Tue, Jun 07, 2022
Aloha to New Eurocopter BK117-850G2
Hawaii’s Maui Fire Department (MFD) has announced the imminent fielding of a new helicopter that will supplement the organization’s firefighting, rescue, and personnel transport operations.
The Eurocopter BK117-850G2–dubbed Iolani, or “royal hawk” in Hawaiian—was blessed in a May ceremony hosted by Fire Chief Bradford Ventura. Among those in attendance were Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino, County Council member Mike Molina, and representatives of several local and state agencies. The blessing itself was conducted by MFD Assistant Chief of Operations Hanale Lindo.
The Maui Fire Department contracts helicopter services from Windward Aviation, a Kahului Airport-based charter flight operator and the actual owner of the new BK 117.
The new, twin-engine Eurocopter can carry 11 passengers or haul 300-gallons of [fire suppressant] water—a threefold increase over its predecessor. The aircraft also features an increased hoist capability for lifting victims and rescuers from the ground into the aircraft.
In addition to general transport, wildlife operations, terrestrial/maritime rescue, and structural fire-fighting, the BK117–which is slated to enter service on 01 July—will help in suppressing the increasing number of wildfires MFD has faced in recent years. In 2020, the department responded to 59 brush-fires. In 2021, that number grew to 71. Through May 2022, MFD has been called upon to fight 84 such blazes.
The BK117 twin-engine, utility-transport helicopter was developed and manufactured by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm in cooperation with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. A series of mergers and acquisitions saw rights to the design pass from MBB to Daimler-Benz to Eurocopter. On 02 January 2014, Eurocopter was renamed Airbus Helicopters.
More News
Outboard Section Of The Right Wing And The Right Flap Separated In Flight And The Airplane Impacted A Farm Field Analysis: The pilot was approaching his destination airport under i>[...]
Final Approach Fix The fix from which the final approach (IFR) to an airport is executed and which identifies the beginning of the final approach segment. It is designated on Gover>[...]
"Our choice of when to respond, how to respond and on which targets to respond is a consideration that we make every time... Netanyahu also noted that anyone attacking Israel &ldqu>[...]
Estimated (EST) When used in NOTAMs “EST” is a contraction that is used by the issuing authority only when the condition is expected to return to service prior to the e>[...]
Aero Linx: Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) is the world’s largest pilot trade association representing ove>[...]
NTSB Final Report: Cessna 177B
See All