Simplex Aerospace has announced that it has received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certificate (STC) for an internal fire attack system (FAS) for the Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk. The Model 370i FAS is certified for installation and operation on the Timberline Helicopters Inc. TC type.
Simplex will be working quickly to add additional Black Hawk type certificates to the Model 370i FAS approved model list (AML). The Model 370i FAS is the first, and only FAA-certified internal FAS for the Black Hawk helicopter developed primarily for restricted category civil aerial firefighting operators and requires no modifications to the aircraft structure.
The 900-gallon internal tank system utilizes a single dispersal door that drops water/foam through the cargo hook well. The internal tank system is made from a proprietary lightweight composite matrix that provides superior corrosion and fatigue resistance compared to metal tanks. The tank utilizes a 1,000-gallon-per-minute hover refill system and has dual ground fill ports for increased flexibility and safety during ground filling operations.
Mark Zimmerman, Simplex Aerospace president and CEO, stated, “We have incorporated several enhancements to create a safe and effective firefighting system for the Black Hawk aircraft. Specifically, the ability to perform aerial firefighting missions at night, and the addition of our patent-pending AFT Hook System with pilot release control for increased safety. The AFT hook allows for faster VNE when the pump is stowed and eliminates the need for a person to manually release the hover pump for hover refill operations. Additionally, a camera system replaces conventional mirrors to observe hover refill operation.”
Larry Lichtenberger, executive vice president, added: “The Model 370i Fire Attack System can be installed and removed in approximately 15 minutes facilitating rapid response and multi-mission flexibility for our customers.”
Founded in 1946, Simplex has built a reputation as the leader in design, manufacturing, and certification of aerial application systems and mission equipment for helicopters. Simplex maintains its industry leadership by incorporating the latest technology in designing and manufacturing systems from high-strength, low-weight composite materials to produce reliable and cost-effective solutions for firefighting, agriculture, utility maintenance, and other aerial applications.
