Breeze-Eastern

For Rescue Hoists, Cargo Hooks or Weapons Handling Gear, Its the Preferred Supplier

Around the globe, more than 4,000 helicopters are equipped with Breeze-Eastern rescue hoists. Small wonder: Breeze-Eastern hoists offer fully proven designs that are continuously upgraded to incorporate the latest performance, reliability, and safety advances. Every single component is rigorously designed analyzed, tested and qualified to meet the most stringent FAA, JAA, CAA, ENAC, DGAC, and LBA airworthiness standards.

Breeze-Eastern's reputation and high standards explain why the company won a multi-year contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to supply rescue hoists in support of the new U.S. Navy MH-60R/S program. These new helicopters will replace the SH-60B and SH-60F, whose primary mission is anti-submarine warfare. The MH-60S Knighthawks are to be deployed to U.S. Navy ships and carriers as multi-purpose transport/supply replenishment rescue helicopters for combat search and rescue, special-operations, transportation and mine countermeasures.

Breeze-Eastern has committed to supply Sikorsky a minimum of 69 rescue hoist systems over five years. This multi-million dollar contract has options for up to 60 additional aircraft a year to be exercised on year-to-year U.S. Navy budget allocations.

"This contract reflects Breeze-Eastern's continuing support of Sikorsky and the U.S. Navy," says Robert L. G. White, President and CEO of Breeze-Eastern's parent company, TransTechnology Corp. "As the provider of the rescue hoist systems on the original SH-60B and SH-60F platforms, we are proud to be the supplier of choice for this next generation of Naval Hawk aircraft as well."

Hoists aren't all that Breeze-Eastern builds. It has won a $1,871,100 firm, fixed-price contract from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., for external cargo hooks on the Boeing Chinook CH-47. The contract award covers an 18-month base period and two one-year options. This means that the Army can issue orders totaling up to the maximum amount of $5,376,180, though actual requirements may result in less than the total amount.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Div., Lakehurst, N.J., has exercised its option to buy 147 HLU-196 D/E Electric Powered Bomb Hoists and 100 HLU-196 D/E Bomb Hoist Battery Pack Recharge Units from Breeze-Eastern, at a total value of $5,021,600. Replacing the Navy's gasoline engine-powered bomb hoist, this bomb hoist will be used to lift weapons onto carrier-based aircraft. Breeze-Eastern also will provide battery chargers and AC adapters for use when battery power isn't available. "The bomb hoist marks a milestone in our ever-growing weapons handling systems capability," says White. "This product has come from a concept to a final product in less than two years. We've received more than $18 million of orders for the product during that time."

Breeze-Eastern is the preferred supplier of rescue hoists, cargo hooks and winches and weapons-handling equipment for many of the world's most exacting customers. n

For more information, visit www.breezeeastern.com, email marketing@breezeeastern.com, or call 908-686-4000.