From the Magazine: NZDF EXPERIENCE WITH NH90 HELICOPTERS

After some initial problems, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has become the first air force user to have any of their NH90s reach 2,000 hours flight time, while also now being highly satisfied with their performance. The NH90 helicopter, operated by No 3 Squadron, at Ohakea Air Base on the North Island, enables the RNZAF to fulfill a wide range of operational commitments ranging from humanitarian aid and land warfare to close cooperation with Navy ships. The RNZAF retired its fleet of UH-1H Iroquois in 2015 and now operates eight NH90s. It was looking for a very versatile helicopter and that is exactly what it found with the medium lif t TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) variant of the NH90. This is the same variant as chosen by the Australian Defence Force, where it has been called the MRH-90 Taipan. Unfortunate serviceability and configuration experiences have led the ADF to plan abandoning their 46 Taipans and replacing them with new Black Hawks and Seahawks imported from the United States. The RNZAF took delivery of the first two NH-90 helicopters on 18th January 2012. The helicopters were flown in by a Russian Antonov plane and moved to the new hangar facility at Ohakea. It welcomed the delivery of its eighth and last NH90 helicopter at Base Ohakea on 30th October 2014. The aircraft purchased for the RNZAF are few in number, but their versatility enables them to handle a wide range of missions, from traditional military operations to support for different government agencies, including search and rescue as well as maritime operations. In the latter case this is with the NH90 embarked on the New Zealand Navy’s multi-role vessel, HMNZS Canterbury. This ship can transport up to 4 NH90s internally in its Hangar Deck. Since introduction, RNZAF NH90s have been involved in a wide range of responses to challenges arising in our region and domestically. Examples of this include responding to a number of tropical cyclones in the South West Pacific and most recently to the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga. RNZAF NH90s have conducted several successful Search and Rescue missions in New Zealand and have responded to disasters such as the Kaikoura earthquake, Canterbury floods, Australian bushfires and White Island eruption. This is an excerpt from APDR. To read the full story, click here. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]