HELICOPTER Autumn 2016 / £4.99 HELICOPTER AuTumn 2016 www.helicopterlife.com including gyroplanes LIFE Brexit LIFE COVER STORY Flight Show & Tell Guide 4 Brexit - Helicopters 32 Aviation shows and conferences. Georgina Hunter-Jones Blues? Looks at the potential The Editor’s Letter 5 consequences for heli - copter companies of elico Aerial Forum 6 & 7 the UK vote to leave H Tim Scorer the EU Letters to the Editor 10 Yeovilton Air Show Flying Crackers 8 & 9 Clive Bennett photographs the action

Helicopters Beware! THe UKAB and BGA want to highlight the danger of flying near 40 gliding sites and HeliTech Preview stress the recent near HeliTech team 46 misses by helicopters What excitements are to be had at HeliTech 12 Amsterdam

Vietnam Darkness Ralph Arnesen 16 Recalls another episode of his time in KADEX Can Vietnam during the Arjan Dijksterhuis 50 war visits the Kazakhstan air show and gives us the highlights and intrigue

Where now for Sikorsky? 20 G Cheyne Looks at the future for HeliExpo 2016 56 the large commercial Sywell and military company Georgina Hunter-Jones after its take over by Looks at the GA show Lockheed Martin last and its latest products year 26 Brunei 7 Flight Book Reviews 58 David Oliver visits Brunei to talk to CAA Legislation changes 59 7 Flight and see their work in the jungle Accident Reports 64 HELICOPTER LIFE is the HIGH LIFE House & Helicopter 66 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 3 how ell S & T ow the UK has voted to leave T he e diTor ’ S l eTTer G uide HELICOPTER the European Union what will Nthat mean for aviation in gener - al and helicopters in particular? submitted this Autumn, following a 5 November - 8 November 2016 Immediately after the result was public discussion in September. 5TH ASIAN AUSTRALIAN ROTORCRAFT LIFE announced to the shocked populations The proposed site is at Jelbert Way, FORUm of the UK and Europe there was a state - Penzance close to the former site of the Concord Hotel, Orchard Road, Singapore AuTumn 2016 ment from Airbus: BIH Heliport. The original service ran https://vtol.org/arf “Brexit will prove bad news for the for 48 years before closing. aviation and aerospace industries as I was a H269 and S300 pilot, HON. EDITORIAL BOARD 22 February -26 February 2017 their activity is closely associated to the instructor and examiner for many years, The Lord Glenarthur, DL HELI PILOT SHOW dynamism of Europe....” (see cover so I have been very sad to see their Olympia, London, UK Jennifer Murray story). slow demise after their purchase by www.helipilotshow.com Michael J. H. Smith Malvina Nicca Later the CAA set up a meeting with Sikorsky Aircraft. When I saw that 7 March - 9 March 2017 the DoT about the possible conse - Lockheed Martin had bought Sikorsky quences of this vote and how to miti - Aircraft from UTC I did wonder if their HAI HELIExPO 2017 EASA certification is pending, hence Dallas, Texas, USA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / PILOT gate them as far as possible. fate would be the same as their former Georgina Hunter-Jones Robinson will not accept orders from www.heliexpo.rotor.org [email protected] Representation has been made to the wunderkind. However, it seems this is UK (or any other customers whose CREATIVE DIRECTORS Prime Minister; Lord Glenarthur not to be. Lockheed Martin are more 18 April - 20 April 2017 [email protected] President of the BHA has spoken in than committed to the Sikorsky vision certification is still outstanding) until certification is complete. However, ROTORCRAFT ASIA COPY EDITORS parliament about the need for the gov - and believe that ‘together they are Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore Gerald Cheyne, Jean Dubourcq ernment to make sure the UK continues stronger’. There will be more on this interestingly it is still acceptable to http://www.rotorcraft-asia.com/ CONTRIBUTING EDITORS its aviation representation and those after HeliTech International show in change your own R44 into a Cadet Clive Bennett, David Oliver, Arjan Diksterhuis, Amsterdam where the Operators Forum and use it for training as Advance 11 May - 13 May 2017 Tim Scorer, HeliTech team, Ralph Arnesen, G helicopter operators who fly across Cheyne Europe and anyone who buys and sells is likely to bring up some interesting Helicopters, based in Shoreham, has ELITE LONDON done. Biggin Hill Airport, London CONTRIBUTED PHOTOGRAPHY into Europe is wondering what the discussions on the way forward for Time Scorer, Gerald Cheyne, Clive Bennett, future will hold. manufacturers, operators and owners. Enstrom has now returned to testing https://www.theeliteevents.com David Oliver, Arjan Diksterhuis, Alan Norris, the TH-180, which had stopped after an Ralph Arnesen, Neil Harrison, HeliTech Almost immediately after the vote Continuing our commitment to the 1 June -3 June 2017 the markets fell and the pound went to gyroplane world we have a short piece accident (due to the testing equipment) HELI UK ExPO SPECIAL THANKS TO in the first prototype. They are now fly - Malvina Nicca ATPL, Gerald Cheyne, Ralph its lowest level against the dollar since from Chris Jones about new things in Wycombe Air Park, UK Arnesen the 1980s. The markets have subse - the gyrocopter world, including a new ing the second prototype and the third is in production. They hope to have certi - http://www.heliukexpo.com/ ADVERTISING quently bounced back but the pound UK CPL(H) which will allow compa - Telephone: +44-(0)23-9263-1713, remains low, worrying those who holi - nies to access cheaper workers and fication by next year. 19 July -23 July 2017 [email protected] day or buy goods abroad, but good work stations. In South Africa, Rhino911 an anti- INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF SUBSCRIPTIONS poaching initiative has selected a Bell HOmEBUILT ROTORCRAFT Go to our website or turn to page 54 news for those involved in the tourist We also have an update on the [email protected] trade within the country. progress of the Cabri G2, which has 407GT to help fight back against poach - Mentone Airport, Mentone, Indiana USA ers of rhino and other endangered ani - http://www.pra.org WEBSITE Even without the Brexit vote, 2016 already produced its 175th helicopter www.helicopterlife.com has been a turbulent year with numer - and has, according to The General mals. Rhino911’s goal is to stop the 23 July -28 July 2017 Blog ous terrorist attacks, a potential coup in Aviation Manufacturers Association, poachers long before they reach their ALEA ExPO 2017 http://www.helicopterlife.blogspot.com targets. They use the specially equipped See Helicopter Life on Facebook & Twitter Turkey, and the rise of new terrorist produced more G2 Cabris in 2015 Reno, Nevada, USA organisations across the Middle East. than the Robinson Helicopter Bell 407GT to find and intercept poach - http://www.alea.org At one time it seemed that every day Company produced R22s. An amaz - ers at a distance, using advanced NV COVER PHOTOGRAPH bought a new disaster. Now we have ing feat considering Robinson has (night vision) and FLIR/WESCAM WORLD HELICOPTER DAY Alan Norris Union Jack Hughes 369 G-SWEL. 2017 on the horizon with French and been market leader in this sphere thermal imaging and other advanced 20 August 2017 Inset Neil Harrison 2008 Helicopter World

e sensors. The sensors on the Bell 407GT

n German elections and the likely Article since the 1980s. However, it should Championships y World Helicopter Day aims to raise awareness of the e are capable of discerning and tracking h 50 Trigger point. not be forgotten that Robinson have contributions that helicopters make to our society and cel - C d personnel from extreme distances as l On a more optimistic note several stated that they will be phasing out HELICOPTER LIFE is published quarterly by FlyFizzi Ltd. a

ebrate the diverse range of people that design, fly and r Pyers Croft, Compton, Chichester, West Sussex e the R22s and are replacing them with well as analyzing and pinpointing possi -

g sources have highlighted the possibility

support them. This is event which can be hosted by any PO18 9EX f ble hides and the entrance and exit o of a new Scillies Isles helicopter to the Cadet. Robinson have now deliv - Copyright © FlyFizzi Ltd. 2016. y helicopter operator, helicopter related company, associa - s routes that the poachers use, allowing e ered its first two production R44 ISSN 1743-1042. t replace the service decommissioned in tion, organization, museum, pilot(s) or person(s) in any r u timely and effective action by law

All rights reserved. Opinions expressed herein are not neces - o October 2012. A 2 million pound pri - Cadet helicopters to Heliflite country around the world. sarily those of the pub lishers, the Editor or any of the editorial C enforcement authorities. h Australia, a longtime Robinson deal - P vate sector investment plan was staff. Reproduction in whole or in part, in any form whatever, a

(Any City, Any Country) r

g announced on 25th August 2016, and a er. The two-place R44 Cadet received

is strictly prohibited without specific written permission of o

www.worldhelicopterday.com t the Editor. o FAA certification on 6 May 2016. h planning application is expected to be P 4 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 5 Air Navigation Order. They pointed out that Section A eriAl F orum 76(1) of the Act says: No action shall lie in respect of trespass or in respect Conclusion of nuisance by reason only of the flight of an aircraft In concluding this nuisance claim, the Judge made an Love Your neighbours over any property at a height above the ground which Order limiting the operations to specified days of the having regard to wind, weather and all circumstances of week, and for a limited duration. Since the neighbours the case is reasonable or the ordinary incidence of such had succeeded in this claim, the airfield was ordered to flight as long as the provisions of any Air Navigation Tim Scorer looks at a case where flying becomes an pay their legal fees and costs. The airfield’s representa - Order...... have been complied with.” (Editor’s under - tives requested permission to appeal against the Judge’s ‘unreasonable nuisance’ lining) decisions in relation to whether the training exercises “These provisions cover the whole take-off and land - constituted “flying” or not. The Court of Appeal have ing process”, remarked the Judge. However, it did not Peires v Bickerton’s Aerodromes Ltd [2016] given permission. The final outcome of this significant assist the airfield because he did “not accept that the issue is awaited. training exercise on the “slope” is “flight” or any part of it. The section (of the Act) is plainly to cover journeys Editor’s note: the decision of the Court of Appeal on with aircraft passing over other property and the associ - this case will be reported as soon as it is available. ated take-off and landing”. In considering the Rules of (This article was first published in the Industry the Air Regulations 2015, especially the “low flying Directory 2016/2017 of the British Business and General rule” (Rule 5) again, the Judge did not accept that the Aviation Association) operations on the slope involved flying. “Helicopters do not need to do the exercise (on the © Tim Scorer slope) to take-off; it was merely that it was convenient June 2016 presumably for the pilots to do the training and then Consultant. Kennedys Law LLP take-off. It follows that the procedures are not part of any [email protected] incident of flying or taking off”.

     he close neighbours of a major general aviation Reasonable or unreasonable?     (GA) airfield took the airfield to court in March In a nuisance case like this, the test is one of reason - 
  

 T2016. They alleged that some specific helicopter ableness. Were these operations an unreasonable use of training operations were being carried out very close to the airfield? Did they adversely affect the reasonable use their property (58 metres at the closest point), that of the neighbours’ property? There should be ‘give and repeated lift-offs and touchdowns on some sloping take’ on both sides. The Judge heard that, for over 40
  $!      &      ground. The attendant high noise level had become a real years, there had been complaints to the airfield. They had   +(#   ! #% nuisance and something should have be done to exclude not been effectively dealt with, and the system did not ) $ *$  #     or limit these operations. result in complaints being followed up. The airfield said $     % it was impossible to relocate the training area. The Judge  $ "    Background disagreed. ! %   
   $ The operations were part of helicopter pilot training, While the neighbours were not seeking to close down  ! $
!  #$    !   '  $!   practising lift-off and touchdowns on sloping ground. the whole of the airfield operations, they said they want - # % 
 % Usually they were not part of taking off or landing at the ed a more limited and predictable use of the training start or end of a flight. They created what was described area, so that they could organise their affairs around the by the Judge as an “excruciating” noise, which ruined the noise. But there was strong disagreement between the peace of the neighbours’ garden, and could even be heard parties as to how long and how often the training exer - within the house. The fact that the neighbours had cises took place. The Judge indicated that he was looking acquired the house only a few years before, and that the at imposing time and duration limits on the operation as airfield had existed for over 95 years, and been licensed a way of resolving the case. over 28 years, did not restrict the claim. The airfield then put forward some defences, which they claimed under the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and the

