Testing the Future Good Asas Real H160 Simulator: SERVICES Onboard? Adoctor Is There PROFILES Matters Really What MISSION AIRBUS HELICOPTERS N O

© Jerôme Deulin Testing the future good asAs real H160 simulator: SERVICES onboard? adoctor Is there PROFILES matters really What MISSION AIRBUS HELICOPTERS N o. 122-JANUARY 2021 ROTOR - No. 122 - JANUARY 2021 2 SPOTLIGHT Watch thevideohere a tacticalunmannedaerialsystem (UAS)withATOL capacitiesforglobalnavies. to andfrom amovingplatform,advancingtheprogramme towards itsgoal:offering This importantmilestonefortheVSRprogramme validatesitsautonomytooperate AND LANDINGFROMMOVINGPLATFORM VSR700 ACHIEVESAUTONOMOUSTAKE-OFF

© Eric Raz EXPERTISE NH90 NFH. Both theSeaTigerandLion are derivativesofthe considerable synergies interms oflogisticsandtraining. Army andtheNH90NFHby GermanNavyenables The widespread useoftheNH90TTHbyGerman been delivered. naval transporthelicopters,sevenofwhichhavealready The Bundeswehrhasalready ordered 18NH90SeaLion Sea Lynx Mk88Afleetwhichentered intoservicein1981. operations. Thehelicopterswillreplace theGermanNavy’s to beknownasSeaTiger, fortheGermanNavy’s shipborne The GermanBundeswehrhasordered 31NH90helicopters, FOR SHIPBORNEOPERATIONS BUNDESWEHR ORDERS31NH90s training programme. The contractincludestrainingfor12pilotsand15technicians,aspartofanin-countryoperational in thecaseofnaturaldisasters,bothduringdayandatnight. as carryingoutrescue operationsathighaltitudes,medicalevacuation(medevac)andassistance related tonationalsecurity, suchasborder surveillanceandthefightagainstdrugtrafficking, aswell The H145helicopters,knownas“Cobra”intheEcuadorianAirForce, willhelpwithmissions in SouthAmericaforthishelicopter. AtotalofsixH145swillbedelivered in2021. Airbus Helicoptershasdelivered three H145stotheEcuadorianAirForce, thefirstmilitarycustomer THE ECUADORIANAIRFORCETAKES DELIVERY OFTHEIRFIRSTTHREEH145s © A. Pecchi

software developmentandintegration. in themanufacturingofNH90’s fuselageandthe avionics Battalion inAgoncillo.AirbusHelicopters inSpainisinvolved Spanish ArmyAirmobileForce (FAMET) for the ManeuverIII Thirteen helicoptershavealready beendelivered tothe transport version,tobeoperatedby the three armedforces. Madrid. Spainhasordered atotalof45 NH90s inthe tactical Super PumasandwhichwillbebasedinCuatro Vientos,near receive 12NH90sintended toreplace itsagingfleetofAS332 rescue (CSAR)missioncapabilities. TheSpanishAir Force will boost theirsearch andrescue (SAR)andcombatsearch and The SpanishAirForce took deliveryofafirstNH90,whichwill FORCE FORSARMISSIONS FIRST NH90DELIVEREDTOTHESPANISH AIR © A. Pecchi

PORTFOLIO

ROTOR - No. 122 - JANUARY 2021 3 ROTOR - No. 122 - JANUARY 2021 4 EX PORTFOLIO CEPTIONAL police surveillance,miningandother utilitymissions. oil andgas,search andrescue, emergency medicalservices, 30 countries servingavarietyofindustries,includingoffshore Milestone supportsover45customersinmore than and emergency medicalservices. for arangeofmissionsincludingoffshore transportation is settobedelivered in2023. Thehelicopterswillbedestined include sixH160sinMilestone’s orderbook, the firstofwhich Milestone Aviation andAirbusHelicoptershaveagreed to CUSTOMER FORH160 MILESTONE BECOMESFIRSTLEASING of theACH130,andparticularlyfeatures arangeofinteriorandexteriordesignscreated byAstonMartin. the third example.LaunchedinJanuary2020,theACH130AstonMartinEditionisastylishspecialversion customer inGuatemala.Mostrecently anotherundisclosedprivatecustomerinCanadahasordered In LatinAmericatheACH130AstonMartinEditionhasjustentered servicewithanundisclosedVIP Airbus customerinNewZealand.ItwillbeusedprivatelyaswellVIPcharteroperations. the comingmonths.ThefirstexampleinAsiaPacificofthisexceptionalmodelwas ordered byanexisting The ACH130AstonMartinEditionwillenterserviceinLatinAmerica,NorthAmericaandAsiaPacificover WORLD SUCCESSFORTHEACH130ASTONMARTIN EDITION © Lloyd Horgan

