|
|
The worldwide aeromedical industry has witnessed dramatic changes over
the last 3 decades. From the early missions of basic patient transport, it has evolved into a mature and focused industry demanding high
patient care transport capabilities while safely operating in a sophisticated airspace and regulatory system, and at low acquisition and operating
costs. The Agusta A109 Power is a product of that evolution, incorporating the finest patient care environment with an airframe tailored on todays
demands. The A109 Power has taken the light twin turbine helicopter market by storm. Since its
inception in 1997, hundreds have been sold around the world. The A 109 Power is an 8 place cabin class helicopter powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2K1
engines producing 571 horsepower for standard operation and up to a maximum of 750 horsepower per engine housed in independent fire-proof bays and
controlled by Full Authority Digital Engine Control Units giving it an impressive cruise speed of 178mph! The twin-engine design gives the pilot more
flexibility when planning routes over built-up areas, as the aircraft can operate at limited weights on a single engine; therefore even if power from
one engine is lost, the aircraft can maintain height to clear the built-up area and safely execute a one engine inoperativen (OEI) landing.
The aircraft has a “glass cockpit” with two complete sets of pilot instruments and navigation systems, including a three-axis autopilot, an auto-coupled
Instrument Landing System and a satellite-based Global Positioning System. There is also a Moving Map Display, weather radar and a Traffic Alerting
System. The rotor system comprises four main rotor blades and two tail rotor blades of composite construction. The main rotor head has elastomeric
bearings, while the tail rotor is a teetering type, both driven by conventional gearboxes. The A109 Power has two independent hydraulic circuits, driven from
the main rotor gearbox: one provides power to one side of the main servo jacks and gives servo assistance to the tail rotor, while the other services
the other side of the main jacks and powers the utility services for undercarriage movement and braking. The fuselage is in two main parts, the main
cockpit and cabin section and the tail boom.
Its spacious 123 cubic foot patient/medical attendant cabin is completely sepeated from the cockpit,
allowing two or three medical attendants full patient access to the two longitudinally loaded litters without cockpit intrusion. Both internally accessible
and external baggage space is provided. The a 109 Power boasts many features making it an excellent choice for the diverse medical transport
role. To read the full technical specificationa click here. This aircraft also plays an infamous part in
history, ultimately leading to the resignation and conviction of a NATO Secretary General in 1998,
read the full story here.
|
|
|