Case Study: WestWind Technologies achieves rapid, cost‑effective development of a lifesaving Black Hawk hoist with SolidWorks

Lifesaving air rescues use hoist equipment developed with SolidWorks

WestWind Technologies, a maintenance and systems integration provider for the US Army’s rotor‑wing fleet, faced the challenge of developing a more affordable, faster way to add external rescue hoists to Sikorsky Black Hawk and S‑70 helicopters—the OEM option cost about $500,000 or required the aircraft to be out of service for six weeks. To meet military and civilian needs while managing multiple projects, WestWind selected SolidWorks’ integrated 3D design, Simulation, and Enterprise PDM platform.

Using SolidWorks (including SolidWorks Simulation and Enterprise PDM), WestWind developed an external hoist arm and attachment hardware that can be installed in days—or about 20 minutes if prewired—saving customers roughly $300,000 by avoiding lengthy installs. SolidWorks cut assembly validation time by 50%, reduced simulation run times from ~8 hours to ~2 hours, and improved revision control and compliance, enabling WestWind to deliver a widely adopted, cost‑effective rescue hoist system.

WestWind Technologies

Richard Hall

Mechanical Engineer