Onboard Systems Awarded Contract for AW169 and AW101 HEC Secondary Hook Kits by Leonardo Helicopters

VANCOUVER, Wash., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Onboard Systems International, Inc., a leading provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, today announced that it has been awarded a contract from Leonardo Helicopters to provide backup HEC (Human External Cargo) hook systems for the Agusta Westland AW169 and AW101 aircraft. The backup hooks can be added onto the primary cargo hook system for new and existing AW169 and AW101 aircraft to enable HEC operations in utility, search and rescue, personnel insertion and extraction, and other missions.

"We are very excited for the opportunity to partner with Leonardo to add HEC capabilities for these aircraft," said Karsten Lemmon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Onboard Systems. "Many operators have expressed an interest in using Onboard's equipment for HEC missions, so we are pleased to be able to be working with Leonardo to add HEC-certified cargo hook equipment to these aircraft."

For the AW169, the backup cargo hook system will feature Onboard's TALON® LC Hydraulic Cargo Hook, which will allow for flexible rigging of the release line around the primary hook system while effectively reducing inadvertent cargo releases. The AW101 backup cargo hook system will feature the fast-rope version of Onboard's TALON LC Cargo Hook, which is currently in use on the AW101.

About Onboard Systems

Onboard Systems International, Inc. designs and manufactures a complete line of helicopter cargo hook equipment under its TALON® brand, including belly hooks, cargo hook suspension systems, load weigh systems, and remote hooks. Its low-weight, high-quality products provide helicopter operators with increased cost efficiencies and safety through customer-driven designs, responsive service and support, and low ongoing maintenance costs. Onboard Systems maintains a rigorous quality management system (QMS) designed to meet or exceed the strict requirements of AS9100 Revision C, ISO 9001:2008, helicopter airframe manufacturers, and the FAA. Founded in 1975, Onboard Systems is a privately held US corporation located in Vancouver, Washington.

About Leonardo

Leonardo is among the top ten global players in Aerospace, Defense, and Security and is Italy's main industrial company. As a single entity from January 2016, organized into seven business divisions (Helicopters; Aircraft; Aero-structures; Airborne & Space Systems; Land & Naval Defense Electronics; Defense Systems; Security & Information Systems), Leonardo operates in the most competitive international markets by leveraging its areas of technology and product leadership. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, at 31 December 2016 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of 12 billion Euros and has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the UK and the U.S.

Contact:  
Karsten Lemmon  
[email protected]    
Tel: 360.546.3072, x 215

SOURCE Onboard Systems