1. Belgian Sea King Ops & Fleet update
17th Annual International Sea King Symposium
Robin Janssens
Halifax, 17 Sep 2014 1

2. Some impressions…

7. Belgian Sea King Ops & Fleet update

8. Outline Sea King “Mk48” Logistic support Maintenance concept
Plans & evolutions
Chalenges
Conclusions

9. National patrimony Westland Sea King Mk48 helicopter
Entry in service: Mid ‘76
Since Dec 2008: 5 → 4 A/C (RS001 in Royal Army Museum)
Since Sep 2013: 4 → 3 A/C (RS003 in operational Koksijde Air Base)
Belgian Fleet Leader: RS003 with HRS (in storage)
Other A/C:
RS002: Hrs
RS004: Hrs
RS005: Hrs
(01 Sep 2014)

10. Emergency Lubrication System (ELS) Automatic Blade Fold
RDR 1500B
5-bladed Main Rotor
FOD Shield
6-bladed Tail Rotor
Cargo sling low response – Lbs
Flotation bags

11. Rescue Hoist Breeze-Eastern BL-10300-59 Series
2x RR Gnome H1400-1
SN500 AFCS Autopilot
FLIR 2000 Series (F+G)
6 fuel cells max Lbs

12. Mission & Ops SAR missions Medical Evacuation Transport(Pers & Cargo)
SATER and SAMAR
Day: 15 min
Night: 45 min
Medical Evacuation
Transport(Pers & Cargo) …

13. Missions & Ops: 2013

14. Flight Plan
4 A/C since Dec 2008 → No noticeable impact in availability
3 A/C since Aug 2013 → Impact to be evaluated

15. Yearly Average (2014): +/-75%
A/C Availability 2013
Yearly Average (2012)
USM: 11%
SHM: 39%
SER: 51%
Yearly Average (2014): +/-75%
jan/13
feb/13
mrt/13
apr/13
mei/13
jun/13
jul/13
aug/13
sep/13
okt/13
nov/13
dec/13
Gem 2013
SER
61,06%
43,90%
31,45%
62,22%
59,81%
48,84%
67,04%
69,52%
64,17%
60,05%
61,30%
80,09%
59,12%
USM
2,49%
16,11%
20,23%
6,28%
3,19%
5,53%
11,49%
15,02%
16,90%
1,90%
3,47%
5,51%
9,01%
SHM
36,46%
39,99%
48,32%
31,49%
37,00%
45,63%
21,47%
15,46%
18,94%
38,06%
35,23%
14,40%
31,87%

16. Output: Balanced Score Card
Yearly Average (2012)
0 SK: 0,98%
1 SK: 17,84%
≥ 2 SK: 81,19%
# A/C

17. Logistic support concept
Maintenance Level
Structure & Mechanics
Engine
Avionics
Mission Equipment
Organizational
Belgian Defence
Intermediate
Depot
AgustaWestland
SABCA
UKLSA (Vector)
AIM Norway
AAR
STERNE
THALES
Gastops
SABCA (Saab)
Supply
UKLSA
Other*
Rolls-Royce
Other*: Local procurement

18. Combination Phase + 100 Hrs = 9 days of 6 days (shift)
Maintenance concept
Calendar(60 weken cyclus) :
Phase inspection I-level non-identical interval: 15 weeks duration = 7 days D A B C
100 - IV
100 - III
100 - II
100 - I
Periodical (400 Fl Hrs cyclus) :
25 Hrs inspection O-level identical duration = 0,5 day
50 Hrs inspection O-level identical duration = 1,5 days
100 Hrs inspection I-level non-identical duration = 3 days
Combination Phase Hrs = 9 days of 6 days (shift)

19. Maintenance Concept
Preventive Maintenance Gnome engine
Lifecycle of 2900 (+ 100) engine Hrs
Part Life Rework (PLR) & Overhaul (OVH)
BD Engines
PLR PLR OVH Hrs (+ 50) Hrs (+ 50) Hrs (+ 100)
RS002 50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
800
850
900
ECU I
510059
ECU II
LIMITED PTA
RS004
520065
520055
RS005
520044
520059
510058
510085

20. Technical issues / Supply issues
Limited fleet & Flight plan => No major modifications
Part obsolecence & Decreasing industrial support
Longer lead times >< “Small” stock of BDEF
Risk of AOG-situation…
Prices increasing exponentionaly >< Decreasing budget
Some examples:
Shear Bolt P/N S
Radar 1500B => Spare parts for repair of RxTx (Honeywell - P/N )
Indicators & Instruments => Indicator vertical (Meggitt Avionics - P/N L ), …
RNS-252 Nav Computer => Display units (Thales Avionics – P/N 80895/GBS020030)
Compass Mk 7B => Repeater unit / Master indicator / etc.
Lead times / MOQ’s / Increasing prices
Difficult to determine the minimum stock level
Trade-off Budget >< Risk

21. Framework Contract Aim Solve (some) supply issues
Supply of critical spare parts (No longer supplied by OEM)
Supply of second hand major items
AOG orders
Standard exchange
Period
Kick-off Dec 2014
Interested? Please contact us:

22. Plans & Evolutions Since Sep 2013: 3 Sea Kings operational
Phasing out Sea King linked with IOC / FOC NH90
BEL: 8 x NH90 → 4 x NFH (ordered in June 2007)
Final Configuration BEL NFH will be the same as the Dutch version (cooperation). No sonar & torpedoes, but pre-dispositions are installed
Deliveries
Aug 2013: 1st NFH
Mei 2014: 2nd NFH
Nov 2014: 3th NFH
First half 2015: 4th and last NFH
Missions
Search & Rescue
IOC (Initial operational Capability) : Oct 2015 – SAR with Sea King and NH90
FOC ( Final Operational Capability): Dec 2016 – SAR only with NH90
Maritime operations: Reconnaissance and Anti-piracy missions

23. Plans & Evolutions Aug 2013 Dec 2013 Jan 2014 Apr 2014 Jun 2014 (TBC)
2015
2016
800 Hrs
510 Hrs
0 Hrs
+290 Flight Hrs
2013
2014
2015
2016
800 Hrs
0 Hrs
2013
2014
2015
2016
800 Hrs
675 Hrs
250 Hrs
+650 Flight Hrs
2013
2014
2015
2016
800 Hrs
675 Hrs
525 Hrs
400Hrs
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
800 Hrs
675 Hrs
525 Hrs

24. Plans & Evolutions
Pending: increase of the Flight Plan with 650 Hrs >< Investments:
2 additional engines (>600 Hrs / engine)
1 additonal Tail Gearbox
1 additional Swashplate
(1 additional intermediate Gearbox)
Possible problems
Repair: Turn around times
2nd Hand
Available stock?
Log Cards, COC’s, …
Investments Sea king >< Operationality NH90
SAR commitment

25. Challenges Small fleet >< operational requirements
Very short reaction time
Structural repairs: “Stn 290”,…
Limited capacity in-house
Manage obsolescence
Spare parts
Turn around times
High costs
Deal with incertainity
Phasing out Sea King >< NH90
Material Management: Science => Art
Skilled personel

26. Conclusions Major challenges Key objectives
Uncertainty: Phasing out linked with IOC / FOC NH90
Sea King will continue flying in
Manage obsolescence
Key objectives
Realize Flight Plan and maintain StdBy SAR until FOC SAR NH90
Assure availability of 2 H/C

27. Questions ?