Aerospace Equipment
Various Size Options and Locations for Stowages
External Stowages for Helirafts
Heliraft XDS
...at the forefront
of survival
technology
■ Worldwide reputation for outstanding
quality and performance in the safety
and survival equipment industry
■ Complete range of defence and
aerospace products specific to
individual requirements
■ Flexibility of an extensive global
service network
■ Quality management system approved
to BS EN ISO 9001 2000
RFD Beaufort - Commercial Aerospace Division
www.rfdbeaufort.com
Aerospace Equipment
Various Size Options and Locations for Stowages
External Stowages for Helirafts
Heliraft XDS
Heliraft XDS Systems
Heliraft XDS (External Deployment System)
Stowages provide external mounting
of liferafts, increasing cabin space and
providing superior safety provision
in the event of an emergency ditching.
Since the introduction during the 1980’s
of the unique Heliraft, the first liferaft specially
designed for helicopters, RFD Beaufort has
continued to develop its contacts with
helicopter manufacturers, major operators and
regulatory authorities with the objective of
seeking further improvements in the area of
the safety and survival for personnel involved
in a helicopter ditching.
The implementation of the Joint Airworthiness
Requirements (JAR) Ops 3, detailed various
new safety provisions, including:
XDS Solutions
Compliant solutions comprise both internal
and external locations for the RFD Heliraft
including:
Bell 212 Quarter Door Stowage System
External
■ Sponsors (eg AgustaWestland EH101
+ AB139, Eurocopter Super Puma)
■ Pod (eg Westland SeaKing, Sikorsky S76)
■ Door-mounted (eg Bell B412 / 212)
Internal
■ Ceiling mounted (eg AS 365 Dauphin)
■ Door-mounted (eg Sikorsky S76)
■ Ejectable under floor units
(eg Sikorsky S76)
Typical deployment Sequence
AMC Ops 3.830 Liferafts & ELT for extended
overwater flights Para 1c:“When carrying more than one liferaft on
board, at least 50% shall be jettisonable by
the crew while seated at their normal station,
where necessary by remote control.”
To date, many helicopters have been carrying
liferafts in the main cabin, located behind /
under seats or near the door and window
exits. As a result, personnel on board in a
ditching, have been required to locate, lift and
dispatch a liferaft, representing up to some
40kgs, into the water to initiate inflation, once
the exit it made available.
In response to the new safety provisions, RFD
Beaufort has collaborated extensively with
operators and manufacturers to establish fully
compliant solutions, incorporating the Heliraft,
on a number of helicopters, including:
Westland Sea King Stowage System
XDS Options
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Westland Sea King
Agusta - Bell 412 / 212 / 205
Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin
Westland / Agusta EH 101
Bell 412 / 212 / 205
Bell - UH - 1 Derivatives
Eurocopter AS 332 Puma / Super Puma
Sikorsky - S76 / S92
Agusta AB139
MB032 Issue 1
In most cases, the complete assembly is
approved by UK CAA and/or FAA or leading
NATO military force.
RFD Beaufort is internationally recognised as a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of high quality safety
and survival equipment for the defence and aerospace markets.
With more than 60 years of experience, RFD Beaufort has the capability, facilities, technological resources and flexibility to meet
the most stringent market or customer demands. RFD Beaufort currently export to more than 50 countries across the world.
RFD Beaufort Ltd, Kingsway, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 9AF, Northern Ireland.
tel: +44 (0) 28 9030 1531 fax: +44 (0) 28 9062 1765 email: [email protected] web: www.rfdbeaufort.com