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Post by beagle on May 8, 2007 21:25:16 GMT 12
Any body got any new gossip or truth on whats happening with the LUH project. I thought while the dollar was riding high, it would be a good time to purchase rather than the abismal situation they got into when purchasing the NH-90. A109 or EC635  ? |
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Post by Naki on May 12, 2007 21:40:47 GMT 12
I have heard that an announcement wil be made after or as part of the budget. My bet is on the A-109LUH.
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rocco
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 71
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Post by rocco on May 13, 2007 9:56:41 GMT 12
Trans Tasman reported the following this week:
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Sioux Replacement To Be Chosen Soon
The RNZAF is expected to choose a
new training and light utility helicopter
this week to replace its Koreanwar
vintage Sioux helicopters. A
recommendation will go to Defence
Minister Phil Goff who will take it
to Cabinet. Goff says up to $110m
has been earmarked. It follows last
year’s $771m order for eight NH90s
to replace the Iroquios. Front runners
for the order are the European
consortium Eurocopter which has offered
its EC135 and 145 range. Agusta
from Italy and the US company Bell
are also understood to be offering
alternatives. The RNZAF has flown
the Sioux since 1965.
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The advertised tender had the following:
New Zealand Ministry of Defence
REQUEST FOR TENDER
TRAINING/LIGHT UTILITY HELICOPTER (T/LUH) CAPABILITY
The Ministry of Defence is managing a project to acquire a Training/Light Utility Helicopter (T/LUH) that will be employed more
broadly than as a basic training helicopter. The T/LUH will support the NH90 in the conduct of counter-terrorist or police operations. The T/LUH will also provide helicopter ab-initio and advanced helicopter pilot training, Qualified Helicopter Instructor training as well as providing a full range of crewman training tasks.
The Crown’s intention is to seek capability solutions that minimise procurement costs by maximising ‘off the shelf’ content and limiting non-recurring engineering costs, without unduly constraining a Respondents ability to offer innovative solutions.
Specifically, the T/LUH must be currently in production and have twin engines with Full Authority Digital Engine Control, a fully integrated digital cockpit utilising multi-function displays, a Flight Management System, an advanced autopilot and be capable of certification to FAR/JAR Part 27 or equivalent military standards. The helicopter must embody a secure military communications suite. The helicopter must be suitable for training pilots and aircrewmen in all day and night VFR and IFR operations including; the use of night vision goggles, the conduct of winching and the carriage of underslung loads.
The Crown has a preference for a T/LUH with a retractable wheeled undercarriage for a range of training and risk mitigation reasons,
including deck operations and conformity of lead-in training to the NH90 and SH-2G Seasprite, as well as to provide some growth potential for future maritime light utility tasks. It is envisaged that the T/LUH, at Maximum All Up Weight, will be in the 3-tonne class. The delivery of a suitable Flight Training Device is an integral requirement of the project.
The project involves the manufacture and delivery of a Training/Light Utility Helicopter and the provision of a Flight Training Device along with appropriate technical and integrated logistic support for both.
The Ministry invites companies that: have an in-production T/LUH which meets the specific capability requirements detailed in the Request For Tender (RFT) documentation; can facilitate the delivery of an appropriate Flight Training Device; and that have the skills, experience, resources and capabilities to undertake such a project, to tender for the provision of a Training/Light Utility Helicopter capability to the Crown.
The purpose of the Request For Tender is:
(a) to seek tenders in order to assess which respondents have both an in-production helicopter that meets the requirements detailed in the RFT documentation and the requisite skills, experience, resources and capabilities to provide a T/LUH capability;
(b) to allow the Ministry to conduct a competitive ‘value for money’ comparison between submitted tenders; and
(c) to allow the Ministry to identify and select those respondents to whom it will issue a best and final offer or contract proposal.
Prospective respondents should contact WGCDR Barry Nelson via email at the address below, requesting a copy of the RFT documentation. Documents will be supplied by return email and will include both PDF™ and MS Excel™ files. Hard copy documents will be provided if specifically requested, noting that both hard and electronic copies of responses will be required in due course.
Any other queries should be addressed to:
Project Team Leader (T/LUH)
Acquisition Division, Ministry of Defence
PO Box 5347, Lambton Quay
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Email: barry.nelson@defence.govt.nz Fax: +64 4 4960858
The Request For Tender for the Training/Light Utility Helicopter Capability Project closes at 12 noon (New Zealand Daylight
Time) on Monday, 15 January 2007
---
The RAN recently got a good wet-lease deal for 3 A109s to train their helicoter crews.
