What Heli would you recommend...
 

Hi,

I am new to this site and wondered of I can ask some of you experts for advice...


I am looking at a new project and need to use a rotary winged aircraft.


Now for the tricky bit...

I need to seat at least four, preferably more passengers in the aircraft and they must all have a good view from inside looking out...

Cruise speed of the aircraft needs to be in excess of 100kts preferably 120kts plus...

Looking for good operational costs per hour...


If anyone can help with some sensible suggestions of aircraft or operators I would be obliged... someone on another site suggested a Chinook but these aren't really up to the task...


I would need the aircraft to be located in the UK and available for ops of two or three days continuous usage in VFR conditions only, six to eight times per year, maybe more.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance.

SMF

On the details that you've given, it sounds like the EC130 could be the aircraft that you're after. There aren't many in the UK though.

Bell 407 (or 407 GX) or AS350B2 ...

JR

407. Bell customer service is better as well. :)

Phil

I'm with the other guys. That Job is asking for a Bell 407.

Stinky, does it matter if a couple of the passengers are travelling backwards? If it is not an issue, go the 407.

If they must all face forwards, go the EC130.

I never was and never will be a friend of the Aerospatiale / Eurocopter concept of having everybody sit in the cockpit.
I like my work space separated from passengers. Let them do what they do in 'their' cabin behind me.
So my vote must go to the 407, of course.
If you need to carry 6 pax or more, go for the EC145.

2 or 3 days use, 6-8 times per year?

You don't want an aircraft, you want an operator who has an aircraft otherwise your expensive asset is going to sit on the ground (costing money) for 341 days per year.

Therefore I would start with the data you give plus where you want the transport to / from and that allows you to factor in the additional cost of relocating a machine from wherever it is based, which you would have to pay in addition to the hourly cost for machine / pilot.

4 pax = R44 or EC120 or Jet Ranger territory. Cheaper to operate than flying with empty seats. This side of an A109, though, your pax are likely to need headphones so if you want unltra-refinement of being able to talk without the head gear you might be looking at an A109.

Is the impression that your pax get important? If so then an R44 looks a little less impressive than a Jet Ranger, and once inside an EC120 or EC130 looks a whole lot better and significantly more comfortable (newer design).

Why not look for an operator or two who have a range of aircraft and go pay them a visit. Seeing the machines in the flesh will give you a better idea and you can talk costs of operation.

Thanks Guys,


Forward or rearward facing seats is not a problem, might be a bonus having the rearward facing seats...


What sort of speeds are the 407's likely to fly at? I know I can google but you rarely get a page which gives you real information!









And the forum name is the nick name for my dog! (couldn't get the name I wanted!)

There are even fewer B407s on the UK register!

Have you considered a Bell 206 L4?
We have one in the hangar that might suit your requirements.

SM,
What do you want the cab to do? Is it transport, sightseeing or something a little more esoteric? The Operator's Ops Manual and AOC need to cover whatever you want to do....