What is a twin-engined helo allowed to do that a single isn't?

[hugh flung_dung]

I'm a fixed-wing guy but someone has just asked a question to which I can't instantly find an answer.
A business needs a helo to fly directors to site meetings in Western Europe (primarily UK, France and Ireland), they think they need a twin but are being challenged that this is too extravagant and a single would be OK. Where can I/they find a definitive statement on the single-engine restrictions that would not be relevant with a twin?

HFD

[mfriskel]

Continue flight to a more suitable landing area with one engine inop.

[Earl of Rochester]

Check List:

• Corporate Policy: Many large companies/organisations have policies restricting their personnel (in particular directors) from flying in single engine aircraft.
• Over Water: Is the flight going to traverse large expanses of water? Twin (reliability and one engine inoperative) performance is considered safer.
• Landing Area: Is the flight going into a built-up area such as a roof top helipad. Only twins are certified for this.
• IMC/VFR: Only twins are certified for IFR P/T.

And there are many other considerations which fellow Rotorheads shall doubtless expand upon.

Earl

[hands_on123]

Where does the UK/JAR "twin only" mentality come from?

[heli-mad]

Hi,

Mainly is IFR for puplic transopt. If the business wants to fly directors only a twin(fair size aswell to fly in europe..) can fit the bill

See A109, AS365 etc

H-M

[hugh flung_dung]

Thanks folks - roof-top helipad ops may be the clincher (if they own the helo then P/T IFR restrictions aren't going to be a concern).

HFD

[delta3]

- it is allowed to be more expensive

- it is allowed to have a higher specifique fuel consumption

- it is allowed to have a lower useful load

- it is allowed to have a very complex gearbox

m2c

[Shell Management]

It is not just the engines. You need an aircraft equipped for the job and suitable crew.
BBC News | UK | Pilot 'unable to control' Harding helicopter
Amazing how millonaires can skimp.

[ShyTorque]

If you want a serious business machine that can be relied on in European weather you need an IFR equipped aircraft that is allowed to fly IFR.

If you rely on VFR you will often be looking for another means of transport for your passengers, even in summer. Would you want high value passengers being flown in marginal weather, below cloud, or instead flown above MSA, in relatively straight lines?

It's not just the fact that twins have a fly away capability in the event of an engine failure, when flown to the correct profiles and weights. They also have duplicated electrical systems, generators, gyros and instrumentation and more sophisticated stabilisation systems, which can include auto ILS etc.

[ReverseFlight]

... roof top helipad. Only twins are certified for this.

Correct for the UK, but FAA allows S/E choppers for rooftop ops, otherwise Frank won't be selling his rooftop helipad kit.