N was a very quick aircraft to start and get airborne in the police role - probably the quickest. The FADEC checks happen in a few seconds. By comparison, the FADEC checks on the EC135 take a little longer. The earlier EC135s just had the FADEC delay, which occurred before engine start. However, on the later EC135s, there is another delay after start, whilst the glass cockpit displays and all the SPIFR gubbins checks itself. This is the MEGHAS referred to earlier.
I guess that the manual engine start on the EC145/BK117C2 will be fairly quick, but they may need to wait for the MEGHAS after start, like the EC135. CPDS.
"The EC 145 is, in terms of its certification, a BK117 C2 - a development of the BK117. It is not a new type, like the EC135."
According to EASA proposals, the C2 is sufficiently different enough, mechanically, to warrant a separate engineering type rating to the A', B's and the C1.
According to EASA proposals, the C2 is sufficiently different enough, mechanically, to warrant a separate engineering type rating to the A', B's and the C1.
Avoid imitations
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The AS355N was a very quick aircraft to start and get airborne in the police role - probably the quickest.
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The EC145 does not have FADEC but comes with an automatic start for both engines. Not exactly sure how it works but would assume it is like a lot of turbine engines that are started hands off by means of a set of relays on a timer box (to poorly describe it). You start it and then use VARTOMS (VAriable Rotor and TOrrque Matching System) that you use to match torques (unlike the beep switches on the BK) and set the rotor RPM. I believe that the RRPM can be wound down to reduce noise (that is the PR but I haven't witnessed it so remain a sceptic). MEGHAS refers to the glass cockpit only.
Not sure how long each engine takes to start but it won't be airborne in less than 47 seconds. Shytorque, the crewroom must be parked very close to the helo and your straps must be self tightening to make it airborne in that time. Good job.
Not sure how long each engine takes to start but it won't be airborne in less than 47 seconds. Shytorque, the crewroom must be parked very close to the helo and your straps must be self tightening to make it airborne in that time. Good job.
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As for the existing 3 x AS355N they're now out of service and awaiting their fate?
and they have appeared on a brokers website so finally appear to be up for sale, one careful owner never raced or rallied.
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Yes, they are parked up in the open at Lippitts Hill - within the whole site, but a little away from the helipad. If you know the area, or have an OS map handy, you can see them from the adjacent public footpath
