Helicopters

From your first Robinson R22 right up to the largest oil rig support helicopters, Paper Planes has your rotary-wing certification needs covered.

Standard Certificate of Airworthiness

Paper Planes holds in-house authorities to issue Standard Certificates of Airworthiness to helicopters in the following airworthiness categories:

Maximum aircraft size is a certificated seating capacity of 38 seats or less, which is anything smaller than the civilian version of the Chinook.

We can issue C of A to helicopters which are Australian 'First of Model' but 'First of Type' aircraft must be referred to CASA. For example, where a Sikorsky S-76A has previously been issued with an Australian C of A, then we can issue the C of A for the first Australian registered Sikorsky S-76C in-house.

At present we do not issue Special C of A, so if you have an a Amateur Built, Experimental, or Restricted Category helicopter, contact us and we will be happy to refer you to experts in those particular fields.

Export Certificate of Airworthiness

An Export Certificate of Airworthiness is often required by the National Airworthiness Authority of an importing country as proof that a helicopter meets the Australian standards plus their own ICAO notified differences at the time of export. It may also be required by the buyer of a helicopter as part of the sales contract.

Paper planes can issue Australian Export Certificates of Airworthiness to used aircraft that hold a current valid Australian Certificate of Airworthiness. Limitations on size and category are the same as for a Standard C of A listed above.

If you are buying a helicopter that is currently on the Australian register, an Export Certificate of Airworthiness is a worthwhile investment to smooth the certification process in your own country, and if you are selling an Australian helicopter, an Export C of A is an internationally recognised statement that the aircraft meets certain fundamental airworthiness criteria.

Special Flight Permit

We can issue Special Flight Permits for helicopters where we are in the process of assessing the aircraft for issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness, but where it does not currently meet all the required Australian standards. This typically is for helicopters that need to be ferry flown to or from Australia.

As the circumstances involving Special Flight Permits vary significantly from case to case, please contact us with details relating to your particular situation. Where the issue of a Special Flight Permit falls outside our authority, we can guide you through the process of making an application to CASA.

Maintenance Release

We can issue a Maintenance Release to an helicopter outside of Australian Territory where we have issued a Certificate of Airworthiness to that aircraft.

This would typically be used when a helicopter has undergone all required maintenance at an overseas facility either as a new production aircraft, or one that has undergone maintenance for the issue of a foreign Export Certificate of Airworthiness as part of a sale process. This allows the helicopter to go directly into service on arrival in Australia and eliminates the need for duplicated maintenance with the associated expense and delay. Alternatively, an Australian licenced owner may want to take in the sights of the country of origin or undergo training in their own helicopter before it is delivered to Australia.

Please note that issue of a Maintenance Release overseas requires that the helicopter meet all Australian requirements, and that maintenance carried out has been certified in accordance with the Australian Regulations. Paper Planes can liaise with manufacturers or maintenance organisations to ensure compliance.

International

Paper Planes has structured its authorities and operations to be able to work flexibly anywhere in Australia and the rest of the world. All aircraft certification involves site visits to one degree or another, and to us it makes no difference if that site is down the street or across the world.

Being able to issue C of A at the point of origin saves the owner significant time and money, and allows the operator to put a helicopter in service within days of arrival in the country. Depending on the configuration of the helicopter for the delivery flight or shipping, this may be as simple as removing any ferry equipment and adjusting the magnetic compass for Southern Hemisphere operations.

As well as our main base of operations in Sydney Australia, we maintain offices in southern Germany just outside of Frankfurt which allows us to base near European manufacturers for an extended period if required.

Manufacturers and Dealers

Nothing frustrates a customer more than knowing their new helicopter is in the country, but that handover is still weeks away while the aircraft goes through the C of A process, and nothing will make your brand stand out more than customers who are happy with the sales and delivery experience.

Paper Planes has a long history of dealing directly with local aircraft manufacturers and distributors for the major international brands. If you want to provide your clients with seamless helicopter delivery either through certification at point of origin or at your local service centre, then we are able to fit in with your existing arrangements or develop new strategies to reduce time and costs from when the aircraft comes off the production line to when your customer takes delivery.

Additional Services

Although certification of aircraft as they arrive or leave Australia is our main function, Paper Planes offers a wide range of additional support and liaison services. Click on the 'Other Services' tab or contact us directly to see if we can help you with your particular situation.