In Severe Environments

HELICOPTER operations in the most demanding climatic conditions necessitate the highest standards of component reliability. Consideration of the problems involved in rotating wing aircraft in such environments was the subject of a Royal Aeronautical Society conference which encompassed a wide range of temperatures and harsh terrains. From the Norwegian Air Force, the difficulties associated with operation in — 26°C in the treeless landscape or Tundra, of the Arctic, were described. For Norway, the main area of interest and responsibility lies in the Arctic islands of Svalbard and the sea areas between Svalbard and the mainland of Norway. Fisheries take place up to 82° latitude, which is something of a record. There are also (Russian) coal mining areas of Svalbard.