Sikorsky's S-76C++ twin-turbine helicopter has received US certification for operation in falling and blowing snow. The company says that tests carried out in January in Marquette, Michigan demonstrated that the engine inlet barrier filter, introduced on the Turbomeca Arriel 2S2-powered S-76C++, can operate safely in severe snow. Certification tests required the helicopter to spend 20min on the ground with its rotor turning in blustery snowfall, 5min hovering at low altitude in a recirculating snow cloud and 1h in level flight.
Source: Flight International
