14/08/96Julian Moxon/PARIS
FRENCH emergency-medical-services (EMS) helicopter operators have until the end of the year to furnish plans on how they will meet the new European Joint Aviation Authorities JAR OPS 3 rules on twin-engined operations.
The DGAC, France's certification authority, has told operators that they have to take measures to conform with the new JAA rules covering helicopter operations over urban areas and at night, due to take effect on 1 April, 1998.
Most EMS companies in France operate single-engined (Class 3) machines, which will fall outside the ruling, and are therefore faced with expensive upgrading to new or used twin-engined Class 1 types. Around 36 helicopters may be affected.
JAR OPS 3 covers all transport operations by helicopters, and took effect on 1 April, 1996, with a two-year deadline for total implementation. Some European countries, including Austria, Germany, Italy and Norway are well advanced with converting their fleets to meet the rules. French companies have failed to take action because of delays in making the rules compulsory.
French helicopter association Groupement Francais de l'Helicopter (GFH) says that the problem faced by operators is lack of time, and the cost of introducing twins. It says that the companies concerned (there are about ten) will not only have to purchase new or used types, but will have to find ways of financing the 40% higher operating costs of twins. "It is a major challenge," says GFH vice-president Charles Schmitt. "We're talking to hospitals and the ministry of health to get the longer contracts necessary to interest leasing companies and banks in financing purchases of new equipment", he says.
The first of two Eurocopter EC135s configured for helicopter EMS was delivered to German operator Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht in July.
Source: Flight International
