CHC Australia - Spotlight On: The AW189 with Matthew Guy, Type Technical Pilot based in Karratha, Australia

CHC is the only Leonardo AW189 operator in Australia. But what makes it a standout aircraft for offshore energy operations, and what's it like to fly?

We asked Matthew Guy, Type Technical Pilot based in Karratha, Australia.

Q: Matt, tell us a bit more about your background

A: I've been an offshore captain on the 189 for about six years now, and at CHC for just over 12 years. I'm also a training captain on the 189, and before joining CHC was a Black Hawk instructor in the Australian Army.

Q: What types of operations does CHC use the AW189 for?

A: We're the only operator in Australia to operate the AW189, primarily using it in support of offshore oil & gas operations. As part of those operations, we conduct medical evacuation support to clients, and can also be called upon by government for search and rescue tasks. It does highlight the versatility of the aircraft.

Typically, we'll carry more than 500 passengers to and from offshore installations each week. Most of the time, we support the North West Shelf Gas Project, usually flying out to rigs about 70 nautical miles offshore. We also regularly operate down towards Learmonth in the Exmouth Gulf, supporting three rigs there. On occasion we service the Learmonth facilities with direct flights from Karratha, which is about 160nm each way.

Q: From a pilot's perspective, what do you appreciate most about the AW189's performance and handling?

A: It's a smooth ride with great visibility and plenty of room. The cockpit is uncluttered, and the human-machine interface is well thought out. I quite like the synoptic pages where systems such as hydraulics and electrics are displayed in a manner which is easy to monitor. The fuel system does not require much pilot input at all, which is a nice change from previous aircraft I have flown.

I have found the handling not too dissimilar from a Black Hawk, in that the aircraft is responsive to pilot inputs. It is a nice machine to fly.

Q: What features of the AW189 make it particularly suited for offshore missions?

A: I think in cricketing terms, the 189 would be considered a great all-rounder. It has powerful engines, a variant of those found on the S92, but in a lighter airframe which gives it excellent performance when operating from offshore helidecks. We primarily operate in Performance Class 1 for our offshore work, which enhances safety. The passengers seem to like the spacious and bright cabin, with large windows throughout. We carry up to 16 passengers in the offshore configuration.

There are many redundant systems built into the aircraft for our safety, including the main rotor transmission. This can run for up to 50 minutes with a loss in oil pressure, which gives us options when operating over water.

The 189 is also fitted with an auxiliary power unit which supplies emergency electrical power if required in flight, but also allows us to operate without external power if we need to shut down offshore. The variant we operate also has the extended range fuel tanks, which gives us some great flexibility for longer ranges or poor weather.

Q: What has been your experience with the aircraft's range capabilities?

A: The extended range 189s we operate can give us over 5 hours endurance. I remember conducting a search in a man-overboard task where we were in the search area for over five and a half hours. One of the longest rescues we conducted was an hour and forty minutes of flight time out from Karratha, over 200nm away. This was a nationally organised SAR event with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), and they were impressed with our range capability in that region.

The extended range fuel system on the 189 has been well thought out. It needs little input from the pilots and, being positioned directly under the main transmission, there are no weight and balance issues if we need to fill to maximum fuel for a tasking.

Q: How does the AW189 perform in Australia's harsh environments, especially in hot weather with maximum payload?

A: It performs well, although we lose some payload on extremely hot days, which in Karratha has reached over 50 degrees Celsius. Once we track offshore, the temperature does reduce, so we are rarely limited once operating to the helidecks.

Q: What makes CHC stand out as the leading operator in Australia?

A: We were the AW189's launch customer in Australia back in 2018, which means our team of pilots, aircrew and engineers have extensive experience with these aircraft. Since then, we've had minimal turnover in our AW189 team, which builds familiarity and expertise. We have over 10,000 AW189 hours logged in Australia - that's 10,000 hours more than anyone else. Most of the pilots on the 189 have been on type for over 5 years, which gives us the ability to scale as we bring in new pilots. We can quickly share the expertise and build experience across the fleet. This, coupled with our strong relationship with Leonardo, gives us an edge in understanding and enhancing the aircraft's performance.

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