Page 35 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2014 Online Magazine

ROTARY

VERTICAL LIFT

Ice rescue
A Russian Ka-32A11BC aircraft, based
on the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long,
successfully evacuated 52 scientists AgustaWestland opens Seoul Office
and tourists trapped in frozen Antarctic Finmeccanica subsidiary Agusta- Korea of the AW159 Maritime Operational
ice on the Russian icebreaker Akademik Westland has opened a new office Helicopter was a coup for the company,
Shokalskiy. The ship had become locked in Seoul, South Korea. According to and marked the first export customer for
in sea ice about 1,500 nautical miles Geoff Hoon, AgustaWestland’s MD, the company’s new Lynx replacement. AW
from the coast of Australia late last International Business, the new office now has some 50 of its aircraft in Korea,
year, and despite rescue efforts from underlines the importance of the used across a range of roles including
another icebreaker, were marooned expanding Korean market. “This opening military and commercial roles across
for some time – and looked set for a is a natural progression of our recent naval applications, search and rescue,
long stay. The Ka-32 made five flights success with the AW139 in [various local] law enforcement, fire fighting and VIP/
to evacuate passengers in an operation markets,” he said. The selection by corporate transport.
lasting about 4.5 hours. Designed to
operate down to -50 degrees Celsius in
turbulent and storm-force conditions,
the aircraft has earned a strong
reputation for reliability and safety in
similar search-and-rescue missions.

Russians deliver more
China choppers
Russian Helicopters has delivered four
Mi-171E transport helicopters to Poly
Technologies of China, to be used for
a wide range of cargo work including
delivering medicines, humanitarian Airbus Helicopters in Asia
aid and construction materials as well Reflecting the importance of the SE experience first-hand how the EC175 and
as supporting rescue and emergency Asian market, Airbus Helicopters’ first EC145 T2 respond to the dynamic Asian
operations. The new Mi-171Es are production EC175 has just completed market’s requirements for heliborne
specially adapted to provide high- a three-week demo tour around Asia services,” noted Olivier Lambert,
class performance in mountainous including Malaysia, Thailand and SVP Sales and Customer Relations at
terrain. They are fitted with enhanced Vietnam. In the company of an EC145 T2, the company. The new engine EC145
VK-2500 engines and Safir auxiliary they performed for a mix of operators incorporates double Fadec Arriel 2E
power plants, and a special loading from the O&G, VIP, corporate, charter, engines and shrouded tail rotor, offering
ramp and additional sliding door make military and law enforcement markets. reduced in-flight power demand, lower
transportation tasks more efficient. “This tour enables operators to noise and vibration.

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