6 HELICOPTER LIFE, Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE, Autumn 2016 7 F lyinG C rACkerS F lyinG C rACkerS

according to NSF. that technical barriers can be over - AI out-thinks Pilot cost too much. So, instead the tower was prepared come in the near term to make Istanbul New Airport, which upon completion will become Aircraft capabilities took a big leap for auction by the General Services Administration. forward when an expert fighter pilot Atlantic Crossing by Sun hydrogen a practical fuel source. the world’s largest ‘greenfield’ airport, has already started Solar Impulse 2 landed in Seville, Speaking at the first annual to draw attention and garner architecture awards. The new found he was no match for ALPHA. RTW Balloonist The artificial intelligence system was Spain in July, completing a 3160- Sustainable Aviation Foundation airport's Air Traffic Control Tower and Technical Building Fedor Konyukhov, who launched from western developed by Psibernetix, founded NM trip across the Atlantic from symposium in Redwood City, has been deemed worthy of the International Architecture Australia on July 12 in an attempt to beat Steve by a University of Cincinnati gradu - New York in 71 hours. While the California, this week, the DLR's Award 2016, granted by Chicago Athenaeum: European Fossett's time for the round-the-world solo balloon ate. Gene Lee, a retired Air Solar Impulse team had initially Josef Kallo told attendees that Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. flight, already has faced weather challenges and Force colonel taking part in the hoped the transatlantic crossing research on practical hydrogen cells equipment failures as he reaches the halfway point research, said that ALPHA is would land in Paris in honor of is much further along than many of his journey. As he crossed the southern Pacific at unprecedented. Charles Lindbergh's1927 flight, a people realize. stormy weather forecast resulted in night, Konyukhov encountered snow, ice and turbu - choosing Spain as an alternate. Clean Sky2 lence, which shook the propane tanks suspended from the gondola so violently that some of them had Airbus Helicopters earlier this year to be jettisoned. 100 China Airbuses passed an important milestone in the However, Fedor Konyukhov, 64, landed safe and Airbus will become the first foreign development of the high-speed, sound near the small town of Bonnie Rock on 23 company to assemble helicopters in compound helicopter demonstrator July at 16.15 local time (08.15 UTC) after a 11 day China, under a new deal to deliver currently being built as part of the 8 hours and 42 minutes flight in a Roziere combined 100 H135 aircraft. The deal is Clean Sky 2 European research pro - (hybrid) hot-air and helium gas balloon beating the worth about $788 million, accord - gramme. A mockup of the break - 2002 performance of aviation legend Steve Fossett ing to The Wall Street Journal. through airframe design has just (320 hours 33 minutes). They are both the only Terrafugia Revs Up “With the further opening up of the undergone windtunnel testing in an pilots to have completed the solo circumnavigation. Terrafugia has received approval to Chinese skies and the increasing Airbus facility. The tests proved the certify its Transition roadable air - growth in the civil and parapublic viability of the chosen design in Pilots Banned from 30,000 foot Selfies Bernie Ecclestone’s helicopter pilot plane as an LSA with a maximum segments, China is gearing up to terms of efficiency, sustainability After six pilots for a low cost Indian Airline Indi Go took takeoff weight of 1,800 pounds. be the biggest market for helicop - and performance, paving the way for Bernie Ecclestone’s helicopter pilot and the former pictures of themselves working in the cockpit the airline The Massachusetts-based company ters in years to come,” said Norbert a preliminary design review expect - head of the Helicopter Club of Brazil has been and posted them on social media the airline has banned announced this week the FAA Ducrot, from Airbus Helicopters. ed end of 2016. Meanwhile, the arrested after the failed kidnapping of Ecclestone’s their staff from taking pictures at work. A company opera - approved its 2014 petition for overall project has passed its first mother-in-law. Aparecida Schunck, the mother of tive said that the photographs were giving the wrong mes - exemption from LSA rules, which NASA Rocket Ground Test official milestone involving all core Ecclestone’s third wife, was held for a week and a sage. require a maximum weight of 1,320 The world's most powerful rocket, partners by reaching the end of its ransome of 28 million was demanded. She was freed pounds and maximum stall speed of designed for future manned space - pre-design phase. unharmed and several people were arrested. China seeks Western Pilots Kidnapping is common in Brazil. 45 knots. flight, had a successful startup test Airlines are reportedly offering experienced airline pilots this week the latest milestone for HeliPad for Sale more than $300,000 a year, tax-free, to work for them and Airbus Flying Taxi Service Antarctic Rescue NASA's Space Launch System. Comes witha building and a 360- that might be just the beginning of a bidding war for cock - Polar station workers in need of med - This final qualification ground test degree view of the Atlantic Ocean. Engineers based in Silicon Valley are working to pit crew. Any news on helicopter pilots? ical care were successfully evacuated at an Orbital ATK site in The Chesapeake Light House, 14 develop "an autonomous flying vehicle platform," from the Amundsen-Scott station as Promontory, Utah, allows NASA to miles off the coast of Virginia Beach called Vahana, that could provide transport for both First Flight for AVIC Helicopter passengers and cargo, the company has announced. the South Pole in July, according to plan for a first unmanned test flight was put out to auction block in July. AC312E, a new light twin-engine helicopter developed by Flight tests of the first vehicle prototype are slated the National Science Foundation. with its Orion spacecraft in 2018 in The building was bought by the U.S. the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has for the end of 2017. Ultimately, the system could CBC reported that the Calgary-based preparation for future missions to Department of Energy from the completed its first flight, the company announced in

s operate similarly to car-sharing applications, with

Kenn Borek Air flew the two workers Mars. Coast Guard in 2012 for $90,000 in u August. The helicopter, is designed to carry up to nine b r

i the use of smartphones to book a vehicle, Airbus

from Amundsen-Scott to Rothera, on order to “create an offshore research a

r passengers or more than 1,300 pounds of cargo, and is f e t o claims.

Autonomous Aircraft facility, including a meteorological s the Antarctic Peninsula, a distance of y aimed at both the domestic and international markets. It o s f e Istanbul ATC Prize t

some 1500 miles. The patients will Fuel cells have long been discussed tower,” explained Kathryn Walsh, r r can be used for a variety of missions, including medical e u t o

e Istanbul New Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower

be further transported to Punta as a potential power source for spokeswoman for the Department of C P assistance, search and rescue, police use and VIP transport. h h

P designed by Pininfarina and AECOM won the P

Arenas, Chile, where they will Energy. However, in 2014 the a vehicles, including aircraft, and a The first flight took place in Harbin, Heilongjiang r r g

g International Architecture Award from a shortlist of o receive additional medical care, researchers at the German aero - department discovered that the nec - o t Province, China on July 27 2016. t o o

h 370 projects. essary structural upgrades would h

space center, the DLR, believe P P

8 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 9 l eTTerS To The e diTor Kirkbride Airfield gets Fuel Pyers Croft, Compton, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 9EX, England. Telephone: 023-9263-1713 Email: [email protected]. Letters to the Editor Dear Georgina Please include your name, and email or phone. I hope you are well and keeping busy flying helicop - ters which most of us can only dream of getting our Hotel Needing Helicopters hands on. I thought I'd drop you a line to say that we are now able to offer not only AVGAS but also Jet A1 here at Dear Georgina Kirkbride Airfield, which as you know is just North of Good Afternoon, the Lake District and the gateway to Scotland. This is an introduction to Raemoir House As an introductory offer to your readers we are get - (www.raemoir.com) located on Royal Deeside, ting the ball rolling with Jet A1 at £0.70 plus 5% VAT Scotland, less than 20 miles west of Aberdeen and 9 per litre and landing fees of only £20 for helicopters. miles west of HJS Helicopters Sundays are proving popular as the White Heather (www.hjshelicopters.co.uk), Aberdeenshire. Hotel on the airfield offers an outstanding Sunday lunch Would such a venue would be of interest to your but it is best to book a table 016973 51373. For anyone subscribers. wanting to make a weekend of it overnight parking is Many thanks available as are plenty of B and Bs and hotels which are Neil Rae a short taxi ride away. Raemoir House PPR is required for refueling by calling myself Chris Banchory Aberdeenshire AB31 4ED Jones on 07796 955805 or John Plaskett on 07710 t: 00 (44) 1330 824884 672087 and then calling up on 124.40 ten miles out. e: [email protected] Lockheed martin Snaps Kirkbride airfield information is available on my w: www.raemoir.com website: Dear Georgina www.chrisjonesgyroplanes.com Chances are that you are unaware that three F-35s (1 UK, 2 USMC) landed at REF Fairford just Kind regards before RIAT. This is the F-38B’s first transatlantic flight and Chris Jones a major new miles stone for the programme. I wanted to share a unique photo which was captured shortly after the jets landed and parked. The photo is courtesy of Lockheed Martin. Best wishes, Mark Johnson

HELICOPTER LIFE, Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 11 10 G liderS And h eliCopTerS

Helicopters Beware! There have been several near misses between helicop - ters and gliders and the uKAB and BGA want to warn helicopter pilots flying near gliding sites

How easily can you see this winch wire?

do anything about the conflict. Nor is the danger passed avoiding glider sites, beware of simply skirting the once the glider is released from the winch. Pilots are ground location by a narrow margin because there are very unlikely to see the cable itself and, depending on the likely to be gliders operating close to the site as they soar winch-launch height, the hazard from these continues for within gliding range and, even if a site has finished at least another 20-30 seconds as it descends under a winch-launching for the day, it may have gliders return - small parachute that is effectively invisible. Some glider ing from cross country flights, or motor gliders self- sites are capable of launching to altitudes of 3-4000ft, launching into the local area. Many gliders these days fly with associated increased cable descent times. Maximum with a system called FLARM, which is a relatively cheap launch altitudes are indicated on the 500K VFR chart electronic conspicuity aid. The associated P-FLARM with a forward slash and height; as an example, Lasham unit is also relatively cheap, easy to fit in any aircraft, has a maximum winch-launch altitude of 3700ft, as and provides potentially life-saving audio and visual cues shown on the above right graphic as /3.7. for those hard-to-see gliders. Pilots should always assume that a gliding site is active. Ed Downham, who, as well as being a UKAB ollowing a number of recent incidents that have flew Lasham, the busiest gliding site in the country, dur - gliding member, is a Boeing 777 captain said: “So far, we compromised safety when aircraft over-flying glid - ing a winch launch. haven’t seen an actual mid-air, either between the aircraft Fer sites have come into close proximity with • 2016074 – an R44 helicopter overflew Husbands or with the descending winch cable. But it could soon be winch-launching gliders, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) Bosworth south of Leicester and caused a winching glid - a matter for the AAIB rather than UKAB. Be under no and the British Gliding Association (BGA) seek to er to abort its launch. illusion, such an encounter is highly likely to be fatal for remind pilots about the dangers of over-flying gliding those involved”. Chris Fox, another UKAB gliding sites, especially as the summer months mean much Four of these incidents were categorised in the highest member and an R44 pilot, also commented: “A recurring greater gliding activity is likely. risk category - A – where it was judged a serious risk of theme in these reports is that the powered aircraft pilot Some recent Airprox incidents illustrate the risks: collision existed and luck played a major part in the fact assumed that the gliding site would not be active – per - • 2014013 – a glider aborted a winch launch at that collisions didn’t occur. The full reports are available haps because the weather was less than perfect, or it was Tibenham, Norfolk when a PA28 overflew the site. from http://www.airproxboard.org.uk within ‘Airprox late in the day. Gliders can, and do, winch-launch in • 2014211 – an Augusta 109 helicopter came close Reports and Analysis’, side heading ‘Individual Airprox strong winds and any cloud base that permits the launch to a glider winch launching at Dunstable, to the west of Reports’, under the appropriate year. to be completed safely – often in conditions that would Luton The key point is that pilots should not rely on seeing deter many other GA pilots.” This thickness can do • 2015026 – again at Dunstable, an MD902 heli - the winch launch happening as they approach the glider The UKAB advice is to avoid glider sites at all times; substantial damage copter came close to a launching glider site. A glider will go from ground to 1000-1500ft in only overfly them if you have timely, positive confirma - • 2016036 – an unidentified light aeroplane over - about 20 seconds, so spotting it in the climb is too late to tion from the site itself that they are inactive. When 13 12 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 Around the World Fastest Woman Thanks Yorkshire AA

