Firm Will Flight Test and Evaluate Airbus 565 Anti-Submarine Naval Helicopter for Military Use

SRT Helicopters received a Test Pilot Services Contract for a mystery military customer in which the firm will fully flight test and evaluate the Multi Mission Airbus 565 Panther Anti-Submarine helicopter.

The Panther is a relatively new addition to the Airbus military helicopter collection, geared towards navy and coast guard customers around the world as a single platform, do-all aircraft. The helicopter is billed as being capable of "maritime surveillance, search and rescue, patrol, counter-terrorism, counter-piracy, vertical replenishment, medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, and special operations missions."

SRT Helicopters of Bakersfield, California is a full service helo company that provides almost any service requiring a helicopter, from rotary wing aircraft training, evaluation, or hands-on flight operations. Of course, some of their work includes garden variety flight instruction, but their motto, "Real world training for real world missions" reflects their more professional focus. Specialized disaster preparedness, hoisting, and tactical training is a mainstay of their portfolio, alongside direct missions for customers requiring survey, law enforcement support, pipeline patrol, firefighting, sling loading, and other operations.

Over the last decade, their operations appear to have moved toward the provision of services for military, state, local, and federal agencies as their network of customers has expanded within the contractor system.

“This is an exciting opportunity to provide comprehensive flight-testing services and competency-based training for the flight crews of the AIRBUS 565 Panther,” said CEO, Chris Gadbois. “Mission specific training in these complex aircraft is one of our specialties. We are honored to share our expertise with our customers to enhance the safety and reliability of their programs.”

FMI: www.srthelo.com