Chopper made in Arusha fitted with German engine

        Engineer Abdi Mjema inside the airframe shell for the prototype helicopter being constructed at the Arusha
            Technical College. The chopper is expected to take off into the sky within the first week of July

Arusha engineers are working on the country's first locally built helicopter, in a project that will see the first product taking into the air next month while a batch of such choppers may enter production line in 2018.

Already the prototype model, a two-seater aircraft is in its final stages of completion at the Mechanical and Engineering Department of the Arusha Technical College, which runs a fully-fledged factory producing various forms of machinery including a prototype motor vehicles and a number of industrial engines.

But it is the Tanzanian made new helicopter that seems to be attracting attention: “We are complementing President Magufuli’s industrialization policy in pioneering the first locally made helicopters that will be available at affordable prices,” explained the man behind the ATC chopper project, Engineer Abdi Mjema.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ms Maimuna Tarishi also toured the project recently  and wanted to know when exactly that machine is bound to hit skies.

“We are contacting the Tanzania Aviation Authority for the permission to fly the chopper trials,” said Engineer Mjema.  

The idea was hatched by two engineers at the Arusha Technical College-- Engineer Adisai Msongole, now serving as the ATC Bursar and Engineer Abdi Mjema-- two months ago and now the chassis as well as the airframe for the pioneer chopper is ready, complete with the mounted flat engine.

“We had initially intended the helicopter with two-seating capacity to be used for surveillance, rescue missions and Agricultural purposes, but as the project takes shape we may increase the airframes to carry more people for transportation,” said the Engineer.

The helicopter is 50 percent complete and features the popular gasoline powered VW flat engine on board, these motors manufactured by Volkswagen in Germany are the same engines used to make the Robinson helicopters that are built in the United States.

“Once we get the Aviation Authority approval, then we shall complete the most sensitive part of the helicopter; mounting the main rotor and this should be ready in three-weeks’ time,” said Eng. Mjema, adding that Arusha will set history to fly the first Tanzanian manufactured helicopter in July 2016.

With a non-pressurized cabin, the prototype ATC helicopter has a flying ceiling of 400 feet for starters, taking into consideration that Arusha is already at higher altitude. But the flying height is set to increase with future finalized and accomplished models. Most commercial choppers can fly up to 8,000 feet above sea level.

How many choppers can they manufacture in a year once the project gets a nod from higher authorities? “Depends with the demand, but with serious work we can roll out up to 20 such helicopters in a year,” boasted the engineer.

The Rector for Arusha Technical College, Engineer Dr Richard Masika, had previously stated that, ATC was moving from being an ordinary college of technical, engineering and technological training towards becoming a fully-fledged factory which will deal in vehicle and heavy machinery repair and manufacturing.

Next August ATC will be completing the first phase of Kikuletwa Hydropower station and training center setup, through which the college is going to church electricity as well as impact training to that effect right at the site based in Kilimanjaro region.