LOCATIONS
MARITIME
22 Dec 14. UK Royal Navy’s RFA Fort Victoria completes £50m refurbishment. The UK Royal Navy’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria (A387) vessel has completed its £50m refurbishment at Cammell Laird’s yard in Birkenhead, UK. The refit programme is claimed to be the largest ever undertaken by Cammell Laird since the start of a five-year life support deal, signed in 2008, to maintain nine of the 13 vessels in the RFA flotilla. The deal has now been extended to 2018. Work under the ten-month overhaul involved upgrades to the main engines, machinery, pumps and pipework, in addition to the installation of new fire-detecting and fighting systems, as well as a refurbishment of living quarters. Fort Victoria’s weapons and sensors were also improved, and the 669ft hull was repainted. RFA Fort Victoria commanding officer captain Shaun Jones said: “Fort Victoria’s refit has been an immense project that will guarantee at least another 15 years of service to the Royal Navy and wider defence.” Powered by two Crossley-Pielstick diesel engines, the 204m-long transport vessel has a beam of 30m and displaces 31,565t. It cruises at a maximum speed of 22k. The RFA provides the Royal Navy with seaborne aviation training facilities and logistical support and amphibious operations potential for the Royal Marines and British Army. In addition to four MSI Defence Systems DS30B gun-mounts with Oerlikon KCB 30mm guns, the vessel is also armed with four Nato Sea Gnat decoy launchers, or BAE Systems Shield decoy launchers. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
23 Dec 14. AgustaWestland has achieved European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the Search and Rescue variant of the AW189, paving the way for the delivery of aircraft for the UK search and rescue programme. The range of kits for the SAR mission that have now been certified by EASA for the AW189 include a dual rescue hoist with camera system, search radar, high definition FLIR system, searchlight, increased capacity fuel system, Flight Management System (FMS) & Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) SAR modes, cabin mission console and various additional communication systems. The SAR variant of the AW189 has also been certified with a maximum all up mass of 8,600kg (18,959lb), an increase of 300kg (661lb), to provide increased payload. The SAR variant of the AW189 is unmatched in its class in terms of performance, range and endurance. The AW189 has a maximum cruise speed of 155knots (287 km/h) and with the increased fuel capacity has an endurance of 5 hours 40 minutes or a maximum range of 600nm (1,111km). The 11.2m3 (395 ft3) reconfigurable cabin can accommodate two stretchers and six seated survivors alongside the two rear crew with easy access via the aircraft large sliding doors. Additionally the 2.4m3 (85ft3) baggage compartment can be accessed from the cabin and used to store equipment. The cockpit design, incorporating the latest in advanced situational awareness technologies, reduces crew workload and enhances safety. The AW189 meets the very latest international regulatory safety requirements (EASA/FAA Part 29, JAR OPS 3/EU-OPS). The AW189 is unique in having a 50 minute ‘run-dry’ capable main gear box, exceeding current certification standards and offering unmatched safety and reliability for long range offshore operations. A wide spectrum of advanced support and training solutions, also including latest generation HUMS (Health Usage and Monitoring System) and Level D Full Flight Simulator, are available to AW189 operators to maximize operational effectiveness and safety. A CAE 3000 Series AW189 simulator, designed specifically to support training for search and rescue operations, will also be ready-for-training with Rotorsim, an AgustaWestland and CAE joint venture, in Aberdeen in 2015. The AW189 is part of the AgustaWestland Family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW169 and AW139 models, which possess the same high p