PP9, the pre-production civil utility variant of the Anglo-Italian EH101 helicopter, returned to its Aberdeen, Scotland, base on Tuesday September 28, after successfully completing its first transatlantic tour. Since its departure from Aberdeen on August 30, the aircraft has completed more than 110 flying hours and covered over 8,000 miles. Total flying time for the 2,500 mile flight from Canada's North West Territories was 18 hours at a steady 150 knots, with re-fuelling stops at Godthab, Narssarssuak and Kulusuk in Greenland, Reykjavic, Iceland, and Vagar in the Faeroes. The aircraft, has been in Canada for the past four weeks as part of a familiarisation tour. Canada has ordered 15 EH101 Cormorant variants for use in a search and rescue role around Canada's notoriously rugged terrain. Arriving at Iqualuit in North West Canada on September 1, the aircraft made its way via Goose Bay and Gander to Shearwater in Halifax, where it took part in the Nova Scotia International Airshow from September 10-12. From there it flew on to Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa. At each venue, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, industrialists, politicians and others were able to see at first hand, and for the first time, Canada's next generation search and rescue aircraft. A total of 70 demonstration sorties were carried out at eight separate locations in 15 days, with more than 600 passengers flown. The aircraft achieved 100% availability throughout and required minimal attention apart from routine maintenance. Captain Jerry Tracy was enthusiastic about the aircraft's performance. "That a pre-production aircraft, without any special preparation, can undertake a transatlantic crossing, carry out an intensive programme of transits, demonstration flights and displays and then fly back across the Atlantic, all without incident and with 100% availability, is a tribute to the in-built safety and reliability of the EH101," Tracy said. "Those that flew the aircraft - and some 80 or so Canadian pilots did during the course of the tour - and those that flew in it, all acknowledged that this aircraft is a step function improvement on current in-service helicopters. We were delighted to be able to demonstrate to the military, to politicians and industrialists, and to the Canadian people that they have made the right decision in choosing the Cormorant." PP9 is one of two aircraft that are undertaking a 6,000 flying hour intensive flight operations programme to prove the reliability and maintainability of the aircraft through a series of simulated military and civil flight sorties. Typically, the aircraft fly for six hours a day, six days a week, and PP9 will continue with this programme in Aberdeen until the summer of 2000. The 15 EH101 Cormorants ordered by Canada are being built at Agusta's Vergiate, Italy, assembly facility and once completed will self-ferry to Canada. The transatlantic crossings will provide useful route proving information for the first of those flights which takes place early in 2001.
