DISPELLING COMMON CRFT MISCONCEPTIONS
One of the most common misconceptions is that the lead time to receive a CRFT from StandardAero is a year or more, Hessberger said. There were some lead time constraints in the early rollout phases as Robertson was ramping up the production line. But today, operators can expect to receive their CRFTs within 60 to 90 days, if not sooner.
Another misconception is that the operator will incur a large weight penalty. Although the addition of the CRFT will increase the empty weight of the aircraft by approximately 50 pounds, some of the most weight-sensitive operators such as air ambulances have been able to adjust. As an example, Air Methods, the world’s largest air ambulance operator, has been one of the most proactive customers. It has retrofitted most of its fleet with the StandardAero/Robertson CRFT.
“I am pleased to say, we have been very impressed overall with the end product that StandardAero and Robertson were able to deliver, which has significantly improved the safety of our crews and passengers, giving them confidence in the solution we chose,” said Leo Morrissette, EVP of operations for Air Methods. “The engineered durability of the tank, in combination with a number of ease-of-maintenance and airframe and equipment compatibility considerations that they built into the design, have brought an exceptional level of quality and safety to the aircraft.”
Bill York, Robertson’s director of engineering, said the helicopter industry needs a culture change that starts with education. “If you tell someone born after 2000 that cars didn’t used to have seat belts, they would think you are crazy,” York said. “So there has to be a cultural shift in what the pilots, regulators, operators, and insurers expect from a safety equipment standpoint, and that will take time.”
York hopes that through awareness, the culture will change and CRFS will become as common in the future as seatbelts in cars are today.
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