Approval Granted for the Airbus H145 D-2 and D-3 Models

With an impressive line-up of over 1,500 STC's and five-thousand products, Montreal-based DART Aerospace offers a comprehensive portfolio of aftermarket products, aeronautical accessories, spare parts, and services for civil and military operators, all major rotorcraft OEMs, completion centers, and MRO facilities.

DART's principal products include: aerial firefighting systems, emergency flotation systems, landing gear components, tools and ground support equipment, interior and exterior accessories, cargo expansion, windows and doors, cable cutters, engine and drive systems, and external load equipment.

On 30 May 2023, Dart announced its FAA STC for the Model 311 GII Fire Attack System (FAS) has been amended to include installation on Airbus’s H145 (MBB BK-117) D-2 and D-3 helicopter models as well as the previously approved C-2 model.

The Model 311 GII FAS is an aerial firefighting system designed to mount to the underside of the aforementioned Airbus helicopter models. The architecture features a foam system capable of converting payloads of water into fire retardant foam (surfactant, Class A) as needed during missions, two hydraulically actuated drop doors, and a hover refill system which by which crews may refill the system’s water tank while hovering over an open water source.

By way of specifications, DART Aerospace’s Model 311 GII Fire Attack System, P/N 311-000001 features a fire-retardant (H2O/surfactant) capacity of 260-gallons, a foam capacity of 14-gallons, and a hover refill rate of 450-gallons-per-minute. The system’s empty weight is 566-pounds.

Rotorcraft retrofitted with the system are Vne limited to 125-knots.

DART vice-president of sales and marketing Ryan Williamson stated: “DART is excited to obtain expanded FAA certification for the Model 311 GII, this is a direct response to strong customer demand for the Airbus H145 D?3 rotorcraft.”

Mr. Williamson set forth that the obtainment of broadened certification for its Model 311 GII Fire Attack System evinces DART’s commitment to producing the market’s most advanced certified aerial firefighting equipment.

DART Aerospace Fire Attack Systems are utilized globally by aerial firefighting concerns. The company’s systems—by dint of their exceptional safety, efficiency, and durability—are relied upon by government firefighting agencies, private operators, and OEMs.

FMI: www.dartaerospace.com