A Kaman K-MAX external lift helicopter has begun operating in Taiwan on a two-year contract to help build a hydro-electric power station.
The aircraft, owned by large US operator Petroleum Helicopters (PHI), will soon be joined by a second machine. Kaman has also received a deposit from a Taiwanese operator on a third, used, K-MAX which is likely to join the construction project.
K-MAX marketing and sales director Steve Daniels says Kaman worked with Taiwan Power to re-engineer the Ho-Ping hydro-electric power station project around helicopter lift. This has allowed Taiwan Power to meet its goal of halving construction time to three years. Originally, three years of road building was required before dam construction could begin. Under the Kaman-brokered scheme, materials and equipment will be airlifted directly to the site, allowing dam and road construction to begin simultaneously.
The scheme required re-engineering of the project to package equipment and materials into 2,700kg (6,000lb) loads capable of being lifted by the K-MAX, says Daniels. These will include preformed bridge and tunnel sections and copious supplies of concrete.
Kaman also developed a business plan for the project, Daniels says. The US company then agreed to buy two helicopters to be operated in partnership with Taiwan's DailyAir. Kaman is working with PHI to find other uses for the K-MAXs after the two-year project is completed.
Source: Flight International
