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.
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More restricted use H-60's for civilian use coming soon
- Thread starter BleedGreen
- Start date
speedroller
Rangers
I work with one of the companies listed in the article, first time I saw the UH-60 sitting in their hangar I almost fell over.
Brainerd has been flying the firehawks for close to a decade now but they acquired there's through some loop hole. They purchased them from the Hong Kong government around 2005 and have been flying them since.
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).
Makes sense. They look like -60As, but I'd believe it if you told me they were purpose built by Sikorsky for them.
I'm assuming its under the same rules as to why the USFS can operate old Cobra's in a fire support role.
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?
Isn't this about former US military H-60's and not the civilian version, the S-70? I think the S-70 can be bought no problems, it is the release of the old H-60's people are excited about (cheap ex-mil H-60's are a lot cheaper than S-70's).
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.
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.
Has the military gotten rid of many yet?
RiseR 25
Well-Known Member
I may be able to answer some questions regarding that. The rotorcraft directorate is close to my office, which probably handled that TC validation process.