Columbia Helicopters (CHI) is joining forces with Piasecki Aircraft to upgrade tandem rotor heavy-lift rotorcraft for a variety of civil and military applications. Under a partnership announced today, the companies will upgrade existing Model 107-II helicopters to deliver greater fuel efficiency, power, and reliability as the new Columbia CHI-107-III.
The modifications will include the installation of upgraded General Electric CT-58 turboshafts with 25% more power than the existing T-58 engines. It will also involve fitting a new glass cockpit and an improved autopilot, as well as a new rotor system with lower maintenance requirements, a health monitoring system, and a new fuel system for extended range. The partners have not yet confirmed the details of the improved performance of the aircraft.
As the owner of the former Boeing type and production certificates for the helicopter, Columbia will have overall responsibility for the project. The modifications will be made and then tested at Piasecki’s 219,000-sq-ft facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, which was formerly Sikorsky’s production line for the S-76 and S-92 helicopters. Oregon-based CHI will also now have access to the Piasecki facility, which it calls the Heliplex, to provide support to customers on the U.S. East Coast.
The companies expect the new version of the Model 107-II to be popular for operations such as emergency response, aerial firefighting, forestry, and infrastructure. The military version of the aircraft is the CH-46E Sea Knight, which has served with the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy as well as with forces in Sweden and Japan.
“The new Columbia Model 107-II will transform the heavy-lift helicopter market, providing unrivaled performance and versatility for our customers,” said David Balevic, CEO of Columbia Helicopters. “We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible and, together with our partners at Piasecki, will deliver enhanced heavy-lift aircraft that save lives, protect nations, and build industries for decades to come.”
Columbia provides OEM-level support for the Model 107-II and CH-46 helicopters. It also holds FAA commercial type and production certificates for the Columbia Model 234 Chinook and CHI-107-II rotorcraft.