Zimmer Air Services has become the first Canadian operator to opt for crash-resistant fuel tanks (CRFTs) on two of its AS350 helicopters, STC holders StandardAero (Booth 2824) and Robertson Fuel Systems (#1419) announced this week at Heli-Expo. The CFRTs will be installed on one AS350 BA helicopter and one AS350 B2 helicopter owned and flown by the Ontario-based company.
"Our multi-purpose missions often involve a great deal of low-level flying, often with underbelly installations such as cargo swing/hooks or spray equipment, so we recognize the risk and that we must remain proactive in the safety of our operations for both our crews and our passengers," said Zimmer Air Services President Paul Zimmer. "For more than 40 years, we have established a reputation within the industry as a company committed to quality, service and safety, and the addition of these crash-resistant fuel tanks to our fleet is one more example of that continued determination."
The StandardAero and Robertson CRFT earned certification last October from Transport Canada for virtually all models of the Eurocopter AS350/Airbus H125 helicopter. The system has also received approvals from the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for bringing modern fuel system crash-resistance and occupant protection to older legacy models of the AStar.
"We are pleased to have Zimmer Air Services as our first customer in Canada to take on a leading role in improving helicopter safety in Canada by introducing the CRFT," said Julien Roy, StandardAero's general manager. "We believe the prompt delivery of these first two tanks in Canada is the start of what will be many more to come."
In addition to the CFRTs, both of Zimmer's A-Stars have also been fitted with Honeywell LTS101 engines under the HeliLynx FX2 and Soloy SD2 modification programs.