• Oilrig support • Search and rescue • Tactical transport
Eurocopter’s family of heavylift
helicopters – Puma, Cougar and Super Puma – perform many duties around the world, but none more challenging as those in the petroleum industry. This is high adventure only a helicopter can provide – heading out over raging seas to bring supplies to oilrigs on the ocean. Fortunately, helicopters like the Super Puma handle extremely well when the going is rough.
▲ Pre-flight checks
Puma pilots have to carry out an elaborate chock procedure baton flying. This begins with the pilot walking round and examining the airframe and rotor blades.
◄ Long nights
Operating in the Shetlands mean long summer days and early starts, but long winter nights allow few daylight flying hours
A Ready to go
With a closo eye on the vicious and changeable weather and fuel states carefully calculated, the crew taxis out. The number of passengers is vanablc. depending on the fuel load needed.
A Night maintenance
Where possible work is earned out at night, as the Super Pumas have a very busy day schedule.
◄ Norwegian Puma
AS Lutttransport operates in the Norwegian sectoi often flying in Arctic conditions.
FACTS AND
>■ The prototype Puma first flew on 15 April 1965.
>■ Tho Super Puma took to tho air for its maiden flight on 13 September 1978.
► About 420 Super Puma/Cougar
helicopters havo boon built, about half of thorn used by civil operators.
FIGURES
► Petroleum Helicopters, tho world’s largr**
user of helicopters, uses Pumas and Super Pumas.
>■ Tho military Puma variant, the AS 532
Cougar, Is used by 32 countries.
>■ Tho Super Puma Mk II introduced new main and tail rotors and transmission.
Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma
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AS 332 Super Puma
Type: medium-size transport hnlicootv Powerplant: two 1184-kW (t,590hp.)
ТшЬотйса МлкІІа IAI turbosJuifts
Maximum entising speed: 266 km/h (165 m. p.h.)
Weights: empty 4460 kg (9.812 to.), loaded 8600 kg (18,920 to.)
Accommodation: crew ol 2:24 passengers in high-dens’ty configuration, or nine stretchers and throe Mated casualties. or 4500 kg 19.900 lt>.) ol cargo slung oxtornaHy; some models have twin trixghl doors to accommodate bulky cargoes such as ой-drimng equipment
Dimensions:
main rotor diameter length height
rotor disc area
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The Super Puma supplements the older and larger Sikorsky S-61 Sea King (below) to service the oil industry. It has been a great success for the manufacturers, now called Eurocopter. The British operating company Bristow ordered 31 of a special variant known as the Tiger for offshoro support work, and others are serving as far afield as the South Pacific and Abu Dhabi.
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15 m (49 ft. 2 in.) 18.15 m (59 tt 6 in.) S.14m(16n ioin) 177.00 m* (1.906 sq. tt.)
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A protects»! ij-itn m fittod to Die ongrto шійчм to cmvcnt /ідімйіоп ol «о Of dobra, Т>м.»
I di. tv. .it ower 23,000 rpnt. roduoed tty the gaortsor io 2B6 qm at ttw man mfer
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AS at НШ PUMA 256 kmti (ІІ5 т. р.к.)
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Mi l 225 km* (140 n p. h.)
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to 1994 tqhlning №uo the tail rotor ol n Ouilow Super Puma, causing it to dtch – nto l?« North Sea. тяасиюий.7 wihout iriury to any pasMOogom
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at *»*» increasing oetiwcs t’cm the nearest stiore bases the ablity to tty those Distances hi keemt weather condition*
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4)4 Puma arframe « ot I kitaton gear n rmcnutvW when convvntonof alumniim operating in bod wftotfw ovw with Шагшго uJurtimg. п tl»j аагудопхя North Sou critical arous.
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As in at hetccdters, the possc-nger cabn of the Super Рита <з quite no«sv
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Puma family
pSA 350 PUMA: Developed initially as a nw. tary transport, the H AS 332 SUPER PUMA; Based on the highly successful ^e’ran ‘T V Iw! wc<!n 16 and 20 Passengers, it was one of SA 330. the Super Puma has more powerful engines, better
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■ SUPER PUMA It The latest version ol the Puma, find certified in 1992, is the Super Puma II It e the longest In the series, with a stretched fuselage seating up to 29 passengers.
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opters Cleared for ali-weatbor operation.
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avtoivcs. and a tougher airframe and landing gear.
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Eurocopter