HEMS andboastingover650units inservice. industry, currently holding25%oftheglobalmarketshare for of HEMSoperators.Today, theH135isaleaderin HEMS performance andcapabilitiesto respond totheuniqueneeds of helicoptershasgonethrough regular improvements in Since firstenteringintoservicein1996,theH135family helicopter emergency medicalservices(HEMS)inFrance. and H145helicoptersinservicewiththeoperatortoprovide operator MontBlanc,addingtoafleetofmore than20H135 the company’s 1,400thH135wasdelivered to the French In 2020,theH135familyreached amajormilestone: TO MONTBLANCHELICOPTERS THE 1,400thH135ISDELIVERED © Patrick Heinz

© Thierry Rostang © Adrien Daste Administration (FAA). Thefirstfive-bladedH145deliveryintheUSissettotakeplaceearly2021. The newfive-bladedH145helicopterhas received itscertification from theUSFederal Aviation FIVE-BLADED AIRBUSH145RECEIVESFAA TYPECERTIFICATION SPOTLIGHT

ROTOR - No. 122 - JANUARY 2021 5 © Celian Bauduin CONTENTS

08 28 PANORAMA BEHIND Airbus Helicopters news THE SCENES and events by the numbers Ferry flights deliver on a promise

09 © Dianne Bond FEATURED 20 ARTICLES 30 UP ABOVE Testing the future PROFILES The new alternate gross weight Is there a doctor onboard? Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters of the H135 gives operators an increased MTOW of up to 120 kg “Engineering the future 32 OFF THE cannot be improvised.” BEATEN TRACK 22 A Super Puma in Paris MISSION After the difficult year we have just left behind, I like vision as it takes time to mature technology and Tigrex in the Sahel the idea of starting in 2021 with this issue of Rotor ensure it can meet a market need. Engineering the Magazine dedicated to innovation. Innovation future cannot be improvised. 34 is all about hope, optimism, new challenges Our innovation strategy is intimately linked to our SERVICES and preparing the future, the self-same values that values, with a firm focus on making helicopters 24 H160 simulator: we all share here at Airbus Helicopters. and VTOL aircraft even safer, easier to fly, more MISSION As good as real 2020 was a tough year for us all, with our industry accessible and sustainable in the interests of both Storm Alex: What really having to face a number of setbacks that were the environment and society as a whole. We want matters impossible to foresee. Despite this incredibly to improve the things that are truly important to difficult context, Airbus Helicopters managed to you, our customers and users. resist the effects of the crisis in terms of market However, innovation is not just a question of share, especially thanks to the success of the figures, investment and budgets; above all, it 26 H160 and the new H145, two helicopters which comes down to attitude and values. We have MISSION were certified in 2020. These achievements were to provide the necessary conditions to foster Communication Director: Yves Barillé (Publication H225M: Stronger together Director), Editor in Chief: Belén Morant (contact. borne out of the boldness, determination and creativity, enthusiasm and willingness to go 6 [email protected]), Director of 7 photography: Jérôme Deulin, Translation: Airbus foresight of our predecessors, who chose the the extra mile, and we cannot do this alone. Translation Services; Amplexor. Published by: (Copyright Airbus Helicopters path of innovation then so that we can reap the Indeed, at Airbus Helicopters we are conscious 2021, all rights reserved). Airbus Helicopters’ logo and the names of its products and services are registered © J. Deulin © J. rewards now. that innovation is also a matter of humility: we trademarks. That’s why it is up to us as leaders in the helicopter know that we don’t have all the answers and we industry to continue to trust in innovation despite need the ground-breaking ideas of our partners, the hardships of the current situation. We need suppliers and collaborators in order to shape to bring incremental innovation to our current the future. By innovating together, we will all go products and in parallel keep a long-term even further. For more information Follow us on Join us on Follow us on Join us on

