We are thrilled to announce that our Part 145 Manufacturing division, Airborne Systems, has obtained the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for our Airbus H125 [nee Eurocopter AS350 and AS355] Cargo Pod.

While dozens of our cargo pods have been actively operating in the New Zealand and Canadian aviation industries (Heliski, Tourism, Logging and routine Utility Operations), our Managing Engineer of Airborne Systems, Mr. Russell Goulden, is delighted to be awarded the much coveted FAA STC after years of personal effort.

Goulden is no newcomer to developing specialist helicopter role equipment. His expertise has been globally recognized for the development of barrier inlet filtration, external hoisting and avant-garde agricultural spray systems. He led the design of the world’s first AS350/H125 Bike Rack (also FAA approved), an AS350/H125 Pilots Seat Slider [lateral] for VREF operations as well as Spray Systems for both the AS350/H125 and MD500 series of helicopter.

Utilizing state-of-the-art materials, our cargo pod is fully composite and is designed for strength and lightness. It is the epitome of externally mounted cargo storage accessories for the left side of  AS350/H125 series helicopters and its internal capacity allows operators to carry a class leading 265 lbs (120 kg).

Airborne Systems first gained NZCAA STC for their AS350 series cargo pod in December 2011 followed by the Eurocopter AS355 series in December 2012. Exploiting the US/NZ bilateral relationship and using the United States of America / New Zealand Technical Implementation Procedures, we have now attained the FAA STC which was signed off on July 7th 2017.

Approvals for the Airborne Systems H125 Cargo Pod include the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ), Transport Canada (TC) and now FAA. 

To find out more about Airborne Systems please get in contact with Russell.

Russell Goulden

russell.goulden@oal.nz

+64 21 979 009