Post by Antonio on Jun 3, 2023 10:42:58 GMT 12
From the Asia Pacific Defemce Reporter:
Link: asiapacificdefencereporter.com/from-the-magazine-top-of-the-league-new-zealands-nh90-experience/
From the Magazine: TOP OF THE LEAGUE-NEW ZEALAND’S NH90 EXPERIENCE
by Tim Fish
This is an excerpt from APDR. You need to log in to read the full story but the traser makes for interesting reading.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) operates a fleet of eight Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) variants of the NH90 helicopter, which reside under the command of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF’s) 3 Squadron located at RNZAF Base Ohakea alongside five A109 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). 3 Squadron is currently able to maintain 10 of its 12 helicopter crews to man the NH90s, each crew consisting of two pilots and a loadmaster.
European consortium NH Industries builds and supports NH90 helicopter fleets worldwide and it delivered the RNZAF’s units from 2012-2014. Since 2015 when the NH90s replaced the RNZAF’s 12 ageing UH-1H Iroquois helicopters the fleet has been able to achieve relatively high levels of aircraft availability. The latest statistics provided by the NZDF are that in 2022-23 the NH90s attained an average fleet serviceability of 75 percent and in February 2023 the fleet achieved an average 23 flying hours per aircraft.
This is up from the 2021-22 average of 71 per cent and far in excess of the levels of fleet availability achieved by other NH90 operators, which according to NHI averages at just 40 per cent. Generally, 3 Squadron usually has about five aircraft available for day to day operations, one will be in deep maintenance and another one or two aircraft in unscheduled maintenance. The Chief of Air Staff at NZDF HQ, Air Commodore AJ Woods, told APDR that the cost per flight hour for the RNZAF NH90s is NZ$1,400 and does not include workshop maintenance, salaries, depreciation and capital charges.
RNZAF Logistics Commander (Air) Group Captain Susie Barns told APDR: “Our NH90 fleet availability rates are largely due to our deliberate maintenance planning and forecasting, which in turn delivers serviceable aircraft to meet outputs. This maintenance team includes NZDF military, civilian and Airbus contractor staff. The RNZAF has the highest availability rates across the NH90 user community globally.”
Crews on a NH-90 helicopters headed out to Tutira, north of Napier, to drop off key supplies like water and food to the isolated communities 17.02.23.
(NZDF photo)
Further. Link: venturaapdr.partica.online/apdr/apdr-may-2023/features/top-of-the-league-new-zealands-nh90-experience
Link: asiapacificdefencereporter.com/from-the-magazine-top-of-the-league-new-zealands-nh90-experience/
From the Magazine: TOP OF THE LEAGUE-NEW ZEALAND’S NH90 EXPERIENCE
by Tim Fish
This is an excerpt from APDR. You need to log in to read the full story but the traser makes for interesting reading.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) operates a fleet of eight Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) variants of the NH90 helicopter, which reside under the command of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF’s) 3 Squadron located at RNZAF Base Ohakea alongside five A109 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). 3 Squadron is currently able to maintain 10 of its 12 helicopter crews to man the NH90s, each crew consisting of two pilots and a loadmaster.
European consortium NH Industries builds and supports NH90 helicopter fleets worldwide and it delivered the RNZAF’s units from 2012-2014. Since 2015 when the NH90s replaced the RNZAF’s 12 ageing UH-1H Iroquois helicopters the fleet has been able to achieve relatively high levels of aircraft availability. The latest statistics provided by the NZDF are that in 2022-23 the NH90s attained an average fleet serviceability of 75 percent and in February 2023 the fleet achieved an average 23 flying hours per aircraft.
This is up from the 2021-22 average of 71 per cent and far in excess of the levels of fleet availability achieved by other NH90 operators, which according to NHI averages at just 40 per cent. Generally, 3 Squadron usually has about five aircraft available for day to day operations, one will be in deep maintenance and another one or two aircraft in unscheduled maintenance. The Chief of Air Staff at NZDF HQ, Air Commodore AJ Woods, told APDR that the cost per flight hour for the RNZAF NH90s is NZ$1,400 and does not include workshop maintenance, salaries, depreciation and capital charges.
RNZAF Logistics Commander (Air) Group Captain Susie Barns told APDR: “Our NH90 fleet availability rates are largely due to our deliberate maintenance planning and forecasting, which in turn delivers serviceable aircraft to meet outputs. This maintenance team includes NZDF military, civilian and Airbus contractor staff. The RNZAF has the highest availability rates across the NH90 user community globally.”
Crews on a NH-90 helicopters headed out to Tutira, north of Napier, to drop off key supplies like water and food to the isolated communities 17.02.23.
(NZDF photo)
Further. Link: venturaapdr.partica.online/apdr/apdr-may-2023/features/top-of-the-league-new-zealands-nh90-experience