122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY www.airbus.com/Helicopters twitter/AirbusHeli facebook/AirbusHelicopters youtube/AirbusHelicopters linkedin/AirbusHelicopters 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY ROTOR - No. 122 - JANUARY 2021 8 PANORAMA 6 in FrancebyaDragon(EC145) 3,000 HEMS 3,000 HEMS alone, over1,000 HEMS is saved every 33 minutes is savedevery33minutes 200 life-saving missions of helicopters (BK117, On average, one person On average,oneperson from theSécuritéCivile. helicopters an estimated 400,000 an estimated400,000 flight hours reached every hour. IntheUS helicopters transport helicopters transport around theworldare by the H145 family by theH145family EC145 andH145). Million performing about performing about patients annually. 33 MINUTES Over Over

endurance. 40 minutesextra 75 NM orevenhave range byupto or toextend the weight ofupto120 kg maximum take-off have anincreased enables operatorsto gross weightthat from anewalternate The H135nowbenefits 1st NH90 TTH 1st were acquired byHéli-Uniontoaddress 2 H160s Marignane. Intotal,28multi-role which performed its first flight in which performeditsfirstflight helicopters willbedelivered to a widerangeofoperations. FOR QATAR the country.

to COVID-19were flownbyHEMS helicopters and who just helicopters andwhojust helicopters intheUS2020. by ÖAMTC Air Rescue, by ÖAMTCAirRescue, MISSIONS PER DAY who operates 28 H135 who operates28H135 are doneonaverage customers in 60 countries customers in60countries in December 2020. in December2020. acquired fivemore transportations related 300 10,000 10,000 use helicoptersfrom MORE THAN Around Around the H135family. 52

© AnthonyJ. Deulin Pecchi take vertical flight to the next level. The aim: to adapt to new market demands improvements to products and services, the convergence of factors deriving from the crises we currently face may provide the definitive boost needed to The future of helicopters is being written now. After years of continuous for helicopters that are safer, cleaner, quieter and more autonomous. reduce theenvironmental footprintofourhelicopters.” expected bythemarket,imagine future VTOLtransport, andfindinnovativesolutionsto why wecontinuetoinvest improve ourexistingrange,develop thenewprogrammes makes senseifitallowsthecompany toprogress tobetterserveitscustomers. This is Head ofResearch atAirbusHelicopters.“ForHelicopters, innovationonly competitive inacomplexeconomiccontextistoinnovate,” explainsTomasz Krysinski, “If there’s onethingweknowatAirbusHelicopters,it’s that theonlywaytostay Testing thefuture Article: B. Morant, A. Marchand, H. Couthaud FEATURED ARTICLES

ROTOR - No. 122 - JANUARY 2021 9 FEATURED ARTICLES

Maturing this technology takes time and involves reducing the costs associated with test flights. 1: The CityAirbus full-scale demonstrating its viability through three possible “The Flightlab is our research laboratory, demonstrator approaches: firstly, through testing of the allowing us to quickly test the technologies of conducted its first technobricks one by one in the Flightlab; secondly, today and tomorrow that may one day be used take-off in May testing on disruptive in-flight demonstrators to equip our current range, or may end up on 2019. such as the RACER and CityAirbus; and finally, our demonstrators or on even larger platforms 2: The Flightlab by cooperating with suppliers, partners and like airliners,” says Krysinski. began its operations in spring of 2020. universities that can contribute innovative and The many solutions currently being tested viable ideas from outside the company. include improvements to decrease the emissions output of conventional thermal engines, hybrid THE TECHNOBRICK INNOVATION and electric propulsion technologies, autonomy STRATEGY advances and other technologies to improve Testing new technologies in the Flightlab allows flight safety, and sound reduction research under Airbus Helicopters to put ideas into practice the Quieter Skies project (more information on Watch the video here very quickly while at the same time considerably page 13). 2 © J. Deulin © J.

