Moving helicopters by road
Discussion
Morning.
I passed two low loaders this morning on the M80 with what looked like a Super Puma helicopter tied to the back to each one. I assume they were heading up to Aberdeen. Is it normal to move them about like this or would they normally be flown up under their own steam?
I know the railways seem to move stuff by road all the time, but never seen helicopters being moved like this!
I passed two low loaders this morning on the M80 with what looked like a Super Puma helicopter tied to the back to each one. I assume they were heading up to Aberdeen. Is it normal to move them about like this or would they normally be flown up under their own steam?
I know the railways seem to move stuff by road all the time, but never seen helicopters being moved like this!
Munter said:
Was it a helicopter. Or was it a helicopter shaped aluminium construction, requiring many other components to turn it into a helicopter. 
They certainly appeared to be complete, apart from the main rotors being removed. Yes, it did occur to me that they might not necessarily be servicable even if the rotors had been attached. Basically they were each attached to their low loader facing forwards with the windscreens covered, apart from that there was nothing covered/bagged over etc that I could see, though I was passing on the other side of the road & it was about 8:00, so still fairly dark.Helicopters do break down (as in apart) quite easily. Even a Chinook will fit onto a low-loader with another truck carrying the transmissions. All the other stuff, including blades, panels and fairings handily fit in the back.
At Odiham there is one broken down about every other month to be sent on the road to Brize, where it will be sent to Afghan on a C17. It takes a few days at the other end to put it back together and back in the air. It's always more fun taking them apart though, but less fun putting them back together on their return to the UK when they are tired and very minging.
As for the Super Pumas, it could be any reason. Recovery from somewhere, I can't really see it being cheaper to road move them, unless they were already in bits somewhere. And if it was a contracted maintenance they would surely want them back in an airworthy state. Maybe they have bought a couple extra and they have been imported and will be put together at their operating base.
At Odiham there is one broken down about every other month to be sent on the road to Brize, where it will be sent to Afghan on a C17. It takes a few days at the other end to put it back together and back in the air. It's always more fun taking them apart though, but less fun putting them back together on their return to the UK when they are tired and very minging.
As for the Super Pumas, it could be any reason. Recovery from somewhere, I can't really see it being cheaper to road move them, unless they were already in bits somewhere. And if it was a contracted maintenance they would surely want them back in an airworthy state. Maybe they have bought a couple extra and they have been imported and will be put together at their operating base.
RB5Bird said:
Helicopters do break down (as in apart) quite easily. Even a Chinook will fit onto a low-loader with another truck carrying the transmissions. All the other stuff, including blades, panels and fairings handily fit in the back.
At Odiham there is one broken down about every other month to be sent on the road to Brize, where it will be sent to Afghan on a C17. It takes a few days at the other end to put it back together and back in the air. It's always more fun taking them apart though, but less fun putting them back together on their return to the UK when they are tired and very minging.
As for the Super Pumas, it could be any reason. Recovery from somewhere, I can't really see it being cheaper to road move them, unless they were already in bits somewhere. And if it was a contracted maintenance they would surely want them back in an airworthy state. Maybe they have bought a couple extra and they have been imported and will be put together at their operating base.
Our aircraft used to come back in Antonovs or C-17's direct to base, but our runway isn't up to spec any more so they land at Brize and are then stuck on a low loader to come back to base. One was recently sent to Earls court the same way.At Odiham there is one broken down about every other month to be sent on the road to Brize, where it will be sent to Afghan on a C17. It takes a few days at the other end to put it back together and back in the air. It's always more fun taking them apart though, but less fun putting them back together on their return to the UK when they are tired and very minging.
As for the Super Pumas, it could be any reason. Recovery from somewhere, I can't really see it being cheaper to road move them, unless they were already in bits somewhere. And if it was a contracted maintenance they would surely want them back in an airworthy state. Maybe they have bought a couple extra and they have been imported and will be put together at their operating base.
A quick search of PPRuNe suggests that it costs around $2000 an hour including fuel to run a Super Puma, or about £1,300. Eurocopter's UK base is Oxford, a straight line from Oxford to Aberdeen is 371 miles, so call it 3 hours' flying time at £3,900.
A truck to run from Oxford to Aberdeen would be about £2,000, call it £3,000 since it would be specialist haulage. I reckon it could simply be cheaper to drive.
A truck to run from Oxford to Aberdeen would be about £2,000, call it £3,000 since it would be specialist haulage. I reckon it could simply be cheaper to drive.
Joint Aircraft Recovery & Transportation Squadron (JARTS) are based at MoD Boscombe Down, they are responsible for the road transportation of most of our stuff. Circumstances for road transportation vary, investigation/repair after heavy landings, servicing if reached calender backstop, upgrades, bird strikes etc etc
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 14th December 18:27
davepoth said:
A quick search of PPRuNe suggests that it costs around $2000 an hour including fuel to run a Super Puma, or about £1,300. Eurocopter's UK base is Oxford, a straight line from Oxford to Aberdeen is 371 miles, so call it 3 hours' flying time at £3,900.
A truck to run from Oxford to Aberdeen would be about £2,000, call it £3,000 since it would be specialist haulage. I reckon it could simply be cheaper to drive.
I thought that could have been the reason. Thanks for finding the figures.A truck to run from Oxford to Aberdeen would be about £2,000, call it £3,000 since it would be specialist haulage. I reckon it could simply be cheaper to drive.
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