REQ: Belgium A109BAi

[Joris Heeren]

Hi all,

The Belgian Air Component reportedly has 10 A109BAi helicopters on strength. It seems that the BAi designation indicates that the helicopters has received modifications to allow IFR operations.

In early 2017, reportedly 13 helicopters were still on strength of which 8 were IFR capable (indicated with an asterisk *):
H21*, H22, H24*, H26*, H27*, H28, H29*, H31*, H35, H38*, H44, H45, H46*

On 02sep20 H22 was delivered by air to a technical school. This was reported as the last non-IFR flight and that 10 A109BAi's were remaining. This leaves 12 possibilities. Of the aircraft mentioned above, H28 has been recorded active after September 2020 so it can be assumed that this one also has been upgraded. The original list above clashes with another list somewhere on the www that states the following 10 active aircraft: H21, H24, H27, H28, H29, H31, H35, H38, H45, H46. Note that modified H26 is not mentioned. H44 is also not longer on the list, but being a non-IFR aircraft probably has been wfu. This leaves H35 and H45 as possible candidates for the 10th BAi and the other non-IFR wfu aircraft. The Scramble database gives last noted dates before September 2020 for both aircraft.

Could someone clarify this situation? When was the first aircraft modified? I suspect early 2015 but I would like to see confirmation...

MTIA,
Joris

[info@helispot.be]

Hi Joris

Based on the Helispot recordings we have H21, H24, H28, H29, H31, H35, H38 and H46 flying in 2022. That is 8 helis
Two have their last flight in 2021: H26 on 22/3/2021 and H27 on 26/10/21.
This could be the list but strange that H26 is since more than a year inactive...

[Joris Heeren]

Hi Johan, thanks for the reply. It appears that H26 is flying again, judging ADSB activity.