1 UAM: REALITY OR SCIENCE FICTION? Airbus Helicopters’ innovations in the field of Urban

© C. Bauduin © C. Air Mobility (UAM) are aimed at developing a safe, clean flying platform with a minimal noise footprint. While this is still at the demonstrator stage where a broad knowledge base is being built, the idea is to develop a certifiable vehicle, which can be released when the market is ready. “The advantage of using technology demonstrators is that we can very quickly test the different technology options and validate them based on our criteria,” says Joerg Mueller, Head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus. “The CityAirbus 2 demonstrator allows us to test the novel eVTOL architectures as well as certain technobricks, such as electrification or advanced flight controls. “However, UAM embraces so much more than just platforms: it’s creating an entire ecosystem that encompasses air traffic management and regulation, the integration into cities including ground infrastructure, and the delivery of a transport service to the passenger. We are working closely with EASA, the French Directorate 11 10 General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), and the German Luftfahrtbundesamt (LBA). Nonetheless, there is a further decisive factor: public acceptance.

We have to prioritise safety, generate no CO2 emissions on the flight, and optimise for noise. In summary, we need to ensure that we provide real added value for citizens if we want to introduce these solutions in major cities.”

122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY Watch the video here 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY FEATURED ARTICLES

Airbus Helicopters Flightlab Customer value Literally a flying laboratory that enables the technologies of tomorrow to be tested today, bringing new innovative solutions for improving flight safety Even Simpler Sustainable Accessible Faster time while reducing emissions. safer to fly to market

Exploring autonomy and improving flight safety

1.1 Image detection 1.2 Rotor Strike Alerting 1.3 Viability of 1.4 UAM flight (EAGLE) will enable System (RSAS) Health and controls low-altitude alerts crew about Usage modify the navigation based on collision risks to the Monitoring ergonomics of vision through main and tail rotors System (HUMS) pilot controls cameras, by indicating in which for light to make automatic obstacle direction the nearest helicopters. helicopter m and Airbus recognition, 3D obstacle is. 2021 flight more reconstruction of 2020 intuitive and landing zones, etc. easy. 2021 2022

Quieter skies: Infographic: BeatrizSantacruz.co Pursuing hybrid and electric reducing sounds propulsion technologies levels Source: Airbus Engine back-up system (EBS): Measurements of sound levels A 100-kW electric motor connected to the main in urban areas: supported by gearbox will provide emergency electric power the French civil aviation authority in the event of a turbine failure. DGAC. Airbus Helicopters 2021 conducted flight tests to measure and correlate the sound levels of helicopters as perceived by people, and 12 particularly how buildings affect 13 this perception. CO2 2020 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY FEATURED ARTICLES

Today, helicopters are powered by thermal engines that burn fossil fuel to obtain energy. One of Speed up their main strengths is their ability to deliver large quantities of energy with a limited mass of fuel, but as a counterpart, fossil fuels are likewise notorious for producing emissions such as nitrogen oxide the power and carbon dioxide. Fortunately, the solutions are many: from decreasing the emissions output of conventional thermal engines, to going on to hybrid Despite the fact that the helicopter and even fully electric flight. industry and operations represent only a

small contribution (0.02%) to global CO2 emissions1, Airbus Helicopters is committed AN EMISSION-LIGHTER FUTURE to developing, building and testing alternative Airbus Helicopters is constantly studying options

propulsion systems to disruptively reduce CO2 on its thermal engines to reduce CO2 emissions. emissions in the near future. Over the past half-century, innovations in the field of engine technology have increased turbines’ efficiency and compression ratios; today’s © Celian Bauduin

engines reduce their CO2 emissions by 50% while generating three times more power2. But

