GPMS International has been granted FAA approval for an STC, which allows the company’s Foresight MX health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) to be installed on UH-60A Blackhawk helicopters. The approval is good news for UH-60 operators looking to bid for US Forestry Service firefighting contracts since that bid process now requires HUMS capability for aircraft used in the contracts.
The problem is that many early UH-60As now finding their way to the civilian arena either did not have a HUMS system fitted or, if they did, it was an early iteration weighing in excess of 100 lbs. Added to that, former military aircraft are generally stripped of accessories when sold or transferred because of transfer requirements, weight or obsolescence.
During the process, GPMS worked with PJ Helicopters, which operates a fleet of 11 UH-60s. Commenting on the approval, David McCammon, the company’s Director of Operations, said: “Lives and homes are at stake during fire season, and our customers, friends, and family depend on us. Our UH-60As are extremely capable machines, and their ability to assist in controlling fires is only limited by their availability. With Foresight MX, we have a HUMS solution that meets MATOC requirements, lowers our DOCs, and will help keep these aircraft in the air.”