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Post by Naki on May 13, 2007 10:25:02 GMT 12
Since the A-109 is the only one with retractable wheeled under carriage as per the tender specs it surely must be the favourite .
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Post by Naki on May 21, 2007 22:02:07 GMT 12
Why the heck is this decision taking so long? - the Aussies would of probably ordered a dozen types covering a number squadrons in the amount of time it has taken to get a Sioux replacement. I remember reading an article from 1981 where they were looking at replacing the Sioux with AS-350s or a combat version of the Jetranger. 26 (!) years later and they still haven't made a decision.
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Post by corsair67 on May 22, 2007 14:36:59 GMT 12
Politicians don't appear to like spending money on something useful, so they procrastinate and dither about hoping that someone else will have to make the hard decision at some later date.
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Post by 30sqnatc on May 22, 2007 18:59:44 GMT 12
Why the heck is this decision taking so long? - the Aussies would of probably ordered a dozen types covering a number squadrons in the amount of time it has taken to get a Sioux replacement. I remember reading an article from 1981 where they were looking at replacing the Sioux with AS-350s or a combat version of the Jetranger. 26 (!) years later and they still haven't made a decision. Probably a bad example given the troubled history of helicopter procurement in the ADF the Sea Sprite just being the most recent example. Was the original NZ replacement not shelved when Army and Air could not agree on it role. Army wanted utility/observation as priority, Air wanted a trainer and the government would not approve the procurement without both services agreement. Actually your probably right, they just used that as an excuse to not make the decision. Paul |
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Post by beagle on May 23, 2007 12:23:44 GMT 12
been looking everywhere to se eif I can find anything, no not yet, must be anyday yet.
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Post by Calum on May 23, 2007 12:46:42 GMT 12
This really isn't just a Sioux replacement, it will be capable of much more than just pilot training.
Personally i reckon they should get around 12
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Post by beagle on May 23, 2007 13:04:58 GMT 12
12 would be nice
I can see it like this
1 each for the OPV, 4 for training, 1 for endeaver, 2 for ILM, which leaves 3 for vip/sar/army work
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rocco
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 71
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Post by rocco on May 24, 2007 19:20:53 GMT 12
12 would be nice I can see it like this 1 each for the OPV, 4 for training, 1 for endeaver, 2 for ILM, which leaves 3 for vip/sar/army work How large is the hangar on Endeavour? Am I right thinking it's too small for a SH-2? |
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Post by phil on May 24, 2007 19:34:25 GMT 12
Just out of curiosity, is there a reason this is in the Army/Navy sub board and not the RNZAF Post war one?
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 24, 2007 21:59:13 GMT 12
That's a good point Phil, it's the RNZAF that will purchase these helicopters. I'll move the thread.
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Post by phil on May 24, 2007 22:09:23 GMT 12
Purchase and operate them.
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Post by beagle on May 24, 2007 22:11:25 GMT 12
Us the Tax payer to purchase them then all 3 services to use them under operational support from the RNZAF
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 24, 2007 22:25:02 GMT 12
How many Sioux are currently in service? When I was at Wigram there were just three left. Is it still three?
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Post by beagle on May 24, 2007 22:35:05 GMT 12
They originally had 13 ??
Should have been replaced years ago
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 24, 2007 23:38:49 GMT 12
Several were crashed by the army over the years, and a few by the RNZAF. I was told that one in service was built purely from new spare parts and bits from crashed one, and had no factory number, but I somehow doubt it was in service and assume this is more likely the instructional airframe at Woodbourne would be the bitsa one(?)
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Post by beagle on May 25, 2007 6:12:41 GMT 12
Yes the instructional airframe at woodbourne is made up of various different frames.
It was put together by my old flatmate I had when living at Pub Pet Palace in Blenheim.
david oakes, aka Ocker.
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Post by 30sqnatc on May 26, 2007 16:50:20 GMT 12
Us the Tax payer to purchase them then all 3 services to use them under operational support from the RNZAF If we are really being precise, paid for by taxpayers, purchased by Ministry of Defence and operated by RNZAF in support of all three services and selected government departments as directed by the Government  |
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