HAI Convention News 3-6-13

HAI Convention News

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Wednesday 3.6.13 LAS VEGAS

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Milestone rocks show with big Sikorsky order

by Mark Huber Leasing company Milestone Aviation continued its buying binge here at Heli-Expo yesterday, announcing firm orders for 30 new Sikorsky S-92A and S-76D helicopters and options for 24 more.

Both Milestone and Sikorsky declined to place a total value on the order and options.

Deliveries run from now through 2017.

The multi-year order consists of firm orders for 23 S-92As and seven S-76Ds and options for 14 S-92As and 10 S-76Ds. “We’re all-in with Sikorsky,” proclaimed Milestone CEO Richard Santulli. Milestone currently owns 79 helicopters and the order, if fully

Scott’s brings back Bell 47

exercised, would add 54 to that total. This excludes orders placed by Milestone and previously announced with other OEMs. Milestone began in 2010 with $550 million in capital and now has a portfolio, mainly of medium and heavy helicopters used to support the offshore oil and gas industry, worth more than $1 billion.

Orders recently placed by the company would nearly double the value of its aircraft holdings.

Santulli said the company is in the equity markets “every day. We talk to banks and insurance companies daily,” he said, but did not commit to re-entering

by James Wynbrandt The iconic bubble-canopied Bell 47 helicopter is coming back. Scott’s-Bell 47 announced yesterday at Heli-Expo that it will build new Bell 47 helicopters, dubbed the 47-GT6, powered by the Rolls-Royce RR300 turboshaft. The aircraft will be built from scratch, not remanufactured, and will be based on the 47G-3B-2A type design, taking advantage of the 3,200pound max gross weight with external load that model was

Continued on page 24 u

Vol. 45

anticipating EUROCOPTER’S CELEBRATION Announcements of new helicopter models draw Heli-Expo showgoers like Justin Bieber draws teenage girls. Eurocopter played to the crowd yesterday with the showing of its new EC175, EC145T2, EC225, AS350B3e with a lively paint job by Brazilian pop artist Romero Britto and the new EC135T3/ P3 with longer main rotor blades, new Fadec, mgw increase and better hot/high performance. As CEO Lutz Bertling put it, “The best is yet to come.”

Continued on page 30 u

AgustaWestland:

New CEO sees ‘bright future’

by Mark Huber

MARIANO ROSALES

AgustaWestland’s new CEO, Daniele Romiti, met the press here at Heli-Expo Monday night just days after his appointment by parent company Finmeccanica.

Notwithstanding current problems at Finmeccanica, Romiti stressed that his company has a bright future and is well-positioned to take advantage of the coming deepwater offshore oil boom by offering the marketplace a family of medium twin helicopters in the four- to eight-ton range led by Continued on page 24 u

Glass Cockpits

Industry

Engines

Satcom HUMS

Rescue operation

With new owner, Enstrom goes glass

‘Best year ever’ for MD Helicopters

Turbomeca TM800 now the Arrano

Sky Connect now links with HUMS

Demo becomes the ‘The Real McCoy’

Adding its name to a long list of manufacturers choosing glass panels, Enstrom (now under new ownership) is offering Garmin’s G1000H as an option on its model 480B. Page 21

In addition to concentrating on its offerings for the military segment, the manufacturer aims to make this year ‘the year of Notar,’ promoting the MD600’s and Explorer’s no-tail-rotor design. Page 9

Turbomeca formally unveiled its 1,100shp Arrano engine, aimed at the next generation of helicopters. The engine improves performance while reducing emissions. Page 12

Honeywell has integrated its Sky Connect Tracker III with its Zing health and usage monitoring system that can send in-flight alerts of potential maintenance problems back to base. Page 11

A real emergency interrupted a live demonstration of a fast-rope and emergency hoist operation, underscoring the value of helicopters in search-andrescue operations. Page 18

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Eurocopter Group president and CEO Lutz Bertling, left, shows off the new EC135T3/P3 with (l to r) Aiut Alpin Dolomites president Günter Comploj, flight director Raffael Kostner, pilot Marcus Kostner; Milestone chairman Richard Santulli; Norwegian Air Ambulance CEO Syver Leivestad and Air Methods president Mike Allen.

Eurocopter unveils new model, builds on 2012 momentum

by James Wynbrandt

Evolutionary Approach

Bertling said its strong results validate Eurocopter’s “evolutionary” approach to continually improving existing product lines. “It keeps residual values of the helicopters high, [and] it reduces development risk in terms of resources,” Bertling said. “We will continue with the evolution where it makes sense, which makes sure the customer will have better mission capability by buying our helicopter than any other copter on the market.”

The new light twin-engine EC135T3/ P3 exemplifies that approach, offering improvements including optimized Fadec software, longer rotor blades and a change in the location of the air intake.

These changes yield a 66-pound increase in mtow, and improved hot/high performance (an additional 440 pounds of

payload at 1,500 meters, ISA +20). The updated model also features extended range with external auxiliary fuel tanks, a new interior design, Bluetooth headsets, and new life raft system. Air Methods is the launch customer for the new model.

Among the highlights American Eurocopter president and CEO Marc Paganini noted was the U.S. tour of the X3 (X cubed), Eurocopter’s high-speed

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MARIANO ROSALES

At Heli-Expo yesterday, Eurocopter introduced a new model intended to help maintain its market position, the EC135T3/P3, which is making its debut here. The company reported a 15-percent growth in revenues in 2012 despite a decrease in deliveries over 2011.

Lutz Bertling, president and CEO of Eurocopter Group, said the revenue growth reflects increased sales of higherpriced large helicopters and its expanding portfolio of customer services, while the decline in deliveries represented the last vestige of the decreased orders resulting from the financial crisis at the end of the last decade. Bertling said Eurocopter anticipates a 13-percent increase in deliveries in 2013. “The market is recovering,” he said. “We see the market coming back by ’14, from the financial crisis.”

Among the Eurocopter Group’s highlights of the past year Bertling cited were the first delivery of the AS350B3e, success of the EC130T2, market entry of the EC145T2 and first flight of the first production model of the EC175.

compound aircraft, which was demonstrated to operators from the oil and gas, public services, law enforcement, HEMS and VIP sectors. Eurocopter will adapt the technology in the platform to create a new helicopter “significantly different in terms of size,” Bertling said, though he declined to provide a certification date, launch customer or other details.

Eurocopter’s sales are relatively balanced between civil and military sales.

Bertling pointed to political realities as preventing Eurocopter from dominating the global military market, and it sees significant opportunities ahead, particularly the U.S. Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) program. The company is proposing its AAS72X as the high-performance, low-risk solution. “We intend to deliver 50 percent more range and 50 percent more cruise speed for 20 percent more cost,” he said.

But amidst all the good news and bright prospects, Bertling said that after safety, its major priority at the moment is addressing the problems with the EC225 Super Puma. The global fleet is flying under restricted service as the result of the ditching of two EC225s in the North Sea last fall, losses attributed to cracks in the main gearbox bevel gear shafts.

Eurocopter had previously said the aircraft would return to unrestricted service in February. At the press conference Bertling said results of the latest series of tests on suspect components would be completed by the end of March.

Eurocopter has five aircraft on display at Heli-Expo: an EC175, EC145T2, AS350B3e, EC225 and the brand new EC135T3/P3. o

HAI president Matt Zuccaro (second from left), HAI chairman Christoper Erickson (holding scissors), board members and staffers opened Heli-Expo yesterday. First-day attendance was about 20,000.

HAI formally opens Heli-Expo ’13 Helicopter Association International (HAI) president Matt Zuccaro joined with staff members Tuesday at the show center to formally open the 2013 edition of Heli-Expo in Las Vegas.

“This is the biggest show we’ve ever had,” Zuccaro told the crowd before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “All the numbers exceed anything we’ve ever had previously…I think we have a show that will probably take you all three days to walk through here and meet everybody.

“And remember, this is Las Vegas…so whatever you do here, stays here,” Zuccaro quipped.

HAI anticipates more than 23,000 industry personnel and helicopter enthusiasts will attend the show, with approximately 750 exhibitors and 60 helicopters on display throughout two convention halls.

–R.F.

4 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

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news clips z Life Flight Chooses Cobham’s Digital Controls Cobham Aerospace Communication’s Digital Audio Control System (DACS) has been selected for Life Flight Network’s 15 new AgustaWestland AW119Kx helicopters. The Aurora, Ore.-based aeromedical transport provider is the launch customer for the AW119Kx and will be taking delivery of its first aircraft this year.

According to Cobham, the DACS is a compact and lightweight unit that “distributes and controls aircraft audio to/from all transceivers, receivers and audio warning systems.” Software in the DACS allows customization of the system to fit customer needs. A variety of medium and heavy helicopters have the DACS installed, including the AgustaWestland (Booth No. N4831) GrandNew. Cobham Aerospace Communication also manufactures navigation, communication and airborne networking products as well as specializes in designing and manufacturing slip-rings for wind turbines and helicopter rotor deicing systems.

The 45,000-sq-ft hangar at Phoenix Heliparts’s Mesa, Ariz. facility is near capacity.

z AgustaWestland and Embraer Join Forces Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland signed a memorandum of understanding in late January to establish a joint venture with Brazilian aircraft company Embraer.

The plans calls for the two companies to manufacture AgustaWestland helicopters in Brazil for both the domestic and regional military and civilian markets.

The move is seen as potentially a major assault on Eurocopter’s majority share of the Brazilian civil, parapublic and military markets. Eurocopter has operated its Helibras subsidiary in Brazil since 1978.

In a statement, the companies said they expect to form the joint venture following regulatory approval within a few months after signing of the MOU and that the new company would pursue the offshore oil and gas, military and executive markets. An AgustaWestland spokesman told AIN that it is likely the joint-venture company would initially focus on manufacture of AgustaWestland medium twins, including the AW139, 149 and 189 models “to meet several market requirements for both commercial and military applications.”

z GAMA Spreads Part 23 Safety Message The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is spreading the safety recommendations contained in a government/industry rewrite of Part 23 certification rules here at Heli-Expo’13. “One of the primary focuses that we have had over the past year is to try to look at how we are regulated and how those regulations just strangle our abilities to get safetyenhancing technologies into the cockpit,” GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce said during the association’s release of 2012 year-end shipments last month.

GAMA has been working with the FAA and regulators from more than eight countries on the Part 23 rewrite issue.

In February, Bunce said, “At the [Heli-Expo] convention we are going to jump into being able to work the same lessons learned that we found in Part 23 into Part 27 [small helicopter certification rules] because there, too, we can get safetyenhancing technologies into the hands of the operators and we can save lives.” GAMA expanded its delivery data to include helicopter manufacturers last year.

Phoenix Heliparts logs 30 percent revenue jump

by Kirby J. Harrison From a husband-and-wife operation launched 10 years ago in the family garage in Mesa, Ariz., Phoenix Heliparts has grown into major player in the art of restoring older helicopters to a new and useful life.

The company’s main facility in Mesa, about 14 miles north of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, now totals about 45,000 sq ft and there is an additional 25,000 sq ft and a designated landing area at the airport for flight testing.

The company is best known for modifications and support of the MD500 helicopter series. “There’s nothing my guys can’t do,” said Phoenix Heliparts president Tina Cannon. One example, she said, was a contract to modify and upgrade three MD530Fs for the U.S. State Department. “The State

Department needed them in Iraq,” she recalled, “as in ‘now.’

We did all the work in just 28 days. People were counting on us and we worked around the clock.

Some of the guys even slept here.

It may be the most rewarding work we’ve done here to date.”

That quick response and on-time delivery cemented a relationship with the State Department and was partly responsible for Phoenix Heliparts winning a subcontractor job with Science and Engineering Services in Huntsville, Ala., on a $390 million, Bell UH-1 government upgrade project.

Expanding into the fixedwing market, Phoenix Heliparts recently delivered its second Dash 8 twin-turboprop modification for the State Department, a contract that included installation of a Spectrum Aeromed system on one of the airplanes.

