SPAES completes certification of additional life raft handle on Airbus H155

In a recent project, SPAES successfully completed certification of an additional handle for a life raft on an Airbus H155 for its customer Northern Helicopter, a partner for offshore air rescue, air ambulance operations, offshore emergency evacuation, research aviation, and sea pilot transfer. This extra handle for the deployment of life rafts is an essential safety feature designed to protect crew and passengers in the event of an emergency water landing.

The Airbus H155 helicopters, which operate over water, are equipped with life rafts positioned on both the left and right sides, beneath the passenger exits. Traditionally, these rafts are deployed using an external handle that triggers the release mechanism.

The new European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) directive ‘Flight over water emergency equipment’ mandates the installation of an additional handle on the underside of the life raft containers. This handle, connected to a cable mechanism, activates the deployment of the life raft. To comply with these safety regulations, SPAES has certified the additional handle and ensured it meets all operational requirements.

The deployment mechanism involves a steel cable that must be adjusted to the correct length during installation, as the cables available on the market are often too long. After the cable is cut to the appropriate length, the shortened end is fitted with a stainless-steel ball end to ensure reliable operation.

The installation was performed by the Part 145 Maintenance Organisation of the customer.

Additionally, each modified cable is tested to confirm that it can withstand the necessary loads post-modification.

SPAES recently completed the design and manufacture of five medical racks in the MD 902 for Heli Austria.