Onboard Systems Awarded Contract for EC145T2 Cargo Hook Kit by Airbus Helicopters

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Onboard Systems International, Inc., a leading provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, today announced that it has been awarded a contract from Airbus Helicopters to provide the cargo hook kit for the EC145T2 beam system. The new beam system will use a single or dual-hook configuration of Onboard’s TALON® LC Hydraulic cargo hook.

The cargo hook beam system can be installed as a dual-hook, Human External Cargo (HEC) certified configuration, or as a single-hook, non-HEC configuration. The dual-hook configuration will have a weight rating of 800 KG (1,764 LB), and the single-hook configuration will have a weight rating of 1,600 KG (3,527 LB). The forward hook in the dual-configuration is the HEC back-up hook, so operators can readily switch between HEC and non-HEC external load operations by simply installing a guard cover over the front hook. In addition, the dual-hook system will have a release lever that can open each hook individually.

The new beam system will feature the TALON LC Hydraulic Cargo Hook, which offers a hydraulically activated secondary release system. As with all TALON cargo hooks, in emergency load situations it can release up to 2.5 times the rated load of 1,600 KG (3,527 LB). The system will be designed with modular, interchangeable components to simplify installation, maintenance and upgrade procedures.

Airbus Helicopters also plans to certify the same beam system on the EC135 aircraft. At that point, operators who have both EC135 and EC145T2 aircraft in their fleet will able to interchange the cargo hooks between these two aircraft models. For example, if a cargo hook on an operator’s EC135 is removed for maintenance, a hook from their EC145T2 aircraft can be swapped in. Operators will also be able to upgrade from a single-hook to a dual-hook installation by purchasing and installing additional components to their common beam configuration.

About Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters, formerly Eurocopter, is a division of Airbus Group, a global pioneer in aerospace and defense related services. Airbus Helicopters is the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer and employs more than 23,000 people worldwide. With 46 percent market share in civil and parapublic sectors, the company’s fleet in service includes some 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in approximately 150 countries. Airbus Helicopters’ international presence is marked by its subsidiaries and participations in 21 countries, and its worldwide network of service centers, training facilities, distributors and certified agents. Airbus Helicopters’ range of civil and military helicopters is the world’s largest; its aircraft account for one third of the worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. The company’s chief priority is to ensure the safe operation of its aircraft for the thousands of people who fly more than 3 million hours per year.

About Onboard Systems

Onboard Systems International, Inc. designs and manufactures a complete line of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment under its TALON® brand, including belly hooks, cargo hook suspension systems, Onboard Weighing Systems and remote hooks. Its low-weight, high quality products provide helicopter operators with increased cost efficiencies and safety through customer-driven designs, responsive service and support, and low ongoing maintenance costs. Onboard Systems maintains a rigorous quality management system (QMS) designed to meet or exceed the strict requirements of AS9100 Revision C, ISO 9001:2008, helicopter airframe manufacturers, and the FAA. Founded in 1975, Onboard Systems is a privately held US corporation located in Vancouver, Washington.  

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Contact: Sheri Gormley, 360-546-3072