Two STC for the FALCO XL
Flight Structures was delighted to receive confirmation of the upgraded Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) for the FALCO XL from the Civil Aviation Authority of NZ.
The FALCO XL was originally developed in 2011 when Andy Stevenson identified the need for an aircraft with a hopper with greater capacity, larger opening and greater endurance to suit the Farmers Air terrain around Gisborne and the East Coast. Since the development and issue of the original STC, several Falcos have been in operation up and down NZ. But up until now, the FALCO upgrade was only embodied on older aircraft that were converted to agricultural use. The 2020 STC allow for embodiment in brand new aircraft with the partnership with the OEM, Pacific Aerospace Ltd.
The STC are both owned by Andy Stevenson Aviation. Partners on this significant project include Flight Structures Ltd, Andy Stevenson Aviation, Pacific Aerospace Ltd, and Hamilton Aero Maintenance. Flight Structures role was to lead the design, certification and liaison with the CAANZ.
The FALCO XL has a 3000L Hopper with a hydraulically actuated hopper lid, hydraulic gatebox, and a wire strike kit. The payload is 2200 kg and the aircraft has full factory airframe support.
If you are interested in more information about the FALCO XL please contact Andy Stevenson on +64 212 463 355 or andy@asal.co.nz
Thank you to David Roberts from Pacific Aerospace Ltd for the photos.
BK117 Fitout for Search and Rescue Services
Recently Flight Structures was involved with the refit of ZK-HEP, which can be seen all around the North Island as it covers many of the operational bases whilst other helicopters are getting serviced. The MBB -BK117 B2 made a visit to our hangar where installation occurred.
Flight Structures designed, manufactured and certified the stretcher floor and seat pillar mounts to attach the seats to the helicopter floor. We also installed the FSL designed dual equipment mount which allows installation of equipment to the rotorcraft wall fittings. In ZK-HEP a ventilator and defibrillator/monitor are attached to the mount to allow excellent in flight medical care.
The workshop team, led by Brett Purchase, worked extremely hard to a tight deadline and after less than two days it was back in service, and as this is written a week later, HEP is down in Taranaki working. As you can see some of the team liked posing with HEP……
Introducing the Firecatcher
Flight Structures are excited to be part of a new initiative to develop fire fighting aircraft. Arcus Fire, a UK based company (www.arcusfire.com) has asked Flight Structures Ltd and Pacific Aerospace Ltd (www.aerospace.co.nz) to collaborate on the development of the F-25 and F-45 Fire Catcher Single Engine Air Tanker Aircraft.
The F-45 has a 4500kg liquid payload, a new lightweight firegate with a PT6A-67F Engine. and Garmin G600 Flight Deck. For more information please refer to www.firecatcher.aero
Flight Structures in the news......
FSL feature in June 2020 edition of NZ Aviation News.
NZ Aviation News featured the Flight Structures rear cabin fitout of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust’s Leonardo AW169 in their June 2020 issue. Thanks to John King for the great photography, and to Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust for their assistance in putting this article together.
Covid Level 2 Update
I think most of the country feels relieved to be moving into Level 2 of New Zealand’s Covid19 plan on Thursday 14th May.
For our team not too much changes - although we will have more people working on site in our Design Office but some will still work remotely. If you want to visit us you will need to sign in for contact tracing and it might pay to call first in case the staff member is working off site for that day.
We have been busy through Level 3 and 4 - however we do have some capacity at the moment so if you are interested in a project or modification please contact us via phone or email or our Facebook page.
(Why the cycling photo - well a few of the team cannot wait to get back to the Avantidrome to start their track cycling again! We had two teams entered in the Corporate Challenge this year.)
Level 3 Covid19 Update
With the move to Covid19 Alert Level 3 Flight Structures moved back to normal staffing in our 148 Manufacturing Organisation. With a small skilled team there is plenty of space, fresh stocks of hand sanitiser and projects needing attention. Our design team continue to work from their home offices at Level 3. Work has continued through Level 4 on agricultural, aero medical and other projects remotely with Microsoft Teams being used for meetings and document sharing.
Level 4 has proved that we have a motivated united highly skilled team and that our IT system has coped well with the new demands placed on it. We knew this anyway of course!!
Level 4 Covid19 Update
Flight Structures are grateful for the teams in essential services keeping NZ going during these unprecedented times.
We form part of the Supply Chain keeping Essential Services operating for part of our business.
All our design team are working remotely from their isolation bubbles. They are all set up to work from their homes. They are working on ongoing and new projects.
Our workshop is open for essential services and is operating with a skeleton staff to support urgent needs. They have distancing procedures in place as well as hygiene and cleaning protocol. If necessary we have the ability to scale up for projects.
We can be contacted via email and mobile phones.
Keep safe.
The Flight Structures Team.
Video Footage of Westpac Rescue Aero Medical Fitout
Flight Structures have developed a full aero medical installation for Westpac Rescue Auckland. The kit is in use on both their AW169 aircraft. Included in the footage is the RULS Stretcher Loading System, the THRULS Hospital Rotorcraft Trolley, a Stretcher Bridge System, Oxygen System and Storage Racks. The RULS and Oxygen System both have CAANZ STC.
We thank Westpac Rescue Auckland for allowing the footage to be taken. The RULS is a zero lift system where the stretcher is in a longitudinal position during flight to enable the best patient care, and rotates to transverse for loading from a stretcher trolley.
Thanks to Daniel Greenwood of Avocado Media for capturing the footage at Auckland Hospital and Ardmore Airport. Here is a link to Daniel’s details.
BK117 Products in Stock
Over 2019 we have been working to build up our stocks of our regular BK117 Products so we can provide a faster turnaround time to our clients.
Currently in stock are the following products:
BK117 High Density Seating
BK117 Snowshoes
BK117 Hoist Adaptor System Kits
BK117 Zoll Monitor Mounts
For more information on these products and for pictures please refer to our BK117 Products Page.
If you are interested in a quote then please contact us by phone on +64-7-8431128 or via the contact button below.
Trolley developed for AW169 Medical Fitout
Flight Structures has developed a trolley to work with the RULS (Rotorcraft Utility Loading System). The trolley can be transported in the locker of the aircraft so it is available wherever and whenever needed. The trolley can take a patient or an incubator and allows smooth zero lift loading. We have named the trolley the THRULS (Trolley for Hospital Rotorcrat Utility Loading System).
As seen below the THRULS is designed to integrate with the Lifeport Stretcher.
