Longline Mods for AS-350s

Heli-Ops · October 18, 2002

I have had a few queries from people asking what modifications are available for the AS-350 to enable better long lining - apart from changing the pilot

Anyone out there have any comments.

Heli Ops

as350vtr · October 18, 2002

We installed a left seat conversion. Works great. Much faster turnaround times, better visibility, more control.

nardoo · October 19, 2002

also saw a little mod on a left seat conversion. It was an armrest coming off the seat, got in the way sometimes during startup but much more comfortable once you were over the hook.

October 19, 2002

I saw a cyclic extender and pedal extension on an Astar in New Zealand for the right seat. I sat in it and it seemed to give you a little extra room to see the load. It also moved the pilots seat over closer to the door.

rimuranger · October 22, 2002

We used the collective and pedal extension in our B2 with favourable comment from the pilots. With the B3 the twist grip prevents this mod and we are flying from the RH seat with standard control configuration.

Would be interested to hear from any pilots who have flown longline in a B3 with crashworthy seats, how do they compare to the standard seat for this sort of work?

October 22, 2002

We have just purchased two left hand drive B3's and are installing a removable arm rest that is used by Temsco in Alaska. Their pilots say the arm rest makes a world of difference, but you must fly a 75ft line or longer to have good load visibility. Once we receive ours and test it out we will post our results.

Cristian · November 7, 2002

We have just purchased two left hand drive B3's and are installing a removable arm rest that is used by Temsco in Alaska. Their pilots say the arm rest makes a world of difference, but you must fly a 75ft line or longer to have good load visibility. Once we receive ours and test it out we will post our results.

Hallo!

Can I have some pictures of this arm rest?

Thank you.

November 8, 2002

I don't have any photos of this armrest but it attaches to the back of the left seat and rests on the floor of the helicopter. Sort of like the armrest on some 205 setups.

It's very nice with the bubble window. Used it for fires and found a 100 foot line was perfect. I'll see if anyone has photos of it.

shaboogamoo bob · February 19, 2003

We have most of our B2's with the left seat mod and we have them all set up with the arm rests. I have sent a photo of the install to vert ref admin and he can forward it on to you or you can email me at my link for photos. We are in a very wet climate here and we also have fogging problems in the bubble window. What we have done and you will see it in the photo is to pick up the cabin heat outlet under the pilot seat and routed it up the back of the seat and vent it into the bubble. Works great and is a must if your in the mist. Shaboo

February 20, 2003

Here's the photo (Thanks Ron!):

Large Toole · February 21, 2003

Great picture. Looks like a good mod to solve some problems. The dice/start switch addition would cause some difficulties with the "sharpshooter/sniper" employees that I work with.

Cri · November 10, 2003

Without any modification embodied (p.e. LH seat conf. or floor windows or modified controls, etc.) is the AS 350 a comfortable way to work in sling and fire fighting operations?

Above all considering that using an other helicopter type is not convenient for 'not operational' reasons.

thank guys!

lamanated · November 11, 2003

there is also two RH lower window mods also available .Dart and Chinook from Calgary.larger sized

Paddy · November 16, 2003

we fly B3 on the right side with a dart window in the cabin floor and a crashwothy seat. It is probably not the best but it works. For very longline above 120ft we remove the doors.We are still waiting for a bubble window, a pitch extender and an instrument panel by the door certified by STC's