Most recently, Cannon and

z Vector Aero, Air Greenland Renew Engine MRO Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services firm Vector Aerospace (Booth No. C4332) renewed its engine services agreement with Air Greenland, based in Nuuk, Greenland. Under this two-year extension, Vector provides Air Greenland with fixed- and rotary-wing engine repair and overhaul support from its two facilities in Canada–Vector Aerospace Engine Services Atlantic in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services North America in Richmond, British Columbia.

The agreement with Air Greenland includes various repairs, hot-section inspections, modifications, overhaul services and test support on the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A, PW123 and PT6T series engines.

6 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

Honolulu Police Department’s recently delivered MD500E on patrol off the Oahu coast.

husband and partner Darin made a trade with the Honolulu Police Department, delivering a refurbished and upgraded MD500E and taking in trade the department’s older MD500D. Those who were fans of the Magnum P.I. television series may be delighted to see what Phoenix Heliparts has done with the MD500D acquired from the Honolulu police. Appropriately, it has been completely refurbished as a mirror image of the MD500D that appeared in so many of the episodes from 1980 to 1988. The famous helicopter is on display at the Phoenix Heliparts booth (No. C1527), where visitors may also meet two of the stars from Magnum P.I.: Larry Manetti, who played Orville “Rick” Wright, and Roger E. Mosley, who had the role of charter helicopter pilot Theodore “T.C.” Calvin. Some 200 signed copies of Manetti’s book, Aloha Magnum, are being given away.

Also at the booth, Phoenix Heliparts is taking orders for two MD500 rebuild projects. The buyers will be able to customize the ships to a high degree, from choice of engines to avionics.

Phoenix Heliparts has a legacy of several employees and their families that can be traced back to Hughes Helicopters in Culver City, Calif., where the model 500 made its first flight in the mid1960s. And four members of the board of directors, said Cannon, have 85 combined years of experience with the MD product line in areas from manufacturing and repair to sales and support.

Cannon said the company, with 40 employees, has just come off a good year in 2012 that saw a revenue increase of more than 30 percent. “And we have some new and exciting projects for 2013 and beyond,” she concluded. o

Thank you for making milesTone aviaTion grouP The largesT helicoPTer lessor in The world.

Thanks to our more than 20 world-class operating partners, Milestone has leased over 70 helicopters valued at over US$ 1.0 billion. These aircraft, which vary from the light-twin EC135 to the heavy-twin S-92, are serving mission-critical contracts in 16 countries around the world.

We are excited to continue to support our customers’ growth and look forward to providing them with additional liquidity in 2013.

We are actively looking to increase our partnerships with high-quality operators in O&G, SAR, HEMS, para-public, mining and other utility missions. If you wish to explore whether your company can benefit from the 100% operating lease financing that Milestone provides please contact us.

Please contact us to learn how we can support you.

Phone: +353 1 205 1400 / +1 614 233 2300 Email: info@milestoneaviation.com Web: www.milestoneaviation.com

Providing over $1.0 billion in oPeraTing lease financing Please visit us at heli-expo booth #c5911

P&WC builds on PT6C, PW210 turboshafts

by Thierry Dubois Pratt & Whitney Canada has a number of engines in development for the medium-twin

helicopter category. The latest version of the PT6C family, the PT6C-67E, powers the

Eurocopter EC175. Meanwhile, the PW210S is about to enter into service on the now-certified Sikorsky S-76D. Two more PW210 variants will power the AgustaWestland AW169 and the Eurocopter X4. Last year, the Longueuil, Quebec-based engine manufacturer (Booth No. N3718) produced more than 850 turboshaft engines.

The 1,775-shp PT6C-67E has been certified by Transport Canada, the FAA and EASA. Nevertheless, Pratt & Whitney Canada engineers are still working on integration testing at Eurocopter’s Marignane, France flight test center, according to vice president of marketing Richard Dussault.

Eurocopter expects the EC175

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Two P&WC PW210S engines (shown) power the Sikorsky S-76D, which is about to enter into service.

system has to be integrated with the platform.

In other words, he said, the Fadec has to work closely with the aircraft’s avionics. Finally, the accessory gearbox’s design depends on the systems it has to drive.

The PW210A is already flying on four flight-test AW169s.

On the ground, the first part of the block endurance test has been completed, using the new accessory gearbox and specific ratings for the PW210A. This test was aimed at demonstrating mechanical integrity. Software integration and validation is also progressing, and electromagnetic interference and lightning trials for the control system have taken place.

Pratt & Whitney Canada is planning to conduct tests in an altitude test facility in the coming months.

The company has pegged PW210A engine certification for late this year, and also has on the drawing board an engine maturity test plan, which is over and above certification requirements.

The PW210E should enter into service in 2017 on the X4, a helicopter that is to replace Eurocopter’s AS365/EC155 Dauphin family. o

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HeliAvionics_English_C31622.037_264x199_6Mar_AINConv_v1.indd 1 8 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

to be certified this summer. “We have started delivering production engines to Eurocopter, at a low rate,” he added.

The 1,077-shp PW210S, for the latest iteration of the S-76, is also in an early production phase. “We have the capacity to produce 30 to 50 engines this year,” Dussault said. The first customer delivery of an S-76D is scheduled for this summer.

The other two PW210s–the PW210A for the AW169 and the PW210E for the X4–employ the same turbomachinery as the PW210S. The main difference lies in the physical interface with the helicopter, Dussault explained, adding that the engine control

11/02/2013 16:13

by Rob Finfrock During a presentation at the company’s Heli-Expo booth yesterday, MD Helicopters CEO Lynn Tilton emphasized accomplishments achieved last year and identified areas of focus for improved customer service and higher sales in the year ahead.

“I’ve never felt more pride in my heart or more excitement about this company,” she said, “and it’s been quite the journey.”

Following 24 deliveries last year and what she termed the “best [revenue] year ever” since she assumed control of MD Helicopters in 2005, Tilton said the company’s focus this year will be on maintaining its service to military contracts around the globe, and the development of its MD 540F, an upgraded variant of the MD 530F light attack helicopter.

The company announced Tuesday it has selected the new Rolls-Royce M250-C47E

turboshaft to power the MD 540F, the MD Helicopters competitor in the U.S. Army’s armed aerial scout helicopter program.

In February, MD Helicopters also completed the first phase of weapons platform testing.

Tilton noted that her relatively small company has devoted significant resources to the MD 540F’s development.

“We needed to get this done,” she said. “Now we’ll see what happens with [the] aerial scout [competition].”

‘The Year of the Notar’

On the commercial side, Tilton proclaimed 2013 to be “the year of the Notar” and said the company plans to more actively promote its MD 600 and twin-turboshaft MD 902 Explorer models and the benefits of the two helicopters’ notail-rotor design.

“Probably in someone else’s

MARIANO ROSALES

MD Helicopters’ Tilton reports ‘best year ever’

hands, Notar would really be preeminent,” she acknowledged, “but given the history of MD, from McDonnell Douglas to Boeing, to RDM [Holdings] and to me taking over…I don’t think it has gotten the push it needs. It is safer, it is more quiet, it is green and performs better in hot-andhigh [conditions].”

MD Helicopters displayed at its booth a U.S. flag-themed MD 902 next to a display featuring the new Universal Avionics singlepilot, IFR-capable all-glass flight deck featuring synthetic vision, electronic charts and video-capable mission display graphics. The company is targeting availability of the new panel on new-build MD 902s beginning in 2015. Tilton said a retrofit option will also be offered for current purchasers.

The FAA also recently approved a maximum gross weight increase to 6,770 pounds for the Explorer.

In addition to new product development, Tilton spoke of the company’s efforts in maintaining adequate parts inventories. While acknowledging a question about parts availability for a UK operator, Tilton said MD Helicopters has made consistent progress in this area. “In the last couple

Lynn Tilton, CEO of MD Helicopters, proclaimed 2013 to be “the year of the Notar,” because the company plans to promote its MD 600 and MD 902 Notar helicopters.

of months, we’ve had six out of ten weeks with zero AOGs and that’s our standard now,” she said.

“There’s never a moment where we shouldn’t have parts.”

Foreign sales continue to represent a sizable portion of MD Helicopters’ order book, with customers in Central and South America, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The company has

also placed a sales representative in China, though Tilton stressed that although MD Helicopters has received offers to move production, “I will not build these helicopters in Asia. It’s very important to me to try to keep the intellectual property here [in the U.S.].

“We are made in America,” she added. “We take pride in that and creating a lot of jobs here.” o

www.ainonline.com • March 6, 2013 • HAI Convention News 9

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Honeywell Sky Connect now links with HUMS

by R. Randall Padfield HUMS to operations and maintenance personnel. Unless the anomaly also happens to be detected by the helicopter’s own systems, the pilot will have no idea that any problem has arisen.

However, if needed, the people at the operator’s base, who are tracking the aircraft and receiving maintenance alerts via Sky Connect, can call or text a message back to the aircraft.

Phone Calls and Texts

Seeing how the system works in an aircraft and at an ad hoc ground station really shows what it does. That’s why Honeywell is offering to show Sky Connect Tracker III and Zing in operation together in the company’s AS350 test helicopter (N350FD) here at Heli-Expo ’13. AIN went along on a flight on Sunday for a lesson in flight tracking and HUMS alerting. The “ground station” was a laptop in an Atlantic Aviation conference room at McCarran International Airport.

Compared with the other systems

CURT EPSTEIN

Honeywell’s latest iteration of its Iridium satellite-based communication and aircraft tracking product, Sky Connect Tracker III, has been joined with its Zing health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) to create an integrated system that can now also send alerts of potential maintenance problems back to base.

The communication part of Sky Connect Tracker III provides concurrent voice and text, along with flight tracking. This means that through their headsets pilots can talk on the phone while simultaneously sending a text. Meanwhile, the flight tracking part is sending the position of the helicopter at regular intervals. It can also monitor flight data parameters. The system uses the Iridium satellite network, meaning it works where Iridium is available, which is anywhere in the world.

When connected with a Zing HUMS, Sky Connect will send automatic, real-time maintenance alerts of anomalies and exceedances detected by the

in N350FD, such as Sentinel and Observer, Sky Connect sits unobtrusively, almost hidden from view in the center console between the pilot seats. The device resembles a nav radio, with the addition of a row of telephone buttons. It is powerful, though.

While we were still sitting on the ramp, rotors turning, Honeywell senior test pilot Ron Wayman demonstrated simultaneously making a phone call and sending a text to co-worker Dave Tiefisher, aircraft maintenance and flight test operations, who sat with his laptop in the FBO. Meanwhile, Sky Connect was simultaneously and automatically sending tracking information to Tiefisher’s laptop.

The Zing HUMS system is invisible to the pilot. Without the integration with Sky Connect, the HUMS data can be downloaded only after the aircraft returns to base. With the connection, the HUMS data zips back to the base at the speed of light.

N350FD has 24 Zing HUMS sensors, but they send alerts only when there’s a problem.

So Honeywell engineers have installed a HUMS demo button

Honeywell acquired Sky Connect with its purchase of EMS Technologies in 2011. The latest version, Sky Connect Tracker III (above) connects with the Zing health and usage monitoring system. The Sky Connect panel sports a row of telephone-like call buttons.

Bell banks on JMR for Army’s business Bell Helicopter CEO John Garrison said his company wants the U.S. Army’s business back and he sees the proposed Joint MultiRole (JMR) helicopter as a vehicle to do just that.

Bell is submitting a proposal featuring its tiltrotor technology for Phase 1 of the JMR competition on March 6. Other entries are expected from a newly formed Boeing-Sikorsky alliance and AVX Technologies.

Speaking at a press conference here at Heli-Expo, Garrison indicated that he understood the implications of any future JMR award, predicting that it could eventually lead to a consolidation within the industry. He said he was not surprised that Boeing and Sikorsky had partnered for the program.

“They were partners on the [canceled] Comanche program and we should not be surprised

on the cockpit panel. Wayman pushed the button a few times, sending SBDs, or “short burst data” messages. SBDs contain no more than about a dozen letters. Using simple abbreviations, this is all that’s needed to tell the maintenance staff what’s going on inside the helicopter. He explained that we’d be able to see the data messages on Tiefisher’s laptop when we got back.

Flying with Sky Connect

The fact that the helicopter was only about 200 yards from the conference room did not seem to phase Wayman and Tiefisher, but I could not help thinking that the phone call, text, tracking data and simulated HUMS alerts traveled some 485 miles one way to one of 66 Iridium satellites in low-earth orbit and then back another 485 miles.

The satellites orbit pole to pole at a speed of about 17,000 mph.

Flying the AS350 with Sky

‘One Kaman’ is new thrust at aerospace icon

by Kirby J. Harrison Kaman Aerospace, perhaps best known for its iconic K-Max heavy-lift helicopter, is at Heli-Expo ‘13 emphasizing its newly reorganized identity as “One Kaman.”

“We’re a company that can handle anything from metal and composite structures to complete systems design, as well as manufacture of tooling–our own and that of our customers,” said Gary Tenison, Kaman Aerospace v-p of business development and marketing.

One of the more recent examples is the composite doors–main and emergency–for Bombardier’s new Learjet 85. The doors are of single-piece manufacture, said Tenison, making them lighter, stronger and involving fewer parts. “We see these doors as part of a Kaman-branded product line.”

K-Max in Afghanistan

that they are working together again,” he said of the companies.

“They are very formidable competitors. They are the incumbents.

But we think the government is looking for disruptive technology.

Tiltrotor is that technology.”

Citing the early days of the UH-1 in Vietnam, Garrison noted, “At one time Bell was the incumbent with the Army.

This [JMR] is the opportunity to win that back.” –M.H.

Connect and Zing was almost a nonevent. Wayman sent some more texts and also demonstrated the Honeywell Tcas (traffic collision alerting system).

Meanwhile, the flight tracker silently sent out frequent SBDs. Back at Atlantic Aviation, Tiefisher proudly showed us the track we had flown and the SBD messages sent, including those from the HUMS demo button.

An integrated Sky Connect Tracker III and Zing HUMS for an AS350 costs about $90,000, according to Rob Richardson, Honeywell marketing and product manager, aero services. For larger helicopters, such as a Bell 412, the system runs from $90,000 to $135,000. Sky Connect alone costs about $15,000.

Richardson said several large helicopter operators have shown interest in the combined system, including PHI, Bristow and Chevron. o

Kaman (Booth No. N4112) also expects to deliver the 1,000th Sikorsky Black Hawk cockpit by the end of 2013 and is the supplier of the composite folding boom on Sikorsky’s S-92.

As for the K-Max, it is very much alive and remains active in a number of roles in Afghanistan. The ability of the unmanned helicopter to resupply troops under demanding conditions has won high praise from the U.S. Marine Corps,

which is expanding the K-Max’s role in that war.

With its counter-rotating combining rotors, the K-Max is among seven candidates for the 2012 Robert J. Collier Trophy, and if Marine Corps, U.S. Army and civil contracts currently under review become reality, said Tenison “we could see a restart of production.”

Meanwhile, as part of the reorganization, Kaman has backed off its previous practice of product-specific sales personnel and created a sales team charged with selling the company’s total capability. “Our theme here is ‘concept to completion,’” said Tenison.

He further noted that Kaman Aerospace revenues represent approximately 40 percent of the Kaman Corporation total. Further, in 2012, total aerospace segment sales were $580.8 million, up 6.1 percent from 2011, and profits rose to $89.1 million from $80.4 million in 2011. “[Last year] was a good year,” concluded Tenison. “And 2013 is going to be even better.” o

www.ainonline.com • March 6, 2013 • HAI Convention News 11

news clips

MD selects Archangel ADAHRS

z AW169 Composite Tailplane Wins JEC Award

by Matt Thurber

z P&WC Marks 50th Anniversary of PT6 It’s the little engine that thought it could. And so it did. Fifty years and more than 41,000 engines later, the PT6 from Pratt & Whitney Canada is in use by more than 6,500 operators in 182 countries. Compared with the original PT6, the latest PT6A is four times more powerful, has a 40 percent better powerto-weight ratio and 20 percent better fuel consumption. Did we mention safety? The current in-flight shutdown rate is one event per million flight hours. Heli-Expo visitors can help Pratt & Whitney Canada celebrate the PT6 50th anniversary today at 12:30 p.m. at its exhibit (Booth No. N3718).

z Florida Company Adds Helicopter Support STS Component Solutions, based in Jensen Beach, Fla., and a first-time exhibitor at Heli-Expo ’13, has only recently expanded its service and support offerings into helicopters as a result of new OEM partnerships established with Donaldson, Skurka Aerospace and Esterline Mason.

Rotorcraft OEM support and service at STS Component Solutions is focused primarily on the Bell Helicopter 200 and 400 series; AgustaWestland AW101, AW109, AW119, AW139, AW169 and AW189; Sikorsky S-76 and S-92; and Eurocopter EC120, EC135, EC145, AS350 and AS365.

Explaining why STS (Booth No. N1914), decided to exhibit this year, group president Tom Corvella said, “The rotorcraft market is an expanding segment and represents another opportunity for STS Component Solutions to provide supply chain solutions and services. We view this juncture as a sign of our commitment to being the leading solutions provider in our industry.”

z Exhibitor Interest Rising in HeliTech The destination is London, England; the dates are Sept.

24-26, 2013, and if you ask the organizers (Reed Exhibitions in conjunction with the European Helicopter Association), they’ll tell you that interest in HeliTech is running 10 percent above last year.

“Our objective is to create an international helicopter show in Europe to raise the profile of the helicopter industry there,” said Vittorio Morassi, chairman of the European Helicopter Association. New exhibitors signing on for the 2013 show include Able Engineering & Component Services, Aerosonic, Air Ambulance Technology, Alpine Air Support, Flight Operations in Control, Heli Aviation and Jet Support Services.

Along with these new exhibitors are a broad selection of regulars, representing both small and large international businesses ranging from manufacturers to helicopter component distributors and other specialists in the industry.

“We believe HeliTech International is the only rotorcraft show of its type in Europe,” commented Morassi.

MARIANO ROSALES

First-time Heli-Expo exhibitor Archangel Systems is demonstrating tiny FAA-approved attitude heading reference systems (AHRS) designed for helicopter avionics upgrades at Booth No. N5532. The company also announced a major win yesterday, the selection of its AHR150A ADAHRS by MD Helicopters for the OEM’s new Universal Avionics integrated flight deck in the MD Explorer.

“This is a brand new integrated cockpit system, and this is a first for Archangel,” said CEO Michael Greene.

“This is the first time [we] have a booth and we’re really excited,” said William Dillard, Archangel director of emerging technology. “Last year we walked the show. We said, ‘Let’s go this year and do it even bigger.’ We wanted to have a place where we can sit down and have meetings. The helicopter market is our biggest market by far today.”

Archangel also manufactures AHRS with air data inputs, such as the AHR150A and AHR300A air data attitude heading reference systems (ADAHRS). Archangel’s AHR50 AHRS received FAA TSO approval on January 31. The AHR50 is designed to be embeddable in larger systems, according to Dillard, and features the same inertial sensor and magnetometer and

Michael Greene, CEO of Archangel Systems, with Lynn Tilton, CEO of MD Helicopters, whose MD Explorer will use Archangel’s ADAHRS in its Universal Avionics flight deck.

DO178B Level A software as the AHR150. “We’re one of the few suppliers of very small AHRS solutions that have Level A software,” he said. “We see it as a possible solution in the [unmanned aerial systems] arena,” The AHR50 is the “most compact Level A AHRS in the marketplace,” added Greene.

Archangel’s AHR50 and other products use off-the-shelf micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) to provide attitude data. MEMS-based sensors deliver performance as good as lower-end fiber-optic gyroscopebased inertial reference systems, according to Dillard. By combining the MEMS sensor data with GPS data, he said, “we’ll see higher-level performance.

And with the MEMS approach we hit a nice price point.” Archangel has also developed the AHR800 ADHARS, which can operate in supersonic aircraft at calibrated airspeeds up to 850 knots and up to 55,000 feet.

The AHR50 measures just 2.5 by 2.0 by 1.4 inches and weighs 75 grams. As a standalone inertial measurement unit, the AHR50 provides “body and inertial angles and rates with a maximum gyro rate of plus or minus 150 degrees per second and ceiling of 52,000 feet.” The AHR50 connected to Archangel’s AHR150A-2-A magnetic sensing unit delivers complete AHRS capability with attitude and heading output data, according to Archangel. o

Turbomeca unveils ‘Arrano’ engine

by Rob Finfrock Turbomeca Safran chairman and CEO Olivier Andriès employed a team of limber acrobats Tuesday afternoon to lend a dash of showbiz to the introduction of its new Arrano 1,100shp turboshaft engine, designed to power the next generation of

four- to six-ton helicopters.

Arrano is Basque for “eagle” and, like Turbomeca’s other engine offerings, represents a symbolic link to the Pyrenees mountains near the company’s headquarters in Bordes, France. The new engine was announced in July 2012 as the

Olivier Andriès, chairman and CEO of Turbomeca Safran, introduced the Arrano turboshaft engine to the Heli-Expo crowd.

JACK SYKES

The AgustaWestland AW169 represents a new generation of helicopter technology, and the multinational companies that designed and manufactured its innovative thermoplastic composite horizontal tailplane: Fokker Aerostructures (Netherlands), AgustaWestland (Italy), TenCate Advanced Composites (Netherlands) and Ticona (Germany), are being celebrated with the prestigious JEC innovation award, which will be presented at the opening ceremony of the JEC Composites Show, to be held in Paris on March 12.

The award-winning thermoplastic composite horizontal tailplane is a main load-bearing primary structure that is 15 percent lighter than other composite solutions, decreasing both emissions and fuel consumption for the helicopter. The AW169 horizontal tailplane has a length of nine feet. The thermoplastic material used is Fortron PPS, a high-performance engineering polymer developed by Ticona, a business of Celanese. TenCate Advanced Composites produces the carbon/PPS semipreg and plate material used. With its inherent flame-retardant properties, the material also meets the high safety standards specified by the aircraft industry.

12 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

TM800 and is expected to yield a 10- to 15-percent reduction in fuel consumption, as well as improved range and payload and a reduced carbon footprint. A replica of the new engine is displayed at Turbomeca’s booth (No. C3901) at Heli-Expo ’13.

The Arrano is slated to power Eurocopter’s X4 next-generation medium-twin helicopter, with certification anticipated to coincide with the X4’s entry into service. An Arrano development prototype recently completed its first test-bench run, Andriès said, with the first full test phase expected to begin in 2014.

The Arrano represents “the fruit of our determination to design ever-more competitive engines with ever-higher performance, together with valueadded services,” according to Andriès. o

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Safe powerline operation: ‘Avoid rather than cut’

Thomas Grunbeck, Safe Flight senior v-p of sales and marketing

Safe Flight Instrument (Booth No. C3932), a supplier of safety and performance products since 1946, made it clear yesterday at Heli-Expo that in terms of safety, avoiding powerlines is much to be preferred over existing helicopter modifications designed to cut powerlines on contact.

Speaking at a media conference yesterday, Safe Flight v-p Thomas Grunbeck promoted the White Plains, N.Y. company’s powerline detection and warning system, which emits a pulsing, audible sound as well

as a visual alert when it detects powerline hazards.

Grunbeck noted that powerline strikes remain “one of the greatest hazards to both civil and military helicopter operators.”

The Safe Flight powerline detection system consists of a VHF whip antenna, an antenna coupler and a 14-oz avionics panel. According to Grunbeck, the system costs $20,000, requires about 20 hours for installation and just about two minutes of operator instruction, has a range of about 1,500 feet and essentially

SOMETHING FOR THE GEARHEADS

MARIANO ROSALES

The numerous helicopters on the show floor provide a glimpse of the past, present and future of rotorcraft, and sometimes it’s easy to forget about the smaller components. The main rotor gearbox on display at the Vector Aerospace exhibit (Booth No. C4332) offers a reminder, with cutaways in the outer casing revealing the many gears that n make up the unit.

Air Comm chooses data system Air Comm Corporation (Booth No. N5015) announced Monday that the thermal management and environmental systems company recently selected Component Control’s Quantum Control logistics software solution to manage its manufacturing, business systems and inventory control operations.

Real-time Data Source

Air Comm CEO Keith Steiner said that Quantum Control will provide real-time data to help the company more effectively react to urgent situations and provide better customer service. “Having all of our manufacturing and services data tied together through Quantum Control will facilitate

the sharing of critical product and customer information in real time, to everyone on our team,” he added.

Quantum Control consists of separate modules that will be integrated throughout Air Comm’s manufacturing, shipping and inventory control processes.

For example, the manufacturing module helps coordinate the manufacturing process, including management of product lines, floor control and materials planning. The shop control module manages the component and assembly repair and overhaul process.

These modules are integrated with quoting, receiving, invoicing and shipping software to provide detailed automated oversight of the entire manufacturing and delivery process.

Component Control will offer demonstrations of its Quantum Control MRO and logistics software at Booth No. C1913 throughout Heli-Expo’13. –R.F.

JACK SYKES

by Kirby J. Harrison doubles the pilot’s time to react to the detected threat.

The system has received supplemental type certificate approval from the FAA for the Bell 206 JetRanger and the Aerospatiale Gazelle. EASA has approved it for the Eurocopter AS355, EC135 and BK117.

“Safe Flight’s powerline detection system has demonstrated an increased situational awareness when operating in the wire environment, providing our pilots with adequate time to avoid this

potentially deadly hazard,” said Gerry Hermer, founder and managing partner of UK medical emergency transport operator Sterling Helicopters.

Most recently, Flathead Emergency Aviation Resources of Northwest Montana, a nonprofit volunteer group providing air support for emergency services providers, purchased the powerline detection system for its new Bell 429.

Government applications of the Safe Flight powerline detection system are already in service in a NASA UH-1H and a head-of-state Mil Mi-17 and in growing numbers of police and medical emergency helicopters.

“We developed our powerline detection system to aid pilots in reducing the risk of powerline strikes,” concluded Grunbeck. “Our solution is simple,” he added. “Avoid, don’t cut.” o

Wire Strike Stats • 60 percent of wire strike victims failed to see the wire.

• 75 percent of all wire strikes destroy the aircraft.

• the average reaction time between seeing the wire and meaningful action to avoid it is 4.6 to 5.0 seconds.

• two wire-strike accidents occur in the U.S. every week.

• one fatality occurs every 17 days.

• only about 10 percent of wire strikes that occur are even recorded.

• there are approximately 4.6 million miles of powerlines in the U.S.

USAIG boosts human factors initiative Aviation insurance underwriter USAIG (Booth No. N1916) is highlighting additions and improvements to its Performance Vector aircraft operator safety initiative, which focuses on human factors elements that may lead to aviation accidents.

USAIG expanded the program’s individual course offerings to five with the addition of a 200-level Pilot Reliability Certification (PRC) online course.

The new online program complements the existing

100-level PRC, Line Service Training, Maintenance Reliability and Z-Coach fatigue management programs.

New “Contemporary Human Factors” and “Mind-Body Link to Safety” webinar series are also available for group presentations.

Well-rested Crew

Performance Vector subscription software offerings have also been expanded with a new System for Aircrew Fatigue Evaluation (SAFE) tool, which continually monitors flight schedules and highlights

Avcon Industries showcases portable skid-mount system

by Amy Laboda The aircraft modification segment of Butler National’s wholly owned subsidiary Avcon (Booth No. C3004) is exhibiting at Heli-Expo for the first time. Avcon is armed with a novel concept design for a skid-mount portable system for Lidar system operations in rotorcraft. Avcon modifies business and cargo aircraft, both fixed-wing and rotorcraft, in Newton, Kansas, and provides many FAA-approved solutions to a variety of operators.

Avcon offers customers specialty modifications on an individual basis. In the case of the skid-mount portable system, DWTA Helicopters director of operations Wolf Zon showed Avcon some conceptual drawings for a secure yet temporary

14 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

skid-mounting system for a customer’s Robinson R66. The idea was to develop a system that doesn’t require an STC. “In this instance a customer with a Robinson R66 that is required to operate in rough and high-altitude environments came to us because he needed to install a sophisticated Lidar terrain topography mapping system and he did not want a permanent installation,” said Zon. “He did not want something that required an STC or 337. And he had multiple missions for which he wanted to use the aircraft.”

Avcon lead engineer Matt Paulson took over. “We’re a small company so when we want things done fast we do them ourselves,” he said. “[That includes]

potential risks for fatigue.

“We constantly seek new opportunities to strengthen our clients’ existing safety programs,” said Paul Ratté, director of aviation safety programs at USAIG. “Performance Vector is available to any USAIGinsured operator of turbine aircraft and is highly applicable to helicopter operators.”

Performance Vector is also available to eligible customers of USAIG’s AeroComp workers compensation program, which was launched January 1. –R.F. the fabrication and installation process, as well as the design. It just speeds the process up. We’ve got three-axis CNC machines, sheet-metal tools, aircraft certified welders, all on site.”

“Matt took conceptual work from me and in less than seven weeks produced a workable noninvasive helicopter attachment system for the Lidar,” said Zon. The concept design has been installed on a Robinson R66 and included a Leica ALS70 Lidar laser scanning system, pilot headup display, system operator console and display and main system CPU with laser controller.

Future applications of this concept design are being evaluated, according to Avcon national account manager Steve Broussard. The company is considering the new system for other helicopter airborne external systems such as cameras, FLIR, lighting units and even portable controller and or cargo-baggage configurations. o

Slow, steady recovery coming, predicts research service firm

by Kirby J. Harrison Aviation market intelligence firm JetNet is celebrating “25 years of delivering professional aircraft research services” at Heli-Expo and offering a look at numbers from 2012 suggesting a “slow but steady recovery” for the helicopter industry.

The Utica, N.Y.-based firm’s staff of more than 40 research specialists makes real-time updates to what JetNet describes as “the most comprehensive database of its kind.” At the close of 2012, the company reported 28,287 helicopters in service, 18,911 turbines and 9,376 pistons. Of that total, it listed 1,730 helicopters actively offered for sale, or about 6.1 percent of the fleet. The firm currently tracks 134 separate helicopter models in 184 countries.

database for instantaneous access by our clientele, a network of aviation professionals around the world.”

At its Heli-Expo booth (No. C1001) JetNet is offering a broad overview of its products, including the Evolution software suite that provides an intuitive and customizable graphical user interface. The suite allows subscribers to view charts, tables and selective information.

Also on display are examples of the company’s ancillary services, including JetNet CRM (customer relationship management), JetNet SPI (sales price index) for actual selling prices and JetNet iQ (intelligence quarterly) with its comprehensive business aviation forecasting service. o

Instantaneous Access to Data

“At JetNet it’s all about reliable information and market intelligence,” said director of sales and marketing Paul Cardarelli. “Our staff solicits original information from sources directly associated with aircraft. The data they gather is reviewed and confirmed for accuracy and completeness. It’s then added to the JetNet

Columbia plans to refurbish the 10 Vertols it purchased from the Swedish Department of Defense before deploying them around the globe under various contracts.

10 Vertol 107s set to join Columbia fleet Columbia Helicopters (Booth No. C811) is purchasing 10 Vertol 107-II heavy-lift tandem-rotor helicopters from the Swedish Department of Defense.

The purchase will bring Columbia’s total Vertol fleet to 27.

Six of the Vertols being purchased were manufactured by Boeing while the other four were made by Kawasaki. Columbia spokesman Dan Sweet said that the company intends to deploy the helicopters worldwide as it obtains

contracts for their use.

Columbia crews have disassembled and shipped the first three Swedish helicopters, and the remainder of the fleet will be shipped later this year.

“We are excited to have these helicopters in our fleet,” said Stan Wilson, Columbia’s president. “The Swedish military took very good care of these aircraft and we look forward to putting them into operational status as soon as possible.”

Columbia plans to refurbish the helicopters before their return to service.

Columbia operates the largest private fleet of heavy-lift helicopters in the world and flies them for missions from firefighting to logging and construction. In addition to the Vertols, Columbia operates a fleet of six Boeing 234 Chinooks and is refurbishing a seventh. –M.H.

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by Mark Huber Bristow Group posted strong financial results for the nine months ending Dec. 31, 2012, reporting net income of $90 million on $993 million in revenues. Revenues for the quarter ending the year were $346.7 million, a 17-percent increase from the same period one year ago.

Bristow, which provides helicopter services to the oil-and-gas industry worldwide, attributed its improved quarterly results to increases in revenues in Canada, Europe, Australia, West Africa and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

In October, Bristow announced it was making a $250 million minority interest investment in VIH Aviation unit Cougar Helicopters.

As part of the deal, Bristow will acquire various Cougar operating assets, including eight Sikorsky S-92As and Cougar’s Canadian passenger and maintenance facilities at St. John’s, Labrador and Halifax.

The purchased aircraft and facilities are on a long-term leaseback to Cougar. The Cougar deal provided $13.8 million of additional revenue for the quarter.

Bristow (Booth No. C4328) made other deals in 2012 that also bolstered its bottom line.

In August, the company secured new contracts for 20 large aircraft that it expects will generate more than $2 billion in revenue. The deals are a combination of new contracts and extensions of current ones in Australia, Brazil and Europe for Sikorsky S-92s and Eurocopter EC225s.

In Australia, Inpex awarded Bristow a 10-year contract for up to six EC225s to support the Ichthys project beginning in 2014. In Brazil, Bristow’s Lider subsidiary has secured five-year contracts from state energy company Petrobras for five S-92s. One helicopter will begin service this month and the others will be added next year.

Bristow has won a seven- to 12-year contract extension in Norway for four S-92s starting in September 2014, as well as a new award for search-and-rescue services there using three new EC225s. In the UK sector of the North Sea, Bristow recently added an S-92 and an EC225 on a two-year contract. o

Law enforcement helicopters are well represented at Heli-Expo ‘13, and American Eurocopter machines, with several different helicopter models well suited to EMS operations (AS350B2/B3 and EC130T2, EC135, EC145 and AS332 Super Puma) are easy to spot in the exhibit hall.

Ed Van Winkle, American Eurocopter’s sales manager for airborne law enforcement, explained, “Modern safety features, including energy-attenuating seats, glass cockpit displays and advanced hydraulics and Fadec systems complement the multi-mission capability of our helicopters that are destined for law enforcement agencies.”

A fine specimen of the company’s workhorse AS332L Super Puma is dressed in the colors of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). Deputy sheriff Patrick McKernan flew it from the department’s Long Beach, Calif. base to Las Vegas on Thursday.

“We replaced our 50-year old Sea King fleet with Super Pumas,” explained McKernan. “This aircraft is primarily used for SAR. With 11 million residents in 4,200 square miles of land, 600 square miles of ocean, two islands and opera- LASD Deputy Sheriff Patrick McKernan negotiates the tional demands from sea level to 10,000-foot HAI Heli-Expo arrival at the Las Vegas Convention Center. elevation, we need an aircraft capable of operating in all of those different environments.” The LASD operates a five-man crew on the Super Puma including two pilots and three medics, all of whom are SWAT team members, certified mountaineers and divers. They bring all of their required equipment with them.

“It’s quite a bit of gear, but we can launch directly from our base and put these people right on the problem through vertical insertion,” said McKernan.

The Austin, Texas, Police Department will take delivery of a new AS350B3e next month for tactical and transport missions, and water drop missions in partnership with local fire departments.

“One of the key considerations for choosing the AS350B3e was the versatility of the aircraft and its ability to support numerous types of missions. It can be reconfigured in as few as 30 minutes. That is critical for mission success,” said lieutenant Kurt Rothert, officer in command of Austin Police Department’s Air Support.

Last year American Eurocopter delivered 38 new EMS helicopters, and to date there are more than 630 EMS-configured Eurocopters operating in the U.S., of which 280 are operating with law enforcement agencies.

–A.L.

KIRBY J. HARRISON

Bristow posts strong growth

American Eurocopter shows off EMS and law enforcement helicopters

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The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Bell 412 crew was seconds from launching a fastrope and emergency rescue hoist demonstration when they received a call that cancelled the demo and sent them instead on a real-life SAR mission in the Red Rock Canyon area.

news clips Air Services International and strategic partner Dakota Air Parts International are sharing an exhibit at Heli-Expo ’13 (Booth No. C2106).

ASI has seen an expanded pool of exchange and lease Rolls-Royce M250 engines and modules over the past year, said general manager Steven Van Hemert, and as a result, “We are looking forward to engaging Bell 407 and MD600N operators during Heli-Expo.”

Dakota Air Parts v-p of sales Mitch Goodmanson described 2012 as “very exciting for both companies,” which he noted have seen substantial growth since the alliance. “Our companies’ capabilities complement each other in a way that the customer realizes a measurable cost savings with the quality they expect,” he added.

z P&WC Announces PW200 TBO Extension Pratt & Whitney Canada (Booth No. N3718) announced that the time between overhaul (TBO) for PW206 and PW207 engines has been extended to 4,000 hours, from the original 3,500 hours. The TBO extension is applicable to engines incorporating certain service bulletins and to all new PW206 and PW207 engines. Alternatively, an engine upgrade is available to operators wanting to take advantage of the increased TBO interval. “This TBO extension will help operators derive more value from their engines,” said vice president of customer service Raffaele Virgili.

z Columbia Helicopters Names New President Stan Wilson has been promoted to president of Columbia Helicopters (Booth No. C811). A member of the Columbia team since 1986, Wilson was vice president of finance for the past 13 years. The move has long been planned, according to Columbia. “Our company’s current global economic outlook has finally offered us the opportunity to implement some changes we have been planning for some time,” said former president and CEO Mike Fahey, who will remain as CEO. “As we see significant new opportunities for global growth as an organization, we determined the timing is right to align our leadership team for the future growth of Columbia Helicopters. The first step in this transition process was to promote Stan to president, where he will transition over to managing the organization.” Fahey will focus on strategic partnerships, new client development and exploring strategic growth opportunities.

z Heli-Mart Founder Don Nichols Steps Down Heli-Mart’s venerable president and founder Don Nichols is stepping down from the company after 40 years.

The announcement came March 4, during Heli-Expo ’13.

Heli-Mart (Booth No. C5111), located at the Orange County Airport in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a worldwide helicopter parts distributor and MD Helicopters authorized service center, with a special emphasis on AOG services.

Nichols said, “It’s tough to quit something you’ve been doing well, and happily, for 50 years. I am confident I’ve left Heli-Mart in good hands with Ed Brown.”

As part of the executive restructuring, vice president Ed Brown took over as president of Heli-Mart on January 1. Brown then relinquished his personal stake in Heli-Mart sister company Phoenix Heliparts (Booth No. C1527), while Nichols divested his interests in Heli-Mart, effectively disconnecting the two companies financially.

Nichols now maintains full ownership of Phoenix Heliparts, a full-service helicopter MRO in Mesa, Ariz., where he intends to be a part-time consultant tasked with growing the company’s presence in refurbishing specialuse helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

MARIANO ROSALES

z Dakota and Air Services Partner at Heli-Expo

Heli-Expo rescue demo becomes ‘The Real McCoy’ at UTC event

by Kirby J. Harrison A live helicopter rescue demonstration organized by UTC Aerospace (Booth No. C2425) was abruptly cancelled Sunday morning when, moments before the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police crew began to lower the fast-line, they received an emergency call for the real thing.

With an audience of more than 70 and two television crews watching from the roof of the Wynn Encore parking garage, the UH-1H main door closed and the helicopter banked abruptly away, headed for Red Rock Canyon, a rugged area about 20 miles west of Las Vegas, to assist an injured hiker.

For a company involved in rescue hoist technology, there could have been no better demonstration than reality, said director of business development and former U.S. Marine Alexander Echeverria.

According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police aircrewman David Vanbuskirk, the aviation department averages more than 125 helicopter search and rescue (SAR)-specific missions a year, covering some 8,000 sq m of often inhospitable terrain around Las Vegas.

UTC Aerospace opened its annual user’s conference on Sunday, and many of the 100-plus operators in Las Vegas for the two-day seminar were at the demonstration.

Learning from Mistakes

The conference typically draws UTC equipment users and operators from all over the world, and this year attendees came from as far away as Queensland, Australia and Colombia. The focus at each event is on new technologies and best practices. This year, said UTC spokesman Andrew Martin, the conference offered an example of what is right with the users and operators conference when one operator bluntly and honestly gave some examples of what his department had done wrong, and what it had done to ensure it didn’t happen again.

“There is no better learning tool,” said Martin.

“We not only appreciated the honesty, but also the opportunity for UTC and everyone there to learn and avoid making the same mistakes.”

Those who attend the user and operator conferences are often some of the most active in the search-and-rescue business. Don White is a senior deputy and crew chief with the aviation unit of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The unit typically operates 670 flights a year, with as many as 120 of them of an emergency medical transport or search and rescue nature.

Brian Gutherie is chief crewman with CareFlightGroup out of Queensland and his

18 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

department operates along Australia’s Gold Coast, where it engaged in some 750 missions in 2012 with two Bell 212s.

UTC Aerospace produces integrated rescue hoist systems for a diverse array of aircraft from virtually every helicopter manufacturer in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. According to UTC, its Sensors and Integrated Systems rescue hoist is the only hoist-and-cable unit that offers both a traditional “level wind” and industry unique “translating drum” cable management system. It was developed to overcome the operational challenges generated by high winds, obstacles, terrain, pitching decks, swift water and a multitude of circumstances beyond the operating crews’ control. o

Airwolf adds parts for Bells, Enstroms Airwolf Aerospace of Middlefield, Ohio, is expanding its FAA-approved Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) capability for many popular models of Bell helicopters and the Enstrom 480 beginning later this year.

PMA parts under development for Bell include strap fittings, latch bolts, swash plate details, bearings, bushings, gears and trunnions. Airwolf launched its Bell 206, 206L, and OH-58 TT straps in March 2011 and brought extended-life 36-month tension-torsion (TT) straps to market in November 2012. Thirty-six month TT straps for the UH-1, 204, 205 and 212 are under development and expected to be available in the third quarter this year. Airwolf’s original 206 TT straps were under development for more than seven years.

For the Enstrom 480, new TT straps under development provide a 36-month, 1,200-hour calendar life. They can be purchased directly through Enstrom or at a discount through Airwolf. Pricing has yet to be established. “Collaborating with Enstrom on this product, we’ll be offering straps to in-production helicopters as well as the nearly 200 Enstrom 480 owners worldwide,” said John Montana, the company’s technical director. “Airwolf is committed to bringing essential parts to rotorcraft owners at a reasonable price.”

Airwolf (Booth No. N4737) has been making a variety of aftermarket parts and accessories for more than 25 years. Its other products include protective blade tape for Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters to prevent delamination. –M.H.

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representatives with helicopter flight training provider Bristow Academy (Booth No. C4328) will also be on hand to speak with attendees. Two panel discussions–one focused on the transition from fixedwing to helicopter operations, and the second offering advice for those interested in pursuing a career in rotorcraft–will be moderated by HAI president Matt Zuccaro.

“WAI has primarily been

MARIANO ROSALES

Following a successful inaugural display at last year’s Women in Aviation International (WAI) conference, the “Heli-Center” will return to WAI’s 24th Annual Conference, to be held from March 14 to 16 at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Helicopters from Air Evac Lifeteam and the U.S. Coast Guard will be on display at the Heli-Center, and

Starbucks and helicopters–Are we in heaven, honey?

Life is good for rotary-wing aviation. Heli-Expo ‘13 is breaking exhibitor and attendance records. The helicopter builders are announcing new products and developments. Honeywell forecasts a good bump in helicopter sales n in the coming years. And Mom's got her tall carmel macchiato and Dad's got his grande Verona.

HAI blasts White House on tax issues

by James Wynbrandt Helicopter Association International (HAI) president Matt Zuccaro fired back at the White House following its late February call for an end to the alternate depreciation tax plan for corporate aircraft. The tax plan allows buyers of general aviation aircraft to depreciate their purchases over five years rather than the seven-year depreciation mandated for commercial aviation.

“I find it unbelievable that such continued initiatives, seemingly aimed at eliminating general

aviation, are being promoted by a President who is one of the most frequent users of corporate aircraft via his travel on the peoples’ aircraft that we pay for,” said Zuccaro. “I support his use of these aircraft to perform his duties and responsibilities. But is it too much to ask that private individuals and corporations also be allowed to realize the benefits of general aviation for their business activities?

Especially since we pay our own way by the millions of dollars we already give to the government

via existing aviation-related taxes, while [creating] 1.2 million jobs and contributing $150 billion to the U.S. economy annually, as we serve the needs of society.

“This is especially true with regard to helicopter operations such as law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical transport, power line construction and repair, etc.”

Zuccaro’s comments were in response to White House press secretary Jay Carney’s comment on February 20 that it would be

20 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

MARIANO ROSALES

‘Heli-Center’ returning to WAI’s annual confab

centered around fixed-wing aircraft operations, but now with the helicopter booth we’re seeing that people are becoming more aware of the rotary aspect of WAI,” Sikorsky Aircraft test pilot and WAI volunteer Stacy Sheard told AIN. “There are always a lot of helicopter pilots and mechanics who attend, but they’ve never really had representation before now.”

Sheard added that the number of women helicopter pilots wearing their uniform flight suits during the conference–a WAI tradition–has also grown in recent years. WAI is exhibiting at Booth C1829 at Heli-Expo ’13.

–R.F.

Jan Booij (l), managing director of Hevilift Group, and Virender Aggarwal, CEO of Ramco Systems, explain Ramco’s software solutions for charter operator Hevilift.

Hevilift chooses Ramco for Web-based software Aviation software provider Ramco Systems (Booth No. N3004) kicked off Heli-Expo’13 with the announcement of a new client, charter service provider Hevilift Group, to its growing worldwide customer base.

Operating across 15 countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Hevilift uses a fleet of 50 aircraft to provide a variety of services including medevac, corporate, military and offshore lift capabilities. Under the agreement, Ramco will provide Hevilift with a Web-based software solution to manage, among other aspects, maintenance and engineering; supply chain management; and maintenance, repair and overhaul data. The software will also help Hevilift manage international payroll across several countries and jurisdictions.

“Ramco had a lot of the solutions we were looking for, that evolved out of having to build a computer system to support our network and our growing need for information and tracking,” Hevilift managing director Jan Booij told AIN. Booij also noted the need to provide reliable connectivity and tracking service in areas without reliable Internet access. To address

this concern, Ramco will utilize satellite connectivity for near real-time access to its cloud-based management network from the more remote regions of Hevilift’s operational footprint. The company will also maintain a central information hub.

Ramco CEO Virender Aggarwal called Hevilift “a great addition” to his firm’s portfolio. –R.F.

a “better option” to make the “difficult choice” to change the depreciation plan and possibly hurt manufacturing jobs to chip away at the sequester and its domestic spending cuts.

General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) CEO Pete Bunce also responded forcefully. “These statements are totally outrageous and Mr. Carney should apologize,” said Bunce.

“It’s completely offensive to refer to hard-working Americans as ‘difficult choices.’ This administration should stop the sound bites and political games and focus on fixing our economy. Instead of inflicting further damage to general aviation, this administration

should be working with us to create a favorable environment that will foster growth, employment and world leadership as it relates to aviation activities.”

Meanwhile, HAI has shown its willingness to make and accept changes where needed. The organization has announced organizational staffing moves aimed at keeping pace with members’ changing needs. J. Heffernan, formerly vice president of aviation and product safety for Sikorsky Helicopters, has returned to HAI as director of safety, and current director of safety Stan Rose has taken the newly created position of director of safety outreach programs. o

NEWS NOTE Night vision goggle (NVG) technology provider Rebtech, of Bedford Texas, announced the initial night-vision compatible conversion of an AS350B3 owned and operated by rotor training provider HeliStream.

Rebtech (Booth No. N4724) provided both the supplemental type certified equipment and integration support for the conversion. Rebtech also modified the aircraft’s external lighting. The NVG-compatible lighting inside and outside the helicopter will allow HeliStream to provide specialized NVG training for both initial pilot transition and recurrent training. Rebtech said it will equip additional helicopters for HeliStream to enable additional customer-specific training. n

Enstrom goes Garmin, gets new owner Ground Self Defense Force. The M250 has amassed more than 223 million flight hours over 50 years of service.

Enstrom (Booth No. C4322) announced late last year that it has been acquired by Chongqing Helicopter Investment Co. (CQHIC) for an undisclosed price. The acquisition “will provide Enstrom with the needed resources to enhance

MARIANO ROSALES

Enstrom Helicopter is displaying one of its 480B single-engine turbine helicopters at Heli-Expo with Garmin G1000H glass-panel avionics and is making the installation available to customers as an option.

The move to G1000H avionics adds Enstrom to the growing list of helicopter manufacturers that have adopted glass cockpits.

The G1000H in the 480B integrates all primary flight information, navigation data, communications, terrain awareness, traffic, weather and engine parameters on two 10.4-inch, high-resolution displays. Features of the new flight deck include helicopter synthetic vision technology (HSVT), helicopter terrain awareness and warning system (H-Taws), datalink weather and Tcas. Enstrom is aiming for certification of the installation by midsummer, and will price the option at “about $155,000,” said Jerry Mullins, Enstrom’s president and CEO. Power on the 480B comes from a Rolls-Royce M250 engine. Here at Heli-Expo, Rolls-Royce announced that the 31,000th M250 was delivered to Enstrom for installation in a 480B, slated for delivery to Japan’s

The Garmin G1000H in the Enstrom 480B integrates all primary flight information, navcom, terrain awareness, traffic, weather and engine parameters on two screens.

marketing efforts in China and around the world,” said Mullins.

Enstrom has focused much of its export efforts on Asia with some success in recent years–particularly in China, Japan and Thailand– and has expanded its workforce by 50 percent over the last 18 months.

It appointed its first Chinese dealer in 2011.

Mullins said the purchase will not interfere with Enstrom’s sales of helicopters to Japan’s SelfDefense Force.

CQHIC said it is focused on helping Enstrom expand its reach into China and the rest of the world. “The number of helicopters in Asia represents only a small percentage of the number of helicopters in the U.S., while Asia has a significantly larger population and is expected to be a major market for helicopters over the next two decades,” Enstrom noted.

CQHIC itself purchased six Enstrom helicopters in 2012, and here at Heli-Expo Mullins announced CQHIC will purchase an additional 10 helicopters from the company this year and perhaps 15 next year. –M.H.

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maryland state police buy lifeblanket’s patient system In an expanded display for Heli-Expo ’13, LifeBlanket (Booth No. C2313) is showing its original Pocket Rescue Bivy ultralight emergency shelter, Tech Tarp Personal Survival Equipment and original Cowboy Blankets, along with its updated +LifeBlanket patient-packaging systems and modular FR ANSI safety vests.

LifeBlanket manufactures all-weather patient packaging for EMS medical transport, disaster response, personal emergency and search-and-rescue gear.

Along with the most recent contracts is a major purchase by the Maryland State Police (MDSP), one of the oldest publicly funded emergency medical flight programs in the U.S. The program has selected LifeBlanket’s original patient-packaging system for service in the aviation unit’s new AgustaWestland 139 fleet, for which deliveries began last week.

According to LifeBlanket, the MDSP Aviation Command selected the system after months of testing by medical crews, who wanted a system that provides quick and easy patient access and makes patient handling fast, easy and secure. The system is also robust, passing the ruggedness test put forth by the crews. The +LifeBlanket system also greatly limits cross contamination, a major consideration in today’s medical environment, especially in an airborne environment.

At Heli-Expo, LifeBlanket is offering a buy-one get-onefree special for its original Cowboy Blanket, “the perfect blanket for air and car travel, camping, boating and outdoor events,” according to the company. Customers need only provide a business card.

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www.ainonline.com • March 6, 2013 • HAI Convention News 21

news clips z Guidance Aviation Unveils Training Resources Guidance Aviation (Booth No. C2703) is celebrating its 15th year in business with the Heli-Expo unveiling of two new products to assist helicopter flight students, as well as a celebration for show attendees.

The new “Maneuvers Guide” training app for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets includes a series of highdefinition instructional videos, as well as a display of flight maneuvers. These resources are expanded on Guidance’s new “My GA” training portal, which features hundreds of instructional videos and flight-training documents. Optimized for use on laptop computers and PCs, My GA may be accessed on the Guidance Aviation website.

Company president and CEO John Stonecipher noted that mobile devices are spurring growth in the total number of Internet users around the world, making a mobile training app a timely offering for rotary- and fixed-wing students.

“Research studies are also telling us that more adults are viewing media on mobile devices than trade papers and magazines put together,” he added.

Priority 1 Air Rescue announces SAR-Tactical Training Academy

by Rob Finfrock Priority 1 Air Rescue Services (Booth No. N5012) announced Monday the opening of its new Search and Rescue–Tactical Training Academy (SART/TAC) in Mesa, Ariz. The company says the 6,000-sq-ft facility is the first

instructional center focused on providing helicopter SAR and tactical mission aircrew training for government agencies and commercial operators.

“In the past few years we have seen a marked increase

SAR operators have expressed interest in more standardized training to enhance their operations.

z UniLink Communications System Approved Universal Avionics announced at Heli-Expo ’13 the recent completion of helicopter vibration testing and approval for its airborne datalink system, the UniLink UL-800/801 communications management unit (CMU), expanding the company’s line of products designed for the helicopter market.

Attendees can view and operate the unit at the company’s exhibit (Booth No. C2401).

Specific vibration testing for rotorcraft is required above and beyond tests mandated for fixed-wing aircraft as per RTCA DO-160E, “Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.” The UniLink UL-800/801 is an ACARS-compatible CMU that includes digital automatic terminal information service, pre-departure clearance, aircraft tracking, messaging, weather information and graphics. The system is also provisioned for the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network, providing a platform for future compliance with emerging datalink requirements.

z BBA Advances Helicopter Services

z Cadorath Aerospace Touts Repair Options Cadorath Aerospace recently noted its continued work in developing a total of 900 repair procedures for a variety of Bell Helicopters, including 178 new repairs in 2012 alone.

The company specializes in extended repairs of Bell Helicopter and Rolls-Royce Model 250 parts. Cadorath’s approved repair procedures that the company developed last year include new repairs to transmission mid-cases on the Bell 204, the generator offset drive quill on the Bell 205 and Bell 206 transmission top case repairs. Carorath Aerospace (Booth No. C4122) also announced recently that subsidiary Meridian Helicopters has completed its move to a larger facility in Lafayette, La., to accommodate its rebuilding, overhaul and parts distribution operations.

Broker Heli Asset sees more sales of exec helicopters

by Amy Laboda Born in 2011 from the spinoff of Regourd Aviation’s helicopter department, Heli Asset is a global helicopter sales and acquisition service that manages its brokers and clients in what it says is a fresh, new way. The Paris-based company has offices on six continents and is currently offering 11 helicopters for sale.

“Typically brokers work within a territory,” explained managing director Emmanuel Dupuy, but helicopters, as you know, are complex, and frankly, there are pirates out there who take advantage of that. So we decided when we launched last year at Heli-Expo that we would do things differently. Each of our brokers is focused on a model of helicopter, with an AgustaWestland specialist, a Sikorsky specialist. That helps our brokers

22 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

MARIANO ROSALES

BBA Aviation continues to advance its available helicopter services. Here at Heli-Expo ’13 the company unveiled a new website for its International Governor Services unit, which features its various services including maintenance, repair, overhaul and exchange of engine control products such as fuel controls, torque limiters and power turbine governors for Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T (Twin Pac) and Rolls-Royce M250 engines. Customers will be able to download certifications, warranties and related documents from the site as well as have a full listing of all available units by product type.

BBA (Booth No. C1220) also announced that AgustaWestland has selected its APPH unit to supply landing gear for the Super Lynx 300 and AW159 military helicopters.

APPH designs, qualifies, manufactures and provides support for landing gear and hydraulic systems for commercial and military fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

in training demands from customers requiring greater program standardization, transition training for newly delivered SAR aircraft, night SAR mission training, and more advanced training for greater mission capability,” said Priority 1 president Brad Matheson.

“SART/TAC gives us an unrivalled ability to provide our customers’ mission training needs.”

Among the programs offered at the new facility are inland/ maritime SAR training, utility industry worker placement and emergency evacuation, helicopter emergency medical services and military and law enforcement tactical operations. A 28-lane Olympic-sized pool also allows the SART/TAC to offer specialized underwater rescue and evacuation training courses, including helicopter underwater egress training.

“With decreasing budgets, commercial and defense agencies worldwide are seeking more effective training to achieve greater mission capability and faster program implementation for their contracts,” noted company senior vice president of training Patrick Dennis. He added that Priority 1’s focus will now turn to the opening this year of an additional training center in the European Union. o

to interact with the market more accurately. Our sales agents track quality/price ratios of every serial number of every helicopter in the marketplace,” he told AIN. “That’s a couple of hundred serial numbers per broker. They know the condition of each, and we can help our clients make acquisitions that make sense.”

Heli Asset (Booth No. C3116) initially focused its sales efforts on utility helicopters, but in the last year it has increased sales of executive turbine helicopters, including Eurocopter, Bell and AgustaWestland models. The company offers its clients the ability to one-stop shop as well, with legal assistance and the ability to arrange financing, including tradeEmmanuel Dupuy ins when necessary, to facilitate a of Heli Asset sale, according to Depuy.

Heli Asset sold 18 helicopters last year. It is currently focusing on the Asia-Pacific, Brazil and Russia markets.

“Our data shows that the largest market for helicopters is the U.S. and we believe it is set to increase in 2013,” Dupuy continued.

In anticipation the company is expanding staff in the U.S. “We are certainly here at the show looking!” said Dupuy. o

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Avincis receives first S-92 of 19-ship fleet

AgustaWestland CEO uContinued from page 1

the in-production AW139, which now has sold more than 700 copies. Two other helicopters, the AW189 and the AW169, are planned for certification this year and next, respectively, and will offer customers a “family” of medium twins ideally tailored for both the offshore energy industry and well as the parapublic and executive/ VIP markets. Orders for the new aircraft now stand at 70 and 60, respectively.

In a related development, AW revealed that it had successfully demonstrated to EASA the AW189’s ability to operate for 50 minutes following a loss of lubrication to the main gear box (MGB), giving it an extra margin of safety for offshore oil operations and surpassing the current 30-minute run-dry requirement for the industry. The result was achieved through a design that allows for the distribution of residual oil in the MGB. Guiseppe Gasparini, AW head of transmission systems, called the result “outstanding.” A subsequent gearbox teardown revealed minor damage to components, but Gasparini said that overall “they were in very good shape.”

For the latest news from Heli-Expo ’13 For HeliExpo ’13 show information download the AIN app from Apple’s App Store.

To find the Heli-Expo content, click on the “More” button on the bottom and select the “HAI 2013” section. Information available includes the exhibitor directory, show schedule and exhibit hall map.

AINtv online video and hot news from Heli-Expo ’13 is available in the AINtv and Headlines sections.

rotary- and 50 fixed-wing aircraft operating out of 295 bases in 10 countries.

In 2011, the group transported more than 180,000 people across the North Sea, conducted more than 3,900 searchand-rescue missions over ocean and mountain areas and some 36,000 air ambulance missions, rescued more than 7,000 individuals from life-threatening situations and flew more than 8,800 firefighting missions.

The first Avincis S-92 was accepted last month by Bjorn Seljevold, managing director of Norsk Helikopterservice (NHS). The first two S-92s will be

registered in Norway before being flown to Aberdeen, Scotland, where an NHS crew will operate them for Bond Offshore Helicopter customers in the UK North Sea sector.

Avincis is working with Milestone Aviation Group, which is financing the first four S-92s. All 16 S-92s will carry equipment and systems necessary for and required by EASA for operations in the North Sea environment. These include five flotation devices, two autodeployable life rafts, satellite flight-following communications and main rotor blade ice protection system. –K.J.H.

AW also continues to make progress on the AW609 civil tiltrotor program. In 2011, AW assumed full ownership of the program from former partner Bell Helicopter and work is continuing to bring that aircraft to market by 2017, with a third prototype currently under construction in Italy. Romiti said that the tiltrotor had successfully flown 90 percent of its flight envelope and stressed that AW is refining the design of that aircraft to improve performance and reduce costs.

He dismissed speculation that its unit price would bump up against $30 million. However, he would not provide an estimated price for the aircraft, now in its third decade of development.

Romiti takes his post during a particularly difficult time for his company as it shepherds six new helicopter development programs (four civil, two military); can no longer rely on receiving the full proceeds of development loans pledged by the financially stressed Italian government; has seen the debt rating of parent company Finmeccanica reduced to junk status; and finds itself dealing from the fallout from an international bribery scandal that led to the February 12 arrest of his predecessor Bruno Spagnoligni, who was relieved of his duties by the Finmeccanica board on February 21.

While parent company Finmeccanica struggles to divest itself of unprofitable, non-core assets, Romiti emphasized that AW remains profitable and has the financial resources to fully fund all of its ongoing development programs.

The company also is continuing to form international partnerships, most recently with Embraer in Brazil, as a vehicle to increase sales and fund growth. For the first three quarters of 2012, AW posted revenues of €2.97 billion, a profit margin of 11.4 percent, and an estimated order backlog worth €11.56 billion.

Fielding questions on the topic, Romiti vigorously defended his company’s reputation with regard to the international bribery scandal involving the sale of 12 AW101 heavy helicopters to the government of India. Romiti pledged “full transparency” in the ongoing investigations and expressed confidence that AW ultimately would be exonerated. “There has been no wrong-doing by the company and we are confident of that,” he said. o

24 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

In a ceremony at the Sikorsky exhibit yesterday, the company celebrated its 90th anniversary in homage to its founder and aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky. The crowd of some 300 at Booth No. C5028 listened to Sikorsky’s story in his own words, words that still resonate in the industry and that included the admonishment, “In aviation, use the word ‘impossible’ with the greatest care.” Sikorsky president Mick Maurer concluded the ceremony by offering his own view of the future, saying the obligation of Sikorsky over the next 90 years is to continue to push the boundaries. A raffle at the ceremony gave examples of Igor Sikorsky’s famous fedora to 10 visitors, including 10-month-old Melinda Pinion and her mother, Lorie.

–K.J.H.

Mick Maurer (center left), president of Sikorsky Aircraft, and Richard Santulli (center right), chairman of Milestone Aviation, sign the purchase agreements for 30 S-92A and S-76D helicopters with options for 24 aircraft, while Bob Kokorda (left), Sikorsky Aircraft v-p of sales and marketing, and William Kelly (right), Milestone Aviation CEO, look on.

MARIANO ROSALES

Avincis Group has taken delivery of the first of its record order of 16 new Sikorsky S-92s. The order, placed in December 2011, is the largest single purchase of S-92s ever made, according to the UK-based operator. The Avincis fleet is expected to provide offshore oil and gas worker transportation and serve in a search-and-rescue role.

Avincis provides central resources, global standards and systems and expertise to its 13 local operating companies. Scheduled for delivery over the next three years, the S-92s will form part of the Avincis global fleet of around 350

Sikorsky marks 90th year

Milestone’s orders uContinued from page 1

the public capital markets to meet Milestone’s financing requirements.

“We didn’t take any undue risks with these orders,” Santulli said. “In fact, we keep on bothering them [Sikorsky] for more S-92s, but they had [no more additional] to give us in 2013 and 2014.”

Offshore Industry Demands

He said the changing nature of the offshore oil business, drilling deeper wells at greater distances from shore, had changed the nature of the helicopter business supporting that industry and created more leasing demand. “Markets that used to be served by helicopters costing $10 million to $12 million now require helicopters costing $28 million or $29 million. It is really a question of the balance sheet and the ability of the operators” to come up with the necessary cash requirements to buy new and larger helicopters. “We go in and effect partnership with these operators, providing the capital to help them grow their businesses,” he explained. “But if you look at the size of the deals today, it’s a much bigger asset play. We’re very optimistic about the need for heavy and medium helicopters going forward. Drilling is not coming in closer to shore; it’s going farther out and you need bigger helicopters.”

However, Santulli said the current offshore oil boom should not move OEMs to recklessly increase helicopter production to meet the needs of a rarified market. “The biggest mistake OEMs make is to increase

production in good markets and then they get killed when the market drops. You have supply chain issues,” he said, citing his knowledge of the corporate jet industry, where he was a pioneer in fractional ownership as founder of NetJets.

Sikorsky president Mick Maurer echoed Santulli’s sentiments. “We’re being very cautious about the ramp [in production] and we are also diversifying who our customers are; it’s the oil market but the S-92 also is a pretty good utility helicopter for paramilitary, coast guard, homeland security and search and rescue.

“We are trying to make sure we’ve got enough irons in the fire in terms of different parts of the market,” he concluded, in the event one segment experiences a down cycle. “We probably do err on the conservative side when ramping up. It’s a big deal when you are making too many of these and are caught short.” o Air Medical Orders 30 Bells Air Medical Group Holdings placed an order for 30 Bell 206L4 and 407GX singles yesterday here at Heli-Expo. The company is the parent of helicopter EMS providers Air Evac Lifeteam, Med-Trans and EagleMed. No breakdown of the precise number of each type or the value of the order was provided by Air Medical Group. The three companies operate a fleet of Bell 206 LongRangers (Air Evac Lifeteam), Bell 407s and Eurocopter EC135s (Med-Trans) and Eurocopters and Beechcraft airplanes (EagleMed). –M.H.

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Safran sees growth in tough times

by Gregory Polek While the looming threat of budget sequestration kept more than a few aerospace executives up at night, Safran USA president Peter Lengyel spent most of his waking hours preparing his company for any eventuality. That doesn’t mean he welcomed the prospect of drastic spending cuts to medevac services, law enforcement and border patrol. After all, the U.S. federal government is, in effect, Safran’s biggest customer. But, as Lengyel explained to AIN, the company’s broad scope of disciplines and global footprint

within the Safran group and provide a better, more compelling argument for the primes that reduces their integration costs, their list of suppliers and complexity,” said Lengyel.

Already projecting a substantial industrial presence in the U.S. with 6,500 employees working at 31 companies (including joint ventures) in 22 states, Safran expects to make its argument all the more convincing with its imminent acquisition of Goodrich Electrical Power Systems. The acquisition would not only expand Safran’s U.S.

aftermarket insertion of technology in retrofits is equally as compelling as our new program offerings, as they are with, for instance, the Aerial Scout.”

Investment in retrofits, condition-based maintenance and maintenance monitoring systems all save in the long run and can cut ownership costs for end users, the Safran executive

Ethan Chu, an Indiana high-school student, won the second Helicopter 2050 Challenge with a helicopter design that uses the Coanda effect to reduce its carbon footprint. From left to right: Vern Van Fleet, Sikorsky chief test engineer; Judy Bankowski, Sikorsky vice president and CIO; Ethan Chu; and Norm Goldstein, chairman of By Kids for Kids.

Coanda effect inspired Sikorsky Challenge winner

by R. Randall Padfield

Safran USA president Peter Lengyel (above) said 2012 was a strong year for the company, and this year it plans on focusing on innovation, R&D investment and strengthening partnerships across all sectors.

positions it to react to and thrive in the kind of adverse business environment less diversified companies struggle to navigate.

Safran has just emerged from what Lengyel described as a strong year overall, even while recovery of the helicopter market sits in a “strategic pause.”

Meanwhile, the group continues to invest more than 11 percent of its revenues in research and development, he said, as it increasingly aims to combine the efforts of its various companies toward presenting a “bundled offering” for aftermarket applications and new programs.

In new helicopters, Safran’s concept of offering various systems as a single platform appears in its bid consisting of subsidiaries supplying Turbomeca engines, Sagem avionics and Labinal wiring harnesses for the Armed Aerial Scout, the U.S. army’s planned replacement for the Vietnam War-era OH-58 Kiowa. Lengyel said the company took the same approach with the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter, for which Turbomeca supplies the Ariel 1E2 turboshaft and Sagem provides the automatic flight control system. “It’s that ability to synergize internally

footprint, it would support the efforts involving so-called more electric aircraft solutions now led by its Hispano-Suiza unit.

Green Technologies

Safran’s collaboration with Honeywell on an electric taxiing system reflects both its interest in U.S. partnerships and its commitment to green technologies. Scheduled for introduction in 2015, the system would cut emissions, fuel burn and noise. It incorporates technology and expertise from no fewer than four Safran group members, again illustrating the company’s ability to bundle several elements of a project.

Those efforts in green disciplines also extend into the aftermarket business, where Lengyel sees particularly promising opportunities in segments such as natural gas exploration and tourism. There, operators of small, aging helicopter fleets face increasing costs associated with maintaining older systems.

“Faced with the economic realities, we have to make more systems last longer and be more cost efficient over the long haul… and greener, if we’re going to survive these challenging times,” he said. “So that’s where our

noted. For example, switching to an all-glass cockpit from subsidiary Sagem offers enhanced flight safety, downloadable post-flight data capability for training purposes and more efficient flight routes–often for less than the cost of replacing individual gauges.

“Our challenge will be to create that compelling argument for folks to consider how they might spend a little bit of money to save a heck of a lot more,” said Lengyel.

Of course, saving money hasn’t always ranked as the top priority of Safran’s biggest end user–the U.S. government. But as the unsustainable national debt forces budget cuts, Safran and the aerospace industry as a whole will have to adapt. Nevertheless, that need won’t alter the company’s fundamental approach to its business, said Lengyel.

“Notwithstanding the current economic situation and the changes in the marketplace, we are focused on innovation, investment in R&D and strengthening our partnerships so that we have, as we say, partnerships with meaning–being a value-added partner as opposed to a supplier of things,” Lengyel insisted.

“That’s not what we are; we’re much better than that.” o

26 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

The Coanda effect, which is central to the performance of the MD Helicopters Notar (no tail rotor) and the tail-boom strakes on many other helicopters, inspired 16-year-old Ethan Chu’s design for a helicopter that won him the Igor Sikorsky Youth Innovator Award in the second annual Helicopter 2050 Challenge (www.helicopter2050.com).

“I was fascinated with the Coanda effect,” Chu said, “and I decided to use it to make my helicopter design more efficient.”

The competition challenged youth, ages 9 to 16 years, to envision an environmentally friendly helicopter, with judges rating the designs for concept uniqueness, description detail and creativity of the presentation. Chu’s design describes a compact, twin-engine helicopter intended for medical evacuation.

The dome-shaped helicopter, which Chu calls the AH-9 Diamondback, incorporates a high-strength structure, featuring lightweight carbon nanotubes covered with titanium panels, an approach that reduces the helicopter’s weight and fuel consumption while increasing its carrying capacity.

Two turbofan engines would power a four-blade main rotor.

The rotor blades would have symmetrical airfoil cross-sections, providing less drag. Two stub wings under the cockpit would enhance control and stability at high speed.

By channeling engine exhaust along the rotor blades and around the fuselage, Chu’s helicopter would use the Coanda effect to provide a cushion of gas for additional lift, further

reducing the Diamondback’s carbon footprint. A fan would push the air down and out at high speed around the body, creating a low-pressure area around the top of the helicopter, which then creates extra lift. The design also includes space for a medic and two patients.

“We were impressed with the strong scientific reasoning and the good deal of thought that Ethan put into his innovative submission,” said Vern Van Fleet, a chief test engineer for Sikorsky Military Systems.

Ethan chu’s helicopter design.

“And he never lost sight of the competition theme, which was to produce an environmentally friendly helicopter.”

Chu, an 11th grader who plans to be an aerospace engineer, is a member of the Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society in South Bend, Ind. “This competition gave me the opportunity to learn new knowledge and gain new skills,” he said.

Chu’s award included a trophy, $1,000 and trip to Sikorsky’s headquarters in Stratford, Conn. During their visit to Sikorsky, Chu and his father toured the Black Hawk and Seahawk assembly lines and met company rotorcraft designers and engineers.

Sikorsky Aircraft and By Kids For KidS sponsor the Helicopter 2050 competition. o

e

Prism offers SMS for small helicopter operators The price of a full-blown safety management system (SMS) represents a considerable expense to any flight operation, but can leave an even bigger hole in the budget of a small one- or two-aircraft department, according to Chris Young, vice president

of helicopter aviation services at Prism, an arm of information services provider Argus International (Booth No. C1104).

Young hopes to increase the

the cost.” Operators will quickly appreciate SMS benefits such as online hazard reporting and a flight risk assessment tool coupled to an internal evaluation program and even a system to track the training qualifications for everyone in the operation.

A three-day training program is included in the price of every Prism SMS subscription.

AIN asked Young why Argus would sell full-service Prism subscriptions to small helicopter flight departments for a special price, which means reduced profit for his company. “It demonstrates our commitment to this distinctive industry and their safety management needs,” he replied. “It’s also the right thing to do.” –R.P.M.

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FAA backs non-required safety equip The FAA has issued a policy statement about the installation of non-required safety-enhancing equipment (NORSEE) into rotorcraft and is accepting comments until March 25.

NORSEE is intended to increase safety in rotary-wing aircraft, for equipment not required by federal regulation. The FAA encourages the use of optional, non-required equipment that can improve safety for an increased number of rotorcraft under most operational conditions. The agency also believes that a possible increased safety risk, from failed or malfunctioning non-required equipment, to an individual rotorcraft operating in unusual conditions should not preclude the rest of the fleet from benefiting from such installations.

According to the agency, NORSEE can improve safety when installed in rotorcraft, even though it is not required by Parts 27 and 29, or by the rules under which rotorcraft operate (Parts 91, 133, 135, 136 or 137).

The premise of these rules is that systems and equipment 5-Blades in Modern engine composite in rotorcraft must be appropriHot & High Altitude ately designed,performance manufactured Hoist and installed so each performs Dual-channel FADEC its intended function and does not Medical kits present an unacceptable hazard to the rotorcraft because of malfunction or failure, the FAA said.

Comments can be sent to: george.schwab@faa.gov or to: High DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Tail-boom clearance Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, ASWMarenco Shrounded 111, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Rear Tail Rotor Clamshell Worth, TX. 76137-0111. –P.L. (Maestro)

penetration of SMS into the world of smaller helicopter flight operations by offering a full-service version of the normal Prism SMS at a subscription price that may entice many to try the system for the first time. “Once a company realizes the value of a safety management system,” he said, “there’s very little to hold back [adoption], except perhaps

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FlightSafety incorporates variety into EC135 simulator

by Mark Huber I strap into the Eurocopter EC135 light twin and head for California’s Cajon Pass. Cajon can deal helicopter pilots some of the worst conditions imaginable.

The pass was created by the San Andreas fault and separates the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains, not far from the hitop vfr intersection and the San Bernardino and Rialto airports. The stretch of Interstate 15 and state road 138 that run through the pass are frequent scenes of automotive carnage. The area is notorious for blasting Santa Ana winds

that can top 70 knots, violent up- and downdrafts, gut-churning turbulence, fog that comes out of nowhere, frequent wild fires, snow, ice and Iraq-style dust storms.

This is probably one of the worst places in the Continental U.S. to fly a helicopter VFR. It certainly was for the crew on an EMS Bell 412 in December 2006, who lost their lives on a repositioning flight there in the fog and dark, crashing into a mountainside.

For most pilots, Cajon is a place to be

avoided. For FlightSafety International, it was an inspiration.

I am not in a real helicopter, but rather the EC135 simulator at FlightSafety’s Dallas learning center with center director Dan MacLellan and assistant director of training John Healey. Cajon is the first stop on a 30-minute flight that will take us from California to Boston, Africa, the Gulf of Mexico and Phoenix under some of the most visually realistic and dynamic conditions I have ever encountered in a full-motion level-D simulator, thanks to FlightSafety’s Vital X graphics and fiveprojector technology. It even accurately captures celestial bodies and lunar phases and intensity on any given day under clear night-sky conditions.

What is amazing is that FlightSafety built the simulator after Eurocopter declined to provide technical assistance. Instead, the company worked with EC135 operator Metro Aviation, and it was an arduous process that is paying dividends. The EC135 sim is one of the busiest at FlightSafety’s mammoth Dallas center, running an average of 20 hours per day. Offshore oil and gas service operator PHI is a frequent customer, but clients come to train in the sim from all over the world. When I visited, a flight crew from Mali was at the center. FlightSafety plans to have the sim certified for NVG training as soon as an industry working group and the FAA agree on standards.

Even without the NVGs, there is still plenty to do.

Scenario-based Training

FlightSafety’s level-D full motion simulator for the Eurocopter EC135 provides realistic training through Vital X graphics and five-projector technology. The EC135 sim, one of the busiest at FlightSafety’s Dallas training center, was built with input from Metro Aviation. In addition to EMS and offshore scenariobased training, the simulator provides training on inadvertent IMC and flying in challenging areas.

Bruce’s has you covered Bruce’s Custom Covers (Booth No. N3532) is promoting its line of custom-fitted covers for more than 90 helicopter models, as well as for nearly every airplane ever produced, here at Heli-Expo’13. “A custom-fitted cover for any aircraft or engine will serve to protect it from climate hazards, both in the hangar and on the ramp,” the company said. For helicopters, the covers can also be fitted to air inlets, pitot and static ports and canopies, among other areas. Design variations are limitless, according to the company.

Benefits of custom-fitted covers include protecting and extending the life of the airframe, rotor blades, engines and windshields. Avionics will last longer because they are kept out of direct sunlight and the covers help prevent heat from building inside the aircraft. “An insulated cover directly saves on operational costs and downtime by keeping an aircraft ready for launch, thereby increasing its utilization,” the company noted.

–C.T.

28 HAI Convention News • March 6, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

Cajon is the primary site FlightSafety uses for helicopter EMS scenario training in the EC135 sim. On the first flight customers fly up the pass, pick up a patient and fly to the hospital, all as the weather progressively deteriorates. Repositioning on the return flight back through the pass is when things get interesting. As the weather goes down to IMC, instructors want to see how students handle it: Do they pick up an IFR clearance en route before they hit the soup or make a precautionary landing in a clearing or on the side of a road? “That is what we want them to do,” said Healey, “make that avoidance.”

Next are the flights into inadvertent IMC to gauge student reaction and measure how well they can get the aircraft to a safe altitude and avoid obstacles. Then come landing and takeoff brownouts in confined areas that can be dialed in to various levels of intensity that are uncomfortably real. We lift off the skids and climb straight up 150 feet on the gauges. Around 50 agl, the brown cloud starts to dissipate.

It, like the more pedestrian clouds, and even snow, rain and thunderstorms can be made to shift direction to align with the winds selected. And of course it all shows up on the weather radar.

“We have a saying here,” said Healey.

“Train like you fly and fly like you train.

If you do it, feel it, or say it in the real aircraft, that is exactly what I want you to do in here. We want customers to know what the aircraft limits are and what their personal limits are. We want them to be able to go to that limit and see what that

limit is in the aircraft.”

To achieve that, he added, “We are able to duplicate or induce every single possible malfunction, caution or emergency procedure that you can have in the Eurocopter.” For emphasis, MacLellan, seated behind us in the “Wizard of Oz” chair, throws a switch that pops a breaker. Sounds just like the real deal.

He’s just getting warmed up.

“Now we are going to the world’s finest city,” Healey announces. Both he and MacLellan are from Boston and I quickly find myself on a Cat I approach and six-mile final for 15 Right at Logan International Airport. We set decision height to 200 feet, use the collective to adjust airspeed (the autopilot is only three-axis) and watch the clouds go wisping by as the autopilot tracks the localizer down the centerline to 65 feet agl before decoupling. We are at 40 knots tracking straight down the centerline. Bang! As we go missed, MacLellan fails an engine. We are still climbing at 500 fpm single engine.

“This is a great way to teach instruments,” said Healey.

“Coupled approaches, one engine out, fires.” The engine temps displayed in the sim exactly match those you would find in a real EC135. Out comes the checklist and the dead engine is identified and switched off.

Next stop: the Malongo South oil rig off the coast of Angola complete with adjustable haze, smoke, stack flames and African-style thunderstorms, everything but the rebels shooting at you.

FlightSafety can build a specific offshore oil field for each customer. “They give us six to ten different latitude and longitude coordinates somewhere and we can build that field and simulate the different missions from platform to platform,” said Healey.

Onward to the Island Frontier, an oil research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.

The wind is blowing at 30 knots and it’s sea state 5–and we are going to land on the back of the pitching boat chugging along below us at 30 knots. You can see the waves move and the boat bob up and down. The boat is one of eight different ship models FlightSafety currently has programmed into the sim.

Finally we arrive over downtown Phoenix, one of several cities, including New York, that are loaded into the sim. Healey points to the sliding-roof Diamondback Stadium, home of Arizona’s professional baseball team. “When we get near the end of the course and the customers are looking for a real challenging confined area, this is where we go,” laughs Healey. “This is where I make them land–the middle of Diamondback Stadium.”

We turn to join the final at Sky Harbor International. Bang-bang! MacLellan has failed both engines. The panel lights up, the aural warnings go off, you hear the rotor speed decay. We start our deceleration and flare and the skids hit level. o

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Thinking without limits

Sikorsky anticipates financial ‘tailwind’

Sikorsky unveiled this fresh new S-76D yesterday, the first of Bristow’s order for 10 S-76Ds with options for another 16.

Buoyed by several years of steady growth and a healthy $14 billion in sales recorded in 2012, Sikorsky is on the right track and gaining momentum, president Mick Maurer said yesterday.

Sikorsky came to Heli-Expo armed with significant new orders, including an agreement for 10 S-76Ds and options for another 16 for Bristow Group.

Sikorsky also announced a contract for four S-76D SARconfigured helicopters for China’s Ministry of Transport (plus an option for an additional four next year).

With a multi-year, multi-service Black Hawk and Seahawk contract in hand valued at $89.5 billion and an S-76D backlog valued at around $700 million, the Stratford, Conn. manufacturer is anticipating a bright 2013.

Maurer described a 2013 “tailwind” on the commercial helicopter side, with the S-76D now in production and production nearly sold out through 2014, and a $1.5 billion backlog for the company’s hottestselling S-92.

Maurer was most enthusiastic about the new S-97 armed

MARIANO ROSALES

by Kirby J. Harrison

aerial scout program, which he said may appear exotic but is actually a combination of proven technologies. The program is proceeding in a 50-50 partnership with Boeing “in terms of investment, work and return.” And he added, “In the future of vertical lift, this will

be the biggest program ever.”

Three factors suggest a relatively strong market for helicopters in the coming years: offshore oil, which accounts for roughly three quarters of commercial business; demand for oil that continues to grow, with the most growth coming

from developing markets; and a shift to deeper-water offshore oil exploration and recovery.

While demand for helicopters in the U.S. is expected to slip in the coming years, Maurer said Sikorsky expects to see demand, both civil and military, grow in other parts of the world, in Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

Maurer concluded by inviting attendees to visit the Sikorsky exhibit to celebrate the company’s 90th anniversary and to pay respect to Igor Sikorsky, who founded the firm in 1923. Today, said Maurer, Sikorsky employs 16,000 in a global enterprise dedicated to Igor’s vision of producing aircraft that save lives. o

JACK SYKES

Fred Dickens (right), a regional v-p with Rolls-Royce, congratulates Scott Churchill, president of Scott’s-Bell 47, on the joint venture to produce the RR300 turboshaftpowered 47-GT6

Scott’s new Bell 47

OAS S

uContinued from page 1

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originally designed for. Internal useful load will be 1,400 pounds and external load 1,650 pounds.

The 47-GT6 will also have a modern instrument panel, upgraded interior, composite main rotor blades, LED exterior lighting and modern drive train technologies.

“Right now we’re looking at a 30-month program, with flight testing starting within one year,” said company owner and president Scott Churchill.

The new 47 will be built at a recently acquired 200,000-sq-ft facility in Le Sueur, Minn. Initial production rate will be two per month, expanding to about one per week in three years, Churchill said. Deliveries are expected to commence in 2016.

The company is targeting the light utility and training markets for sales.

The RR300, which can produce 300 shp for five minutes, delivers 240 maximum continuous shp. The engine will also be available for retrofit in legacy Bell 47s.

As for the 47-GT6 price, “We’re doing a show special,” Scott’s said: $750,000. On April 1 the price goes to $820,000. o

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