UH-60 Black Hawk 701D/CC upgrade, is it worth it?
So, you bought a UH-60 Black Hawk and you are ready to put it to work but debating whether you should upgrade the engines? The answer to that is, it depends. In this post we will go over the different applications and environments that will affect your decision. Below is a calculator to help you compare and contrast the performance differences at different temperatures and altitudes:
T700-GE-700
T700-GE-701D/CC
*Performance data is for reference only. Not to be used for flight planning. Calculations made at ATF of 1.0 with HIRSS and Baffles removed. All algorithms used are generated with manual inputs, and may contain errors.
Firefighting
If you are going to fight fire with your Black Hawk then you are probably looking at either a Call When Needed (CWN) or Exclusive Use (EU) with the Forest Service, Department of the Interior (DOI), or Cal Fire. If this is the case then the answer is pretty strait forward, to qualify for EU contracts you will need to upgrade the engine. The reason for this is because the EU performance requirements (Forest Service and DOI)are set at or around 7000’ and 25 degrees C and to qualify and compete as a Type 1 helicopter you must have the increased performance of the T700-GE-701D/CC. These contracts are usually bid in 4 year cycles with the 1st year being your base year and 3 optional years. As a company you will need to weight the lower EU daily rate but guaranteed Mandatory Availability Period (MAP) with the initial $2M+ investment for the engines.
However, if you decide to go after CWN firefighting with your UH-60 you can qualify as a Type 1 helicopter with the performance of the T700-GE-700 engines. This is assuming that you took all the necessary steps to lighten the aircraft to an empty weight of around 10,800 lbs empty weight. You are going to be able to bid the CWN Type 1 daily rates (which are usually around double EU rates) and get the same hourly flight rate as the UH-60A+. With CWN contracts company’s can save high initial cost of new engines while making the same hourly rate and in most cases higher daily rates, but the work is not guaranteed.
Utility Work
If the primary missions for your Black Hawk are going to be utility and construction work you have a lot more flexibility in getting the work done. Flexibility exists because there are not stringent performance requirements to get contracts and operators can adjust fuel and internal cargo accordingly for each load and job. Because of this flexibility the T-700-GE-700 engines can handle most of the missions that are thrown its way. However, if the majority of your missions are above 4500-5000 feet with hot temperatures then the cost of new 701D/CC engines start to make sense.
Utility work can have a wide range of applications but generally involves new construction, infrastructure maintenance, or power line work. This industry is perfectly suited for the aircraft and either model Black Hawk will excel. Follow us for more useful calculators and tips on the UH-60 Black Hawk.