Helikopterulykken - Spin off - Rotor&Wing

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Sweden Revises, Extends Bidding for Super Pumas

James T. McKenna

The Swedish Defence Materiel Admin., citing "changed conditions," has revised procedures for purchasing six retired Airbus Helicopters AS332 M1 Super Pumas and extended the bidding deadline to Oct. 7.

Under the revised procedures, Sweden will accept bids for some of the aircraft, spares and ground support equipment (GSE) for sale, which are divided into 14 lots. One lot includes five Turbomeca Makila 1A1 engines. 

The original sales notice required bids to cover the entire collection of helicopters, spares and GSE. Five Turbomeca Makila 1A1 engines are included in a separate lot. That bid was issued April 8, with a deadline of Aug. 22.

On April 29, a CHC Helikopter EC225 Super Puma crashed in Norway, killing 11 passengers and two pilots and leading to the grounding of many Super Pumas around the world. Investigators are focused on a possible failure in the accident helicopter's main gearbox that contributed to inflight separation of the aircraft's main rotor.

The Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing retired its Super Pumas last October with plans to sell six of the aircraft. The Helicopter Wing began in early 2013 to phase out the Super Pumas in favor of a mixed fleet of NH Industries NH90s and Sikorsky UH-60Ms.

The proposed sale includes six of Sweden's original 12 Super Pumas, plus various line-replaceable units, ground support equipment and spare parts. Of the remaining six, according to published reports, one was assigned to the Armed Forces' technical school and two were designated for aviation museums, while three were destroyed in accidents between 2000 and 2005.

The Defence Material Admin. said the six remaining AS332s have been "stored in accordance to Airbus and Turbomeca storage regulations" and remain serviceable.