EH-101 a rip snorting success?
 

ABZ P&J
New copters' North Sea success
by Jeremy Cresswell

Two EH101 helicopters are just days off completing nearly two years of trials out of Aberdeen, including North Sea evaluation flights.

Both have come through the programme with flying colours, according to Harold Cunningham, who has shepherded the aircraft through the 22-month programme which included a transatlantic sortie to Canada.

Mr Cunningham said one of the duo, PP8 (Heliliner version), had logged 3,000 hours for its gearbox system by Wednesday, while sister PP9 (maritime rescue variant) had run up 2,550 hours.

At the end of next week, they will head south for Yeovil and then on to Italy where the gearboxes will be stripped down for full inspection at Augusta, which has partnered GKN Westland throughout the EH101's development.

Both are comfortably past the 2,300 hours threshold anticipated – the equivalent of five or six years worth of service for a helicopter in RAF service.

The challenge for EH Industries – a joint venture between GKN Westland and Augusta – in the context of offshore transportation is whether there will in fact be any uptake of this powerful three-engined helicopter.

The vision 10 years ago was that it would one day replace the ageing S61N, which remains a North Sea workhorse.

But the dynamics of the North Sea have changed hugely over that time. There may not be a need for such a large unit, especially as "bus stopping" offshore workers is not much liked and currently limited in its application.

As for other offshore operations, it remains to be seen what the future holds.

A substantial number are, however, in military service and others are operating in a variety of civil maritime roles. The Japanese police are also considering using the EH101.

Twoz not that long ago (circa less than 12 months), that the 'yellow' 101 was in the 'Brintel' north hangar, having a MGB change! Perhaps this was routine, but how can they have achieved the said hours in that case??