he world’s fastest woman has made a special 254mph when the wind caught me and in less than a sec - return to Yorkshire to thank air ambulance medics ond the bike had gone onto the grass. after surviving a terrifying motorcycle crash at T “I managed to keep the bike upright but I was still more than 200mph. doing around 90mph when the bike finally dug into the Becci Ellis was trying to beat her own land speed dirt and I was catapulted off. I don’t remember coming record of 264mph at Elvington Airfield, North Yorkshire, off or hitting the ground, but I landed on my front sliding last August when the high-speed accident happened. for about 70 yards and blacked out briefly. After reaching an astonishing 254mph her powerful “The air ambulance was called and the paramedics turbo-powered bike was hit by a gust of wind sending were there very quickly. I was in Leeds hospital fifteen her veering off the track. minutes after the crash.” Spectators - including her husband and former racer Becci’s recovery has been painful and slow, but with Mick - watched in horror as Becci’s Suzuki Hayabusa the help of a sports therapist and the support of her fami - careered out of control for a quarter of a mile before, still ly she is now ready to ride again – although on a com - travelling at around 90mph, the mother-of-two was pletely rebuilt bike. thrown off. The mother-of-two from Scunthorpe took the new bike Yorkshire Air Ambulance was quickly on scene and to Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Nostell Air Base, near airlifted Becci to hospital in Leeds within minutes. Wakefield, to show air crew and paramedics and to thank Thanks to armour-plating inside her racing suit, the 49- them. year-old IT analyst miraculously escaped with a broken Becci added: “Mick and I have been collecting for the ankle, severe bruising and whiplash. Air Ambulance for about 12 years and the day after my After an eight-hour hospital stay, she was trackside at accident we raised £500. Elvington again the following day to watch other com - “The paramedics and pilots are just fantastic and I tak - petitors and to help raise money for Yorkshire Air ing the new bike up was my way of saying thank you for Ambulance. being there for me that day. Becci said: “I had just gone through the speed gate at

HELICOPTER LIFE Autumn 2016 15 Airbus 160 next Generation AW139 for Pakistan

eonardo-Finmeccanica announced today that the LGovernment of Pakistan has signed a contract for an undisclosed number of AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters to be used for transport and EMS missions. This event sets a major milestone for Leonardo and further expands the already successful presence of the AW139 and other models in the Country.

i set new standards of flight experience for passengers and h

C or private and business aviation. We can’t wait for our * Several key design assumptions confirmed and exceed - firm some key aspects of the next-generation, twin- C e crews”, he added. P customers to experience this exceptional level of comfort ed during flight tests engine helicopter’s design and performance. y

n During its ongoing flight-test campaign, carried out with o themselves”, Fujarski added. * Unprecedentedly low vibration levels to set new stan - “Thanks to more than 200 hours accumulated in flight- h t two prototypes in the company’s main site in Marignane, n dards of flight experience for passengers and crews testing, and with the achievement of this formal pro - a Next steps of the flight campaign will focus on hot f France, the H160 has demonstrated exceptionally low o weather trials, to take place over the summer, followed * Aeromechanical configuration frozen and flight enve - gramme milestone, we have been able to confirm several y s vibration levels along with remarkable aircraft stability e

t by continued performance testing of the Arrano engines lope fully opened key design assumptions and even exceed some of them r u levels, setting new benchmarks in the field. o against a real-life environment”, said Bernard Fujarski, C – now equipping both prototypes – as well as cold

s “Vibration levels have been a key objective since the h

P weather tests later in the year. A third prototype will join

irbus Helicopters announced the validation of the Senior Vice President in charge of the H160 programme. a

r launch of programme, and observed results give us confi -

g the flight-test programme next year to support the certifi - H160’s aeromechanical configuration – a crucial “With the helicopter’s flight envelope now fully opened, o t dence that the H160 will set new comfort standards for o milestone allowing the programme teams to con - we are confident that our next-generation helicopter will h cation process ahead of the H160’s entry into service. A P all missions segments, from EMS to passenger transport 16 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 17 Yorkshire Air Ambulance Airbus H145

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orkshire Air Ambulance wil have their new The new helicopters will also come with a state-of- Airbus H145 helicopter in operation in the-art Bucher medical fit out, which will provide criti - YSeptember. The new H145 helicopter G-YAAC is cally sick and injured patients the most advanced treat -      expected to commence operations from the Charity’s ment techniques. The YAA crew were very hands on 0/%0/065)"/, /*7&34*5: "35*5*0/*/(!03, -"45&3*/( 36/&- /*7&34*5: 641&/%&%&*-*/(4 "31&/53:0*/&3: flagship base on the Nostell Estate near Wakefield over with choosing their medical fit and equipment, to ensure 5&03(&4041*5"- 3645 -&$53*$"- 3*$,803, the first weekend in September. It will then be joined by not only was it state-of-the-art, but also practical and "30-%!00%041*5"- 3645 a second H145, G-YOAA, which is now expected before easy for the crew to use. /(-*4)&3*5"(& -6.#*/( 00'*/( )0."400, Christmas and will be based at the YAA’s other Airbase A specialist team of Doctors and highly skilled para - *30/%*5*0/*/( &"%803, )&3*57"- /5&3*0395&3*03&$03"5*/( *-*/( at RAF Topcliffe near Thirsk. medics from the YAA’s crew were actively involved in /*7&34*5:0'!&45.*/45&3 -003*/( 3"*/4 The two new state of the art helicopters will replace the selection of the equipment. "3/"3%04 6-)". 1&$*"-*4513":*/( 635"*/4"/%-*/%4 the YAA’s current aging fleet of MD902 Explorers. Clinical Operations Manager Pete Vallance explains: These are expected to be sold to aid the cost of purchas - ““The open cabin allows clinicians to have full access to  ing the new H145’s. the patient inflight and we have future-proofed the spe - &1"35.&/50' 3"%&
/%6453: Mr Sunderland continues “We were delighted to cialised medical equipment that is being fitted. 0/4536$5*0/*/& accept G-YAAC from Airbus Helicopter UK at their “We believe we have now got the best aircraft and the 6*-%0'"45&33"'54.&/ based in Oxford on 1st August. As a Charity we have best equipment available to enable us to provide top- &%&3"5*0/0'"45&36*-%&34"45&3#0/%!"33"/5:$)&.& been working towards this day for so long.” level clinical care across Yorkshire for many years to 6301&"/6*-%&340/'&%&3"5*0/ 3645"3,07&3/.&/5/%034&%5"/%"3%4 The new aircraft – each costing around £6m – offers come.” exceptional flight performance and will have significant - These final few weeks prior to commencing operations   ly lower operational and maintenance costs. The H145 is will see the YAA’s Pilots will complete their final train - 0/%0/"/%8*5)*/5)& night capable, enabling longer flying hours, and is used ing with the Airbus team, before the paramedics start by military, police and air rescue services throughout the their familiarisation training with the helicopter.  world. Operations are expected to begin from the Nostell !&$"/0''&3063$-*&/54$0.1-&5&3&"4463"/$&6/%&35)&"45&30/%!"33"/5:$)&.& --063803,*4(6"3"/5&&%'036150 :&"34 The purchase and fitting out costs have been met Airbase over the first weekend in September, although a through planned savings, grants, careful budgeting and specific day has not yet been confirmed. ':063&26*3&'635)&3*/'03."5*0/1-&"4&'&&-'3&&50$0/5"$564 the amazing generosity of the people of Yorkshire. Yorkshire Air Ambulance still needs to raise £12,000 &,&0(/.&  "7    Captain Andy Lister, YAA’s Director of Flight every single day to keep its helicopters flying. The chari - %%1&22  1/5&".&
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  Operations added “The H145 is a larger aircraft with bet - ty serves 5million people across Yorkshire, attending on -"), ).'/ ".%01/*&$32$/4+!)3& 666".%01/*&$32$/4+ ter endurance and a longer range than we’re used to, average, more than 1,000 incidents a year. The only help which helps us cover Yorkshire’s 5 million acres, but the it receives is the secondment of its paramedics and overall footprint is small enough for reaching patients in Doctors from the Yorkshire Ambulance NHS Trust. tight areas.” 18 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 19 and we were mostly VFR or Visual Flight Rules. Then it was 350 degrees and 25 miles. Funny how such details got dark, very dark once we were passed all the towns stick in your mind even after more than 45 years. and military camps. Tom and I landed at Song Be and unloaded the jack. It One Dark Night in Vietnam It was not that long ago that I had been in flight school was for a C123 that had hit a mortar hole on landing at learning the basics about flying on just the instruments. I the airstrip there that day. We made a speedy take-off and wasn’t that confident then and now I was getting a fast had an uneventful trip back as heading toward Saigon lesson in total darkness and the instruments are the only and Long Binh; you could see them after a few minutes way to keep you from hitting the ground or losing con - flying when you got high enough and no clouds in the Words and pictures by Ralph Arnesen trol. Tom was into his second tour in Vietnam and was way. also getting nervous about our situation. Pretty soon, Like I said, most of the time the midnight courier was whoever was flying the aircraft was getting vertigo and a piece of cake. However, the courier run on New Year’s calling out, “You Have It “. The other pilot would take Eve or Tet could be very exciting. the controls and after a few minutes would shout “You Just imagine, it’s New Years Eve. There are a few Have It “. So it went for at least five minutes or more. It thousand GI’s and anyone else with a semi automatic was hard to keep the aircraft, a UH-1D, at the altitude rifle or pistol with tracer bullets who have been celebrat - and upright. Then the lightning started, we had entered a ing in some of the bars of Saigon, and there were quite a thunderstorm over the jungle with all the rain and turbu - few. At midnight the sky looked like there was an air raid lence we needed to keep us both busy. with all the red flashes crossing the sky and here you Eventually we broke out on the other side. It was nice were trying to avoid the worst of it. We usually turned to see the stars but not much else. Where were we? We off the exterior lights, no use giving them a target. I had no idea where we were or how far we had travelled. don’t think anyone ever got hit but it sure made it inter - We might have been going up and down in one spot for esting. all I knew. We discussed the problem and got on the I guess that stuck with me for years as I had this fear radio to Saigon Radar and asked if they had us on their of flying into a mountain when I first started flying in the screen. Negative. So they asked us to put the transponder North Sea, even though I knew there were none. It took a on the emergency squawk, 7700. They came back and year or more before I became comfortable and began said they had us and the distance and heading to Song Be trusting the instruments.

ometime during the beginning of my tour in Tom H and I were assigned this mission one night and Vietnam, most probably in 1969, I was scheduled it was looking good. We thought we would have the Sfor the Night Courier. Some guys liked this assign - usual flight into H3 the heliport at Saigon Airport and ment as it gave them most of the days off to watch a ball sleep the rest of the night. What happened was that we game on TV, go to the Post Exchange, or just have the were told to take an aircraft jack up to Song Be, a Green days off, most of the time it was a piece of cake. One of Beret camp about 80 miles north east of Saigon. We flew the captains in our company had met a young into H3 and shut down to load the jack. While we were Vietnamese girl and he needed the day time to do the doing this some soldiers asked us if they could have a paperwork to marry and take her to the US. For most of ride but just about ran away when they heard we were the night you were on standby but the main mission was going to Song Be. No way they wanted to go there. to take the correspondence from the US Army The flight started out pretty good. We climbed up to Headquarters at Long Binh to Saigon to be delivered to an altitude that would give us enough terrain clearance as Washington D.C. or other places. This was important the ground rises up a few hundred feet on the way there. stuff. In the Saigon area there are lots of lights on the ground 20 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 21 g M n f m l e s e M M 2 L e j m w i S o u t u u n r r 2 y o

