Expensive to change equipment?

[heliwatcher]

How expensive is it to change a helicopter from an offshore configuration to a SAR or EMS role?

Any thoughts about how much excess capacity in offshore could be used in other roles?

Thanks!

[whoknows idont]

How long is a piece of string?

[nowherespecial]

Depends what kind of kit and whether you're installing an off the shelf fit for EMS or custom.

Hint - off the shelf is cheaper.

Anywhere from $0 (rip seats out and use hardpoints to lock down stretchers) up to $1m depending (full EMS including rotating stretcher points and defibs etc).

Also depends a lot on the ac type. Some ac (EC135) are basically born to do this kind of work. Moding an S92 would be harder because of size/ scale.

As whoknows alludes to, depends on your exact requirement and what you/ your customer wants as to how 'long' your budget needs to be.

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

The most difficult aspect would be convincing somebody that they need an extra SAR/HEMS aircraft - not much point in re-roling O&G aircraft unless a definite need for airframes in another role has been identified. And if a definite need has been identified, does the requirement call for a large aircraft or a smaller cheaper one?

[Kulwin Park]

I would think just standard labour rates, and loads of paperwork for someone.
But there are plenty of S76's going around from offshore that would make great EMS machines

[heliwatcher]

I should have been more precise in my question. How much would it be for a S76?

[tottigol]

Depends, the FAA only requires a stretcher and O2 to make a helicopter into a basic ambulance.
There are companies that specialize in designing and completing aeromedical interiors: Metro in Louisiana, Air Methods in Colorado and I believe what used to be Edwards & Associates in Tennessee among others.
Won't be cheap though!