Zephyr provided a system for the French Civil Security Helicopter Group to evaluate over a seven month period, which included testing in the various climatic regions in France. The evaluation report included design improvements that were requested after the field trials, and Zephyr incorporated the requested modifications and the new improved manually powered RHGSE version was the result. The new version adapts to the EC-145 which can have the hoist mounted on either side of the aircraft and several other significant improvements such as load indicating system and manual handle disengagement mechanism.
The fact that the French Civil Security Helicopter Group procured these 30 tools is best summed up in their own words:
“After a successful equipment assessment carried out for seven months between April and October 2008,
the French Civil Security Helicopter Group decided, at the end of 2009, to contract a market in the purpose
to acquiring thirty (30) Zephyr ZGS-11000-2v2 Manual RHGSE tools.
During this evaluation course, it has been noted that the RHGSE simplifies daily cable maintenance and reduces the time spent on the cable maintenance. As for the costs of maintenance, it reduces also the hoist cycles because rinsing, drying, lubrication and pre-tensioning are performed during a single up/down cycle. Moreover, it limits the technical check-out flight time TBO because the cable is conditioned on the ground.
These 30 tools, received at the end of summer 2010, are now in service in the 22 operational bases which account the French Civil Security. All mechanics which has had to use these tools are perfectly satisfied. To conclude, the Zephyr tools are perfectly adapted to the hoists preventive maintenance for French Civil Security Helicopter Group EC145.
Patrick MEYER,
Ground and flight crews instructor
French Civil Security Helicopter Group “
The successful completion of this order is significant because Zephyr has now delivered over 142 hydraulic and manually powered RHGSE within the last five years.
Zephyr has been delivering the RHGSE tools since 2005 and continues to refine the designs in order to meet customers’ expectations while at the same time reducing cost. Reducing our customer’s rescue hoist life cycle costs while improving safety is the goal of Zephyr International LLC, and we are proud to have the French Civil Security Helicopter Group as one of our valued customers.
We thank all our customers and friends for their trust in us and plan on continuing to make future advancements to enhance and facilitate the maintenance and safety of rescue hoists.
Zephyr International llc, located in Conway, SC, designs and manufactures products to support the maintenance and emergency needs of rescue hoist users worldwide with products and services using new technology and innovative designs which enhances safety and reduces maintenance costs of helicopter rescue crews. www.zephyrintl.com
Captial Logistic Services, located in Manassas, VA, is a leading supplier of value added services, specializing in purchasing, distribution and logistics management of military after-market equipment and components, required for the maintenance of complex aerospace, naval and land systems and is the purchasing platform in the US for the French
Military requirements for the ORRMA project. www.capital-logistic.com
