Geophysical Survey Aircraft
Eurocopter AS 350 B3

Registration:  C-GSGH
Serial #:  3748

The AS 350 B3 is a modern high performance light helicopter powered by a turbomeca Arriel 2B turbine engine. It has been outfitted for low level airborne geophysical surveys. Sensors are carried either internally or externally in towed "birds" on a cable. Its endurance is between two and four hours depending on the survey configuration. Its performance and effectiveness has been proven on numerous projects in Canada, Central America, and Africa.

EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3 SPECIFICATIONS

Crew Capacity:
  • Pilot and one operator
General:
  • Fuselage comprising of the cabin and 3 luggage holds, cargo tie-down net and access doors.
  • Tail boom with stabilizer, extended anti-torque rotor and fin.
  • High skid landing gear capable of taking handling wheels.
Systems:
  • Dual flight controls, 3 main rotor and 1 tail rotor hydraulic servo units
  • Main rotor with 3 composite-material blades around a Starflex head
  • Tail anti-torque rotor with two composite-material blades
  • Cargo hook with electric and manual releases
Power Plant:
  • One turbomeca Arriel 2B turbine engine rated at 857 shaft horsepower (shp) for take-off and 790 shp for maximum continuous use
Maximum Endurance (with 20 min reserve):
  • At recommended cruise speed:  2 hours and 32 minutes
  • At maximum endurance speed (55 knots):  4 hours

Dimensions:

Length (including rotor) 42 ft 5 in 12.94 m
Width 8 ft 4 in 2.53 m
Height 10 ft 11 in 3.33 m


Weights:

Empty 3,022 lb 1,371 kg
Maximum gross weight 4,961 lb 2,250 kg
Useful load 1,939 lb 879 kg
External load gross weight 6,173 lb 2,800 kg
Maximum external load 3,086 lb 1,400 kg


Performance (sea level, standard day, maximum take off weight):

Maximum speed 155 kt 287 km/h
Fast cruise speed 142 kt 262 km/h
Recommended (economical) cruise speed 124 kt 230 km/h
Maximum 'bird' towing speed 80 kt 148 km/h
Hover out-of-ground effect (HOGE) at 2,250 kg 11,500 ft ISA 3,505 m ISA
Range at recommended cruise speed (plus 20 min reserve) 314 nm 582 km
Maximum rate of climb at 65 kt 2,100 ft/min 10.7 m/s
Maximum sustained climb gradient 2,275 ft/nm 374 m/km
Service ceiling 23,000 ft 7,010 m
Fuel capacity 143 US gal 540 l
Fuel flow 50 US gal/h 189 l/h


GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYING PROVISIONS

  • VHF communication radios
  • Iridium satellite telephone
  • GPS/VOR/ILS navigation equipment
  • Video camera mount with downward looking opening
  • Radar altimeter:  0-750 m
  • Electrical power capacity:  5.6 kW at 28 VDC, up to 2.8 kW available for equipment
  • Two instrument racks:  standard 48 cm (19 in) width
  • Provision to mount an inertial navigation system (INS)
  • Survey GPS antenna mounted on a tail fin (clear of rotor) plus data link for real-time corrections
  • Gamma-ray spectrometer with up to 42 litres (2560 in3) of detector crystals
  • Towed "birds" available:  single magnetometer, dual magnetometer vertical gradient with 1.85 m separation, VLF coils

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