© Airbus fuel consumption can also be reduced through a combination of improved aerodynamics and weight reduction. THE ULTIMATE STEP : HYDROGEN 1: Transitioning to Another area is power management. An eco-mode AND ELECTRIC? (DIRECT BURN OR FUEL CELLS) The ultimate step could be the use of sustainable energy on twin-engine helicopters sets one engine The main challenge of the fully electrical helicopter is sources will require another sort of energy: hydrogen. Hydrogen to idle (“sleep” mode) while the other runs at currently the storage of the electric energy, regarding cross-industry could be used in two main ways: replacing a higher, fuel-efficient setting. Developed with both mass and volume. But Airbus Helicopters is dialogue and kerosene on modified turboshafts (in other partnership. Safran Helicopter Engines, and first tested on the optimistic, especially as electric energy storage is words, a direct H2 burn, zero CO2 solution), Bluecopter demonstrator (an H135 testbed), this improving. The company is addressing the electrical or feeding a fuel cell to produce electric 2: Electrical technology can generate fuel savings, improving market with the CityAirbus demonstrator, fully electric, energy for a full electric propulsion system propulsion is at the core of an Airbus the way helicopters use one or both thermal whose multi-rotor architecture and particular mission (a zero emission solution). electrical vertical engines at the same time. type favour the concept. This technology has made significant take-off and landing advances, particularly in the fixed wing vehicle (eVTOL). segment, but the power requirements HYBRID: A GREENER FUTURE (1) Air transport represents between 2 and 3% of global CO2 A mid-hybrid solution is being developed as a emissions, and helicopters represent about 1/100 of the air and the integration on a helicopter remain transport fraction. back-up for single-engine helicopters in the event of a challenge. Nevertheless, hydrogen (2) Source: SHE. technologies could be mature enough an engine loss: the electric engine can intervene for to fly on a helicopter demonstrator as early 15 14 about 30 seconds of power to let a pilot manage as 2029. a safe descent. The system is the first concrete application of hybridisation on a light helicopter, and DID YOU KNOW? SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FUELS will be tested on the Flightlab in early 2021. Airbus believes sustainable alternative That opens the door to full hybrid studies next fuels, deployed for use on in-service year. “We’re looking for larger power – more than 91.5% of the emissions from a helicopter rotorcraft or for future fleets, has the engine is in the form of hot air. Carbon 200 kW – to be able to have the engine work at potential to become a major driver for CO2 dioxide accounts for 6% of the vehicle’s the same time as the turbine to optimise the fuel reductions, recognising that transitioning emissions. consumption during a mission,” says Luca Cossetti, to sustainable energy sources will require Innovative Power Solutions at Airbus Helicopters. cross-industry dialogue and partnerships. 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY FEATURED ARTICLES

GOING BEYOND REQUIREMENTS Since rotor noise has decreased thanks to the Listen up! In the mid-term, the company’s goal is to reduce technologies mentioned, engine noise has started to helicopters’ operational noise emissions, thereby gain attention, particularly in operations close to the substantially impacting the public’s perception of ground. Caillet and others are working on ways to their sound. reduce the sound from engines, too. Additionally, Sound reduction Innovation efforts are now focused on improving studies related to hybridisation show that this the Fenestron, working on blade shapes, further could also bring reductions in noise emissions by reducing rotor speed, exploring low-sound flight lowering rotor rotational speeds and eventually procedures by modifying flight trajectories, and engine sound. as a mindset inventing very specific solutions for reducing a helicopter’s perceived sound footprint in urban areas. SOUND PERCEIVED Since the introduction of noise certification “A helicopter will emit sound differently depending limits, Airbus Helicopters has always on its flight phase,” says Julien Caillet, a sound looked at ways to lower the sound level of expert at Airbus Helicopters. “A landing procedure In June 2020, Airbus Helicopters’ innovation its helicopters. Its goal? Driving the change and acoustics teams, supported by the with a steeper glide slope can lower blade vortex to remain the benchmark for low sound levels French civil aviation authority DGAC, while going one step ahead of requirements. interaction noise, and flying the helicopter with a conducted a study to measure the sound given attitude can also reduce tail rotor noise in Article: Heather Couthaud levels of Airbus helicopters as perceived several flight conditions. That’s why research is by urban residents in order to positively being done into automating the landing within the influence the design and trajectories of future autopilot mode to make take-offs and landings eVTOLs, which should perform increasingly The main source of sound from a helicopter is from quieter.” more operations above cities. © E. Raz © E. its rotor blades. Blades produce several types of Technology can reduce operational sound as well. sound, some due to air displacement (thickness noise); others from forces acting on the air that flows around the blade (loading noise)—caused by rotor speed control system that automates the rotor lift and drag, for example. Still other sounds come towards lower rotational speeds when the helicopter from aerodynamic shocks on the blade surface, or flies close to the ground—a position that registers

