VOLUME 11 NUMBER 6 DEC 2017/JAN 2018 A SHEPHARD MEDIA PUBLICATION Leading edge Technology pushes rotors further EO/IR SYSTEMS CREW SAFETY MRO PROVISION Eyes above Practice and training Asia-Pacific growth WWW.ROTORHUB.COM RH-06-17_OFC.indd 1 11/20/2017 2:57:01 PM YOU. F LY Continuous customer feedback means we’re able to constantly re-engineer and improve our service. It’s just one of the reasons we’re the helicopter industry’s biggest service network, providing 24/7 assistance to 150 countries around the world. Collaboration. We make it fly. RH-06-17_IFC_Airbus.indd 2 17/11/2017 15:12:01 CONTENTS Editor Helen Haxell 3 EDITORIAL COMMENT FEATURE [email protected] An uncertain future 20 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2597 RH reports on the development of the Ka-62 Staff Reporter Tim Martin 4 NEWS medium-class twin helicopter, which has at last •Super-medium to close gap left by the H225? entered into the active flight test phase. Asia-Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur •K-Max orders stack up for Kaman Contributors •Kazan Helicopters improves the Ansat FEATURE Rob Coppinger, Gerrard Cowan, •European landing for Bell 505 Peter Donaldson, Jim Dorschner, 24 CRITICAL COMPONENTS Anno Gravemaker, Neelam Mathews, • Single-engine piston helicopters Rotor blades have come a long way since their Alexander Mladenov, Trevor Nash, tipped for success in China inception, with composite materials allowing David Oliver, Barry D Smith, Beth Stevenson, Alan Warnes, • Milestone makes no bones about it the creation of complex aerodynamic profiles. Jim Winchester This evolution continues with still more Production and Circulation Manager FEATURE refinements on the horizon. David Hurst [email protected] 8 PLAYING IT SAFE Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2579 Recent high-profile accidents involving FEATURE Sub-editors offshore rotorcraft have catalysed a range of 30 REGIONAL PROGRESS Elaine Effard, Georgina Smith, Adam Wakeling measures to enhance safety in the oil and gas The future of the civil helicopter MRO market in Graphic Designer support sector, with alterations to regulations Asia looks far from bleak as manufacturers and Kam Bains and advances in technology helping to providers aim to further establish themselves in Advertising Sales Executive minimise future risk. a region where previously declining economies Anthony Wilkinson [email protected] may be turning around. Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2575 FEATURE Junior Sales Executive 14 EYES DOWN COLLECTIVE PITCH Lance Golding [email protected] Budgetary reductions to law enforcement 36 CONSIDERING THE CONSEQUENCES Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2599 agencies mean that OEMs must take steps to As the UK withdraws from the EU, there will be Editor-in-Chief provide cost-effective EO/IR while maintaining inevitable implications for the rotorcraft Tony Skinner the diverse capability operators require. RH industry. Sir Chris Coville, chair of the British Head of Advertising Sales Kevin Bethell explores how companies are meeting this Helicopter Association, discusses Brexit and [email protected] challenge head on. details cause for market optimism. Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2587 VP Business Development Mike Wild Managing Director Darren Lake Chairman Nick Prest Subscriptions Annual rates start at £90 Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2592 Email: [email protected] Web: shop.shephardmedia.com RotorHub is published six times per year by The Shephard Press Ltd, Saville Mews, 30 Saville Road, London, W4 5HG, UK. PCM CitySprint is acting as mailing agent. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Page 30 The Shephard Press Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. Front cover: The Airbus Helicopters H160 is due for certification in 2018. It features the Blue Edge main rotor blades, which provide a 50% reduction in sound levels via a double-swept shape. (Photo: Airbus Helicopters) Print by Buxton Press, Derbyshire, UK © The Shephard Press Ltd, 2017. 