A utility helicopter is a multi-purpose
helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which Lift (force), lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning Helicopter rotor, rotors. This allows the helicopter to VTOL, take off and land vertically, to hover (helicopter), hover, and ...
capable of pursuing a wide array of tasks. They have proven useful in both civilian and military operations, with versatility being their defining trait.
Civilian
Helicopters play a crucial role in various aspects of civilian safety. Police and fire rescue aircraft demonstrate exceptional versatility across a broad spectrum of tasks. Common applications for civilian utility include traffic surveillance,
medical evacuation
Medical evacuation, often shortened to medevac or medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to patients requiring evacuation or transport using medically equipped air ambulances, helicopters and ...
s, news coverage, and
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
missions. Recently, usage has been extended to air
evacuations
Evacuation or Evacuate may refer to:
* Casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), patient evacuation in combat situations
* Casualty movement, the procedure for moving a casualty from its initial location to an ambulance
* Emergency evacuation, removal of pers ...
, air and water pollution control, emergency cargo transportation (including blood, organs, and special equipment), and as helitankers in
aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting, also known as waterbombing, is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to Wildfire suppression, combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers ar ...
.
Traditionally, helicopters with three placed
reciprocating engines, such as the
47G Series and the
Hughes 300C were the primary choices for civilian use. However, the preference has been shifted towards
turbine engines. The
FH-100 and the
Bell 206A JetRanger are examples of turbine engine helicopters which have proven to be more effective in operational scenarios.
The arising issue with civilian use helicopters is the price tag of the turbine engine helicopters. With initial cost being around $100,000, difficulties are posed when budgeting for the necessary modifications. Such modifications include
night vision capabilities,
infrared
Infrared (IR; sometimes called infrared light) is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than that of visible light but shorter than microwaves. The infrared spectral band begins with the waves that are just longer than those ...
, and
radar
Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...
.
Military
In military terms, a utility helicopter is an aircraft designed to transport troops, but is versatile in performing various combat roles. These tasks include
command and control, logistics, casualty evacuation, and
fire support
Fire support is a military tactics term used to describe weapons fire used to support friendly forces by engaging, suppressing, or destroying enemy forces, facilities, or materiel in combat. It is often provided through indirect fire, though th ...
. The defining characteristics of these helicopters are lightweight frames capable of quick
maneuvers, and space, for transporting troops and cargo. Common types of cargo include ammunition, weapons, and food.
These aircraft play a crucial role in
military operation
A military operation (op) is the coordinated military actions of a state, or a non-state actor, in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state or actor's favor. Operati ...
s by providing defensive capabilities in scenarios of evacuation and cargo transportation, as well as offensive roles in fire support and surveillance. Their ability to adapt to different mission requirements contribute significantly to the success of
military objectives.
See also
*
Cargo hook (helicopter)
A cargo hook is a device suspended below a helicopter and allows the transport of external loads during flight. Common terms for this operation include slingwork, underslung loads, external loadwork, and external load operations.
Hook types
...
*
Ground proximity warning system
A Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) is a system designed to alert pilots if their aircraft is in immediate danger of flying into the ground or an obstacle. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines GPWS as a type of ...
*
Utility aircraft
A utility aircraft is a general-purpose light airplane or helicopter, usually used for transporting people, freight, or other supplies, but also used for other duties when more specialized aircraft are not required or available.
The term can al ...
References
External links
*
''The Utilization of Helicopters for Police Air Mobility: A Survey'' The Center for Criminal Justice Operations and Management, National Institute for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. (February 1971). ICR 71-2.
* Kimball, J. (February 1, 2008)
"Navy Provides Assistance When California Wildfires Strike"
''Utility and Cargo Helicopter Operations'' Department of the Army. (n.d.).
''The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
* Kümmel, Andreas et al. (2023)
"Aerodynamic Design Modification for Utility Helicopters. ''Journal of Aerospace Engineering'' 36.4.
Types of Rescue Helicopters Chopper Spotter (December 1, 2021).
Law Enforcement Completions Heli-One (2023).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Utility Helicopter
*
Lists of aircraft by role