Onboard backup HEC hooks for AW169, AW101
Onboard Systems International has received a contract from Leonardo Helicopters to design and provide backup Human External Cargo (HEC) hook systems for the AW169 and AW101 aircraft, the company announced on 11 April.
The secondary hooks can be integrated onto the primary cargo hook system for new and current AW169 and AW101 aircraft to allow HEC operations in utility, search and rescue, and personnel insertion and extraction missions.
For the AW169, the backup cargo hook system will feature the TALON LC Hydraulic Cargo Hook, which will allow flexible rigging of the release line around the primary hook system reducing unintended cargo releases. The AW101 backup cargo hook system will feature the fast-rope version of Onboard's TALON LC cargo hook, currently in use on the AW101.
Karsten Lemmon, VP of sales and marketing at Onboard Systems, said: 'Many operators have expressed an interest in using Onboard's equipment for HEC missions, so we are pleased to be able to be working with Leonardo to add HEC-certified cargo hook equipment to these aircraft.'
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