http://www.verticalmag.com/news/article/BHIH60HelicoptersachievesFAAtypecertificateforBlackHawkcomme
A small step in seeing more 60's in the civilian world.
A small step in seeing more 60's in the civilian world.
Those ones are operated by LA County, Cal Fire only flies the Bell205 A++. To put it simply, LA County is allowed to operate them because they're technically owned by the government and not a private entity (to put it simply).
I've never really been clear on why it's taken so long for the Hawk to be approved for a civilian market. It's been flying for over 30 years now. It's a utility helicopter, not a gunship. What's the rationale?
The way the guys at Brainerd explained it to me is that Sikorsky is not allowed to sell a civilian version because it is supposed to be exclusively used for military or government operations. That's why Brainerd is the only private corporation to own them, because they acquired them from a foreign government.
don't we have similiar rules in place for other platforms the military still operates? The same reason some Saudi prince who has more money than he knows what to do with can't just go buy an F/A 18.
I get that military aircraft have to be approved for civilian sale. What I don't get is why it's taken this long for the H-60 to be approved.
I get that military aircraft have to be approved for civilian sale. What I don't get is why it's taken this long for the H-60 to be approved.