Transport Canada has approved Robinson's R66 cargo hook installation, providing Canadian commercial lift operators with what Robinson describes as a high performance, low cost solution that gives them a leg up on the competition.

The optional cargo hook carries external loads up to 1,200 lb, and the R66's maximum gross weight increases from 2,700 lb to 2,900 lb. The cargo hook installation allows solo flights from either front seat. Optional extra-large bubble windows enable the pilot to view the load for precision placement.

“One thing I've learned from all my years in the industry is that high operating costs are the main reason commercial operators fail,” says Eric Gould, owner of Aerial Recon, a longtime Robinson dealer in Calgary, Canada. “The R66's bottom line gives users the edge over aging fleets currently in the field. And, now with the cargo hook, R66 operators can handle loads of 1,200 lb all day long and not with just 15 minutes of fuel.”

Robinson is now accepting orders for cargo hook installations on new R66 aircraft at a price of $28,000.