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David Oliver visits 7 Flight Army Air Corps Photographs courtesy 7 Flight, WO2 P Stout PARA and the author

he Army Air Corps’ 7 Flight (Brunei) is a small Brunei Garrison, Seria, the Flight provides day/night known as Training Team Brunei (TTB) is also located at able agreement lasting five years at a time. detached sub unit of the Joint Helicopter MEDEVAC cover, trooping and tasking in support of the British Military Garrison (BGB) at Seria. Since its In addition to 7 Flight, BFB comprises an Infantry TCommand under the tactical command of BFB and other exercising units. independence in 1984, British Forces have been stationed Battalion, which is one of the two Royal Gurkha Rifles Commander British Forces Brunei (BFB). Located in The British Army Jungle Warfare Training School in Brunei at the request of the current Sultan in a renew - battalions. The climate of Brunei is well suited to jungle

24 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 25 Anti-Tank Platoon Royal Gurka Rifles heli-abseiling

7 Flight Bell 212 with underslung load

operations and the TTB run jungle warfare courses for all ronments in the world to soldier in. Due to the remote - members of the British Army, the Royal Marines, and ness of the areas used, the only way for soldiers to train the SAS ranging between four weeks and three months. within the jungle interior is through insertion and extrac - Courses include the Jungle Warfare Instructors Course tion by support helicopters. The jungle is both a danger - (JWIC) and the Jungle Warfare Tracking Instructor ous place to live and operate in and aviation MEDEVAC Course. The aim of the JWIC is to train officers and is the only option, often requiring personnel to be NCOs in the planning, instruction and supervision of jun - winched from within the jungle interior by day, or by gle warfare in order to conduct operations in Close night through the use of Night Vision Goggles (NVG). Country Tropical Environment (CCTE). From mid-2015 The jungle specialist aircrew are permitted to operate to it has been running a new course to train teams that a Minimum Separation Criteria of 10 feet. deploy deep into enemy territory. Personnel are assigned to the Flight for 2 years. The The Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Course majority of aircrew and ground crew are already experi - (LRPC) uses the arduous and demanding conditions of enced in their field having worked on one of the Army the jungle to prepare troops to deploy anywhere in the Air Corps' mainstream aircraft, with the majority of Additionally the Flight also contributes to Bruneian The unit is the Joint Helicopter Command’s permanent world. The troops learn to live off the land, identifying pilots having previously flown the Lynx or the Bell 212 Government efforts fighting the seasonal jungle fires util - jungle aviation unit, which maintains corporate knowl - edible plants and fruits, learning how to track and trap with 25 Flight that supports British Army Training Unit ising bambi buckets. The latter task is part of a wider edge of this specialist operational skill should it be animals, collect water and build a fire, all of which Kenya at Nanyuki. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief capability, required for future contingencies outside. enables them to prepare food to survive on. The tasking of 7 Flight ranges from general trooping used to great effect in Banda Aceh, enabling relief opera - The flight is equipped with three Bell 212 Mark 1 hel - The jungle training areas used by British and foreign and resupply sorties to role specific functions, such as tions following the devastating tsunami in December icopters that are owned and maintained by Cobham troops are seen to be one of the most challenging envi - heli-abseiling, winching and under slung loads.

2004. Aviation Services under a civilian owned, military oper - , 26 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 27 Jungle Warfare Division troops emplaning for infiltration to the Ulu 7 Flt Bell 212 on a hilltop Labi training area. (WO2 P Stout PARA) landing pad in the Ulu Temburong training area. (7 Flt)

Security Public Contracts A confined jungle landing point in the Ulu Regulations (DSPCR) in December Labi training area. (7 Flt) 2015. Potential bidders, in addition to existing service support provider Cobham, were expected to include ated (COMO) contract. The Flight has used these partic - the RBAirF Blackhawk and BO105 helicopters to uplift AAR Airlift, Gama Aviation, ular airframes since 1994. As standard, the aircraft are fuel at the Flight’s operating base and the Flight’s Bell British International Helicopter rolled either for MEDEVAC, incorporating an internal 212 helicopters to uplift fuel from Rimba Airbase in the Services and Finmeccanica hoist, or configured for trooping. The aircraft can lift up capital Bandar Seri Begawan. (Leonardo), were required to sub - to six fully equipped soldiers in addition to the three The Flight’s personnel also meet with members of the mit a bid by 25 February 2016. The Looming damage crew members. detachment at the Brunei Airspace Safety Group, a contract, worth between £20- 50 All scheduled deep maintenance takes place in the unique military/civil quarterly air safety forum, attended million, until the end of September Flight’s EASA Part 145-compliant facility at Medicina by personnel from the RBAirF, the Royal Flight, Shell 2022 will be utilised for 1,200 fly - Lines, Brunei Garrison and is undertaken by the contrac - Aviation, Royal Brunei Airlines, Bruneian Civil Aviation ing hours, over a 320-day period tor. Each aircraft takes approximately three months to Authority and other key aviation stakeholders in Brunei. each year for the full five years of complete the full schedule, which is a mandated military The ageing Bell 212 helicopters of 7 Flight are sched - the contract. A contract award is requirement every six years. uled to be replaced by new aircraft under plans to extend due by the end of 2016 and follow - The flight has a strong relationship with the Royal its outsourcing arrangement called Aviation Support to ing a transition period, the new Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) and is often operating in sim - British Forces Brunei (AS-BFB). The Prior Information contractor will be expected to ilar areas within the Ulu Labi and Ulu Tutong training Notice for this commercial activity was issued on in June deliver full services from October areas. Ground crew personnel from both 7 Flight and the 2015 via Defence Contracts Online and an Invitation to 2017. RBAirF conduct regular training together, which enables Negotiate was issued in accordance with Defence and

28 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 29 more oil and gas, if we want to be able to meet all the panies. demand for our products.” Russian Helicopters CEO, Alexander Mikheev, said: Short Term Pain Long Term Gain However, he agrees that we “are currently facing a “China is one of the oldest and largest partners for challenge, but our industry is used to cycles, and we Russia’s helicopter industry” and he expects new agree - have been in similar situations before: we are used to ments to include: “new and advanced Russian helicopters boom and busts.” to the Chinese market.” On the short term cost side he said, “priority number The Malaysia-based Weststar Aviation Services Sdn one is safety, so there is no compromise possible on Bhd said to be is the largest provider of offshore oil & that,” and that operators should have made provision for gas helicopter transportation services in Southeast Asia the cyclical nature of the industry. currently works with Bristow, as do many smaller play - On the subject of safety in the future Hawkes said: ers. At the moment the Asian O & G market has many “There have been several advances recently in terms of small players but these too will be vying for position in a equipment and procedures and our understanding of the lucrative market. causes of major incidents, but we cannot be complacent. Jakub Hoda, Bell Helicopter Managing Director for IOGP continues to be at the forefront of the Industry’s Europe and Russia remains upbeat about the future. He safety improvement efforts, and our main role is in says that Bell see opportunities for new exploration in understanding and improving the Industry’s Health, the Black Sea, Middle East and Africa. They feel that the Safety, Security and Environmental Performance.” O & G market is still there, but that “the emphasis has In the long term, this is good news for helicopter oper - shifted because of the low price, however the demand in ators and manufacturers. Even so, though, for the current still there and in 2 -3 years it will rise again.” large players there is growing competition from the same By that time, he believes, the 525 should be certified, markets that are creating the demand. China, for exam - so its certification would appear to be at the right time ple, has CHOOC (the Chinese National Offshore Oil and with the best equipment for the time. Corporation) that owns a 10% stake of the North Sea oil CHC were also upbeat having just celebrated their production and is attempting to buy a 19% stake in inaugural flight to the Mariner field, Statoil’s first operat - Roseneft, the Russian oil company. (Industry insiders say ed field development on the UK continental shelf, which that Russia is likely to agree the deal.) CNPC (Chinese is located 250 kms off the north east coast of Scotland. National Petroleum Corporation) also has operations in They see plenty of opportunities for the future, pointing the Middle East, Far East, Africa and Canada. For a long out that exploration is still a buoyant market. time building helicopters was an adjunct to other compa - The conclusion, then, seems to be that oil and gas is Helicopter Life looks at the future of the oil and gas nies China is now building helicopter that are uniquely very much alive as a future fuel source and that although industry and its allied helicopter companies its own. Moreover, since the application of European things are a little challenging at present and in the near sanctions, China has grown closer to Russia and is future, in the long term the market will rebound and involved in joint ventures with Russian helicopter com - more than compensate for the present lean period. n the spring of this year, CHC and the Bristow Group companies around the world are shedding pilots and admitted that they were surprised by the severity of wondering what to do with an excess of machines. the downturn in the oil and gas market, and Airbus With such bleak forecasts, helicopters going into stor - I CHC and Statoil’s inaugural flight Helicopters reportedly said they were not expecting the age and pilots being retrained or given early retirement, to the mariner field, 250 km off the market to return to its peak until 2020. what is the future for the helicopter companies involved north-east coast of Scotland Over the last few years there have been major changes in the oil and gas industry? in the way helicopters are used in the oil and gas indus - The answer is surprisingly upbeat, in the long-term. try. This is partly the result of helicopter accidents and Population forecasts estimate that by 2050 the world mostly the result of a downturn in the oil market. population will be 9 billion, and the majority of these s r

However, this change has come quickly. In 2013, will be young and in developing nations. As the quality e t P demand for new helicopters was so high there was a year of life increases in these nations, so the demand for ener - o C i l long waiting list, and a new breed of leasing companies gy will rise, and, assuming no credible alternative to oil e h w

were created. The General Electric Company paid $1.8 and gas is found, there will be growth in this market and o

t C s i h billion for Milestone Aviation Group, the largest helicop - in the helicopter ‘work-horse’ market that supplies the oil r b C f f o ter-leasing company. Lockheed Martin bought Sikorsky, and gas fields. o y y s s e partly for its military expertise, but also for its commer - The IOGP (International Association of Oil and Gas e t t r r u u o cial sales. Manufacturers were vying to produce helicop - Producers) forecasts that by 2040 the world will need o C C h h P ters that flew faster and further. At the time the oil price 25% more oil (about 17.9 billion tones) as well as other P a a r r CHC’s Sikorsky S92 g was about $100 a barrel. Contrast that with the current alternative methods of fuel. Chris Hawkes, IOGP Safety g o o t t flew from Aberdeen o o h price of around $40 a barrel and it explains why O & G Director, says: “We actually need to explore and produce h P P 30 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 31 What Brexit could mean for Helicopter Flying in the UK Autumn 2016

Georgina Hunter-Jones Photographs by Alan norris, Georgina Hunter-Jones, looks at the possible implications of the uK decision and Hilaire Dubourcq, and neil Harrison to leave the European union

