 Geophysical Survey Aircraft |
| Registration: | C-GSGH |
|---|---|
| Serial #: | 3748 |
The AS350 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. The Eurocopter´s performance and effectiveness has been proven on numerous projects in Canada, Central America, and Africa.
Eurocopter AS350 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 Capabilities
AIRGrav, SGL airborne gravimeter
Magnetic total field with stinger (typical FOM 1.5 nT) or towed bird
Dual magnetometer vertical or horizontal gradient with a towed bird
Gamma-ray spectrometer, up to 42 litres (2,560 in3) of detector crystals
SGMethane, methane gas sensing
Other Features:
- 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)
- GPS antenna mounted on a tail fin (clear of rotor) plus data link for real-time corrections