Manufacturers Respond to Demand


Helicopter makers are in business to sell rotorcraft. So if their customers want multi- mission choppers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are more than happy to oblige.


“There’s a conscious design effort that goes into these helicopters in order to build them with that multi-mission capability in mind, including various cabin configuration layouts, flat unobstructed flooring with tracking to easily reconfigure the interior, plus an array of optional equipment such as hoists, water-dropping buckets, searchlights, and so on,” says Will Fulton,


head of marketing for Airbus Helicopters North. “For example, it’s not uncommon for a law enforcement agency to use the Airbus H-125 not only for traditional aerial police missions, but also for search and rescue, helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), aerial security for events like the Super Bowl, and disaster relief.” This same helicopter can also serve as a VIP/ passenger charter aircraft, aerial camera platform, firefighting/rescue vehicle, and long-line transport.


The ability to do so many things well translates down to the smallest helicopter platforms. For example, the Robinson family of helicopters is doing all kinds of


jobs these days. The compact R22 is being used to muster cattle in Australia and hunt big game in South Africa. The larger R44 and R66 are being used as agricultural aerial sprayers, with the R66 also being configured for news gathering and police work.


“Some missions do pair nicely just based on operating profile,” Kurt Robinson says. “For example, many tour operators obtain a Part 135 certificate allowing them to land and pick up in multiple locations and perform other commercial operations.”


Multi-mission capability is at the heart of the MD Helicopters MD 969 Twin


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Nov/Dec 2020


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