32 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 33 hat will ‘Brexit’ (the British vote to leave the withdraw from the EU.” Leonardo, formerly known as Finmeccanica, European Union) mean for aviation in Europe Clearly, in the years in which British aviation has parent company of Agusta Westland will have Wand the UK, and in particular for that much become so integrated into the European Union model the to deal with the effects of Brexit smaller industry: commercial helicopters? UK has played a large and important role, and one that Immediately after the news that the UK had decided to we do not want to lose. However, while airline compa - pull out of the European Union there was a statement nies, such as British Airways, have a lot of political from Airbus: clout, and can talk to and influence government thinking, “Brexit will prove bad news for the aviation and aero - smaller operators are dependent on their commercial space industries as their activity is closely associated to bodies and associations for political representation. the dynamism of Europe. Not only will airlines suffer, Tim Fauchon, Chief Executive of the BHA says: but also Airbus and the very large number of suppliers, “We are paying strict attention and lobbying govern - which have for years orchestrated their development, ments to ensure they do not forget the small operator and based on British cooperation.” especially the helicopter industry.” A few days later Lord Glenarthur, President of the It seems that there are four areas in which the UK hel - BHA, called on the Government to do all in its power to icopter industry may be challenged by the Brexit vote. ensure the voice of the UK’s aviation expertise is not Firstly, commercial nationalism, the desire of companies wasted, as the country withdraws from the EU. to keep work in their own sphere of influence, and the “A reduction in our influence on aviation regulation costs incurred, secondly, regulation, both between coun - will be massively detrimental. Our expertise will be tries and within countries, thirdly, freedom of labour missed and its loss much regretted by those EU countries movement and, finally, with new (known as fourth gen - with whom we have worked so closely and for so long.” eration) technology. He urged the government to “do all in its power to For Europe, one the most challenging aspect of the ensure that the influential and powerful voice of the current politics is the rise of Nationalism (of which the UK’s aviation expertise and the experience of our own UK ‘Brexit’ vote is only one example) that could lead to Civil Aviation Authority – and those who work with a fractionalized Europe. While it is not certain that other them – are not wasted or become less influential as we countries will vote to leave Europe, there are national

elections in France and Germany in 2017. There is also For example, ‘landing sites:’ Here the regulation varies the EU’s fraught relations with Greece, which has led to from country to country being ‘over-severe’ in many calls for a Grexit, and divisions in Italy and other coun - European countries for historic rather than safety rea - tries. So, the possible break-up of the EU and its conse - sons. Simon Mitchell, from the commercial operator quences are something that helicopter operators need to Starspeed explains: be considering in advance of the year 2017. “In the UK we are in a good position regarding land - Even without a European break, one potential effect of ing off-airfield, we can land virtually anywhere with Brexit for helicopter operators, is a possible return to the owner’s permission provided the appropriate safety challenge of restrictions on free movement of helicopter issues are complied with. This, however, is different in companies across borders. Much of the work of UK heli - many countries in Europe, where it is necessary to send copter companies is transporting people from outside in ‘paperwork’ requesting a required site, sometimes Europe to countries within the EU, if this was hampered months in advance. This, given that clients will often by border crossings, customs and currency differences it make last minute decisions to fly somewhere on busi - would be more time consuming and expensive. ness, means that it is very rare to be able to land off-air - Furthermore, differing financial regimes may lead to field in some countries, such as, for example, Italy.” the need to pay VAT, even where previously this was un- The downside of landing on airfields rather than off- necessary within the EU. The extra regulation needed to airfield is the potential distance from the destination, put all these barriers in place will lead to higher costs which then involves a further taxi ride. The subsequent and could eventually get to a stage where the business of extra costs often mean it would be more economic for running a commercial helicopter company in the UK the customer to take an aeroplane rather than a helicop - becomes uneconomic. ter. The EU already has some differences in regulation If the UK no longer has a voice in the aviation regula - Some EU countries require written permission in between participating countries, which have caused chal - tion in the EU it is unlikely that the above differences in advance for a helicopter to land ‘off piste’ lenges for operators, and in some cases this has led to regulation will be highlighted and ameliorated. This is a helicopters being unable to perform their full functions. potential disadvantage for all helicopter operators across

34 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 35 A privately owned Sikorsky S-92 managed and run by the UK based company Starspeed

the EU, as well as in the UK. Another Brexit challenge is finding staff and in partic - Ironically, Brexit voters who were also pilots might ular pilots. In the past, UK commercial companies, the have been hoping for a return to the CAA of the 1970s, police and the air ambulance used to recruit ex-military but this cannot happen. The current CAA is now a small, pilots, who had a good varied breadth of experience with regulatory body and not capable of creating new legisla - many years of flying different types of machine in diffi - tion. In the past there were independent ‘Air Service cult and challenging circumstances. Over recent years Agreements’ between countries and in theory it might be this trend has been declining with the reduction of gov - possible to return to this sort of picture. However, in ernment spending on military assets. Consequently, many practice this would be too difficult and costly to manage. British pilots currently employed in the UK are of an Instead, options open to the UK are either to join a ‘tri - older age group, with a wide variety of experience but angle’ of Northern Atlantic operators with Greenland, close to retirement age. Younger pilots tend to be Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands or to stay affiliat - European, as there is higher government spending in ed with EASA, or (least likely) to try and make some Europe, in particular in Eastern Europe, than in the UK. kind of special union with the FAA. If, instead of being able to easily employ foreign nation - Given its recent past history, and their many shared als companies had to apply for work visas there would regulations, it is more likely that the UK aviation indus - be added delays and expense for the company. try will stay within EASA but have no vote on its issues. While the experience level of pilots in the UK is cur - They will become in effect a passenger in the system, rently an advantage, in the future the UK may find itself able only to be ruled by EASA but no longer with a say penalized as the older pilots retire and companies can no on the way things are managed. longer easily employ younger European pilots as a result An added disadvantage to this, as one small helicopter of the loss of freedom of movement. The government operator pointed out, it will now be possible for could overcome this problem by increasing the size of European competitors to place obstacles in the way of their military aviation divisions, but given recent cuts in UK helicopter companies working in the area of the EU, The Services it seems unlikely. something they tried to do before it became legal to ‘play The latest developments in manufacturing and the cre - Be aware of the potential drawbacks the competition game’. ation of ‘4th Generation technology’ in helicopters is of BRExIT and make plans

36 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 changing the industry and reducing the cost of mainte - conference showed that the UK still has a long way to go nance and training. The new technology, while possibly a to interest the USA, and has many reservations about POP sees potential new air cargo challenge for pilots and aircrew to get used to in the China and Russia. Here, as the Chinese say: “the future short-term, is of considerable overall benefit in the long will be interesting.” opportunities following Brexit run as it is easier to fly and cheaper to maintain. The hel - Most of the fallout of from the Brexit vote will be on icopter market generally is optimistic about fourth gener - the commercial operators but what of the private owner, ation technology, and operators are poised to benefit the student doing his IR training in France and the day- from decreased costs, higher speeds and increased pas - tripper to Calais and Le Touquet? Already the fall in the senger comfort. pound has affected them, but can you envisage a time However, as the majority of the helicopters used by when UK citizens need a visa to visa Europe? Could get - the UK market are manufactured outside the country this ting a visa to, say, France, be as costly and difficult as it new technology may come to UK operators at an currently is to get one to Russia? With luck and good increased price. The pound is currently low against the relations this should not happen, but it could! Euro and the UK may now have to pay VAT on machines So, there are future benefits for the UK and Europe to and parts, which would reduce the financial gain of the look forward to in terms of new technology, but how the fourth generation technology, perhaps to an uneconomic ability to use it and the possible restriction on the free - level. dom of movement of pilots across the EU is worked out In their Brexit statement Airbus said: “For Britain, in the coming years will make a huge difference to the there will obviously be growth opportunities in other profitability of the helicopter industry in the UK. This markets, but they are further away and are more uncer - may be too pessimistic an outlook but helicopter opera - tain.” tors and pilots certainly need to be aware of the potential There have been some moves with India and other drawbacks of Brexit and make appropriate plans. countries to introduce new markets, but the current G20

It was a swell party but will it continue to be good for the UK? urrently working towards its launch, POP plans to Launching its operations against this trade-friendly be the first airline to operate non-stop flights background, POP will be providing previously unavail - Cbetween the UK and both Amritsar and able opportunities to manufacturers and producers in Ahmedabad in India’s Punjab and Gujarat states. With northern India who will now be able to take advantage of the long historical links between the two countries, the direct 8 hour flights to the UK to export a range of goods POP team see the UK’s decision to leave the European and produce - fruit and vegetables (including papayas Union as creating potential new opportunities for its and mangoes), sugar cane, tea from the northern planta - planned air cargo operations. tions and chicken - as well as manufactured goods, In addition to meeting the needs of a currently under- including textiles and traditional Indian clothing. served ‘visiting friends and relatives’ (VFR) market and Looking to the future, Ahmedabad, known mostly for the expanding tourism and business sectors, POP aims to its manufacturing of denim fabric and its export of jew - open up new trading links not only between the UK and ellery and gemstones, also produces chemicals, cars and northern India, in both directions, but also with the wider pharmaceuticals and has recently established itself as a world through agreements with other air cargo operators. biotech hub, with more than 50 biotechnology companies At a time when India is engaged in a "Make in India" and approximately 66 biotech support organisations. campaign launched by prime minister Narendra Modi to POP’s air cargo services will also help manufacturers boost indigenous manufacturing, the country is also mak - in other countries wanting to export to India. The air - ing significant progress towards improving its trading line’s direct flights to Punjab and Gujarat will enable environment and logistics infrastructure. India recently them to meet, at a significantly lower cost, the growing P o

P called for “a robust supra-national supply chain” and demand for products such as electronic devices from an f o

y announced a list of proposed air cargo reforms, including expanding middle class in all parts of India, including the t s

e 24 hour customs processing with paperless systems, the north of the country. r u o

C promotion of free trade and warehousing zones and the To further facilitate trade between India and the rest of s h

P implementation of air freight stations as well as incen - the world, including online business, POP will also be a r

g tives for the logistics industry eg the granting of ‘infra - negotiating wholesale deals with selected international o t o

h structure status’ for companies co-located at airports. courier companies. P 38 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 39 Yeovilton Air Show

Photographs by Clive Bennett

40 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 41 Above: staging the Junglie Assault Below: the Apache

In 1986 a specially modified Lynx set the current Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's official airspeed record for helicopters at 400.87 km/h very year Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton King was not in attendance following its retirement in (HMS HERON) holds its International Air Day, March and replacement by the Merlin, which was present Ewhich sees visitors, both of the human and aircraft in quite large numbers during the day. varieties, come from far and wide to enjoy this Somerset A wide variety of rotary winged assets were seen spectacular! throughout the day’s activities, from the privately owned This year’s event celebrated another pending aircraft Gazelle Squadron who turned up with three aircraft (2 in retirement, the Lynx Mk 8 which is due to be stood down the flying display and 1 static) to the ex Royal Navy from service during March 2017, so it was making its Wasp. The Army Air Corp contributed with their Apache last appearance at an Air Day. Examples were able to be display (with added ground pyrotechnics) and the excel - seen both in the static park and in the skies above the lent staged Junglie Assault which utilised all the based Airfield, where it was shown off alongside its replace - assets of the Royal Navy from RNAS Yeovilton and, as ment the new Wildcat helicopter. always the highlight and the closing act for this truly This year’s event was also the first where the Sea magnificent Airshow.

