Interesting to see that 139s are still coming out of the factory with '2 band' tail rotor blades... :{

What is a 2 band tail rotor please?

2 bands = old style blades (known to fly off without the aircraft:rolleyes:)
3 bands = new improved ones (yet to fly off;))

Ha ha, ok thanks. :ok:

Why is it that Maryland seem to be able to do HEMS properly (2 pilot, IFR, twins) yet seemingly everywhere else in the States do not?

I don't know any of the details but the clue might be on the side of the aircraft: "Maryland State Police".

Couldn't see that this had been posted before; AW139 helicopter factory/manufacturing process.

Bravo73, These two machines were actually built mid last year. There are 7 completed machines at the factory waiting delivery for this customer that were completed for them in 2012.
I believe there were delays getting the Trakka searchlight certified??

Hence the -131 tail rotor blades.

Not a particularly accurate comment.

That operation has for many years flown single-pilot with minimal (if any) IFR operations.

There are a number of US HEMS who do.

:ok:

Some even have good IFR pilots!

iPad App
 

Can anyone recommend a pre-flight planning iPad App for the 139?

I am looking for something that allows me to change the aircraft configuration and basic weights, as well as applying temp and pressure for performance figures. I would like to end up with a briefing page showing wt & bal, max wt AEO, max wt OEI (OGE/IGE), fly away ht loss.

I've had a look at some EFBs but can't seem to find one that suits perfectly. Is there one?

Thanks

Don't take it as a joke, I don't like to be sarcastic.
You mean when you're not in the cockpit or the FMS isn't working?

We use an excel file.

Yeah I mean for pre-flight planning, before the flight briefing. I have most of that info available in the cockpit, but it would be quite useful to have it on an iPad for planning and briefing.

If necessary I'll make an Excel form to do it but if there is something available off-the-shelf I might buy it and save myself the heartache and headache.

Thanks

HiHover and Vaibronco, read carefully the disclosure in the RFM regarding the use of the FMS W&B page in the PERF INIT section.:=

tottigol, hihover,
to be more precise, we get gw and cg from the file, we don't have an automation that excludes cat A perf graphs reading

Apparently an AW 139 chucked a tail rotor damper in Nigeria on Sunday 24th or Monday 25th March necessitating an emergency landing.

I gather it's the second time it's happened - the photos are quite scarey. I'm guessing the pax and crew will be needing new fillings.......:uhoh:

Tottigol, thanks for the advice. I am not sure what you are getting at - I am looking for a pre-flight planning app. All the pre-flight planning calculations that I currently do on paper, I would like to do them on an iPad. If you know of an app that will enable me to do that I'd be very keen to buy it.

Thanks

Tail rotor damper?
 

Is there anybody who has pictures about the incident in Nigeria?
It will be interesting to see what's happened......:ugh:

Arcal 76. If you measure the bearing play every 25 hours and replace when the bearings are out of limits, then you shouldn't have a problem. If the bearing wears too much it binds, then it locks, then it snaps the rod end. That is why you are supposed to check the play every 25 hours.