UAE Command Selects AW609 Tiltrotor for Search and Rescue

AIN online ^ | November 10, 2015 | Bill Carey

[sukhoi-30mki]

The UAE Joint Aviation Command (JAC) will acquire three AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotors for search and rescue missions, the command announced on November 10 at the Dubai Airshow. The JAC will be the launch customer for the SAR variant of the twin-engine tiltrotor.

The JAC’s selection of the AW609 gives the program a needed boost following the October 30 crash of an AW609 prototype in Italy that claimed the lives of two crewmembers. UAE military officers did not express concern about the aircraft during the press conference.

Plans call for deliveries to the JAC to begin in 2019. The command also has options for three additional tiltrotors. It currently operates 11 AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters for various missions, including SAR. With 275-knot maximum speed and 750 nm range, the AW609 promises to provide twice the speed and twice the range of a conventional helicopter.

“The ability of the aircraft gives us flexibility between rotary- and fixed-wing (aircraft,), said Maj. Gen. Abdul al-Hashmi, who announced the selection. “It gives you a better mission capability for search and rescue.” AgustaWestland CEO Daniele Romiti appeared with UAE military officers at the announcement.

The JAC’s selection of the AW609 followed a November 9 announcement that the UAE Air Force will acquire two Bombardier Global 6000-based airborne early warning aircraft from Sweden’s Saab. That transaction is valued at $1.27 billion, including upgrades to two existing Saab 340 Erieye aircraft.

[sukhoi-30mki]

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

Although I believe the tiltrotor offers performance far superior to any conventional helicopter in terms of speed and range, I’ve never thought that SAR—particularly water rescue—was not the optimum mission for them. Sure, search range and response times will be improved, but hoist or winch operations from the hovering tiltrotor will be challenging because of the more intense rotor downwash. BTDT, and I wouldn’t envy an injured survivor. Better than swimming with sharks though.

TC

[Captain Rhino]

I was still on active duty when the Marine Corps began developing the MV-22 in the late 1980s as the third leg of the Over-the Horizon/Operational Maneuver From the Sea(OTH/OMFTS) triad (LCAC/AAAV (later EFV)/Tiltrotor). At the time, I felt that one of the more interesting uses for the MV-22 was casualty evacuation to either theater hospitals or to hospital ships. It had the speed and range to bypass the time consuming collection of casualties for aeromedical evacuation on fixed wing aircraft and take the critically wounded directly to the facility. It also had enough carrying capacity (in terms of litters and attendants)to make using the aircraft in this role productive.

Semper Fi (especially today!)

[dila813]

This one seems like it is extremely downsized, the cabin looks very small compared to the v-22

[bert]

I recently followed one of those or something just like it, south on I 81. it was quite low. the runway parallels the interstate

to my amazement it flew to the end of the runway just south of the country airport near wytheville virginia and sort of hovered allowing me to catch up, dipped to the ground and then rose and flew down the runway.

It was apparently making touch and goe’s at this remote and little used air port

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

The deployed Osprey squadrons in the sandbox validated your observation on a daily basis. Medevac/CASVAC from an LZ are the strength of the MVs “Golden Hour” ops are viewed as a high-priority. Plenty of warfighters owe their lives to the V-22.

TC

[thackney]

erformance far superior to any conventional helicopter in terms of speed and range, I’ve never thought that SAR—particularly water rescue—was not the optimum mission for them

- - - - - - -

It seems that speed and range are rather important for SAR. Time to target, time to spend at target searching for survivors...

[thackney]

Also available for private use.

Everything You Need To Know About The First Civilian Tilt Rotor Aircraft
http://flightclub.jalopnik.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-first-civilian-ti-1689618757?trending_test_c&utm_expid=66866090-62.H_y_0o51QhmMY_tue7bevQ.3&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Now, AgustaWestland is on pace to begin production of the AW609, the first civilian tilt-rotor, at its plant in Philadelphia while moving most of the flight test activity from Italy to the U.S.

The unique characteristics of the AW609 TiltRotor combine the benefits of a helicopter and a fixed-wing airplane into one aircraft. The AW609 will be able to take off and land vertically as well as fly above adverse weather conditions with up to nine people in a pressurized cabin at twice the speed and range typical of helicopters. It represents the next generation of aircraft transport for civil, government, and para-public roles.

[Captain Rhino]

The Bell prototype/technology demonstrator preceding the V-22 was about the size of the Augusta:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_XV-15

[publius911]

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