42 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 43 elitehelicopters.co.uk

The Lynx has the distinction of being the world's first fully aerobatic helicopter with the ability to perform loops and rolls

The Wasp, once a Navy stalwart

Gazelle head to head display

Base assets from RNAS Yeovilton Helicopter Training • PPL(H) / CPL(H) / FI(H) • Type Ratings / Advanced Training • Self Fly Hire • R22 / Guimbal Cabri G2 / R44 • B206 / B206L / AS350 Squirrel Goodwood Aerodrome Fairoaks Airfield 01243 530165 01276 488048

HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 [email protected] [email protected] 44 HeliTech International Amsterdam 2016 Words and pictures by HeliTech Team

New content for 2016 about future trends in emergency medicine and the New to this year’s event will be the Operators Forum, impact they will have on air ambulances and mission alling oil prices and a volatile global economy are The UAV market in the last five years has grown where operators from across the globe can network with equipment. both factors that have contributed to a feeling of exponentially and is expected to be worth $14.9bn in like-minded individuals and discuss the evolving rotor - Gillian Jenner, Editorial Director of Conferences and Funcertainty in the rotorcraft industry. Despite this, 2020 . However, in order for the market to thrive com - craft industry and ways of improving missions. Held Seminars at Helitech International, commented: “Pre- strong demand from North America and emerging mercially, challenges like regulatory policy and air traffic over a working lunch on Tuesday 11 October, attendees hospital emergency medical services are evolving and economies like China and India are fuelling growth, and management must be overcome. will be able to set the agenda by submitting topic prefer - this will inevitably lead to changes in the way helicopter the overall civil rotary fleet is projected to increase by Helitech International – run in association with the ences in advance of the event. air ambulances, across the globe, operate. The types of 1.9 percent over the next decade . European Helicopter Association (EHA) - is Europe’s Another new feature at this year’s show will be the medicine that need to be carried and the care that needs Forecasts for the European helicopter maintenance, leading business event for the rotorcraft industry, return - Technical Workshops that will offer interactive briefings to be given will be on the agenda at the event and our repair and overhaul (MRO) market are also looking posi - ing to Amsterdam from 11-13 October 2016 with a new on different types of technology, fit outs and missions. speakers will be helping the rotorcraft industry respond tive, with predicted growth of 2.5 percent over the next seminar and workshops programme that will present Delivered by leading businesses, including OEMs who to the changing landscape.” decade, third only to the Latin American and Chinese manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and engineers with a will be exhibiting at Helitech International, such as On Tuesday 11 October, the European Helicopter markets . unique opportunity to source the latest equipment, while Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Bell Helicopter, the Association (EHA) will once again run its EHA It’s not just demand for new helicopters that’s shaping learning about the trends shaping the future of the sector. sessions will enable operators to garner actionable Rotorcraft Seminars. A series of informative sessions that the landscape of the rotorcraft industry. Recent techno - Industry leaders, as well as smaller start-up businesses, insights before making purchasing decisions. focus on rule making and legislation in the rotorcraft logical developments, including high-speed, multi-rotor will be showcasing the latest helicopters, parts, services industry. As part of the programme, the European and even electric powered motors are becoming a more and accessories, while the Insight Seminars, Business Presenting the latest insights Aviation Safety Agency will update attendees on the realistic possibility for the future. Leaders Forum, Technical Workshops, Operators Forum, A final new addition to the event will be the Insight organisation’s progress and its achievements to-date. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are quickly becom - Safety Workshop and EHA Rotorcraft Seminars will pro - Seminars, where helicopter emergency medical services During the afternoon session, the EHA will host an ing integrated with businesses looking to utilise the tech - vide advanced technical information, updates on emerg - (HEMS), search and rescue operations (SAR), and interactive session designed to tackle some of the heli - nology to provide a range of activities not before possi - ing trends and information on the latest safety regula - unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be in the spotlight. copter operators’ main concerns. Age 60, refuelling, aeri - ble, like oil rig inspections or express goods deliveries. tions. On the first day, HEMS operators will be able to hear al work, oxygen requirement and pilot licences will all 46 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 47 be covered and attendees will be able to raise questions New Zealand-based company Flightcell will be show - and provide feedback on each topic. casing its latest Push-To-Talk (PTT) solution at Helitech To help the rotorcraft community plan for the future, International 2016. PTT provides all-in-one aviation Finmeccanica, through its AgustaWestland holding Helitech International’s Business Leaders Forum will communication systems, providing satellite and 3G/4G at Yeovil will in association with the RNoAF con - provide a platform to discuss the most pertinent business cellular communications with GPS tracking. tinue the next key phase of military type certifica - and strategy issues facing their operations. With over 40 years’ experience in the electronics man - tion to support delivery of the first aircraft. Throughout the morning session on Wednesday 12 ufacturing services sector, Butcher Leachtubs will also be Norwegian personnel will commence training by October, business leaders will be joined by experts from at the show this year. It will showcase its newly July 2016 at the same point as mission sensor inte - across the rotorcraft supply chain. Those in attendance redesigned emergency medical systems for Airbus’ H135 gration on aircraft 2 commences. Training will be will be able to hear speakers highlight key market and H145 helicopters. undertaken at both the company’s Yeovil facility insights and opinions on issues set to impact the indus - Additionally, Avalex Technologies will demonstrate its and in all probability at its out-based flying base at try’s future. latest HD surveillance technology. The AVC1816 smart Newquay. Aircraft 1, build number 500262 aka The final day will see the return of the Safety video switch routes HD and SD video and analog audio ZZ100, will be delivered to Norway on July 4, Workshop to highlight the vital importance of safety in throughout the aircraft, providing users with a range of 2018 between deliveries of aircraft 5 and 6. This rotary wing operations. Hosted by the European customisation for on-board audio visual expansion follows the end of principle test flying on the basic Helicopter Safety Team (EHEST) and the International options. avionics package and initial aircrew training. Helicopter Safety Team (IHST), this year’s sessions will John Hyde, Event Director of Helitech International, discuss the changing landscape of safety awareness as commented: “We are very excited to introduce a range of new and evolving threats emerge onshore and offshore. new content to the show this year. Helitech International is all about bringing together the rotorcraft industry, Showcasing innovations allowing operators, key decision makers, exhibitors and Airbus Helicopters, Bell Helicopter Textron, likeminded individuals the chance to network and make Bell 429 flying in to the show. Leonardo, Waypoint Leasing, Marenco Swisshelicopter, new connections. If you can invest one day this year Right: RAI in Amsterdam Dart Aerospace, and AEROLITE, are just some of the going to an event, make it Helitech International 2016; names that have confirmed support for Helitech the ideal platform to make new business contacts, and International 2016. They will be joined by 200 business - drive your business forward. es from across the globe. Visitors will benefit from being mobile phone signal detector and a bespoke cabin lay - able to test equipment and ask questions about solutions out which includes traversing crew seats and medical before making purchasing decisions. installation and stretchers. Curtiss-Wright has confirmed it will be at Helitech Equipped with two rescue hoists with easy access to International to demonstrate its new Fortress HUMS ED- the large cabin area that is further enhanced with rear 112A compliant cockpit voice and flight data recorder. ramp and port airstair access is great improvement over The solution can be quickly and easily retrofitted onto a the current Westland Sea King mounts that have been in helicopter and significantly reduces the time and cost of g locations with the principal HUB being at 330 Skv’s aircraft installation, and is an extremely low weight sys - main operating base at Stavanger-Sola. tem. In the meantime the company, Leonardo-

Be Enstrom TH-180

48 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 49 tricity available. The simulator allows the pilots to train Mi-17MTV-5 for any weather condition and has real-life high defini - Eurocopter Kazakhstan Engineering also signed KADEX Can tion terrain images and a motion system. Two more heli - Memoranda of intensions with KazMedAir for the deliv - copter specialized simulator systems from other manu - ery of 18 EC130 helicopters and with representatives of facturers where displayed as well during the exhibition. the Akimat of East Kazakhstan Region for the delivery Russian Helicopters announced that several memoran - of seven EC125 helicopters. The company also signed dums of understanding were signed by the Committee for the maintenance of the EC145 fleet of the for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Kazaviaspas. Affairs and with other government structures of the Airbus Group was present with a large booth inside Republic of Kazakhstan during KADEX 2016. one of the pavilions and had a H125 Ecureuil on static According to the documents, Kazakhstan’s authorities are display on the tarmac. Sikorsky was also present, but interested in helicopters for delivery between 2016 and with a small booth promoting the Sikorsky S-70i Black 2020. About two hundred Russian built helicopters are hawk, and did not participate with one of their helicop - currently registered in Kazakhstan. The new helicopters ters. Leonardo-Finmeccanica presented their product might include the Ka-226Ts, Mi-171A2s and Ansats. range and the company participated on static display Russian Helicopters daily displayed a few helicopters with a Russian registered AW119 MkII. with a flying display. A Mi-24 was one of the flying par - Motor Sich JSC, a Ukrainian firm, presented engines ticipants showcasing the Mi-35M as an export variant of at their booth and flew daily with an upgraded Mi- the well known transport/attack helicopter with NATO 8MSB. After their display the Mi-8 helicopter climbed to reporting name HIND. An unknown number of Mi-35M an altitude of 7000 meters, creating contrails high in the helicopters were purchased by the Kazakhstan Armed sky, a sight not often seen with a helicopter! Forces at KADEX. Bird Aerosystems, together with KAI (a subsidiary of Kazan Helicopters was present with a factory owned Kazakhstan Engineering), displayed their AISO Special

Ansat K909

Arjan Dijksterhuis reports on the fourth Karzakhstan Defence Expo

he fourth year of the Kazakhstan Defence Expo Since 2011, about twenty-six EC145, two H130 and one took place from the 2nd of June until the 5th of H125 were built at the Eurocopter Kazakhstan TJune on the military part of the airport of Astana, Engineering plant at the airport of Astana. at the air base of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The expo and is an international exhibition KADEx of weapons systems and military equipment. The Defence Expo was housed at the military part of the airport of Astana. With Kazakhstan in their backyard, Kazakhstan Rosoboronexport (Russian Defence Export) was well Kazakhstan became independent from the Soviet represented at this year’s show with their own pavilion. s i

Union in 1991 and is surrounded by Russia, China, The importance for the Russian Federation was also u h r e

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Nowadays, shown by the fact that president Putin visited KADEX. t s k J the city of Astana has a beautiful skyline with incredible The display area was separated into two parts, one for i d n buildings. But twenty years ago it was ‘just’ a city, called the ground/sea forces with many trucks and tanks and a J r

Akmola. Astana is the new capital since 1997 when other equipment and an aviation part for the aircraft and a f o

Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev moved the helicopters. However, one exception was made for a y s e t capitol from Almaty to Astana. The Russian influence truck that was parked between the helicopters. Russian r u o from the past is reflected by the type of aircraft and heli - Helicopters showcased their mobile training simulator of C s h copters that are flying in Kazakhstan, both military and the Mi-8MTV1 helicopter. This system was introduced at P a r g

civil. But not widely known is the fact that European MAKS 2015. The upgraded simulator has its own elec - o t o designed helicopters are manufactured in Kazakhstan. tric power plant and can be used when there is no elec - h P HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 50 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 51 mil mi-26T-UP-m1602 mil mi-171 05

Mi-26T heavy transport helicopters. The two helicopters modified airframes that had not been in service for twen - Mission System mounted on an EC145 from the agement system, the MSIS (Multi Sensor Integration were previously in storage for 20 years and received ty years. Nowadays the helicopters are used for a variety Kazakhstan Armed Forces. AISO stands for Airborne System) was placed in the cabin of the EC145. their overhaul and modifications at Novosibirsk Aircraft of missions, including evacuations. A mix of Mi-171, Surveillance, Intelligence and Observation and the sys - The largest helicopter currently in the world, the Mi- Repair Plant, Russian Federation. The helicopters arrived Mi-171E, Mi-17V5, Kamov-32A11BC and EC145s tem can be used for a wide variety of missions; from 26 was on static display as well. In October 2013 the there in May 2012 after a more then 2.000 Kilometres could be seen on the ground or in the air during the oil/gas pipeline surveillance, Search and Rescue opera - Kazaviaspas, the air rescue division of the Kazakhstan journey in the external sling of an Mi-26T and it was event. tions and homeland protection missions. A mission man - Emergencies Ministry, received the first of two modified actually the first time that the plant had repaired and

mil mi-8mSB mil mi-24 341 white

52 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 53 World news Leonardo Helicopters Bell 429 for Turkish Police

eonardo-Finmeccanica announced that the first flying AW609 prototype has arrived in LPhiladelphia following a recent resumption of flight testing. Departing from Arlington, Texas, the aircraft’s flight ell Helicopter announced that the Bell 429 fleets 429s to the New York Police Department, and the first of plan included an overnight stop in Huntsville, Ala, of the Turkish National Police and Turkish two Bell 429s to the Slovakian Police. The multi-mission before arriving in Philadelphia on Wednesday, 10th BGeneral Directorate of Forestry have reached a Bell 429 delivers exceptional speed, range, hover per - August 2016. 95% operational Availability Rate and that the aircraft is formance and enhanced safety margins. With industrialization underway, Leonardo- continuing to prevent fires and preserve Turkish Forests. “The aviation department of the Directorate General of Finmeccanica has expanded the AW609 TiltRotor pro - “I am proud that the Turkish National Police have Forestry has been truly amazing. Even though the 429 is gram to include the company’s Philadelphia facility. achieved such excellence. They are superior aviators, and a superior helicopter, the performance and professional - The involvement of the Philadelphia site in the AW609 the Bell 429 is a fantastic helicopter, “said Clay Bridges, ism of the Forestry pilots and technicians make it easy to program represents the anticipated progression towards Bell Helicopter, Regional Manager, Turkey. “In operating achieve results like this,” said Bridges. “We, at Bell assembly and certification with the FAA as the certifica - these 15 Bell 429s while performing such difficult police Helicopter, are honored to be able to support the tion authority. Facilities in the Italy, UK and Poland missions, they have saved lives and helped make Turkey Directorate General of Forestry to preserve the resources P i continue to play C t u P safer in challenging times.” of Turkey.” r critical production roles. e i C s t u Turkey has been a very successful market with Bell The state-of-the-art technology in the Bell 429 C While this flying prototype will soon be relocated to r o e u s garnering over 50% of the total market for the last five includes a fully integrated glass cockpit, advanced drive r Italy, flight testing activities in Philadelphia will contin - t C e o s u years. There are 26 Bell 429s in the country used in system, best-in-class WAAS navigation and IFR capabili - y ue upon the arrival of an AW609 recently assembled r o t e f s

parapublic, EMS, and corporate missions in the skies ty. The Bell 429 has more cabin space than any other l and ground tested in Italy. Another AW609 is being y e o o f over Turkey every day. light twin helicopter, with flat flooring and seating for n assembled in Philadelphia with plans to enter the test a b r e d l

