Feature 4 | HELICOPTER HANDLING
New challenges for helicopter
handling gear
As new types of helicopter continue to enter the naval market and more
navies seek to operate helicopters from smaller platforms such as corvettes
and patrol vessels, the need for flexible helicopter handling technology is
growing all the time.
M
any of the new aircraft customers to provide traversing solutions assuming larger more capable aircraft
types that are entering the for aircraft as diverse as AgustaWestland’s will be procured as their experience of
naval market are derivatives AW109 and A109 and Eurocopter’s embarked operations grows.”
of commercial, general aviation Fennec aircraft. Chapman notes that MacTaggart
aircraft, rather than aircraft developed “A growing number of navies are Scott’s versatile TRIGON system
specifically for naval duty, so embarked entering the realm of embarked provides a lightweight, easily installed
operations were not part of their original helicopter operations,” Chapman system that can readily traverse a
design criteria. explains. “Typically, these navies are multiplicity of aircraft types with no
In the last 12-18 months alone, looking to operate lightweight helicopters requirement for any modification to the
reports Alan Chapman, Sales Engineer from corvettes and patrol vessels. The aircraft, and is thus an appealing solution
at MacTaggart Scott & Co Ltd in the smaller size of these vessels demands a in this emerging, growing market.
UK, MacTaggart Scott has worked with low weight installation combined with Navies are seeking greater flexibility
a number of shipbuilders and naval flexibility to ‘future proof ’ the vessel, in their embarked operations, notes
Manufacturers of helicopter handling gear are having to ensure that their equipment can handle an ever more diverse range of aircraft,
and do so on smaller platforms.
26 Warship Technology March 2009
WT_Mar09_p26+28.indd 1 3/4/09 9:39:33 PM
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