What Are Helicopter Aerial Cranes and External Load Equipment?

Helicopter aerial cranes, also known as heavy-lift helicopters, are a specialized form of rotorcraft that are specifically designed and equipped to carry out heavy-lifting operations like external load lifting and transportation. In order to carry out such operations, these aircraft are fitted with helicopter external load equipment, including cargo hooks, hoists, and specialized rigging systems. Oftentimes, these helicopters are relied on to lift and transport loads that are considered too heavy or bulky to be transported by conventional helicopters or ground-based vehicles.

In recent decades, helicopter external load equipment has found widespread use within industries like construction, logging, firefighting, search and rescue, and film production. Within construction applications as an example, helicopter aerial cranes are used for tower crane assembly and disassembly, material transportation, steel erection, and concrete pouring. While other options may be available for these tasks, helicopter external load equipment can allow for shorter project timelines, less disruption of surrounding areas, and easy access to areas that are typically difficult to access.

The ability to reach unconventional areas is one of the greatest selling points of using helicopter external load equipment, such vehicles making the delivery of heavy construction materials to the top of a tall building simplistic. This can also make it safer to work in areas where more traditional construction methods may be impractical. Another major advantage of using specific load equipment is its given ability to conduct precise and controlled movements for efficient positioning of heavy loads in tight or confined spaces. To achieve this accuracy, specialized rigging and hoist systems are used for careful manipulation of loads. With the addition of load monitoring systems, real-time data can be monitored with ease.

In many of these cases, the choice to use helicopters for an operation is a result of it being more optimal when compared to the alternative of using scaffolding, ground-based cranes, and other options. Within an industry such as logging, helicopter aerial cranes allow timber to be extracted from remote or difficult-to-access locations, increasing overall productivity. While this is great from a business standpoint, it also lowers the overall damage to the surrounding ecosystem, since there is less logistics and tree removal involved to accommodate space for large vehicles.

In conclusion, helicopter aerial cranes and external load equipment are versatile tools that play a critical role in various industries. By using helicopter aerial cranes, companies can overcome the various challenges associated with rugged terrain, remote locations, and heavy loads, reducing project timelines and increasing productivity. As technology continues to be improved upon, we can expect to see even more innovative uses of helicopter external load equipment in the future, further expanding upon their capabilities and applications.

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