The Bell 429 is not just successful in Turkey; it con - seven passengers and one flight crew. When time is of o fleet in 2017. l h h e tinues to gain customers for supporting public missions the essence, the Bell 429’s 60-inch wide side doors and e Certification of the first commercial tiltrotor is l l i i C C o around the world. Bell Helicopter has recently delivered optional rear clam-shell doors provide quick and easy o expected in 2018, with deliveries to customers to fol - P P t t e e r seven Bell 429s to the Swedish National Police, four Bell access. r low. s s

54 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 55 HeliExpo with Aero Expo at Sywell 2016

The Bell 427 on the Bell booth

Uber now has a GA section

eliExpo 2016 had some good weather and some A variety of helicopters showers, as forecast. However, disappointingly flew to the show Hthe helicopter races were cancelled because the organisers needed more space for parking aircraft. For this reason few helicopters came to the show. However, there were lots of HeliExpo stalwarts there including Gary Slater from Heli Charter, Bell Helicopter distributors based at Manston, who had brought a Bell 427 and a Bell 505. The 505, unfortunately, sat without its rotorhead after a misunderstanding about the equipement needed to place this extremely heavy object! HeliQ, was there with a balloon guessing competition, HeliAir, with a chance to buy the R44 in installments, and Sloane Helicopters with their range of machines. There was also Hayward Aviation sporting a bus for the insur - ance industry and Airbox (now available on Android) and Sky Demon in the GPS sector, and many, many others. Uber had a large stand to publicize their new GA sec - tion. This allows private pilots to offer seats to members of the public for cost sharing on a flight. As usual the most numerous helicopter was the Robinson, but the growing number of Cabri G2s on dis - play and in the parking area shows how much of a hold Buy your helicopter this little French helicopter has taken on the UK market. in installments

HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 56 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 57 B ookS For A uTumn CAA Legislation Changes Haynes celebrates 40 years of the concerning helicopters and gyroplanes ORS4 No.1183: The Carriage of Emergency Locator examiner. Westland Lynx Transmitters in Aircraft Flying for Purposes other The change follows a public consultation, in which 96 than Public Transport or Commercial Air Transport percent of those responding agreed with the proposal. Haynes teams up with the Royal navy to release The Carriage of Emergency Locator Transmitters in Once the change takes place later this year the medical a new manual to mark the forthcoming cessation of Aircraft Flying for Purposes other than Public Transport requirement for UK private pilot licence and national pri - maritime Lynx operations in 2017 or Commercial Air Transport. Exemption to allow UK- vate pilot licence holders will be to meet the same stan - registered aircraft not flying for the purpose of Public dard as that required to hold a DVLA Group 1 Ordinary Transport or Commercial Air Transport to fly without Driving Licence (ODL). Existing medical options (for WWESTLANDESSTTLAND er-narcotic, counter-piracy and humanitarian assis - emergency locator transmitters example a UK declaration with GP counter signature) will tance roles in recent years. Its many operations keep remain available. The same options will also be available international sea lanes safe and protect British assets IN-2016/073: Small Unmanned Aircraft - Air for private balloon pilots. LYNXLLYYNX all around the world. Navigation Order 2016 To take advantage of the change, pilots will need to com - plete a form on the CAA website to declare that they meet 11976976 to prpresentesent (HAS Mk.2, Mk.3 and HMA Mk.8 models) Author and helicopter engineer Lee Howard, who The purpose of this Information Notice IN) is to notify has worked on and in support of the Lynx for many all persons who may be associated with the operation of the DVLA medical standard. Pilots under 70 will need to

do this once while pilots over 70 must confirm their dec - small unmanned aircraft of the new Order and to provide years, offers some fascinating insights into the

Owners’OwnerOwners’ WWorkshoporkshop Manual

laration every three years. guidance on the effects of the changes. From a small design, construction and operation of the Royal

The changes are subject to the enactment of the proposed unmanned aircraft perspective, the changes to the order Navy’s Lynx HAS Mk.2, Mk.3 and HMA Mk.8 heli -

copters. Thanks to the enthusiastic cooperation of the primarily consist of a renumbering of the articles and a Air Navigation Order 2016 (ANO) which is planned to Royal Navy in the preparation of this book, Lee has change of the layout of the document, and there are no come into effect in late summer 2016. The proposed ANO

been able to provide readers with a unique close-up significant amendments to the actual regulations. legislation will contain these change s and other signifi - look at how the Lynx works. He also describes in However, those that have a need to make reference to the cant amendments for GA.

Order or the relevant articles should take careful note of https://www.caa.co.uk/News/Changes-to-private-pilot- detail what the helicopter has achieved in its long

the changes. medical-requirements-announced/ service life with the Royal Navy, highlighting why it

has earned a well-deserved place in military aviation

IN-2016/082: The Future of the Instrument ORS4 No.1184: International Aviation Composites history.

meteorological Conditions Rating (ImC Rating) as the Helicopter Blade Repairs Lee has taken many of the photographs that appear

in his book, the majority of which appear in print for This exemption will enable helicopter rotor blades that Instrument Rating (Restricted) (IR(R)) the first time. In January 2016 he spent a short spell have been repaired by IAC, and where the repair data is The purpose of this Information Notice is to provide guid - at sea on the Type 23 Frigate HMS Monmouth in not EASA approved, to remain fitted to the aircraft while ance on the privileges of and requirements to instruct for order to experience small-ship Lynx operations at the repair data is reviewed and approved by EASA. the Instrument Rating (Restricted) (IR(R)).

first-hand. An insight into the design, construction, operation and Lee, who also wrote the Haynes Westland Sea Official Record Series 5: CAA Charge Waivers and Thailand appoints UK CAA maintenancemaintenance of the Royal Navy’sNavy’s multi-rolemulti-roolele ship-borneship-borne helicopter Refunds Policy 2016 The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has King HU Mk.5 Manual, commented: “The Westland Lynx can rightfully stake its claim as the last mass- The CAA is funded by charges levied on the organisa - appointed CAA International (CAAi), the advisory arm of ersatile’ and ‘capable’ are two well-deserved acco - produced military helicopter of all-British original tions and individuals it regulates. The charges applied the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), to help lades that sum up the Westland Lynx helicopter, basic design. Even today, many countries’ frigates are those set out in the Schemes of Charges (“the strengthen CAAT’s aviation safety oversight and compli - Vwhich celebrates 40 years of service this year with and destroyers are equipped with variants of the ubiq - Schemes”): List of Official Record Series 5 - Scheme of ance with the ICAO. the Royal Navy. uitous Westland Lynx, which is testament to the suc - Charges. Where a Scheme of Charges covers an activity, The CAAi project will involve a team of around ten Based on a design that originated in the early 1960s, the cess and agility of this formidable military aircraft. it is the sole basis on which the CAA may charge for that experts from the UK CAA to work collaboratively Lynx is a small ship-borne helicopter that has seen plenty Indeed, many of the components and systems are activity. The CAA will grant a waiver of charges or a with CAAT to recertify Thai registered AOCs, to address of action in the world’s trouble spots including the common to the variants operated by the types’ other refund of charges only in exceptional cases. the Significant Safety Concern (SSC) raised by ICAO in Falklands War of 1982, the Gulf War of 1991, and most operating British military air arm: the Army Air 2015. CAAi will also conduct on-the-job flight operations recently on counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. Corps. Changes to the CAA medical for Private Pilots training to CAAT Inspectors, to help increase their core As a tribute to the ubiquitous Lynx, Haynes is publishing The UK CAA announced in May that medical require - inspectorate competencies in accordance with internation - the Westland Lynx Owners’ Workshop Manual this month “In 2017, the HMA Mk.8 variant will become the ments for some private pilots are to change in line with al standards. The final work stream includes full-scale with the full support of the Royal Navy. last of the Rolls-Royce Gem-powered Lynx in British our top level principles for GA regulation. These ICVM preparation assistance. This activity will cover all Centrepiece of the Haynes Westland Lynx Owners’ military service, bringing to an end an illustrious 41 changes do not apply to pilots with commercial licences of ICAO’s critical elements as a safety oversight system Workshop Manual is the Rolls-Royce Gem-powered Lynx years of operations with the Royal Navy.” or those displaying at airshows who will still need to be ahead of Thailand’s impending ICVM safety audit HMA Mk.8, which has achieved notable success in count - approved as fit to fly by a specialist aviation medical by ICAO.

58 HELICOPTER LIFE Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE ,Autumn 2016 59 

  




   
  


  

      

    
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  -"), ).'/ ".%01/*&$32$/4+!)3& 666".%01/*&$32$/4+ World news Cabri G2 update Gyrocopter update

uimbal is currnetly building its 175th Cabri at its imported its third Cabri G2. base in Aix-en-Provence aerodrome in France, an G Midwest Helicopters’ chief pilot, Chris Bailey, said, Gincrease of 75 units in 18 months. The General “The G2 trumps all other piston helicopters with its Aviation Manufacturers Association stated that Guimbal added safety features such as incredible rotor inertia, a Helicopteres produced more G2 Cabris in 2015 than the true fuel bladder and Fenestron tail rotor system, not to Robinson Helicopter Company produced R22s. As the mention the excellent customer support that’s so hard to R22 has held the lion’s share of the light training market find these days from manufacturers.” almost since its production in the early 1980s, this is an The first USA helicopter was handed over to Precision Chris Jones reports on outstanding feat. Aviation Training at the 2014 HAI Expo as Guimbal and The Cabri global fleet has now flown a total of 90,000 Precision awaited the much anticipated FAA Standard Recent Developments within the Gyrocopter World hours, in which time they have had seventeen heavy Airworthiness Certification in early 2015, releasing the he Rotorsport Cavalon Pro is now available for in Gyroplanes, a much cheaper option than helicopters landings. Only one helicopter had to be written off, the aircraft to Precision’s flight school. commercial work having recently received its not only to buy and operate but also to run. other sixteen were repaired and there have been no Precision has continued to move away from the ACertificate of Airworthiness and thus becoming The Cavalon also saw the approval and introduction of severe injuries. Schweizer 300 model as their training helicopter as the world's only modern day certified gyroplane. The the 560kg MTOW, an increase of 60 kg. The company The largest markets for the Cabri are New Zealand Midwest Helicopters has transitioned away from their move follows a regulatory change earlier in the year have also introduced the IVO Prop variable pitch pro - and the UK. The UK has just had its twenty-third Cabri Schweizers and R22’s. Both companies had been flying allowing type-certificated, factory-built non-EASA sgy - peller which is reported to reduce take off distances of up delivered. Andy Moorhouse, the UK distributor, said, either the Schweizer 300 or the R22 for over 20 years. roplanes to qualify for C of As rather than permits. The to 25%, reduce fuel consumption in the cruise and make “we are very happy with the Cabri.” One reason for the growth of the Cabri market is its decision is part of the UK CAA's overall GA strategy to the machine quieter to operate. HeliGroup in the UK have also taken deliver of their new technology, composite body and robust structure, create a vibrant GA sector, which will potentially open Other developments include new and improved engine second G2 having had the first one in April this year. another is the demise of the other training alternatives

P MD Matthew Munson said: ‘Demand by students for including the Schweizer H300, which is no longer fully new markets for sales and operations. cowlings for the Rotorsport Calidus. The Calidus is a h o t

Chris Jones gyrocopter instructor explains: tandem fully enclosed gyroplane, suitable for cold weath - o training in the type has been unprecedented ... We have supported by their current owner Sikorsky, and is gradu - g r

a found the Cabri G2 makes the ideal training platform due ally being phased out.

