HeliMods

HeliMods is a founder-owned Australian aerospace technology company. It was founded in 2002 by Will Shrapnel, an engineer, pilot and aircraft technician. The company started as a one-man operation. It now has more than 80 engineers, designers, technicians and technologists.

HeliMods designs, engineers, manufactures, certifies, installs and supports special mission systems for helicopters and other aircraft. Its systems serve emergency medical retrieval, search and rescue, aerial policing and special operations. Customers are civil and defence operators around the world.

The company builds its work on digital engineering. It uses digital twin workflows, augmented and virtual reality environments and simulation tools. The company says this approach delivers certified mission systems with speed and fidelity. End user feedback is built into the design process from the start.

The Powered Aero Loader, or PAL, is a patented, zero-lift, push-button stretcher loading system. It is certified under a Supplemental Type Certificate. DRF Luftrettung, a HEMS operator in Europe, has become an H145 fleet leader and distributor of HeliMods and plans to introduce the PAL. Other work includes an aeromedical mission system for the Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland King Air 260C fleet, and a tactical capability for the Victoria Police AW139.

HeliMods is an approved CASR Part 21J design organisation and one of only five such organisations in Australia. It holds more than 35 rotary-wing Supplemental Type Certificates issued by CASA, FAA and TCCA. It is AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certified.

The purpose-built facility at Caloundra Aerodrome, on the Sunshine Coast, covers over 8,000 square metres. It has 3D printing, 5-axis CNC machining and aerospace composites, supported by 3D laser scanning. Its services include rapid solution development, mission system integration, through-life support and Configuration Lifecycle Management.

Customers and partners listed on the site include the Australian Defence Force, Textron Aviation, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Carson Air, BC Emergency Health Services, Life Flight, Ornge, Siemens, Leonardo Helicopters, Airbus and Babcock. The company has received the Telstra Queensland Business of the Year 2018 award and a 2019 Regional Exporter of the Year award.

Services

• Special mission systems
• Mission system design and integration
• Digital engineering
• Rapid solution development
• Through-life support
• Configuration Lifecycle Management
• Advanced manufacturing
• Engineering and technical advisory
• Next gen EMS cabin
• Tactical Mission System