The Argentine government has selected Carson Helicopters as the preferred supplier for two SH-3H Sea King helicopters. The Argentine Navy contract is worth $12 million. Carson will have to provide training for eight Argentine technicians and provide a logistics package of spares and rotables for the first two years or 500 flight hours of the helicopters. The modified and upgraded helicopters will eventually bed down at Comandante Espora Naval Air Base. Partnering with Sikorsky, Carson Helicopters has delivered thirteen S-61Ts, the Sikorsky designation for Super SH-3, to the U.S. Department of State.
The website Aviacionline reported that Pursuant to Administrative Decision 1277/2021, the Cabinet of Ministers authorized the expenditure of US$ 12,835,000 for the purchase of two modified and upgraded Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King helicopters, to be incorporated into the Argentine Navy to perform logistic support tasks at the Comandante Espora Naval Air Base. Major improvements include composite main rotor blades, a state-of-the-art glass cockpit, and modular wiring, which increase the aircraft’s performance, robustness, and reliability.
The amount of the operation includes maintenance training courses for eight technicians and the logistics package of spares and rotables for the first two years or 500 flight hours of the helicopters. A major improvement of the Sea Kings to be acquired is related to their avionics, as they will be equipped with a Full Glass Cockpit provided by Genesis Aerosystems. The cockpit has four IDU-680 EFIS displays with redundant quad FMS, moving maps, synthetic vision, and a fully integrated EICAS. The avionics suite also features an automatic direction-finding system, a distance measurement system, an integrated digital management system, and a helicopter interior audio control.
Carson Helicopters, Inc is a helicopter operating company based in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, United States. Franklin Carson is a pioneer in rotary wing flight and started Carson Helicopters, Inc. on a twenty-five acre farm in Perkasie, Pennsylvania in 1958. Carson operates a fleet of Sikorsky S-61 helicopters in aerial lift services and aerial firefighting. Carson is known for its development of the “Carson Blade” for the S-61 and H-3 Sea King. In 2010, Carson Helicopters, Inc. partnered with Sikorsky Aircraft to develop and manufacture the S-61T, an upgraded version of the S-61 helicopter.