interactions with turbulent inflows of air. strongly with observers nearby; and Blue Edge © A. Pecchi The engine and gearbox generate sound, too, blades with their double-swept shape that limits especially up close. Helicopter type (heavy vs light) the levels and impulsivity of blade vortex interaction and the position of the listener contribute as well. (BVI) noise. What tends to register most with observers is when This has resulted in Airbus producing quieter aircraft, helicopters fly in certain “phases”, notably take- particularly the H130, H135, H145 and H160, which off or landing—precisely where they are needed are industry-wide benchmarks for sound level in their the most for the service of the population (think of respective classes. policing or EMS services). 16 17 APPLYING INNOVATION WHERE IT’S NEEDED DID YOU KNOW? Traditionally, Airbus helicopters fall well below the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Our perception of sound is just as important a limits regarding noise, thanks to the regular factor in judging how quiet, or not, a helicopter application of new technologies. These include the is. We tend to be more bothered by impulsive, Fenestron’s optimised blade and stator designs, tonal, high frequency sounds, but the duration which serve to mask the sound of rotors and reduce of one’s exposure to the sound also matters. the discomfort to passengers; the automatic variable 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY FEATURED ARTICLES

This fusion of performance and simplicity is CityAirbus: Going further, without doubt RACER’s real success. ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES IN SIGHT faster! The aircraft combines the rotor of a helicopter with the propulsive propellers of a fixed-wing vertical flight 2.0 aircraft. The propeller nacelles are attached to Increasing the speed and range of helicopters the fuselage by a box wing that provides high- at reasonable cost: this is the ultimate goal of speed lift while housing the landing gear and RACER, the first aircraft to represent a new breed For Airbus, urban air mobility is a great way power transmission to the propellers. In addition, of flying machine. The countdown has begun. to accelerate its zero-emissions strategy ambitious environmental objectives are expected and, with the CityAirbus demonstrator, develop a future flying machine with full Article: Alexandre Marchand to be met thanks to an ‘eco-mode’ that allows electric propulsion. one of the two engines to be shut down during

