One-year delay expected in delivery of NH-90 transport helicopters

Manufacturer's schedule for delivery too ambitious for new helicopter type

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Delivery of the NH-90 transport helicopters ordered for the Finnish land forces is behind schedule by over a year. "Presumably, the manufacturer has been slightly too ambitious when drawing up the schedule for development of a new helicopter type", says head of the land forces air division, colonel Lauri Puranen.
      So far, the Eurocopter factory in France has completed two NH-90 helicopters, one for Germany and one for Finland. The German helicopter will be used to acquire type approval for the NH-90 model. Once the model's airworthiness has been validated, the Finnish unit can also be introduced.
      The NH-90 is the first military transport helicopter with a reinforced plastic composition structure and a computer-based Fly-By-Wire control system, which means the pilot's instruments do not have a mechanical connection to the rotors.
      According to Puranen, because of the delay in delivery, training of staff in Finland has also started later than planned.
     
Once the first NH-90 is handed over  to Finns towards the end of the year, it will physically stay in France, where the first Finnish pilots will be trained.
      Of the 20 helicopters ordered by Finland, the first two will be manufactured in France, while the rest will be assembled in Jämsä, Finland. The Jämsä factory will assemble at least 50 helicopters in all, bound for Finland, Sweden, and other client countries.
      The assembly of the first four NH-90s is already under way in Jämsä.
      Depending on the type approval procedure, they should be ready for delivery by the end of the year.
      In the Finnish military, the NH-90s will replace four old Russian MI-8 transport helicopters and eight American MD500 training helicopters.
      The revamped helicopter battalion is aimed to be completed and in operation by the year 2010.
      In addition to military preparedness, the NH-90s will also be used for inland and sea rescue services. They will even be equipped for putting out forest fires.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Aftermath of helicopter deal begins before final decision (21.8.2001)
  Sweden finally opts for NH-90 transport helicopter (19.9.2001)
  Finland and Norway choose NH-90 helicopter (14.9.2001)

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