Eurocopter AS332

Eurocopter AS332
Name	AS332 Super Puma
Type	Medium transport helicopter
Manufacturer	Aérospatiale / Eurocopter
First flight	1978
Introduced	1980s
Status	In service

Eurocopter AS332 is a medium-sized, twin-engined transport helicopter developed in the 1970s and produced by Aérospatiale and later by Eurocopter. It served in civil and military roles worldwide, supporting French Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, and numerous commercial operators for search and rescue, offshore transport, and troop movement. The type influenced successor designs and participated in major events including Falklands War logistics, Gulf War support operations, and multinational humanitarian responses to disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Development and Design

The AS332 project began at Aérospatiale during the 1970s to replace the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma and to compete with designs from Sikorsky Aircraft and Westland Helicopters. Initial trials involved flight testing at Saint-Nazaire and integration of engines from General Electric and Turbomeca suppliers. Designers incorporated composite rotor blades influenced by research at French National Centre for Scientific Research and evacuation features developed alongside standards from International Civil Aviation Organization authorities. The airframe combined a reinforced fuselage, a five-blade main rotor derived from studies at ONERA and crashworthy seating concepts promoted by European Aviation Safety Agency. Avionics packages often referenced subsystems from Honeywell International, Thales Group, and Rockwell Collins, enabling IFR operations compliant with rules in airspaces regulated by Civil Aviation Authority agencies of nations such as United Kingdom, Brazil, and Australia.

Operational History

Early military deliveries went to the French Army and the Brazilian Air Force where the type supported internal security missions, disaster relief during floods in Bangladesh, and counter-insurgency logistics in regions like French Guiana. Civil operators used the type for North Sea oilfield shuttle operations serving companies headquartered in Aberdeen and Stavanger. The platform saw expeditionary service during the Gulf War as part of coalition lift capabilities and later supported United Nations peacekeeping logistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Search and rescue squadrons in Iceland, Chile, and Japan operated variants outfitted with winches and medical modules during responses to incidents such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Variants

Production evolution produced numerous marks. Early military variants paralleled export models delivered to the Saudi Arabian National Guard and the Egyptian Air Force. Civilized configurations catered to operators like CHC Helicopter and Bristow Group for offshore transport to platforms owned by firms such as BP and Statoil. Special mission versions were outfitted for airborne law enforcement units in cities like São Paulo, Paris, and Los Angeles. Upgrade programs from manufacturers and third-party firms including Airbus Helicopters workshops and maintenance centers in Marignane added modernized avionics compatible with certification standards from European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration mandates.

Operators

State operators included air arms and services of France, Norway, United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Portugal. Civil operators comprised major offshore transport and search and rescue companies such as CHC Helicopter, Bristow Group, and national oil companies operating from hubs in Aberdeen, Rio de Janeiro, and Perth. International organizations including United Nations agencies chartered the type for humanitarian missions in regions administered by World Food Programme and UNICEF logistic programs during crises in Haiti and Somalia.

Specifications

Typical AS332 specifications included twin turboshaft engines from manufacturers like Turbomeca (now Safran Helicopter Engines) producing several thousand shaft horsepower, a five-blade main rotor, and a four-blade tail rotor. Capacity often cited seating for up to 24 troops or an equivalent cargo payload used by operators such as French Air Force and Royal Norwegian Air Force. Performance figures in operator flight manuals reflected cruise speeds comparable to contemporaries from Sikorsky and Westland families, operational ranges suitable for North Sea missions, and hover ceilings applied in mountain operations in regions like the Himalayas.

Accidents and Incidents

The type was involved in several high-profile accidents investigated by authorities including Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile and national accident boards such as Air Accidents Investigation Branch and National Transportation Safety Board. Incidents occurred during offshore operations, training flights, and combat support missions, prompting airworthiness directives and safety recommendations referenced by organizations like European Union Aviation Safety Agency and International Civil Aviation Organization. Findings often addressed issues in transmission systems, maintenance regimes overseen by firms such as Airbus Helicopters maintenance centers, and operational procedures used by operators including Bristow Group and CHC Helicopter.

Category:Helicopters