“Not only is the Cavalon Pro an excellent platform for er flying. P h

C to the stable flight characteristics, safety in design and As there had been some complaints about the G2 commercial work, as recently demonstrated in successful Magni Gyroplanes have set a new world altitude o u r trials in of a camera unit, but it offers both day and night record for gyroplanes, flying to 27,556 feet in the skies t the use of the latest proven technologies, making invest - wheels when moving the helicopter Guimbal has built a e s capability.” over Venice and the Magni M16C is now available with y ment in the fleet for our customers an easy decision.’ four-wheeled trolley with a lithium-battery powered lift - o f

There is now a commercial pilots licence (CPL(G) the 100HP Rotax 912s engine which reduces the price by h The US and Chinese markets are also growing fast and ing mechanism. It can lift the G2 and give a 60 mm e l i available for Gyroplanes which would be very useful for 6,500 euros. This gives a base price, from the factory of g the US is forecast to become the biggest market for the clearance for the skids. It can be pulled into the hangar r o companies and pilots who want to do commercial work Euros 54,550. u Cabri by the end of 2017. Midwest helicopters has just by a small tractor or something similar. P

62 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 63 CCidenT A CCidenT r eporTS A r eporTS height of 400 ft, the Finals checks were completed offshore simulator training, where the name on the simu - gusty conditions. and the helicopter was turned towards the platform, onto lated platforms and vessels was not read, may have been A control system failure, such as a disconnect, would be Agusta AW139 G-CHBY an into wind heading of 060°M. As briefed, the land - a contributory factor. more likely to cause a steady divergence in one direc - The flight crew comprised two captains, one of whom ing was to be carried out by the left seat pilot. There were two crew. The commander was 39 years old, tion. The observed oscillatory motion therefore sug - was a line training captain and was the Pilot Handling The crew then identified the platform ahead as the A2D, he had 6,9810 of which 200 were on type. gests that the system was intact. Thus, the available evi - (PH). He was occupying the left seat and was the whereas it was, in fact, the A1D. The two platforms dence indicates clearly that the accident occurred as a commander of the aircraft. The pilot in the right seat appear almost identical and it was reported that, Bell 206 Jet Ranger 11 G-RAMY result of mast bumping, leading to structural failure of the was new to the type and undergoing line training. He given the distance, they may have misread the name The pilot of G-RAMY, a Bell 206B Jet Ranger II, had main rotor mast. was the Pilot Monitoring (PM). This was his fourth line plate on the side of the platform, which was a large disembarked his two passengers and lifted off for the The multilateration surveillance system recorded the heli - training flight and he had accumulated a total of 21 flying rectangular yellow board with the name ‘AMETHYST return flight, in an area of mountainous terrain. The wind copter travelling approximately downwind, although it hours on the aircraft type. Both pilots had been aircraft A1D’ in red letters, mistakenly transposing the was from 220-230°, gusting to 46 kt and the aircraft was was not possible to derive an accurate groundspeed. This commanders on the S76C++ and had extensive experi - number 1 on the name plate for a number 2. Having made seen to head initially into the wind. It was then seen to agreed with the available witness information. The loca - ence of operating in the Southern North Sea and on this early identification, the crew then concentrated on turn right onto a north-easterly track and the fuselage tion of the main wreckage, a short distance upwind from the route being flown. The crew reported for duty at 0445 flying the approach as part of the training element of the was seen to oscillate in roll. The fuselage then rotated in the battery and ballast weight, which had become hrs and carried out a three-stop shuttle flight, before flight. The subsequent landing on the helideck, on which yaw beneath the rotor disc, more than once, and the nose detached from the aircraft whilst airborne, suggests that returning to Humberside Airport for a rotors-running the name is also displayed, was uneventful and the of the helicopter pitched up into the rotor disc, being there may have been an abrupt change of heading refuel. Ten passengers were then boarded for a flight helicopter departed for Humberside after the passen - destroyed as it did so. The fuselage of the helicopter, its immediately before, or perhaps during, the break-up; to the Amethyst Normally Unmanned Installation (NUI) gers were clear of the deck. rotors and many fragments then fell separately to the this accords with one eyewitness account of the flight. A2D platform. A standard departure was flown from After the helicopter’s departure from the platform, the ground, where the fuselage impact was not survivable for Similar behaviour was observed prior to a similar mast Humberside Airport and the helicopter climbed to an mistake was identified. The flight crew offered to return the pilot. bumping event that occurred, in benign weather condi - altitude of 2,000 ft amsl. It routed to waypoint LAGER, and transfer the passengers to the correct platform but, as Examination of the wreckage showed that there had been tions, in 1997. The strong wind conditions that prevailed then direct to the Amethyst A2D. the A1D was not cleared for AW139 operations, this was not a catastrophic failure of the helicopter’s main rotor mast on the day of the G-RAMY accident, which may have The route had been correctly entered into the heli - possible and the helicopter returned to Humberside Airport. in flight and there was clear evidence that this had been intensified as the aircraft progressed higher up the valley, copter’s Flight Management System (FMS) and the Discussion due to heavy ‘mast bumping’ contact between the teeter is likely to have caused the pilot to make large control Auto Flight System was engaged, with the Lateral The crew members were properly licensed and qualified (‘static’) stops on the main rotor head and the main rotor inputs in his attempts to maintain a stable flight path in Navigation (LNAV) mode controlling the helicopter’s to conduct the flight. They were also familiar with the mast. This was consistent with the observed behaviour of the turbulent conditions. The strongest recorded gusts of track. The crew communicated with Anglia Radar ATC route being flown and the platforms in the Amethyst the helicopter, where the pilot appears to have been wind coincided with the time of the lift-off and this coin - for offshore radar coverage, as standard, and called the field. The good weather meant that the platforms attempting to control the aircraft in turbulent conditions. cidence may have contributed to the accident. The rela - Perenco Log operator, who was located on the were visible to the crew as they coasted out over Analysis tively lighter winds at Rondaldsway, which Revenspurn North Platform (RAVN), some 28 nm the sea. The flight progressed normally with the helicop - The pilot held a valid licence, medical, and type rating, were passed to the pilot, would not have alerted him to north of the Amethyst Field, and the point of con - ter descending to a height of 400 ft at the usual position, and the aircraft was serviceable for the flight. Although the much stronger winds near the Creg-Ny-Baa. tact for the Amethyst A2D. The Log operator advised with all checks and radio calls completed. It is not clear the weather conditions affecting the previous flight, until Appropriate training in mountain flying techniques and the crew of the latest weather and the details of the stand - at what point the A1D was mistaken for the A2D. it neared the Isle of Man, had been benign, condi - the associated hazards could have assisted the pilot in by vessel in the vicinity of the A2D. (Because of the dis - Reading the platform’s name plate or the name on the tions on the island were not and strong gusty winds executing the flight successfully, or making a decision not tance of the Revenspurn from the Amethyst field, low helideck was the normal means of identification. It is up to 46 kt were affecting the Creg-ny-Baa area. As the to fly in the challenging wind conditions which prevailed. altitude communication was unreliable and the standby possible that reading the platform name from a distance aircraft flight manual, FAA handbook, and EASA docu - The commander held a PPL, was 48 years old and had vessel ensured that a proper flight-watch could be main - may have led to the crew misreading the ‘1’, in A1D, for ment stated, strong winds pose a challenge to helicopter 786 hours of which 71 were on type. tained.) Having established radio contact with the stand - a ‘2’.When the radar was set to standby, as part of operations. In turbulence, mast bumping is a particular by vessel, the crew discontinued with the Anglia Radar the Finals checks, only a single platform waypoint hazard. However, there was no wind limit published in Sikorsky S-92 G-VINL radio frequency. would have been shown on the PFD, and visible the flight manual. The helicopter was operating a multi-sector flight, The crew were visual with the Amethyst field as they ahead was a single platform. The lift-off occurred within the controlled airspace between rigs located approximately 60 nm north-east of coasted out over the sea and knew the geographical lay - This was the A1D which, from the crew’s perspective, around Ronaldsway, but without clearance. The Aberdeen Airport, when it landed on the wrong out of the platforms. The weather in the Amethyst field was obscuring the A2D platform. At this point, the crew choice of a downwind flight path, following the first helideck, which was unmanned. On the third sector, it was good, with a wind of 035°/10 kt, and they carried out were focussed on flying the final approach, as part of the moments of the flight, might have reflected a desire on was required to fly from the Paragon Midwater Semi- the Approach checks before commencing a descent line training, having earlier ‘confirmed’ the platform as the pilot’s part to fly out of the controlled airspace Submersible 1 (MSS1) rig to the Buzzard complex to a height of 400 ft at the usual position. The Auto Flight their destination. The final opportunity to identify the promptly. There was no evidence of pre-impact failure of helideck, a distance of 7 nm on a track of 205°M. System remained engaged and the Altitude Select mode platform was in the final stages of the approach, when the the flying controls and the examination of the engine However, the crew misidentified the Golden Eagle com - was used for the descent. The Heading mode was used name was displayed on the helideck. However, the mis - indicated that it was operating at the time of the impact plex, on a bearing of 354°M from the Paragon MSS1 for directional control, replacing the LNAV mode, and take was not noticed. with the ground. It is noteworthy that one of the eyewit - at a distance of 3 nm, as the Buzzard complex and the helicopter’s heading was adjusted to the right of The crew concluded that the wrong deck landing was the nesses described the aircraft oscillating from side to landed there instead. Company training in the event of the direct track, to allow for a turn into wind during the result of early identification of the A1D as the A2D, side shortly before the main rotor blade sliced into the Unintentional Deck Landings has now been reviewed. final approach to the platform. either through not reading the name plate or misreading nose. This is likely to have been an indication of the The commanded was 49 had 5700 hours of which 401 With 2 to 3 nm to go to the platform, level at a it. They also considered that a recent intense period of pilot’s control inputs in his attempts to cope with the were on type

64 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016 65 u S e u m A n d e m h l i C o p T e r

Sea King ZA298 in RnAS Yeovilton national museum

Report and photograph by Clive Bennett

n Thursday the 4th of August Sea King ZA298 finally, being attacked while serving in Afghanistan in “The King of the Junglies” was officially put on June 2010. This was the occasion (see article in Odisplay at the National Museum of the Royal Helicopter Life Summer 2016) when an RPG round was Navy at RNAS Yeovilton. fired through the airframe by the Taliban, causing con- This airframe has amassed over 9000 hours flying siderable damage and putting the ‘Down Bird Team’ into since it first entered service on the 11th November 1981 action to rescue the airframe. and was one of the last HC4’s to be retired, taking its last During the RNAS museum launch all three of the bow in March this year. pilots who were involved in the various military actions, Renowned for its combat history, ZA298 has experi- Cdre Simon Thornewill RN (Ret), Falklands, Cdre Jon enced three separate incidents which resulted in battle Pentreath OBE RN, Bosnia and Lt Jim Shattock RN, damage. Firstly, being attacked by four Argentinean A4 Afghanistan, were photographed together for the very Skyhawks during the 1982 dispute over the Falkland first time. They are shown above along with three of the Islands. Secondly, sustaining ground fire during the four members of the Down Bird Team. Bosnian conflict while rescuing civilian refugees and,

66 HELICOPTER LIFE , Autumn 2016