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The Professional Publishers Association Member To subscribe to our print and online services visit www.shephardmedia.com WWW.ROTORHUB.COM VOLUME 11 NUMBER 6 DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 ROTORHUB WWW.ROTORHUB.COM 1 RH-06-17_p01_Contents.indd 1 11/20/2017 3:25:28 PM SKYe SH09 SKYe SH09 The Swiss response to making a helicopter The Swiss response to making a helicopter The SKYe SH09 is equipped with the best baseline in the industry incorporating a full glass The SKYe SH09 is equipped with the best baseline in the industry incorporating a full glass cockpit suite, a dual hydraulic system, a dual electrical circuit, and more. cockpit suite, a dual hydraulic system, a dual electrical circuit, and more. Expect outstanding hot and high performance. This is not just your regular single-engine, this Expect outstanding hot and high performance. This is not just your regular single-engine, this is a new class of multirole helicopters with the largest cabin/cargo volumes and modern is a new class of multirole helicopters with the largest cabin/cargo volumes and modern ergonomics for your mission. ergonomics for your mission. Speed Range Capacity Speed Range Capacity External Load External Load 1’500 kg 800 km Up to 7 Passengers 260 km/h 1’5003’300 kg lbs 800430 km nm with up to Up to 7 Passengers10 suitcases 260140 km/h kts 3’300 lbs 430 nm with up to 10 suitcases 140 kts Swiss movement Swisswww.marenco-swisshelicopter.com movement www.marenco-swisshelicopter.com RH-06-17_p02_Marenco.inddUntitled-1 1 2 17/11/201715/05/2017 15:13:0412:37:49 COMMENT Helen Haxell, Editor An uncertain future What I have been hearing on show floors Airbus admits that there is an overhang in and in conversations with civil helicopter oil and gas in relation to heavy helicopters In the next issue industry insiders is that the slump in the more generally, and some platforms might oil and gas market continues to cause the need to find roles elsewhere. Nevertheless, • EMS grounding and oversupply of rotorcraft. the company argues that the versatility of • Completions One platform that is being diversified the H225 means that it can be flexible in its • Avionics from the oil and gas transportation role is market position. The H225 is still very active the Airbus Helicopters H225, as a result of in the military market and is being operated • Leasing the grounding of the fleet after last year’s by services like the Brazilian Navy. accident in Norway, despite the flying ban The civil market will need to be being lifted by regulatory authorities. financially astute in the next year in market confidence in the platform in We recently reported that having placing this helicopter if it is to avoid a multiple mission segments. previously specialised in supplying H225s continuation of idle aircraft. The company has announced that to oil and gas companies in Africa and its fleet now comprises over 150 Asia, French-based Héli-Union is currently On the up? helicopters. Waypoint’s portfolio includes implementing diversification strategies into One Waypoint Leasing H225 was present 32 customers in 30 countries, with total new areas that include military training. at Helitech International in October this assets worth in excess of $1.6 billion. Jean-Baptiste Olry, the company’s head year, being operated on lease by Global In addition, it has firm and option orders of sales and operations, told RH that the Helicopter Service (GHS) of Germany, with aircraft manufacturers for more than company had ‘no choice [but to diversify] which is indicative that the aircraft is 90 rotorcraft – valued at more than $1.2 after the H225 grounding issues, which slowly making its civil comeback. billion in total – to be delivered over the had led to a loss of confidence in the Furthermore, the appearance of the next five years. helicopter’. helicopter at the event indicates that Whether oil and gas transportation lessors, operators and OEMs are once will remain a market for the H225 is still Staying strong again ready to promote the aircraft uncertain, but confidence-building in the Despite some industry doubt over the following the April 2016 crash. GHS leased aircraft will need to be robust in 2018 to H225’s future in oil and gas, Airbus the aircraft in January 2017 with the dispel any hesitation about its role within Helicopters remains adamant that the intention of deploying it for utility and this sector. aircraft is still a strong force in this sector, humanitarian support missions. On the subject of new starts, Tim Martin as well as others. Allan Rowe, managing director and head has recently joined RH as Staff Reporter. However, some operators remain of commercial at Waypoint, described the Many of you will see him at trade shows unconvinced. Bristow Group, for example, static display as highlighting the throughout the year, so please take a has 27 idle H225s on its books. ‘The 225 ‘significant capability’ of the H225 in moment to welcome him on board. still has some life left in it from the multiple missions globally, and discussed Whatever the mission for civil standpoint that the aircraft is fairly young, the opportunity for the aircraft to displace helicopters, be sure to follow RH and but it might not be in oil transport,’ said older, less capable aircraft in the market. rotorhub.com for all the details on the the company’s president and CEO, Waypoint has also said that its H225 market, operators and manufacturers Jonathan Baliff (see p4).