Eagle recently celebrated its tenth conversion of a 407HP for Heli Niugini in March. With nine conversions completed in Canada, this recent conversion was the first for the Australasia arm of the company.The successful conversion in Coffs Harbour, Australia, finished within the allotted timeframe, and on budget as previously announced by Eagle Australasia’s CEO Grant Boyter.

A team of three maintenance engineers from Eagle Canada were flown into the country to train and assist the Australasia team with the conversion. The process mainly involves replacing a standard 407 engine with a 1,021shp (751kW) Honeywell HTS-900 engine.

According to Eagle Canada Vice President – Technical Sales, David “Spyke” Whiting, the demand for Eagle 407HP conversions continues to grow. The re-engine program is fast becoming a success due to the converted aircraft reduces fuel consumption and increases shaft horsepower by 22% compared to the original factory fitted Rolls-Royce 250-C47B. Furthermore, the re-engined 407HP is capable of lifting an additional 227 kilograms of payload at certain altitude.  The safety feature of the dual channel FADEC is also touted as important to the program.

The conversion was proven during a trial in Papua New Guinea in January this year when a variety of internal and external loads were carried out at 6500 feet, with a density altitude of 8000 feet.

“With initial results coming in as anticipated, the aircraft was then taken up over 10,000 feet to prove its performance at ‘hot and high,’ and after multiple lifts at 11,300 feet (density altitude 13,000 feet) the words ‘Awesome’ and ‘What a beast’ were heard reverberating around the mountains,” said Grant Boyter, Eagle Australasia CEO, after the trial.

The converted 407HP will give Heli Niugini more capacity to outperform anything in its class above 5,000 ft. and can outlift a Bell 212 above 8,000 ft. giving the company a distinct advantage over the competition.

In Australasia, a second 407HP conversion is scheduled for Julyfor a general utility and charter provider based in Indonesia.  This was made possible in part by the successful validation of the STC by the Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation.