Civilian Sikorsky S-70M now certified
On 7 December 2021, Sikorsky announced that their new S-70M Black Hawk was awarded a Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA) in the restricted category. The new version of the well-known Black Hawk is a dedicated civilian H-60 military helicopter.
The prototype of the S-70M, registered N640PL (c/n 704091) made its first flight more than a year ago on 3 October 2020 and was thoroughly tested by the FAA before the CoA was given.
The S-70M is a third-generation Black Hawk helicopter featuring a digital cockpit, General Electric GE-701D engines, and wide-chord rotor blades for increased levels of safety, performance, maneuverability, and situational awareness.
Sikorsky specifically requested approval for three special-purpose operations in the restricted category. They are agricultural operations, external cargo with the Black Hawk’s 9,000-pound (4,082-kilogram) external lift cargo hook, and forest and wildlife conservation, which includes aerial firefighting.
Until now companies active in the building of transport and fire-fighting helicopters in the category of the Black Hawk, had to seek surplus military UH-60s and convert them. But increasing difficulty in finding good quality spare parts for the rebuilding of these former US Army machines urged them (and Sikorsky) to take a next step: building new ones.
Launching customer for the S-70M is California public utility San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) which took delivery of the first S-70M aircraft on 18 November. Their new machine will be modified to Firehawk configuration at United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods in Colorado. It is expected to be operational by 2023.
Five more S-70Ms for other, yet unspecified customers, will be next at United Rotorcraft. Despite the price tag of the new built S-70M, customers decide to buy factory new machines as their cost per hour is a lot less and availability much higher than second hand refurbished machines.
All new S-70M helicopters conforming to the new FAA special airworthiness certificate will be built at the Sikorsky plant in Mielec, Poland. Sikorsky plans to begin full-rate production of the S-70M in January.
Source and photo: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation