HAI Convention News 3-7-13

HAI Convention News

PUBLICATIONS

Thursday 3.7.13 LAS VEGAS

®

www.ainonline.com

A Kamov Ka-32 arrives at Las Vegas Convention Center for Heli-Expo 2013.

Vol. 45

Thales TopDeck takes step toward ‘ultimate’ integration

by Amy Laboda

JACK SYKES

While Sikorsky was busy unveiling its freshly certified S-76D to an eager Heli-Expo crowd, its partner in avionics, Thales Group, was nearby at Booth No. C6428 demonstrating the TopDeck integrated avionics system that it developed specifically for the new helicopter.

On first glance TopDeck is a pretty four-panel glass cockpit. But Yves Joannic, v-p for

‘Russian Hour’ highlights news of upgrades, ops

by Kirby J. Harrison

Deals Done at Heli-Expo Heli-Expo ‘13 has another day of deal-making to go, but as of yesterday afternoon manufacturers report they’ve already racked up firm orders, options and letters of intent (LOI) totaling at least 230 helicopters. A breakdown of the action appears on page 21.

on a helicopter–puts all the functions at the pilot’s fingertips, thus reducing workload, shortening reaction time and increasing safety. All configurations of the cockpit are available through direct dialogue, using the iCCD, which is essentially a trackball.”

Joannic continued, “We designed the cockpit in such a way as to decrease the weight of the

Continued on page 22 u

Greg Barnes, Sikorsky experimental test pilot, demonstrates the Thales TopDeck cockpit in the Sikorsky S-76D here at Heli-Expo.

two of Russian Helicopters’ newest machines.

The Mi-171A2 is a followon upgrade to the venerable Mi-8/17 family and represents what program manager Dmitri Zuykov described as the next chapter in looking at broader global markets.

True to its heritage, the -171A2 is a multi-role helicopter capable of filling jobs from offshore oil production support to passenger transport.

The big machine is expected to have a range of approximately 430 nm, and twin Klimov

JACK SYKES

“The Russian Hour,” sponsored by the Russia-based Helicopter Industry Association, featured the introduction of

helicopter avionics activities at Thales Group, was quick to differentiate TopDeck from a typical EFIS system. “Many of the features you see here are absolute breakthroughs in helicopter avionics,” he explained. “TopDeck allows a pilot flying the S-76D to directly control cockpit tasks on his displays using an intuitive cursor control device [iCCD].

This iCCD–the first of its kind

Continued on page 21 u

Attendance Figures

Demonstration flight

Government

Modifications

Another year of record attendance

Cobham HeliSAS put through its paces

Lobby groups sound alarm at Town Hall BLR delivers its 600th FastFin

Unleaded fuel coming soon to Robbies

By the end of the second day of the show, attendance figures supported organizers’ pre-show optimism, as the association recorded another record year, with more than 20,000 visitors to Heli-Expo ‘13.

A demo flight in a private owner’s Bell 407 here at Heli-Expo shows the value of the company’s stability and augmentation system and autopilot for keeping the aircraft on the straight and level. Page 8

In an event moderated by HAI president Matt Zuccaro, representatives of aviation lobby groups urged attendees to fight back against Washington’s “attack on business aviation.” Page 19

Someone has to be the first to embrace change, says Kurt Robinson, and his company is working with the FAA and Lycoming to have unleaded fuel OK’d for use in the R22/44. Page 10, 17

Having recently delivered a milestone copy of its popular tail rotor enhancement and stability system, the company is now developing the system for the Bell 206L. Page 14

Environment

Everything you need at Heli-Expo ’13 in the palm of your hand!

The

iPhone app now complete with show news, video, exhibit directory and event schedule.

commercial

military

customer support & services

Š 2013 Bell Helicopter textron inc.

Your MiSSion: EnhancEd Situational awarEnESS

The pilot-friendly Bell 407GX is the first helicopter to feature the industry-leading Garmin G1000H TM flight deck.

Clear, instantaneous readings enable pilots to maintain awareness without having to rely only on instruments or constantly refer to the manual. A rear camera also helps for maneuvering the aircraft in tight spots.

bellhelicopter.com

StandardAero garners 3 Rolls-Royce awards helicopter EMS provider Air Methods to support its current fleet of 53 M250 engines. The work will be performed at StandardAero’s Winnipeg and Concord, N.C. facilities. o L.J. Walch Offers Ontic Motors There are bargains to be had at Heli-Expo ‘13, especially for operators of pre-owned or early model helicopters. “L.J. Walch is excited to be able to offer owners of Sikorsky S-61s brand-new motor generators, manufactured fresh by Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing at a healthy discount,” said Bill Luty, manager for sales/special projects for L.J. Walch (Booth No. 3426).

The motor generator is not a PMA replacement part but is rather the actual OEM part. “Ontic owned the part,” said Luty. “We work to help our S-61 customers find these difficult-to-locate parts.

They are fighting fires and they can’t take off if we can’t get them the parts they need to fix their aircraft.” The Heli-Expo show price is $58,300.

–A.L.

Marenco Gets an Archangel AHRS Marenco Swisshelicopter announced here at Heli-Expo that it had signed a letter of intent to evaluate the Archangel Systems (Booth No. 5532) AHR75 attitude heading and reference system (AHRS) for use in its new, allcomposite SKYe SH09 all-composite helicopter. The SH09 is expected to make its first flight later this year with the Archangel system on board.

Marenco (Booth No. N3712) will combine the AHR75 with Archangel’s AHR150A-2 magnetic steering unit for a complete AHRS solution. Bench testing is underway at Marenco’s Neiderumen, Switzerland facility, where the first prototype SH09 currently is under assembly.

Separately, Marenco announced the appointment of Heliflite as its distributor in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.

The SH09 is expected to have a top speed of 140 knots, an mtow of 5,842 pounds, seating for one pilot and seven passengers and a range of 430 nm.

–M.H.

Leading Edge seeks edge in cabinetry Leading Edge Composites (Booth No. N4535) announced the expansion of its aircraft cabinetry capabilities, “combining the industry experience and success of our formidable composite parts production with innovative cabinet design and finishing service.”

According to director of new product development Paul

Norris, expansion at the company’s Oxford, Pa. facilities allows owners, operators and completion centers working with both rotor- and fixed-wing aircraft to enjoy the benefits of working with an integrated design, engineering, production and finishing facility.

Among the more recent customers is Spectrum Aeromed (Booth No. C807). Fargo, N.D.based Spectrum has committed to multiple projects involving medical interiors for Cessna fixedwing aircraft and previously worked with Leading Edge in the production of Agusta 109SP interior components. –K.J.H.

MARIANO ROSALES

StandardAero (Booth No. N5234) won three major awards from engine maker RollsRoyce at this year’s Heli-Expo: the Rolls-Royce Total Quality Award, the Rolls-Royce Customer Satisfaction Award and the Rolls-Royce M250 Program Investment Award. The awards were presented Monday night at the Rolls-Royce FIRST network recognition reception.

StandardAero’s new Singapore facility won the M250 Program Investment Award. StandardAero has invested more than $3 million in the facility since opening it last August. StandardAero has been servicing the M250 for more than 45 years.

Separately, StandardAero announced that it had been named by Rolls-Royce as an authorized maintenance, repair and overhaul center in support of the RR300 engine at its Winnipeg and Singapore locations. StandardAero also announced the re-appointment of Rotorcraft Support of Van Nuys, Calif., as an authorized support center, and a fiveyear maintenance contract with

VISUALLY REVEALING Frank Peters of HeliOps Alberta (left) discusses adding a TrueView infrared enhanced vision system to his helicopter with Tom Dalquist of Hillsboro Aviation (Booth No. 5207).

Working group reviewing rules for light helicopters

by Mark Huber The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) held a meeting Tuesday at Heli-Expo to share its experience with the government/industry working group designed to rewrite the certification rules for Part 23 fixed-wing aircraft and encourage the helicopter industry to apply the model for possible revision of the helicopter certification standards under Parts 27 and 29.

The 55-member Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) is making recommendations to the FAA and is co-chaired by GAMA and the FAA. Members include representatives of most major OEMs as well as aircraft regulators from Brazil, Canada, China, Europe and New Zealand. The initiative already has bipartisan political support. Last year, as part of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Congress directed the FAA to review the aircraft certification approval process, including Part 23 (Section 312).

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address and change regulations impacting the long-term health of our industry on a global basis,” GAMA president Pete Bunce told the meeting.

The FAA has begun the process that could lead to rewriting the certification regulations for normal- and transport-category helicopters certified under Parts 27 and 29. On February 22 the agency issued a request

for public comment, due on or before May 23. Specifically, the FAA is seeking comments on whether it should revise the maximum weight and passenger seat capacity for helicopters in both categories and make airworthiness standards “more efficient and adaptable to future technology.”

Currently helicopters with a maximum gross weight greater than 7,000 pounds or with 10 or more passenger seats must be certified under the more stringent transport category, Part 29.

Last year the FAA denied Bell Helicopter’s request for a Part 27 exemption to allow its 429 light twin to operate at weights between 7,001 and 7,500 pounds.

Manufacturers Weigh In

Bell spokesman Robert Hastings said the current regulations penalize safety innovations. “If you come up with a great new safety device, but it weighs 12 pounds, under the [maximum weight] regulations, you have a penalty, not a benefit. We think moving away from [a maximum] weight is the right thing to do in terms of innovation and stimulating the industry to think about safety innovation. It benefits all stakeholders. Even the FAA knows that weight standards are arbitrary and they need to be looked at often.” (In 1995 the FAA increased the maximum allowable weight under Part 27 from 6,000 to 7,000 pounds.)

AgustaWestland and Eurocopter are united in their

opposition to granting Bell an exemption under Part 27 for existing models, but said they are open to re-examining weight standards on future production helicopters.

“I can understand where they [Bell] are coming from,” said Roberto Garavaglia, senior vice president of marketing for AgustaWestland. “But we are opposed [to the weight exemption]. You cannot change the rules after playing the game.”

Garavaglia said any change in the Part 27 and 29 rules had to be “a fair exercise, a level playing field. Regulation cannot be used to alter the competition. If you want to review the rules for future-production helicopters, that’s another thing, or improve safety by putting lightweight recorders on existing helicopters, we would be in favor of that. There are a large number of subjects that could be addressed aside from the weight.”

Eurocopter was no more sympathetic. “No sir,” said David Shepherd, senior director of FAA relations for American Eurocopter when asked whether the FAA should grant Bell an exemption for the 429.

Shepherd said he supported reforms that brought regulations up-to-date with the latest digital cockpit technology, including instrument recalibration standards and other reforms that address items that “have improved over the years, where the regulation does not address those improvements. Some regulations really don’t apply today as design has improved greatly over the years. The [Part 27] regulation was last revised in 1995; that’s a long time ago.” He said Eurocopter planned on submitting formal comments to the FAA directly. o

www.ainonline.com • March 7, 2013 • HAI Convention News 3

Avicopter represents China’s vertical lift

,

HAI

Convention News

TM

FOUNDED IN 1972 James Holahan, Founding Editor Wilson S. Leach, Managing Director R. RANDALL PADFIELD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

by Amy Laboda

MARIANO ROSALES

State-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic, Booth No. C1521) brought its Avicopter rotorcraft unit for the first time to Heli-Expo. Avicopter’s product line includes military and commercial helicopters such as the AC313 (28,660 pounds) AC352 (15,432 pounds), AC312 (8,818 pounds), AC311 (4,409 pounds) and ultralight AC310 (2,200 pounds).

At the show the company is putting special focus on its civil helicopters, particularly the AC312/313/352 series, which is well suited for passenger carrying, cargo and aerial firefighting, according to Zhao Lei, general

The Avicopter AC312 (left) resembles the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin and weighs 8,818 pounds. The AC311 (right), weighing 4,409 pounds, resembles the Eurocopter AS350,

and was certified in July 2012.

manager of the marketing division of Avicopter. The booth includes a mockup of the AC313 integrated avionics suite, designed to make the tri-turbine helicopter a versatile player in the allweather, challenging environments of EMS and maritime operations.

Zhao was quick to invite Heli-Expo

attendees who would like to see the Avicopters in action to China’s own Helicopter Exposition, which is to be held from September 5 through 8 at the Tianjin Airport Economic Zone in Tianjin, China.

NBAA also confirmed that Avic will be an exhibitor at next month’s ABACE show, to be held in Shanghai, China. o

Erickson AIR-CRANE Moves Closer to Acquiring air amazonia of brazil Erickson Air-Crane has executed a binding term sheet to acquire the Air Amazonia aerial services business from Brazilian oil and gas exploration and production firm HRT Partcipaçoes em Petroleo. The move supersedes a non-binding letter of intent Erickson submitted in September 2012.

“We are very excited to have reached this milestone in our efforts to soon expand our presence in the fast-growing oil and gas market in South and Central America through this deal,” said Erickson president and CEO Udo Rieder. “Our experience in that market has brought us non-seasonal, profitable revenue streams

and illustrated significant expansion opportunities.”

The agreement commits both parties to work in good faith toward Erickson’s acquisition of Air Amazonia, with an agreed-upon transaction price of between $65 and $75 million. The deal includes the operator’s fleet of five Bell 212s, seven Sikorsky S-61s and two AS350s.

Under terms of the binding term sheet, Erickson will also enter into a three-year contract with HRT to use a portion of that fleet to continue providing aerial services in the region, leaving the balance of those helicopters available to support Erickson’s business in other areas.

–K.J.H.

Sikorsky S-76D & S-92 sales going strong, but S300 weak

by Kirby J. Harrison With the new S-76D leading the way, Sikorsky is looking forward to a healthy market for its commercial helicopter division.

According to S-76 program manager Leon Silva, the S-76D is built on “a timeless design” represented by more than 700 S-76 models flying in 46 countries. While the S-76 corporate/VIP fleet has logged a total of 642,000 flight hours, that number barely registers in comparison to the 4.07 million flight hours accumulated in support of offshore oil production.

Certified last October, the S-76D is already in full production and the company expects to see more than 30 emerge from its Coatesville, Pa. assembly plant this year, of which 13 finished aircraft will be delivered to their owners by the end of the year. Beginning in 2014, the production rate will increase to 36 a year. Delivery of the first S-76D is scheduled for August, most likely to Bristow Helicopters.

The S-76D might be described as a

quantum expansion of the S-76C++ with no fewer than eight major improvements, from the health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) to new PW210S engines and active vibration control. With a cruise speed of 154 knots, it is nearly 20 knots faster than the C-model and has a fuel burn rating of 89 gallons per hour versus 94 gallons per hour for the older C model. Making the S-76D quieter outside and in, Sikorsky engineers reduced the external noise level from 92 dBA to 86 dBA and the internal noise from 87 dBA to 83 dBA. Flight in Known Icing To Come

Still in the upgrade planning for the S-76D is a rotor-ice protection system for flight into known-icing conditions, payload expansion, SAR autopilot modes, FAR-compliant emergency egress windows, avionics upgrade and improved crashworthiness for the seats and floor.

Going forward, director of programs

4 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

Dan Hunter said Sikorsky also expects to make some of the improvements in the S-76D available as retrofit items in S-76 models already in service.

The S-92 is a proven program with 170 aircraft flying in 24 counties with a cumulative total of 510,000 flight hours.

The 200th S-92 is scheduled for delivery this year.

The big twin has undergone numerous mission enhancements over the years, including improved gears, gross weight expansion and installation of Tcas II. Coming is “automated rig approach,” which will allow auto approaches to offshore oil rigs. Certification will initially allow auto approach to within one-half mile, but the company is hoping to work with the FAA to get the minimum down to one-eighth of a mile. Certification at one-half mile is expected within the next two months.

As for the future of Schweizer, it remains to be seen, said Sikorsky’s Hunter. Sikorsky acquired Schweizer in 2004 and Hunter noted that at the time, Schweizer was selling helicopters for about half what it cost to build them.

The Schweizer S300 light piston helicopter is still being produced, but Sikorsky is not taking any new orders while it considers its options. o

Editor-in-chief – Charles Alcock editor - domestic show editions – Matt Thurber PRODUCTION DIRECTOR – Mary E. Mahoney PRODUCTION EDITOR – Jane Campbell PRess room managing editor – Annmarie Yannaco the editorial team Bill Carey Mark Huber Kim Rosenlof Thierry Dubois Amy Laboda Ian Sheppard Rob Finfrock David A. Lombardo Harry Weisberger Kirby J. Harrison Paul Lowe James Wynbrandt the production team Mona L. Brown John Manfredo Lysbeth McAleer Colleen Redmond Photographers Jack Sykes Mariano Rosales online editor – Chad Trautvetter web developer – Mike Giaimo online videographer – Joseph W. Darlington AINtv EDITOR – Curt Epstein EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & ONLINE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT – John F. McCarthy Jr. Publisher – Anthony T. Romano associate Publisher – Nancy O’Brien Advertising Sales – north america Melissa Murphy – Midwest (830) 608-9888 Nancy O’Brien – West (530) 241-3534 Anthony T. Romano – East/International Philip Scarano III – Southeast Victoria Tod – Great Lakes/UK Advertising Sales – International – Daniel Solnica – Paris production/MANUFACTURING manageR – Tom Hurley AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – Jeff Hartford group brand manager – Jennifer Leach English sales/production administrator – Susan Amisson Advertising/sales Secretary STAFF Patty Hayes; Cindy Nesline director of finance & new product development – David M. Leach Human ResourceS Manager – Jane Webb accounting/Administration manager – Irene L. Flannagan accounting/AdministratiON Staff Mary Avella; Rosa Ramirez U.S. EDITORIAL OFFICE: 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432 Tel: (201) 444-5075; Fax: (201) 444-4647 Washington, D.C. EDITORIAL OFFICE: Bill Carey; bcarey@ainonline.com Tel: (202) 560-5672; Mobile: (202) 531-7566 Paul Lowe; paulloweain@aol.com Tel: (301) 230-4520; Fax: (301) 881-1982 EUROPEAN EDITORIAL OFFICE: Charles Alcock; calcock@ainonline.com 8 Stephendale Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9QP UK Tel: 44 1 252 727 758 U.S. advertising OFFICE: 81 Kenosia Ave., Danbury, CT 06810 Tel: (203) 798-2400; Fax: (203) 798-2104 EUROPEAN ADVERTISING OFFICE: Daniel Solnica 78, rue de Richelieu, Paris, France Tel: 33-1-42-46-95-71 Fax: 33-1-42-46-85-08 dsolnica@club-internet.fr RUSSIAN ADVERTISING OFFICE: Yuri Laskin, Gen. Dir., Laguk Co. Ltd. Russia, 115172, Moscow Krasnokholmskaya Nab., 11/15 - 132 Tel: +7-05-912-1346, 911-2762; Fax: +7-095-912-1260 ylarm-lml@mtu-net.ru The Convention News Company, Inc. – AIN Publications President – Wilson S. Leach Executive Vice President – John F. McCarthy, Jr. Vice President of Operations – R. Randall Padfield Treasurer – Jane L. Webb Secretary – Jennifer L. English NBAA Convention News is a publication of The Convention News Co., Inc., 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432; Tel.: (201) 444-5075.

Copyright © 2013. All rights ­reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part ­without permission of The Convention News Co., Inc. is strictly prohibited.

The Convention News Co., Inc. also publishes Aviation International News, AINalerts, AIN Defense Perspective, AIN Air Transport Perspective, AINmx Reports, AINsafety, Business Jet Traveler, ABACE Convention News, EBACE ­ Convention News, HAI Convention News, MEBA Convention News, NBAA Convention News, Dubai Airshow News, Paris Airshow News, Singapore Airshow News.

Printed in Las Vegas by Creel Printing Computer Services: Rentfusion

( THINK SERVICE ) Because you need your helicopters to be available around the clock, we have the largest network of helicopter training, logistics and maintenance centers across the globe.

Eurocopter − Ready to serve you 24/7

VISIT US AT HAI March 5 -7, 2013 Booth C2922

Thinking without limits

news clips

preserving HELICOPTER HISTORY

KIRB Y J. H ARR ISON

Bell Helicopter has tapped Honeywell (Booth No. C4304) to provide the auxiliary power unit (APU) and environmental control system for the new Bell 525 Relentless, which is scheduled to start flying next year. The Honeywell RE100 APU selected for the super-medium twin helicopter is lighter and more fuel efficient than competing systems, according to Honeywell.

It allows operators to run critical avionics and electronics systems without turning on the main engine, further reducing total fuel consumption. Honeywell’s AC-5510 environmental control system will provide heating and air-conditioning for the 16-passenger helicopter while on the ground and in the air.

“Honeywell’s power generation and environmental control systems provide customers with the most efficient design and implementation to help save costs and fuel burn through a lighter system,” said Honeywell Aerospace director of program management, defense and space OEM partners Tarik Hijazi.

The Bell 525 Relentless is designed to support customers in various mission configurations, including oil and gas, search and rescue, helicopter emergency medical services and VIP and corporate transport.

MARIANO ROSALES

z Honeywell To Provide APU, ECS for Bell 525

At Heli-Expo’s Heritage Helicopter Display, Lynn Hammonds, Rodney Mayfield and Bill Flowers are promoting the development of a National American Huey Helicopter Museum (www.americanhuey369. com) in Peru, Ind., with its goal of preserving the history of more than 20 models of the Bell UH-1 Huey built in the last 57 years. Separately, a Bell AH-1S Cobra (left) from the Cactus Air Force in Carson City, Nev., shows its teeth.

z RSG Highlights Recent Project Completions Rotorcraft Services Group (Booth No. N4235) recently completed the design, manufacture and installation of advanced mission equipment on a newly acquired Eurocopter EC135 for the police department in Japan’s Fukui prefecture. The modular package included dual multi-spectral electro-optical systems, digital datalink capability, a stabilized high-intensity searchlight system and a high-powered external public address system.

The Fukui PD EC135 will be used for ground surveillance, air patrol, search and rescue, environmental research and pollution-control operations, according to the company.

Rotorcraft Services also completed its first two Bell 429 VIP interior installations and exterior paint applications. After receiving the aircraft in December 2012, RSG turned around both helicopters in less than two months, delivering the first aircraft to a customer in Latin America in January. The second helicopter recently departed for delivery in Europe.

z Self-lubricating Liners Smooth Ball Bearings New Hampshire Ball Bearings (Booth No. N3304) has taken advantage of the opportunity at Heli-Expo ’13 to introduce its Oscimax self-lubricating liner technology to show attendees.

The product, according to the company, increases the performance of complex bearing systems and assemblies, such as those found in helicopters.

The product is a homogenous formulation made up of a proprietary matrix of thermosetting polymeric resins, PTFE and other compounds that reduce corrosion and resist moisture. Tests conducted on Oscimax XT, the precursor to the new liner, showed that at ambient temperature with no contaminants liner wear rates were less than .004 inches at approximately one million cycles.

Applications for Oscimax include landing gear, flight control actuators, engine controls and, well, use your imagination.

Kiwi trade group seeks trans-Pacific networking

by Amy Laboda The New Zealand aviation sector is a $10 billion industry, including more than 1,000 aviation-related businesses and organizations employing around 23,000 people, according to Adam Bennett, customer director for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. New Zealand helicopter businesses represent 8 percent of the global industry, from a country with 0.06 percent of the world’s population.

“The country has more helicopters per head of population that any other nation,” said Bennett. “Aviation is in our DNA.” Bennett is working hard at Heli-Expo ’13 to assist in

networking New Zealand aviation businesses, both those exhibiting and those just attending, with international and U.S. companies that are a good technological match.

He pointed out several New Zealand-based companies at the show, including Spidertracks (Booth No. C1918), which has just introduced its S5 Web-based tracking and two-way communications products that interface with iOS devices. Another company is IMS (Booth No. N2705), which manufactures and distributes aerial firefighting, aerial spreading and helicopter sling load systems worldwide.

z LMB Offers Aircraft Fans, Blowers and Motors LMB of Malemort, France, is showcasing a range of its high-performance/high-reliability electric fans, blowers and motors here at Heli-Expo (Booth No. C3504). LMB designs and manufactures both AC (50/60 Hz, 400 Hz and wild frequency) and DC (12-300 VDC) brushless motors used in fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft, as well as in ground military vehicles. The company offers more than 1,000 shelf-qualified products, while its engineering expertise capabilities enable it to quickly design and build these components to meet specific requirements that meet Mil STD 810/461 and RTCA DO-160 standards. The company’s fans feature life-lubricated ball bearings, sensorless controllers, and they are lightweight, lownoise and withstand vibration and shocks.

6 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

CAAC APPROVES SOLOY ENGINE CONVERSION Soloy Aviation Solutions (Booth No. N3230) announced here at Heli-Expo that its efforts to sell Honeywell engine conversion kits for Chinese-registered Eurocopter AS350B2s have gotten the green light from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). CAAC issued a validation STC for the modification, approving the replacement of the helicopter’s standard Turbomeca engine with the Honeywell LTS101700D-2. The approval will allow Olympia, Wash.-based Soloy to proceed with negotiations to sell multiple conversion kits to owners of any Chinese-registered AS350B2. “The CAAC has been great to work with and we’re happy to be part of China’s growing aviation market,” said Dave Stauffer, Soloy’s CEO. “This certainly opens the door for future Soloy opportunities.”

–J.W.

Attending the show are principals from New Zealand’s Composite Helicopters. It is a husband and wife team behind the KC518, an all-composite frameless (monocoque) singleengine turbine helicopter seating up to six people.

“The KC518 is probably one of the more exciting products we have in vertical lift in New Zealand, if you ask me,” said Bennett. “They are here to find a way to market for their helicopter and are taking a number of meetings. It’s about finding out really what the market is all about. Heli-Expo is just the right place to meet tons of people in the industry all at once.”

Bennett held a reception Wednesday evening with Air Vice-Marshall Graham Lintott ONZM, head of defense in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, who spoke about advancements in New Zealand vertical-lift markets at home and abroad.

“We are doing great in the Asia-Pacific market with New Zealand-based vertical lift products,” said Bennett. “But we’d like to see continued cooperation and expansion into the U.S. market.” o

New AW139s for immediate lease

Why lease?

- No capital expenditure - Capacity management - No residual value risk

Why LCI? - Proven leasing pedigree - Brand new fleet, flexible terms - Global presence, $1.5bn portfolio

Why AgustaWestland?

- Safety, reliability and proven track record - Family concept - AW139, AW169 and AW189 - Common design philosophy minimising costs

Why wait? +1 845 675 0435 helos@lciaviation.com www.lciaviation.com

Demonstration flight: Cobham HeliSAS Bill Antwerp of Gaffney, S.C., owns and flies a pristine Bell 407 with a newly installed Cobham HeliSAS stability and augmentation system and autopilot. With another pilot, he flew his helicopter from his home in South Carolina to Las Vegas for Heli-Expo ’13. At his first fuel stop, he texted Jamie Luster, director of sales and marketing of Cobham Avionics in Mineral Wells, Texas, saying, “I love the autopilot.”

Antwerp’s 407 is serving as Cobham’s HeliSAS demonstrator here, flying out of North Las Vegas Airport. Frank King, a retired LAPD pilot and experienced Bell 407 pilot, is conducting the demo flights. He had never flown with HeliSAS before he flew with Antwerp on the Sunday before Heli-Expo.

Even though Antwerp’s insurance company had already vetted King, Antwerp wanted to fly with him, too. “It is my helicopter,” he told AIN. Though my flight with King went swimmingly, this is not the typical setup with aircraft demos, which, in my experience, are usually flown with hightime, very experienced OEM test and demonstration pilots. But it does illustrate Cobham’s confidence in the simplicity and effectiveness of its product, or an amazing corporate recklessness.

The latter would appear highly unlikely for an international corporation the size of Cobham.

Hoh Aeronautics of Lomita, Calif., originally designed HeliSAS with funding provided by a grant from NASA Ames Research Center. Cobham Avionics did further development, completed the initial STC and now has an exclusive sub-license agreement with Hoh Aeronautics.

International Approvals

HeliSAS received FAA certification in late 2011 for Part 27 helicopters, which must have maximum weights of 7,000 pounds or less and nine or fewer passenger seats.

The system also has been certified in Brazil and Australia. At Heli-Expo, Cobham announced recent approvals by Europe’s EASA for installation of HeliSAS on Eurocopter AS350s and EC130B4s across the European Union and by the Civil Aviation Administration of

China (CAAC) for installation on Bell 407s. The company has delivered more than 100 HeliSAS autopilots mostly in Bell 407s and 206s and Eurocopter AS350s and EC130s.

Cobham offers HeliSAS in three configurations: the stability augmentation system (SAS) by itself; SAS with beep trim; and SAS and two-axis autopilot (pitch and roll) with beep trim.

Antwerp’s Bell 407 has the latter, with the beep trim and SAS-off button on the pilot’s cyclic only.

The SAS on/off button is on the control panel on the far left.

The panel also holds the autopilot buttons, from left to right, HDG (heading hold), NAV (navigation signal tracking), BC (localizer back course tracking), ALT (altitude hold) and VRT (glideslope hold). Luster said the panel was designed to be consistent with airplane autopilots. “It’s just like an airplane,” said Antwerp, who has some 4,000 hours in airplanes (singles and twins) and 2,000 hours in helicopters.

He holds an instrument rating in airplanes, but not helicopters.

Flying the 407

We had planned to fly the Bell 407 on Sunday afternoon, but strong winds and turbulence during an earlier flight convinced King and Luster to postpone our flight until Monday morning. After Luster, who is an airplane pilot, gave a quick overview of the HeliSAS system, King and I took off in stunningly clear skies, but gusty wind conditions, 15 to 20 knots, with Luster and AIN’s videographer in the back. King flew in the right seat, because the HeliSAS cyclic switches are only on the right cyclic.

Heading north, King switched off HeliSAS and passed control to me. I flew for a few minutes this way, getting a feel for the controls, as it was my first flight in a Bell 407. After a few minutes, King switched the stability augmentation portion of HeliSAS back on.

Luster said HeliSAS is meant to stay on all the time, although some pilots prefer to turn it off on landing. As we flew, King let me try the various autopilot functions of the system from the control panel, which is located below the Garmin 430 GPS at the bottom of the control

PHOTOS: R. RANDALL PADFIELD

by R. Randall Padfield

Cobham Avionics borrowed a customer’s HeliSAS-equipped Bell 407 to use as a demonstration aircraft at Heli-Expo, flying out of North Las Vegas Airport. The HeliSAS control is mounted below the helicopter’s Garmin GNS 430 GPS. The stability augmentation system (SAS) has an on/off switch on the panel. Autopilot functions are to the right of the SAS button.

Check out the full interview at

panel’s center section.

HeliSAS controls the pitch and roll axes, so the tail rotor pedal and collective remain entirely under pilot control. Flying SAS-only is stable, but changes in wind will push the helicopter off altitude and course. The pilot can also “fly through” the SAS; release pressure on the cyclic and the helicopter will return to its previously commanded position.

Heading hold does just that.

The pilot turns to the desired heading, pushes the “HDG” button and the autopilot will hold that heading. If the autopilot is connected to an HSI or EFIS, the pilot can change heading with the heading bug.

Altitude hold maintains the altitude. If an updraft increases the helicopter’s altitude, the autopilot will initiate a descent to get back to the selected altitude.

NAV, BC and VRT couple to and track navigation signals, all very much like basic airplane autopilots. On our way back to North Las Vegas, King selected the ILS using NAV and the glideslope with VRT. They all worked as advertised, as I expected they would. Note that HeliSAS does not qualify a VFR

8 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

helicopter for flight in instrument conditions, but there’s no rule against using it for practice instrument approaches in visual conditions.

Of greater interest to me, however, was to test the ability of the SAS to automatically recover the helicopter to a neutral attitude when the pilot simply releases the cyclic. After about 15 minutes of flying, I asked King if it would be OK to try this and he agreed. Gently at first, I started a shallow climb and let go of the cyclic. The SAS easily put the helicopter back level. Then I tried a descent, let go again and we were quickly back level. Experimenting with left and right turns had the same result. I quickly gained confidence in the SAS. Then I tried climbing and descending turns in both directions, quickly increasing to about 35 degrees of bank, trying to imagine inadvertently flying into the soup and becoming disoriented. Releasing the cyclic seemed completely unnatural, but when I did it, the SAS quickly went wings level and brought the nose to the horizon.

The system seemed to hunt a bit for the right attitude, and it was

a bit rough for our passengers, but it got the job done.

HeliSAS won’t fly you out of inadvertent IMC, but it will keep you flying straight and level, which is a lot better than losing control of the helicopter and becoming another CFIT accident.

Antwerp and Frank both really like HeliSAS, and after my short flight, I do, too.

Luster said Cobham expects to fly about 17 demo flights in the Bell 407 here. o

NEWS NOTE Airborne Engines (Booth No. N5804), a subsidiary of M International, announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce to become an authorized maintenance center (AMC) for the M250 engine line. M International’s Airborne Engines, a supplier of aftermarket technical, MRO and supply-chain management services, will perform the M250 maintenance at its 32,000-sq-ft facility in Delta, British Columbia (Canada). “The partnership with Rolls-Royce expands our turboprop and turboshaft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities,” said Richard McConn, chairman and CEO of M International. n

There’s an AMC for that

Download the M250 FIRST network directory In our smart society with critical response times, customers

focused, friendly, responsive and scalable to your needs.

demand instant answers. The M250 FIRST network app is

Rolls-Royce, Aviall and the M250 FIRST network are

the tool designed for helicopter operators who rely on the

committed to delivering tools focused on our valued

world’s premier family of helicopter maintenance facilities.

customers. Download at rolls-royce.com/defence.

Like our network, the app is designed to be customer

www.rolls-royce.com

GTP 9532-2 (2013)

Trusted to deliver excellence

news clips

z AEC Announces New Sales Director American Eurocopter chose Heli-Expo ’13 as the venue to announce the appointment of Brian K. Reid as director of support and service sales. As such Reid will oversee and grow the marketing efforts of American Eurocopter’s customer support and service division, which focuses on the aftermarket segment. Reid has a background in helicopter manufacturing, having held positions in business development, sales, marketing and management.

z Heli-Expo Works for Mavana Air Support “We come to the show every year to connect and network with our customers, as well as to discover new customers,” explained Leigh Cheyne, director and coowner of Miami- and Brisbane, Australia-based Mavana Air Support, who traveled here with his business partner, co-owner and director Rhys Chamberlain.

Cheyne handles sales and marketing, while Chamberlain, a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer, rounds out the team.

Mavana provides management of repair, overhaul and exchange services primarily for Eurocopter products. It is a source of spare parts and components as well as leased aircraft and components.

“We are currently working in conjunction with Rainier Heli International rebuilding a Eurocopter AS332L1 model Super Puma,” Cheyne told AIN. With so many potential customers spread across the world, Cheyne said attendance at Heli-Expo works because “it’s an efficient way for us to do business.”

z Simplex’s Aerial Cleaning/De-icing System Awarded EASA Certification Simplex Aerospace (Booth No. N2511) announced EASA certification of its aerial cleaning and de-icing system for power lines and windmills during Heli-Expo ’13.

Portland, Ore.-based Simplex received EASA certification for installation of the Model 510 system on the Eurocopter AS350 and AS355 on Feb. 8, 2013, according to Michael Finnegan, regional manager for the company.

The Model 510 system includes a 180-gallon water tank that significantly increases operator time between refills, and its nozzled boom extends past the rotor tips of the helicopter on which it is installed, providing an extended washing distance. That lets operators clean hard-to-reach items, such as insulator rings.

life flight and agustawestland celebrate aw119kx deal A post-signing toast seals the agreement for the purchase of 15 new AgustaWestland AW119Kx helicopters for airmed operator Life Flight, the first customer for the model. From left to right, Ron Cooper, AgustaWestland sales manager Northwest; Mike Griffiths, CEO, Life Flight; Daniele Romiti, CEO, AgustaWestland; Bill Hunt, CEO, AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation; and Bob Brant, AgustaWestland vice president of sales and n marketing for North America.

Unleaded soon to fuel Lycomings in Robbies

by Mark Huber Robinson Helicopter announced Tuesday at Heli-Expo that it is working with Lycoming and the FAA to have unleaded fuels approved for use in piston engines installed in its R22 and R44 models.

CEO Kurt Robinson said the FAA had issued the company a project code for the effort and made it a priority. He said he hoped to have all the necessary approvals from engine maker Lycoming in the first half of this year. “It’s environmentally the right thing to do and it bothers me that it hasn’t been done,” Robinson said.

The company also is continuing to work with Garmin and Aspen Avionics for approvals for optional installations of glass-panel avionics in all Robinson models. This will include the Garmin GTN series touchscreens and the G500H system in the turbine-powered R66 and R44 and Aspen installations in the R44 and R22 to replace the traditional “six pack” of steam gage instruments. Robinson said he hoped for all the necessary approvals in the second half of this year.

International R66 Certification Efforts

Robinson said the company continues to pursue certification approval for the R66 in Canada, Russia and Europe and that the sticking point is the company’s demonstration of an equivalent level of safety (ELOS) due to the lack of redundant hydraulic systems in the aircraft. The FAA certified the R66 and R44 with hydraulic controls with an

10 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

exception to that requirement, and Robinson said that recent testing has shown that pilots can operate the R66 safely in the event of hydraulic failure. “We had to show what would happen if we jammed the hydraulics,” he explained, “so we intentionally did so with the largest metal chip we could fit in the system. It was

MARIANO ROSALES

Sparrow Aviation has become Advanced Helicopter Services (AHS, Booth No. C3407) and is exhibiting for the first time at Heli-Expo ’13.

AHS occupies more than 55,000 sq ft at the WattsWoodland Airport in north central California. There the company provides comprehensive helicopter maintenance as an FAA Part 145 repair station and authorized service center for Eurocopter, AgustaWestland, Robinson and Enstrom helicopters, and authorized Turbomeca engine maintenance center. AHS claims to be the only company in North America that is both a Eurocopter service center and Turbomeca maintenance center.

AHS offers major maintenance, including structural repairs and airframe modifications, 24-hour AOG support both for spares and maintenance, analysis, troubleshooting, recordkeeping, technical support, engineering services and customized airframe-specific support. Avionics equipment installations as well as inspection, repair and replacement are also in the company’s range of capabilities.

JACK SYKES

z Advanced Helicopter Supports and Services Helicopter Airframes and Turbomeca Engines

Kurt Robinson, CEO, Robinson Helicopter

very easy for the pilot to break through the chip and maintain maneuverability of the aircraft.”

Robinson said certification authorities in Canada, Europe and Russia have been notified of the test results and that “the ball is in their court” with regard to certification. He said the company is committed to gaining certification in those markets and would provide any other additional data required.

In other initiatives related to the R66, Robinson has completed in-house float testing and expects the FAA to do so this spring. The company is continuing to develop a cargo hook package for the R66 that will

enable the aircraft to be flown from either pilot position. “People have told me that Canadian certification is useless unless I can provide a cargo hook for the R66 at the same time,” Robinson said, noting the popularity of sling-loading there. Robinson continues cargo hook testing using Canadian pilots.

The R66 police package was certified last year as was a fivepoint shoulder harness and an optional 25-amp battery in place of the standard 19-amp model. Robinson noted, “Not everyone flies in Southern California and there are conditions when you really want that extra amperage.”

Last year R66 production increased to 191 and now stands at six per week. Robinson said that he was encouraged that R66 sales had not slowed demand for the R44, which saw 286 deliveries last year. “The R66 is not cannibalizing sales for the R44. The people who are buying R66s, that’s a different market. The people who are using R44s still love them and that’s great. Our goal is to grow the market and not take market share from someone else, particularly our own,” Robinson said.

By mid-year Robinson will begin installing as standard equipment in R22s fuel bladders that will decrease that model’s endurance by 15 minutes, but not add any weight. “I believe the additional security is worth the loss of endurance,” Robinson said, noting that the bladders will hold slightly less fuel than the aircraft’s current fuel system.

On a personal note, Robinson said that his father, company founder Frank Robinson, no longer comes to the office. “This is the industry that he loves and it kills him not to be here.” o

A BETTER APPROACH

The offshore oil transport mission is challenging and unpredictable. But it doesn’t have to be. RIG APPROACH™ technology for S-92® helicopters is a game-changer for the offshore oil mission, automating comfortable and predictable approaches.

Management will appreciate the reliable, on-time performance. Pilots will appreciate the reduced cockpit workload, and everyone will appreciate the enhanced safety and peace of mind. RIG APPROACH™ technology—only from Sikorsky.

sikorsky.com | follow us on

This page contains no tech data controlled by the ITAR or EAR

by James Wynbrandt Turboshaft engine manufacturer Turbomeca, a Safran company, reported at Heli-Expo that it delivered more than 1,000 engines in 2012, a 7-percent increase over the previous year. In addition it posted strong growth (12 percent) in engines under its Support By the Hour (SBH) contracts, yielding $1.5 billion in revenue for the year.

“We are now recovering [from the global financial downturn] and seeing moderate but solid growth,” said Olivier Andriès, chairman and CEO of the Bordes, France-based company. “This trend will continue in 2013, when we plan to deliver around 1,100 engines.”

Turbomeca is enhancing its product line through both continuous

improvement in current engines and development of future powerplants. In the former category, the Arrius 2B2 Plus, introduced at the press conference, offers 5 percent more takeoff power than the predecessor 2B2, has a new Fadec system designed to optimize reliability and availability and a 4,000-hour time between overhaul (TBO). Designed for applications in the 1,000-shp range, the 2B2 Plus will power Eurocopter’s new EC135T3/ P3. The Ardiden 3G, a member of Turbomeca’s newest engine family, aimed at helicopters requiring 1,000 to 2,000 shp, is scheduled have its first flight this summer on its launch platform, the Russian Helicopters Ka-62. Andriès also highlighted Turbomeca’s TM800, which

JACK SYKES

Turbomeca enhances Arrius, Ardiden engines; sees growth

was formally introduced are under SBH contracts. as the Arrano on Tuesday “Those engines are flying afternoon. very intensively, so virtually Andriès also announced all of our offshore customthe company is launchers are under SBH contracts, ing a demonstrator projvirtually all EMS customers ect, the Tech 3000 program, are under SBH, and more to develop an engine for and more military customapplications in the 3,000ers are under SBH, so this shp range, in anticipation of trend is going to continue, and the percent of engines serving OEMs’ needs for the under SBH will grow over next decade’s helicopters. time.”

“By 2015 we plan to be able Underscoring Turboto demonstrate the technolmeca’s expanded SBH ogy,” Andriès said. endeavors, the company The company also intro- Olivier Andriès, chairman and announced at Heli-Expo duced an integrated online CEO of Turbomeca, sees growth continuing this year.

‘13 a partnership with heliservice plan–Boost (bank of online services and technologies)–pro- copter lessor Milestone Aviation Group viding customers with real-time access to with a unique SBH arrangement that engine data and technical publications, will allow Milestone’s lessees to better maintenance planning and scheduling control maintenance costs and maxiand other fleet management benefits. mize the availability of covered aircraft.

Sixty percent of Turbomeca’s revenues The company also signed SBH agreenow come from support, Andriès said, ments with Avincis Group, which operand 16 percent of its engines in operation ates a global fleet of about 350 helicopters, covering 180 engines representing 14 different Turbomeca engine variants, and CHC helicopters, covering 60 Makila 2 engines powering CHC EC225s used in oil and gas operations.

Despite the expansion of its SBH, Andriès said the company would never with a Mecaer design professional early offer such arrangements for operaenough in the helicopter’s construction so tors of engines manufactured by other that the interior outfitting does not slow OEMs. “You need to have deep knowldown the production. In the past year edge of the products, so we strongly Mecaer has opened the Mecaer Aviation believe only the OEM can do that,” said Group design studio in Rome to augment Andriès. “I don’t see any value proposal its VIP, HEMS and convertible interior for any customer coming from a third o design options. o party [service provider].”

Mecaer Aviation Group shows AW169 VIP cabin

by Amy Laboda Mecaer Aviation Group is known industry-wide for supplying landing gear and flight control systems to several different OEMs, but here at Heli-Expo ’13 the company has put its interior design and cabin comfort division on display. Front and center in the booth (No. N2107) is an elegant mockup of a corporate-outfitted AW169 passenger cabin, showcasing both the all-leather seating, LED lighting, wood veneers and a state-of-the-art communications and entertainment system.

But what you don’t see is what is truly impressive, if you ask Armando Sassoli,

general manager of business development for Mecaer. “If you were flying now on an AW139 we would be able to talk just as we are doing now, because of our proprietary noise-reduction system, which brings the decibel level down to 68. That is with a helicopter that weighs less than the typical AW139,” he told AIN during an interview in the mockup.

Mecaer’s interiors are installed either onsite at a Mecaer shop co-located with the helicopter manufacturer (as with AgustaWestland products) or located on or across the airport from the manufacturer (Philadelphia). Customers interface

Versatile Timken can do it all, or just supply what you need

Spectrum showcases ‘short box’ life support Spectrum Aeromed is displaying one of its medical interiors in a Lloyd Helicopters Sikorsky S-76 with Spectrum’s 2200 “short box” life support system at the Lloyd exhibit (Static No. C35). In addition, the Lloyd machine is equipped with a 1461 Med Wall, SLA locks and a 1203 stretcher. “The S-76 install from Lloyd Helicopters is only one of many configurations and customizable options we offer,” said Spectrum v-p Ricky Reno.

12 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

If you fly helicopters, you count on Timken. The company has been making bearings, helicopter transmission systems, rotorhead assemblies, turbine engine components, gears and other precision flight-critical components for commercial and military helicopter manufacturers for as long as helicopters have been flying, practically. It has only been in the last eight years, however, that Timken (Booth No. N4836) has been able to provide aftermarket services to the aviation market, according to Larry Shiembob, director, aerospace aftermarket.

“People know Timken for our OEM parts,” he said. “But we are still teaching them that we can repair and overhaul engines, transmissions and fuel controls, repair aerospace bearings and perform component reconditioning. Right now we have 15 different turbine blades certified for the

aftermarket. No one has the breadth of product line in turbine blades that we have. That breadth of product line and services is what is unique about us.” Timken has acquired several different companies over the past eight years to allow it to reach into the aftermarket services business, and Shiembob sees growth in Timken’s future.

“Our aerospace team is here at Heli-Expo to highlight our aftermarket capabilities and services, including engine overhaul, component repair and replacement parts,” said Shiembob. “We can do drivetrain overhaul and bearing repair. We can just supply the parts needed for an overhaul. Or we can do the whole engine for customers,” he continued. “We want people to know that. Our Larry Shiembob, focus is servicing the director aerospace end customer, however aftermarket they need.” o MARIANO ROSALES

JACK SYKES

by Amy Laboda

Searchlight offered with infrared filter

Blue Sky Network introduces portable GPS tracking system

Revue Thommen unveiled a new, compact searchlight with optional infrared (IR) filtering and laser-designator capability here at Heli-Expo.

The HSL-1600 can be slaved to onboard forward-looking infrared system (FLIR) camera systems and helmet sight systems and has built-in integration circuitry, eliminating the need for remote junction boxes or intermediate cabling.

The $70,000 unit (base price) can be operated via up to two independent hand controls or from a helicopter’s cyclic or collective grips and can be connected to any digital map or tracking system via a built-in interface.

A 1,600-Watt Xenon short-arc lamp provides a 4,800-foot detection range and a variable beam spread from 4 to 20 degrees. The optional IR filter gives NVIS capability up to 3,000 feet. The new light has faster movement in all directions than previous models, instant reversibility, programmable stops and “keep out zones” that allow the light to

MARIANO ROSALES

by Mark Huber

Ulrich Dembinski, CEO of Revue Thommen, announced that the company has sold the first lot of searchlights to a major OEM. The company is not yet disclosing the customer.

transition around heat-sensitive items like antennas.

Revue Thommen expects to have STC approval in the next 60 days. Mandatory operator training is required.

The new light features forced cooling with high-performance ventilators, a 5,000-hour mean time between failure for the unit and a bulb life of 1,000 hours.

The company estimates bulb replacement costs at $1,200.

The HSL-1600 builds on Revue Thommen’s TSL-1600, a model with the same mechanics but without the IR capability. o

Blue Sky Network unveiled the new HawkEye Portable Tracker (PT) Plus fleet management tool at Heli-Expo ’13, which offers more consistent, accurate and reliable connectivity throughout a customer’s multimodal network.

“We sell not just the hardware, but also software, service and airtime,” said Paul Duran, v-p of marketing and sales.

“We have customers with fleets in the Gulf, in Canada–all around the world– so we’re growing to help manage our customers’ fleets, wherever they may be and whatever types of assets they may have: air, sea, or ground.”

The new GPS-based tracking system allows the customer to track not only position of the unit but also to “gather intelligent data at the asset,” according to Duran.

The system is able to monitor a variety of parameters, including takeoffs and landings (by measuring the position of the collective) and even the amount of water dumped in forestry operations, by connecting sensor inputs via the unit’s RS232 serial port.

Dual-mode connectivity allows the HawkEye PT Plus to maintain a constant

L EGACY A IRCRAFT ? N OT

TT STRAPS

36 MONTHS or 1200

Now certi�ied for hours. Airwolf saves you money.

NOW for Bell 206/206L/OH-58.

Coming SOON for Bell 204/205/212/UH-1.

Coming SOON for Enstrom 480.

Available

TO

connection to a ground base through the Iridium satellite network in the event of loss of GSM signal. Those signals are then sent to Blue Sky Network’s new SkyRouter cloud-based tracking software, granting two-way communication and asset tracking and alerts.

Tracking data may be exported and used in Google Earth for 3-D flight analyses, with the New SkyRouter also offering the ability for data to be sent and monitored via a smartphone or other wireless device.

A new touchscreen interface improves controllability of the HawkEye PT Plus, with a dedicated, guarded quick-position button giving users the ability to notify fleet managers with an urgent message or in event of emergency. The unit may be configured through a USB or Bluetooth interface.

The HawkEye PT Plus will be available for sale in April, according to the company. ­­–R.F.

A IRWOLF .

DYNAMIC COMPONENTS

BOOTH N4737

If it wears out, breaks, has a life limit or is just too darn expensive, Airwolf will have a PMA replacement.

Coming • • • •

SOON for Bell 204/205/206/212/UH-1.

Strap �ittings Latch bolts & pins Swashplate details Bearings

• • • •

Bushings Gears Trunions Other �light-critical parts

DER-OEM Repairs The savings start in Q3, 2013.

Plus

www.AirwolfAerospace.com | +1-440-632-1687 | info@AirwolfAerospace.com

A

er

o s pa c

e

Airwolf Aerospace.

Dedicated to Lowering Your Direct Operating Costs

www.ainonline.com • March 7, 2013 • HAI Convention News 13

by Mark Huber

MARIANO ROSALES

BLR Aerospace (Booth No. N3724) is charts and used that as a basis to undermarking the delivery of its 600th FastFin stand the true useful load that the Fasttail rotor enhancement and stability sys- Fin provides. We also use the power tem for medium models of Bell helicop- deltas between baseline and modified ters including the 212, UH-1H, UH-1N, helicopters to understand what type of fuel savings you can establish in hover,” Huey II and 412.

Dave Marone, BLR vice president of said Marone. “There are three major sales and marketing, said most sales to components of the operational savings you can achieve with FastFin: you save date have been to international fuel, carry more useful load–and that military and law enforcement increases the revenue you can charge customers in Colombia, Peru, and reduces the number of flight Pakistan, the Philippines, Aushours needed to get the mission done– tria, Jordan, Turkey and Canand it increases the resale value of the ada. The system has also been aircraft.” The FastFin system purchased by several government costs approximately $104,000 entities in the U.S. When to purchase and install on the FastFin is installed, cusBell 412. Average installation tomers realize a gain of time is three days. between 10 and 90 percent Marone provided an ROI in useful load, dependexample of an operator that ing on aircraft model David Marone, BLR v-p of marketing installed the system and flies and local density altitude.

Marone estimates the total universe of from an 8,000-foot msl airfield at an avermedium Bell twins that could benefit from age temperature of 20 to 30 degrees C FastFin installation at 5,500. The 600 sold and flies 350 hours per year with maximum loads 75 percent of the time. The to date were in the last two years.

The FastFin system features dual tail- operator in this case study saves $228,000 boom strakes and a reshaped vertical fin. per year.

BLR is developing the FastFin sysThey work in concert to reshape the airflow around the tailboom, thereby improv- tem for the Bell 206L series and estimates ing tail rotor authority and wind azimuth it will boost useful load by 280 pounds. tolerance and increasing overall aircraft “We’re test-flying the aircraft at Leadstability, reducing operating costs and cycle ville, Colo. [field elevation 9,927 feet] and fatigue in structures and reducing demands we are seeing those numbers right now,” Marone said. The company also is workon tail rotor operating components.

Here at Heli-Expo, BLR is launching ing on several projects for the U.S. milia Web-based tool to help operators cal- tary and other civil helicopters. Marone culate their return on investment (ROI) said he expected to make announcement with the FastFin system. The tool will on some of the projects next year.

Bell is including the FastFin system as go live later this month. “We took the weight, altitude and temperature [WAT] standard equipment on its new 412EPi. o

NTSB cites apparent loss of lte in bell 206 fatal accident The NTSB found that the pilot of a Bell 206 that crashed into New York’s East River in 2011 failed to consider condutions that led to apparent loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).

The pilot, operating a Part 91 VFR flight, landed at the East 34th Street helipad and hotloaded four passengers without performing weight and balance calculations or conducting a safety briefing. The NTSB found that the helicopter was likely overweight between 28 and 261 pounds and that the pilot performed a rearward hover departure with a pedal turn into the wind. “The helicopter yawed, and what was likely the low rotor rpm audio warning sounded,” according to the NTSB. The pilot added collective pitch and the helicopter entered an uncommanded right turn and then spun into the East River from about 60 feet.

The helicopter rolled over and sank. One back seat passenger died at the scene while the other two later died of injuries relating to near-drowning. The pilot and the front seat passenger survived.

The NTSB noted that the FAA warned of this condition in February 1995 (“Unanticipated Right Yaw in Helicopters,” AC 90-95): “Any maneuver which requires the pilot to operate in a high-power, low-airspeed environment with a left crosswind or tailwind creates an environment where unanticipated right yaw may occur.”

The NTSB noted that when operating at airspeeds below effective transitional lift, pilots should avoid OGE hover and high power demand situations, such as low-speed downwind turns. “Contributing factors for LTE include high gross weight, low indicated airspeed and right downwind turns. Thus, it is likely that the helicopter experienced LTE shortly after takeoff because all of these factors were present at the time of the accident,” wrote the Board.

The NTSB found the accident’s probable cause was, “The pilot’s failure to anticipate and correct for conditions conducive to loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in LTE and an uncontrolled spin. Contributing to the accident was “the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the helicopter being in excess of its maximum allowable gross weight at takeoff.”

–M.H.

Donaldson touts its alliance with Middle East company

The UH-1Y utility helicopter is one of 100 upgraded Bell H-1s for the U.S. Marines.Corps.

by Amy Laboda Donaldson Aerospace and Defense of Bloomington, Minn., announced at Heli-Expo its strategic alliance with Bahrain-based Global Aviation Services, which will serve to strengthen Donaldson’s support for customers operating in the Middle East.

“This alliance will shorten the supply chain for Donaldson’s customers, allowing them to benefit from both time and cost savings,” said John Smith, CEO and COO of Global Aviation Services.

Donaldson (Booth No. N6001) also announced that its oil filter assemblies have been selected for the Rolls-Royce M250-C30 and -C47 650- to 700-shp engines, powering helicopters, such as the Bell 407 and MD600N. “We believe that our scavenger oil filter assembly’s design optimizes performance, minimizes weight and provides a balance of operating life and efficiency

for aircraft components,” said Mike Trevino, director of sales for Donaldson.

Other news from Donaldson included an STC from Transport Canada for an inlet barrier filter system (IBF) for the Bell 206L/LR helicopter. The system features a panel that allows filter removal and plenum visualization without cowl removal, particularly useful in remotearea operations. The system also includes the Donaldson inlet air bypass, which integrates a cockpit post light and switch for indication and activation.

These announcements come on the heels of last year’s IBF developments for the AgustaWestland AW109E/S/SP, Bell 407GX and 206LR and Eurocopter AS350B3e. Both Japan and Brazil approved IBF use on AW109s, as well.

Donaldson Aerospace is a division of the Donalson Company, a worldwide provider of filtration systems. o

14 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

Marines receive milestone H-1 Bell Helicopter delivered the 100th copy of a planned total of 349 upgraded H-1 helicopters during a ceremony at its Amarillo Assembly Center earlier this year. The U.S. Marine Corps H-1 helicopter program comprises both the UH-1Y utility helicopter and the AH-1Z attack helicopters.

Major suppliers for these latest H-1 models include Northrop Grumman (integrated avionics suite), Thales (helmet-mounted sight and display system), Lockheed Martin Orlando (AH-1A target sight system) and FLIR, Inc. (Brite Star II forward looking infrared sensor). The UH-1Y cabin structure comes from L-3 Crestview Aerospace, and General Electric Aviation is providing the T700 engines.

The AH-1Z is in competition to

supply 36 new attack helicopters for a South Korea program, and a decision is expected later this year.

The UH-1A story is long and illustrious, starting in 1959 with the U.S. Army and progressing through various versions, ending with the M model. The “Huey,” as it was affectionately known, also served as the foundation for the Cobra attack gunship. The lineage also goes back to the original basic Huey that was first deployed in 1963 with the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War as the UH-1E. –K.J.H.

JACK SYKES

BLR delivers its 600th FastFin

Safety and Efficiency, Powered by CAE-Trained Pilots and Maintenance Crews • The world’s largest helicopter training network for helicopter operations team with more than 10 training locations • Training courses that are customer-designed with flexible scheduling and availability to meeting your mission specific needs • Committed to improved safety through industry-wide regulatory initiatives Have a conversation with CAE about your pilot and maintenance training needs.

Visit us at Heli-Expo, March 5-7, Las Vegas, Booth #1516

Stavanger Aberdeen H

H H Stockholm

Sesto Calende H New York / Morristown H

Zhuhai Dubai H

H

H

H

Bengaluru

Mexico City

Rimba (2014) H H

Kuala Lumpur (2013)

São Paulo H

H CAE Helicopter Training Center Offshore Oil & Gas

cae.com

helicoptertraining@cae.com

news clips

CMC shows array of avionics

z Simplex Joins Forces with Advanced Helicopter

by James Wynbrandt

Portland, Ore.-based Simplex (Booth No. N2511), known for its unique, easily convertible aerial firefighting spray booms, announced that it is teaming with Advanced Helicopter + Rescue Techniques (AH+RT), also Portland-based, to provide rotary-wing aerial firefighting and technical rescue training, including turnkey solutions for customers.

The partnership with AH+RT adds program management and consulting to the list of services that Simplex can provide to its customers. AH+RT is known for its helicopter wildland firefighting training, advanced NVG rescue operation training, mountainous flight and rescue, technical rescue and tactical operations.

“Offering comprehensive training and support services is key to ensuring overall flight safety and mission effectiveness for our customers,” said Simplex president and CEO Mark Zimmerman.

z Avinco Sees Favorable Pre-owned Market Avinco founder and CEO Francois Gautier said the company expects a more favorable market for pre-owned helicopters in the third and fourth quarters of 2013. Monaco and Dublin-based Avinco specializes in rapid procurement and retrofit of pre-owned helicopters in a worldwide market.

The company (Booth No. C4114) is celebrating its 10-year anniversary at Heli-Expo.

“We have proven ourselves over the decade to be able to find the financing and buy at the right price and efficiently for our customers,” Gautier said. “We can handle large deals and complex deals, such as when we purchased 17 Be105s from the German police and retrofitted them to our customers’ needs.

“It is important for us, a relatively small company, to be at HeliExpo to network and expand our contacts worldwide. We use the event to enhance our business and increase our exposure.”

Avinco expects to expand its leasing activities and to offer an even wider range of services, including developing spare parts sales capability. The company is also re-launching its website to offer more sophisticated advanced search capabilities.

z Straube’s Expects 145 Certification by Summer

Esterline CMC Electronics (Booth No. C4117) Transport Canada for stand-alone approach operis demonstrating its flight management systems ations, making safe hover operations accessible to (FMS), wide area augmentation system (Waas) a wider class of helicopters.

GPS receivers, electronic flight bags For EFB needs, CMC’s Pilot(EFBs) and portable mission displays View EFB provides efficient here at Heli-Expo ‘13. preflight planning help while Among the avionics solutions the increasing situational awarecompany is highlighting for the rotor ness in flight with moving maps, market: its CMA-4000 single box approach charts, EVS display and flight management and display sysreal-time weather data. tem, which is night-vision goggleCMC’s compact TacView porcompatible, is capable of managing table mission display is designed to radios, driving external MFDs and improve situational awareness and integrating with any set of navigapaperless cockpit applications. The tion and mission sensors. device can display full-size approach CMC’s CMA-5024 high-integcharts, moving maps and checklists The PilotView EFB is among the rity Waas GPS receiver includes avionics on display at the CMC and features an integrated sliding keyboard for data input. o hover-hold certified by the FAA and booth here at Heli-Expo.

Bond Offshore Helicopters joins new safety initiative

by Amy Laboda Bond Offshore Helicopters, a subsidiary of Avincis Group, (Booth No. C7211), announced that it is the first helicopter operator to become a full member of Step Change in Safety, a UK-based partnership dedicated to making the gas and oil industry in the UK the safest operation in the world.

Luke Farajallah, managing

director, Bond Offshore Helicopters, said, “The safety of our customers, crew and everyone we work with is fundamental to the culture of Bond Offshore Helicopters. Membership in Step Change in Safety puts Bond at the forefront of embedding these values across the oil and gas industry.”

“Bond has, since its inception,

actively participated in the Helicopter Safety Steering Group,” said Les Linklater, team leader, Step Change in Safety, “and by becoming full members, have made a demonstrable commitment to Step Change.”

Meanwhile, Avincis Group announced that it has appointed Ian Kummerlin as regional CEO, based in Santiago, Chile.

He will directly supervise the expansion of Avincis Group subsidiaries Inaer Chile and Inaer Peru. “My focus is to allow both Inaer and Avincis to become lead players in missioncritical services in the region,” Said Kummerlin. o

Aircraft painting company Straube’s Aircraft Service (Booth No. N3317) recently announced it expects to receive Part 145 repair station certification for its paint shop at the AgustaWestland parts and repair facility in Philadelphia shortly.

“The 145 repair certification encompasses a five-part process, [and] we are currently finishing up phase three,” explained Straube’s chief inspector Kevin Darabant. The company expects to receive certification by this summer, he added.

Straube’s has operated the AgustaWestland Philadelphia paint facility for six years and began the Part 145 certification process in 2011. The company offers aircraft painting throughout the U.S. with facilities in Hawaii, Utah, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

The company also expects all four facilities to be ISO AS9100C certified in the next 18 months.

Shadin Avionics (Booth No. C7027) announced its new AIS fuel flow “behind the glass” system for the new Bell 412EPi at Heli-Expo ’13.

“Shadin continues to invest in our fuel management systems with an emphasis on new products that bring value to the modern cockpit,” said Shadin Avionics project manager Trevor Lund. “We look forward to working with Bell Helicopter owners to improve flight performance and safety.”

The 412EPi installation includes Shadin’s new AIS fuel flow signal converter, allowing fuel flow and additional fuel data to be integrated onto a glass cockpit display rather than through a separate indicator. The installation also includes a Shadin fuel-flow transducer for the 412EPi’s upgraded Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-9 turboshafts.

16 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

JACK SYKES

z Shadin Intros New Bell 412 Fuel-flow System

hello, las vegas!

Catching rays in the desert sun might have inspired pop artist Romero Britto to create this lively artwork for the side of a Eurocopter EC135T3/P3 on exhibit here at Heli-Expo ‘13. Born in Recife, Brazil, in 1963, Romero combines cubism with pop to create a vibrant style that “exudes warmth, optimism and love,” n according to The New York Times. Britto donates time, art and resources to more than 250 charities.

Robinson reveals its no-lead strategy

by Mark Huber high temperatures.” He characterized D4814 fuels as a slight modification of automotive fuel.

Riedl said he would welcome discussions with other aircraft OEMs to promote the initiative

and is working with the FAA’s AIR-20 Fuels Program Office in Washington, DC. “We know we have to do it,” Kurt Robinson said. “Why not lead the way?” o

Robinson’s piston helicopters, like this R44, could be running on unleaded avgas in the not-too-distant future.

JACK SYKES

A day after revealing its intention to obtain approval to operate its R44 and R22 piston engine helicopters on unleaded fuel (see article on page 10), Robinson Helicopter (Booth No. C1511) shared its strategy for doing so.

CEO Kurt Robinson and engineering vice president Pete Riedl spelled out the steps required and the technical issues involved.

Engine maker Lycoming needs to obtain FAA approval to burn unleaded fuels in its engines while Robinson must perform airframe testing with the fuels on board for each of its relevant helicopter models. Riedl said the test plan required “hitting a lot of points, with the most significant being establishing compatibility with relevant parts such as fuel bladders and O-rings, because the no-lead fuel has different components in it compared to leaded fuel. I think it will be fine but we need to demonstrate that.”

He said the other main technical issue is that “the fuel we intend to use has a higher vapor pressure.” Riedl said the fuel is identified in Lycoming Service Instruction 1070 and is based on a blend already used in Europe, UL91. “It is a modified autogas and is under the same spec as autogas in the United States, ASTM D4814. It is a pretty broad spec and you need to define the octane rating, and that is AKI93, the vapor pressure, with no methanol or ethanol added.”

Helicopter Avionics.

Better decisions deliver better outcomes.

Maximum safety?

Operational efficiency?

A comprehensive range of mission, tactical functions and equipment

Increasing payload?

Intuitive and interactive civil and military core avionics place all functions at the pilot’s fingertips

An integrated approach that saves equipment, wiring and consequently weight while offering wider functional capability

Cost savings?

Critical support?

A high growth potential open to new software functionalities, modular system and innovative training solutions that significantly reduce ownership cost

A global service network delivering advanced supply chain solutions and maintenance

FAA On-board

Engine modification will not be required and the engines will be able to operate on either the specified no-lead fuels or traditional leaded 100LL avgas.

“I am going to push this,” said Kurt Robinson. “The FAA is well on-board.”

Riedl said Lycoming already has discussed the issue with the FAA and fuel companies.

“In Europe this unleaded fuel is going to be easier to obtain than the leaded fuel,” Robinson said. “What is frustrating to me is that we have been talking about this for years and it should be done by now.”

Riedl said straight automotive unleaded fuel is unsuitable for aircraft piston engines because of the specific vapor pressure and the amount of water and alcohol in automotive fuels. “We have to show that these fuels won’t cause vapor lock,” he said.

“These engines were designed to run on really high-octane fuel at

Flying a helicopter relies on critical systems and split-second decision making. This is why Thales offers the most advanced solution to constantly reduce pilot workload and increase safety so that full attention can be given to the success of the mission. TopDeck®, by Thales, is a state-of-the-art, integrated, modular avionics suite designed for both civil and military helicopters. Icube-S is the conceptual platform behind the strength of TopDeck® and ensures that the suite is Intuitive, Interactive, Integrated and Safe. Combine this with our world-leading range of Training & Simulation solutions and our service and support anywhere, anytime and you have the best value, most advanced cockpit technology ever developed, flying now. Thales helps key decision makers master complexity and make timely decisions for better outcomes.

To learn more, scan the QR code or visit thalesgroup.com

HeliAvionics_English_C31622.037_264x199_6Mar_AINConv_v1.indd 1

11/02/2013 16:1317 www.ainonline.com • March 7, 2013 • HAI Convention News

MARIANO ROSALES

A new engine, composite blades and better performance give the MD 540F an edge.

MD 540F represents ‘pride of the company’

by Rob Finfrock As the first new model introduced since Lynn Tilton’s Patriarch Partners bought MD Helicopters (MDHI) in 2005– and rescued the manufacturer from the brink of collapse– the MD 540F armed scout

helicopter not only marks the continued evolution of a storied platform that traces its lineage back to the Hughes 500D, but it also symbolizes renewed hope for the company’s future.

The MD 540F’s heritage

is immediately apparent in its swept bubble nose, rakish landing skids and single turbine exhaust mounted under the high-mounted tail boom.

MDHI (Booth No. N4121) is quick to note that historical connection, but the 540F is also a significantly different aircraft than even its immediate predecessor, the MD 530F. For starters, the MD 540F replaces the older model’s Allison 250-C30 turboshaft with the new RollsRoyce M250-C47E, offering dual-channel Fadec and bumping available rated takeoff power to 700 shp.

The uprated engine is attached to a new six-blade, articulating composite main rotor with blades provided by Van Horn Aviation. That package improves the aircraft’s performance in hot/high conditions, with the MD 540F expected to hover at 6,000 feet at 95 degrees F with a full avionics and weapons package, and includes a projected service ceiling of 20,000 feet with a maximum external gross weight of 4,100 pounds.

Landing skids from the MD

600N help to accommodate the heavier payloads, while a sophisticated helmet display and tracking system provides enhanced sighting and situational awareness to the flight crew.

Certification by 2016

The company targets FAA certification for a commercial MD 540F variant in late 2015 to early 2016, though the helicopter’s true mission is expected to be in a military capacity. Four external stations are available to mount a variety of weapons systems including a .50-caliber cannon (successfully test-fired on the aircraft last month) as well as 70-mm Hydra rockets, a 7.62mm minigun, laser-guided rockets and Hellfire missiles.

“With the increased performance from the main rotor, coupled with the extreme agility and maneuverability of the 500 series, this aircraft could really be a game-changer for customers with larger attack helicopters that want to have the same lethality in a helicopter with a lot lower recurrent and operating

HAI salutes professionalism at premier event

by Amy Laboda HAI’s annual Salute to Excellence Awards dinner is the premier evening event of Heli-Expo. The association encourages the highest standards of professionalism in the helicopter industry, saluting those who deserve to be recognized for their contributions to the rotorcraft community. Held last night, the 2013 Salute to Excellence Awards recognized the achievements and merits of a few individuals and organizations among its more than 3,000 members.

Gary Rogers of Columbia Helicopters was awarded the Rolls-Royce Excellence in Helicopter Maintenance Award, which recognizes an individual who has distinguished himself by longstanding excellence in the performance of helicopter maintenance, maintenance instruction or supervision or a single significant and distinct contribution to helicopter maintenance. Rogers has been responsible for continuing airworthiness training for all of Columbia’s BV-107 and model 234 operations worldwide.

The AgustaWestland Safety Award, acknowledging outstanding contributions in the promotion of safety and safety awareness throughout the international helicopter community, was given to Greg Wyght of CHC Helicopter. Wyght, an expert in safety and quality management, has served as cochair of the International Helicopter Safety Team’s implementation team.

The W.A. (Dub) Blessing Certified Flight Instructor of the Year Award went to Randy Rowles, vice president

and general manager of Era Helicopter’s training center. Rowles, a 12,500-hour pilot, gives generously of his time speaking on safety and training issues. The award recognizes superlative contributions by a helicopter flight instructor in upholding high standards of excellence.

The Excellence in Communications Award was given to Shawn Coyle, recognizing his lifetime body of creative and distinct dissemination of information about the helicopter industry. Coyle has contributed to Rotor & Wing, Professional Pilot, Vertical and Pilot Magazine.

The Bell Helicopter Lifetime Achievement Award went to Roy Fox, retired engineer and chief of flight safety at Bell Helicopter. The award salutes excellence in management and leadership. Fox founded Bell’s system safety engineering group in 1973 and served as Bell’s chief of flight safety from 1992 until his retirement in 2011.

The MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award went to the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA), and was accepted by ALEA executive director Steve Ingley, president Kurt Frisz

costs,” Matt Swisher, director of military business development for MDHI, told AIN. While the company projects sales opportunities to commercial operators and foreign militaries, the MD 540F’s primary purpose is to be a strong competitor in the contest to replace the Army’s aging fleet of OH-58D Kiowa scout helicopters, if that competition ever happens, that is. Aside from a voluntary demonstration of the MD 540F’s capabilities to the U.S. Army late last year, no formal competition for the armed aerial scout contract has been announced; indeed, any prospects for such a competition may have weakened significantly with recent sequestration against the Pentagon’s budget.

Tilton, now president and CEO of MDHI, refers to the MD 540F as “a child born” and “the pride of the company…to some extent, everyone’s wish list” for what operators need in a light attack helicopter. For the moment, MDHI must continue waiting to see if the U.S. Army agrees. o

and CFO Dan Schwarzbach. The organization, established in 1968, promotes and supports the public service and safety mission.

The Pilot of the Year Award, the oldest of HAI’s Salute to Excellence awards, was given to Ruedi Hafen of Canada’s Niagara Helicopters for 40,000 accident- and violation-free hours of flight. The award recognizes an outstanding single feat performed by a helicopter pilot during the year, or extraordinary professionalism over a period of time. In 2011 Hafen rescued stranded New York State Park Police officers above Horseshoe Falls in Niagara using a short-haul technique. This is just one of several dramatic rescues Hafen has performed at the falls. o

EMS Professionals Honored at Salute to Excellence Awards HAI’s Salute To Excellence awards recognized several EMS profession- in medical and scientific journals. Powell has received numerous honors for als this year. Presentations were made at the organization’s annual dinner his service including the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond here last night at Heli-Expo.

Jubilee Medal, and the Association of Air Medical Services’ Marriott-Carlson Dr. Gregory Powell is the recipient of the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for leadership.

Eurocopter Golden Hour Award, given to individuTwo U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers received als who expedite patient transport to the best posthe Sikorsky Humanitarian Award for rescuing two hiksible care as quickly as possible. Dr. Powell is the ers last July on the south face of Washington’s Mount founder of Canada’s Shock Trauma Air Rescue SoRainier. O’Brien Starr-Hollow and Tyler Gaenzle from ciety (STARS), a non-profit charitable organization Coast Guard Station Columbia River initially located an founded in 1984 and dedicated to rapid air mediuninjured hiker and then continued their search for his cal transport in Alberta. In the last 27 years, STARS injured counterpart on a near-vertical snow- and icehas flown more than 23,000 patients and has grown covered slope as darkness fell.

The injured hiker suffered a broken back, shatto include bases in multiple Canadian provinces intered left arm, leg and knee, and numerous intercluding Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and east- Dr. Gregory Powell, founder of Canada’s Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) nal injuries. The rescue swimmers attached the ern British Columbia. Powell served as STARS CEO injured hiker to a backboard and lowered him 200 from 1985 until last year. feet to a more suitable helicopter hoisting area. During the course of Powell also was president of the Canadian Association of Emergency the rescue, Gaenzle sustained a 20-foot fall. The injured hiker eventually Physicians and president of the board of directors for the Association of Air made a full recovery.

–M.H. Medical Services. He has published numerous papers on patient transport

18 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

Alphabet chiefs sound alarm at Town Hall

by James Wynbrandt Ed Bolen pointed out that President Obama should be among the first to recognize the value of business aviation. “Air Force One is America’s corporate jet,” said Bolen. “He uses it for the same reason companies rely on general aviation aircraft,” noting the flexibility, security, ability to maximize efficiency and other benefits of traveling by general aviation aircraft.

force the FAA to consider noise complaints in regulating air traffic–even though there are no studies regarding the issue–as the most pressing problem facing the rotor industry, along with the dearth of pilots and maintenance technicians coming into the industry.

Despite the gloomy talk of assaults on business aviation, panelists said they remain optimistic the community can prevail by working together and expressed their determination to carry on the fight. o

While the big guns get all the news, its the smaller Heli-Expo exhibitors who take care of the nuts and bolts.

Dallas-based Corrosion Technologies (Booth No. C1926) really does keep rust off nuts and bolts and other thingsmade of metal, from Navy ships to minivans. The company has been in business n since 1988.

Regulatory Changes

Among the subjects General Aviation Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pete Bunce addressed was the current effort to modernize aircraft certification standards. “We need regulations that are adaptable,” Bunce said. “Regulations made 20, 30 years ago are not applicable today without different interpretations and judgments,” he added, and said the FAA is excited about revisiting Part 27

Hendricks noted the importance of educating legislators through lobbying efforts, as his association does. “There will come an inflection point in the legislative process in the middle of the night when young staffers are told they have to get a deal done,” said Hendricks. “If you haven’t spent time educating people who are going to do that deal, you are going to lose in the legislative game in Washington.”

Zuccaro highlighted another critical issue, legislative efforts to

No Rust ZOne

MARIANO ROSALES

“An organized attack by the administration on business aviation,” was among the topics under discussion at the General Aviation Association CEO Town Hall moderated by HAI president Matt Zuccaro yesterday.

Panelists–the leaders of AOPA, GAMA, NBAA, NASAO and NATA–also discussed topics ranging from the effects of sequestration to efforts to revisit aircraft certification standards.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association president and CEO Craig Fuller spoke of the “growing outrage within the general aviation community” he has seen at meetings around the country and said that when Americans went to the polls last November “growing the economy was the most important thing to voters.” The administration’s efforts run counter to those concerns, he said.

NBAA president and CEO

and Part 29 certification.

Addressing the subject of what he called “the meat axe of sequestration,” Henry Ogrodzinski, president and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, noted, “There was a teleconference yesterday where the FAA talked about shutting down all the contract control towers.” Ogrodzinski added, “But those are primarily general aviation airports.”

National Air Transportation Association CEO Tom

NWhatever O L IMITS . N O B OUNDARIES . N O E XCUSES .

You Need. Wherever You Are. Whatever It Takes.

10 YEARS OF MD 500 SUPPORT

Heli-Expo Booth C1527

Avionics Sheet metal In-House Engineering Interiors Custom Completions Aircraft Painting 24/7 Field and Tech support Composites Engine Management Parts Sales STC/PMA Program MD 500 & UH-1 specialists

www.PhoenixHeliParts.com • +1 480-985-7994 www.ainonline.com • March 7, 2013 • HAI Convention News 19

Helicopter training to take off, CAE expects

by Curt Epstein Two years after its purchase of CHC Helicopter’s pilot training operation, flight and maintenance training provider CAE said that the model of partnerships between operators and training companies is gaining momentum in the industry. “We’re seeing more interest in a CHC-type level of partnership,” said Rob Lewis, CAE’s recently named v-p and general manager for business aviation, helicopter and maintenance training. “We are in the middle of training outsourcing discussions with three of the large helicopter operators around the world right now.”

According to Lewis, helicopter operators have significant incentive to divest their training operations. “A simulator for a helicopter can cost about as much as a helicopter, so it’s expensive to own and operate,” he said, “and they may be able to better utilize the capital for their core business, which is operating the helicopters.” Another factor is in keeping up with regulation changes and updates for the various helicopter models

they operate and incorporating those changes to in-house training materials. “Is that something that they want to be in the business of, versus do you outsource that to someone who, that’s what they do?” asked Lewis.

He added that while an operator might have one simulator for a helicopter type, a large training provider would likely have several, making it more efficient to keep track of updates.

Those several simulators would also be deployed around the world, making it easier for large operators with global fleets to send pilots for training rather than at one simulator in a central location. Since it purchased CHC’s training operation, CAE has found that the operator accounts for only about 25 percent of the capacity at its former training centers in Scotland, Norway and Vancouver. CAE has been able to provide another 3,000 hours a year of training for other companies, increasing the utilization of the simulators.

“An operator could try to market that excess time, but that’s

To meet demand, CAE has just deployed a pair of new Sikorsky S-76C++ simulators, one to Zhuhai, China, and one to São Paulo, Brazil, where it has agreements with anchor customers that have signed contracts for a large chunk of simulator time.

not their business,” said CAE spokesman Rick Adams. “It’s something that we do very well.”

Over the next five years, CAE (Booth No. C1516) said the helicopter training market should grow at a rate of approximately 8 percent a year. One trend that the company has noted is an increase in demand for more pilot training in the simulator as opposed to the aircraft. The Canadian company said it sees its rotorcraft training market slanting heavily toward medium and larger helicopters in the future. “We believe there is going to be an increase in those kinds of aircraft that the oil and gas companies use

BRUZZONE SHIPPING OPENS NEW OFFICE IN HOUSTON Helicopters and airplanes can fly virtually anywhere in the world, but sometimes the most reasonable way to move them across oceans is by ship. That’s part of what Bruzzone Shipping does and the reason the company is here at Heli-Expo’13, but it’s not all it does.

Bruzzone Shipping’s aircraft division, Helicopters International Shipping Services (HISS, Booth No. C4728), transports about 75 to 100 helicopters a year, either by sea or air. HISS opened a new office in Houston on March 1.

“There are a lot of helicopter operators in the region, especially for oil and gas, and many aircraft transfers,” company president Victor Bruzzone (pronounced “bru-ZO-nee,”) told AIN. “We wanted to be closer to the customers.”

Although shipping aircraft is not the biggest part of the company’s business, “it’s the most fun,” Bruzzone added. “As we’re speaking, my brother is in Connecticut loading two helicopters.” The company started HISS in the late 1980s.

In business for 44 years, the company started as a U.S. Customs house broker and international freight forwarder, which it still does, along with warehousing and international shipping by surface vessels and cargo airplanes. “We ship all sorts of helicopters,” Bruzzone said. “Civil and military, SAR, VIP, transport.

Some are new, others are used. The smaller ones we put in standard shipping containers. The larger ones we’ll put on roll-on/roll-off decks of the ship.”

HISS has its own employees who are trained and qualified to remove and crate rotor blades, but the company often works with a manufacturer’s staff as

well. Much of the company’s business is with Sikorsky Aircraft, but it does work for most other OEMs, though not new helicopters for Robinson Helicopter, which loads its own containers.

Last year, HISS coordinated the “ocean movements,” as Bruzzone put it, for Sikorsky’s “Legacy of

Heroes” S-92 tour in the U.S., Southeast Asia and India. These movements included Baltimore to Singapore, Singapore to India and then back from India to Baltimore, all on roll-on/roll-off vessels.

The overall container-shipping business is down, he explained, but shipping of smaller, used helicopters in containers seems steady. “There are apparently a lot of owners who are selling their smaller helicopters,” he said. “We probably shipped out 30 to 40 small helicopters in containers last year.”

Bruzzone Shipping’s headquarters is in New York City, while its other “gateway offices” are in Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Los Angeles.

–R.R.P.

20 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com

for [oil platform] transfers,” said Lewis. Those larger helicopters will drive up the amount of training needed due to their increased crew requirements. “Your typical business aviation aircraft probably averages three- to three and a half pilots per aircraft,” said Lewis. “In the oil and gas helicopter world it averages around seven. These things operate 12 hours a day out to the oil platform and back.” The largest increase in training demand is in Southeast Asia and Brazil. “To be honest, you can look at where the oil companies are going and it’s going to correspond,” Lewis told AIN. To meet that demand, CAE has just deployed a pair of new Sikorsky S-76C++ simulators, one to Zhuhai, China and one to São Paulo, Brazil, where it has agreements with anchor customers that have signed contracts for a large chunk of simulator time. “In a typical situation, that may fill that simulator up 25 to 30 percent,” said Lewis, “but if we like the market it’s a lower risk way of getting into the market.” In both cases, the new simulators are the first Level-D full-motion helicopter simulators in the region. CAE is currently working on Sikorsky S-92 and Eurocopter EC225 simulators, which are expected to be completed in the next six months. CAE has yet to determine where they will be situated.

On the helicopter maintenance training side, the company is expecting the same level of growth as its flight training division. While not presently a requirement, according to Lewis, large operators are facing increasing pressure from customers to send their maintenance technicians for recurrent maintenance type training on a yearly or semiyearly basis, a development that could provide increased opportunities for maintenance training

Rob Lewis is CAE’s new v-p and general manager for business aviation, helicopter and maintenance training.

providers. CAE has recently developed two other service initiatives that are gaining traction.

The first, an advanced troubleshooting program, was rolled out last year and is aimed at experienced mechanics. The program is intended as a cross-type course on teaching the process and techniques for diagnosing problems in today’s sophisticated equipment.

The second recently introduced initiative is what CAE calls its mobile classroom. An operator or MRO provider will contract with CAE to come to its location and conduct a training class for a group of technicians.

Given enough advance notice, CAE can contact other nearby operators who might wish to take advantage of the close-proximity training. “When you couple those two things together, the growth rate on advanced troubleshooting, particularly when you can go to the customer site, it’s been 20 percent-plus growth in an industry that is flat to declining,” said Lewis.

Lewis, most recently president and CEO of Pentastar Aviation, was brought in last November to head CAE’s business aviation and maintenance training division. He had previously been president of Everest Fuel Management and v-p of field operations at Sentient Flight Group. o

Heli-Expo Sales AgustaWestland (40) Aviasur: 1 GrandNew, 1 AW119Kx Bristow Helicopters: 6 AW139 Japanese National Police Agency: 2 AW139, 1 GrandNew Sloane Helicopters: 2 GrandNew, 2 AW169s Waypoint Leasing: 1 GrandNew, AW139, 1 AW169, 1 AW189 Unidentified purchasers: 21

Bell Helicopter (40) Air Medical Group: 30 Bell 206L4, 407GX unidentified purchasers/models: 10

Enstrom Helicopter (11) Chongqing Helicopter Investment Co.: 4 Enstrom 280FX, 6 480B Rick Boswell: 1 480B with G1000H panel

Eurocopter (59) Air Methods: 6 EC135P3 Aiut Altin Dolomites: 1 EC135T3 Apoyo Logistico Aereo: 1 EC135 Bristow Helicopters: 12 EC175 (firm) Fox Aviation: 1 EC130T2 Hospital Wing (Memphis Medical Center): 1 EC130B4 Memorial MedFlight: 1 EC145

Eurocopter (contd.)

Midwest Medical Transportation: 1 EC135 Mid Valley Mexico: 1 AS350B2 Milestone Aviation Group: 14 EC225 (firm/options), 5 EC175 (firm/options) Nationwide Children’s Hospital: 1 EC145 Norsk Luft Ambulanse: 6 EC135P3, 1 EC145T2 Peak Aviation: 1 EC130T2 Phoenix Heli-Flight: 1 EC135, 2 AS350B2 Universal Helicopters Newfoundland: 1 AsS350E3E Washington Companies: 1 EC135

Marenco SwissHelicopter (7) Heliflite: 2 SKYe SH09s Individual buyers: 5 SKYe SH09 (LOI)

MD Helicopters (2) Bering Air: 1 MD 500E Polk Co. Fla. Sherriff’s Office: 1 MD 500E

Robinson Helicopter (1) Private purchase: 1 R44 ENG

Scott’s-Bell 47 (5) Individual buyers: 5 Model 47-GT6 (LOI)

Sikorsky (62) Arkansas Children’s Hospital: 2 S-76D ASESA: 6 S-76D Milestone Aviation Group: 23 S-92A (14 options); 7 S-76D (10 options)

Russian Hour uContinued from page 1

VK-2500 engines will give it a cruise speed of about 150 knots. First deliveries are expected to begin in 2015.

Newer and sleeker is the company’s Kamov Ka-61, a clean-sheet twinengine design. French-made Turbomeca Ardiden 3G engines will provide the power. Polymeric composite materials make up more than 50 percent of the airframe and main rotor blades, and the tail rotor is shrouded.

According to Russian Helicopters CEO Dmitry Petrov, “Designers have worked particularly hard to reduce the helicopter’s environmental footprint and increase its operational cost-efficiency.”

Like the Mi-171A2, the Ka-62 medium twin is intended for multi-role service and in its executive/VIP variant will carry up to 15 passengers. It will also serve in cargo transportation, medevac and search-andrescue roles. First flight of the Ka-62 is expected in August, with certification anticipated in late 2014 or early 2015.

The Russian Hour also included operator presentations, with Atlas Taxi Aero, which flies the Mi-171A1 in Brazil and UTAir, which compared Russian rotorcraft operation with that of western counterparts.

AgustaWestland offered a presentation on the first flight of an AW139

FOR SALE

SUPER PUMA AS332L1

assembled in Russia. Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland last year signed an agreement to jointly develop an all-new 2.5-ton-class, single-engine helicopter.

The program will be shared on a 50-50 basis, and the new helicopter will be designed for the worldwide market.

Also at yesterday’s event, Ken Norie, president and CEO of Canadian operator VIH Aviation Group, received a special award from the Helicopter Industry Association. VIH Aviation is one of the world’s most experienced operators of Kamov civil helicopters outside Russia and the CIS. The first delivery was two Ka-32s in 1997. Sergey Mikheev, president of the Helicopter Industry Association and general designer of the Kamov design bureau, presented the award. o

Blade Protection from Edge Edge Aerodynamix (Booth No. N5301) of Panama City, Fla., is introducing its BladeGuard erosion-protection systems here at Heli-Expo, a blade tape product that the company claims has no performance penalties. Aircraft Spruce will begin distributing the product within 30 days, according to Edge president Zana Ireland. The company has also received an Australian STC for application on Robinson R22s, and it is currently seeking approvals for the R22 and n R44 in the U.S.

ADDITIONAL AS332

INVENTORY AVAILABLE Manufacturer - Eurocopter

Model

- AS332L1

Serial Number - 2332

Date of MFG - 1991

Total Time - 5,123.4 hrs Registration - N332CT

Contact - Leigh Cheyne Email

- leigh@mavanaairsupport.com

Mobile Phone - +1 305 487 2577

Mavana Air Support in partnership with Rainier Heli International is currently refurbishing the above helicopter. A complete spec sheet for the Helicopter along with it’s history can be found at w w w . a s 3 3 2 . c o m The helicopter will be available for immediate sale and will be completed in early September 2013 .

Aircraft Sales - Lash Larew Email

- lash@rainierheli.com

Web

- w w w . a s 3 3 2 . c o m

Mobile Phone - +1 206 794 2874

Please contact Lash now for further information.

Additional to our acquisition and refurbishing of S/N 2332, Mavana Air Support also holds a very large inventory of AS332 Super Puma spare parts .

www.ainonline.com • March 7, 2013 • HAI Convention News 21 00

UNIVERSAL AVIONICS PRESENTS A different concept on the future of helicopter avionics

uContinued from page 1

aircraft with decreased wiring. The screens you see are completely redundant in their architecture. It is a step toward the ultimate integrated avionics. For certification we proved that the system can have 100 percent functionality even though 50 percent of the equipment is down.”

The TopDeck system was certified with the aircraft in October 2012. A key component in the system is the interactive flight management system–iFMS 200–which carries “click to fly” to the next level, allowing pilots to manage or modify their flight plan and performance via the digital map display. Flight plan information depicted on interactive displays is permanently synchronized with what the conventional multifunction control display unit (MCDU) shows to the pilot. The iFMS 200 is also coupled to the automatic flight control system (AFCS), which enables vertical navigation such as climb, cruise and descent using IFR

that pilots rely on, including the heading bug knob on the panel under the PFD. “It is what pilots are used to, and we want to make the system easy to transition to,” he continued.

There is also a separate EFIS control display unit located on the center console that houses all of the buttons and knobs that are conspicuously missing from the bezel of the 12-inch pilot and multifunction displays.

Other highlights of the two- or optional three-screen system are the 360-degreearc tilted HSI presentation and integration with a pair of helicopter-optimized Garmin GTN 650s located on the central console for

and SAR planning, but also GPS/Waasbased LPV approaches. The digital mapping allows S-76D pilots to plan and review their flight path using vector or raster charts, as well as approach charts, and terrain information that features realistic sun shading. The system displays

Universal Avionics is providing the new flight deck for the MD Explorer.

2D and 2.5D maps, as well as aeronautical information for airspace, airways, navaids, airports and weather datalink.

Just moving the cursor over any of this information with the iCCD, gives pilots access to more information.

The Future State of the Art

That’s TopDeck today, but it is where TopDeck is going that excites Thales Group avionics engineers. Add-ons coming this year are all software-driven and include XM weather, H-Taws and ADS-B out capabilities.

Beyond this year the system has been plumbed to be able to upgrade to ultrahigh-resolution terrain and obstacle

OAS S

navcom and GPS functions.

Maintenance technicians will like the dedicated SD card server, to be located on the console as well. “We designed it for quick access for data downloads and also for database uploads,” said Universal’s Dees.

Universal and MD Helicopters are expecting certification of the MD Explorer flight deck next year. “We hope that by the end of the decade the bulk of the MD fleet is flying with the Explorer cockpit,” said Dees. The system is designed to be retrofittable to existing MD helicopter cockpits. “It is definitely the look of things to come,” he said.

–A.L.

A Welcome Sight

databases brought in from Thales’s fixedwing avionics. Joannic said that in the future engineers plan to mix the H-Taws demonstrated on the fixed simulations at the company’s Heli-Expo booth with terrain detecting Lidar and FLIR. The proof-of-concept demonstrator at the booth also sports a 15-inch touchscreen MFD with flip-through chart database, touch and navigate architecture, pinch and pull zoom, gesture- and click-driven pilot input and a worldwide graphical database.

When asked when pilots could expect this functionality on the TopDeck in the S-76D Joannic smiled and said, “This SVS and H-Taws, we are discussing with Sikorsky. It is, for the time being, a proposal, even though H-Taws and SVS are ready today. We are working for the consistency between the terrain database and the obstacle database; they have to agree.” o

Introducing the Aerosonic Standby Instrument System OASIS®; offering a new level of affordability and flexibility in standby displays.

In the event of a loss of primary display function, the OASIS® is a welcome sight; providing altitude, airspeed and attitude in a clear, familiar format making transition to this standby display seamless.

The compact modular design allows easy installation on any type of aircraft regardless of the available depth behind the panel.

See the OASIS® at Heli-Expo Booth #C6803

00 HAI Convention News • March 7, 2013 • www.ainonline.com 22

+1-727-461-3000 sales @aerosonic.com www.aerosonic.com

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.

JACK SYKES

Thales TopDeck

The rush to synthetic vision and integrated avionics with cursor control for the next generation of helicopters is decidedly evident in this year’s Heli-Expo exhibit halls. While Thales (Booth No. C6428) dazzles attendees in the central hall with its TopDeck suite, MD Helicopters (Booth No. N4121) is wowing them in the north hall with the Universal Avionics system developed for the MD Explorer.

“We’ve decided that touchscreens are not the way to go, for reasons of durability and practicality,” said Grady Dees, director of technical sales for Universal Avionics Systems.

MD Helicopters vice president of engineering Chris Nehls heartily agreed. “The on-cyclic cursor control keeps the pilot focused on flying, we think,” said Nehls. The engineers decided, as well, to retain certain key knobs

COME AND SEE US AT BOOTH #5411

February 8, 2013 0730 hours Aspen Colorado DART is there.

When it comes to dropping skiers and their gear off on fresh powder, transporting heavy materials to hard-to-reach locations or carrying material for search and rescue – it’s the equipment that counts.

Whatever your mission, we have the products and services you need to make it successful.

Mission Ready. www.dartaerospace.com ) 1 613 632-3336 / 1 800 556-4166 E-mail: sales@dartaero.com