Using Powervamp’s unique 100 lit/min Portapump to rapidly fill the fuel tanks of their BK117 helicopter, Nairobi, Kenya based Everett Aviation was able to complete a monthly transfer operation of 69 crew from a moving survey vessel more than 100 miles off the East African coast.
Refuelling from multiple 45 Gallon drums of Jet A1, each fuel uplift of 450 litres was completed in 5 Minutes. A total of 9 round trips were made over an amazing 11 hour period during which the helicopter’s turbines were never shut down.
“Given the distance from land and payload, precise timings and crew marshalling was critical.”
The total Fuelling and crew uplift on land took just 7.5 minutes, while disembarking and reloading on board the vessel for the return journey was completed each time within 6 minutes. Given the distance from land and payload, precise timings and crew marshalling was critical.
Due to the survey vessel’s towed array of several kilometers of streamed cables it was not possible to stop the vessel. Between each lengthy helicopter round trip, the ship’s location was changing substantially as was its distance from the crew changeover base on shore. Operating at the extreme edge of its range, the BK117 performed faultlessly whilst successfully air-lifting an amazing total of 138 men and their 15kg allowance of kit.
“Confidence in the design and reliability of Powervamp’s 24 volt Portapump and its ability to ensure only clean fuel filtered to 5 micron solids …was essential.”
Critical to the success of the operation was Powervamp’s high delivery and compact Portapump, ensuring the rapid refuelling from drums of fully filtered fuel. Pump power was provided by a Powervamp 24volt battery GPU. In such a tightly planned operation, and with fuel supplied only from drums, confidence in the design and reliability of Powervamp’s 24 volt Portapump and its ability to ensure only clean fuel filtered to 5 micron solids and 2ppm water entered the aircraft tank, was essential. Pilots, management (and passengers) depended on it to eliminate any possible chance of fuel contamination while ensuring the fastest of turnarounds.
“Successfully air lifting a total of 138 men and their personal kit in nine round trips…demanded the highest skills.”
Everett Aviation’s MD Simon Everett, commented: “Any compounded delay in fuelling could have put the ship beyond range with only a partial crew transfer completed which would have caused major logistical problems. The operation had to be meticulously planned with fuel drums, men, vehicles at the ready. With each round trip covering 200 miles over water, nothing was left to chance. Successfully air lifting a total of 138 men and their personal kit in nine round trips – and landing on a moving vessel – demanded the highest skills. The whole operation was a tribute to my crew’s professionalism and to the equipment we operate.”
For more information on the Powervamp Portapump contact our sales team: +44 (0)1934 643000 | sales@powervamp.com
