Picture: Australian Navy NHI MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter Western Australia-based One Atmosphere has won the 2014 Defence Science and Techn...
Western Australia-based One Atmosphere has won the 2014 Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Eureka Prize for developing the Pegasus post crash floating system for helicopters.
The emergency system enables a helicopter to stay afloat after ditching at sea and increases the chance for aircrew to escape by rapidly re-floating the helicopter. The post crash buoyancy system will improve safety and survivability for military and civilian helicopters operating over water.
Australian Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, presented the award to Mr Tim Lyons of One Atmosphere as part of the 25th annual Australian Museum Eureka Prize ceremony.
The light weight Pegasus attached to the helicopter, is a bolt-on, bolt-off buoyancy system (like an air bag) that inflates automatically on impact and is capable of quickly retrieving an aircraft of up to 10 tonnes in weight from a depth of 10 metres and keeping it afloat for four hours. The system can withstand a crash of upto 20Gs.
Emergency flotation systems are usually available as permanently mounted fixtures on medium and large helicopters like the Sikorsky Black Hawk and Boeing Chinook. However, these built-in units are heavy and affect the performance of the aircraft.
The system has been successfully demonstrated and is now being further developed for integration into the Australian Army helicopter fleet and airworthiness certification.
Pegasus can also be utilised in the civilian environment for helicopters operated by emergency services, police, tourism and oil and gas exploration companies.
The system was developed with funding from the Capability and Technology Demonstrator Program managed by the DSTO.