© City Airbus: Design Office Marignane Airbus: © City the cruise phase, then to be restarted quickly Article: Alexandre Marchand While taking off and landing like a helicopter, and automatically at maximum power due to a RACER (Rapid and Cost-Effective Rotorcraft) new type of electric motor. It is no coincidence will also fly as fast as a propeller aircraft, around therefore that the RACER programme is partly 400 km/h. financed by the European Commission’s H2020 Forced to tread carefully in the relatively emergency medical services. “A full-scale This combination of supposedly contradictory research programme, as part of Clean Sky 2. unexplored field of urban mobility, CityAirbus The real challenge, however, is to integrate this new experimental performance capabilities, vertical flight and conducted its maiden flight on 1 May 2019, at class of vehicle safely in the urban environment. demonstrator speed, is an old dream taking new shape in AN EXAMPLE OF TRANSNATIONAL the Donauwörth (Germany) site, restrained by This is why Airbus isn’t merely embarking on the enables us to test the form of RACER. As well as delivering on COLLABORATION safety cables. development of a vehicle, but is on a quest to new technical expected performance, the project led by Airbus Before flying any missions at 400 km/h however, Since then, the CityAirbus demonstrator has co-create an entirely new market that sustainably solutions that Helicopters incorporates technical solutions with all aircraft development and fine tuning must be been carrying out free flights hovering in manual integrates urban air mobility into the city context, a sophistication that overcomes complexity. completed. Today, Airbus Helicopters and its and automatic mode in Donauwörth and later at while at the same time addressing environmental could eventually thirty European partners are putting everything the Manching site. The team’s ambition was to and social concerns. also transform into preparing a first flight that will take place one achieve a first automatic flight, gradually expand helicopter flight.” year from now. The lateral drive shafts, each of the flight envelope and now to validate the level INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES Eric Ferreira, which is 3 m long and spins at 3,000 rpm, will be of performance in order to pave the way for the At the heart of CityAirbus lie innovative power Head of UAM essential to achieving the expected performance. next CityAirbus generation. systems, engines and propulsion choices: engineering at Airbus Their upcoming qualification will enable Airbus four batteries, eight electric motors of 100 kW to overcome one of the programme’s biggest PREPARING THE FUTURE connected to the same number of propellers, technical obstacles. “The main challenge for Airbus as regards grouped in pairs in four nacelles 2.8 m in diameter. The RACER fuselage is being assembled in CityAirbus is providing it with the range, weight, Engine redundancy is a key factor in safety, but Romania. This will then be sent to Donauwörth, power requirements and autonomy of a future serial the aircraft also represents a constant search for Germany, to be fitted with the fuel system, vehicle. From the very beginning, the CityAirbus simplicity, which is synonymous with reliability. part of the electrical system and the nose. demonstrator design took aerospace standards For example, the position of the nacelles is fixed, as Wing assembly will also be validated before all into account, with a comprehensive architecture is the pitch of the propellers. The variation of thrust elements are shipped to Marignane, France, fulfilling the highest safety levels that allows us to and control of the vehicle is simply managed by where the tail boom from Spain and main gain experience on the relevant aspects of a future adjusting the rotation speed of each propeller. The gearbox, co-developed with Italian partner 19 18 certification effort. In particular, environmental aircraft has no servo controls, thus reducing weight, Avio, will also be fitted. This distribution of issues and electrical propulsion are at the core of increasing reliability and bringing down maintenance activities follows the new industrial logic of an electrical vertical take-off and landing vehicle costs. site specialisation implemented by Airbus (eVTOL),” explains Eric Ferreira, Head of UAM To deal with issues related to its use in urban Helicopters. Final assembly will therefore take engineering at Airbus. areas, particular attention has also been paid to its place in Marignane, in the building reserved for With a total weight of around 2 tonnes (compared to acoustic footprint: the electric motor is inaudible prototypes. the 2.2 tonnes of the CityAirbus demonstrator) and and propeller rotation speed relatively low (120 In this final stretch of development leading to the the ability to carry a highly modular payload of up to 140 m/s compared to around 200 m/s for a first flight, a new, and complicated but exciting to 250 kg, a serial CityAirbus could find application traditional helicopter), all contributing to the aircraft’s phase is beginning for Airbus Helicopters teams in the field of urban air mobility, as well as for discretion. Autrement Dit © Productions and their partners. 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 20 ROTOR - No. 122 - JANUARY 2021 UP ABOVE weight of the H135 gives weight oftheH135 gives The new alternate gross The newalternate gross operators an increased operators anincreased MTOW ofup to120 kg 21 ROTOR - No. 122 - JANUARY 2021 © Francisco Torrentera MISSION

3 1: The ‘TIGREX’ Paco identifies the woods where a man has been (Tiger Extraction) sighted, apparently unarmed. One of the Gazelles procedure was developed makes a first pass at about 200 metres from the a few years previously during operations in boundary, without spotting anything. During the Afghanistan. second pass, 10 metres above the ground, the team

2: For seven years, Tigers hears a horribly familiar sound, like gravel slamming have criss-crossed the against the fuselage. They are hit…The engine Sahel, bringing firepower dies, leaving the pilot just enough time to level out and the reliability of the helicopter before impact. After a long slide, the a helicopter well able to take the blows and helicopter hits a mound of earth and flips over. The damage of war. Tiger crew see the Gazelle hit the ground and burst

3: Ultimately, the Tiger into flames. A radio message goes out immediately: crew saved the lives of “The Gazelle is down; the Gazelle is down…!” three men. NO TIME FOR HESITATION When the dust clears, the Gazelle’s three crew members are visible and still moving. second on the left gear strut. He then climbs onto They are all alive, but injured. Without hesitation, the right gun arm of the helicopter, above the rocket the Tiger’s commander, Paco, signals the pilot: cradle. Only the commander is secured, as the - Put her down, we’re going in to get them! survival straps of both pilot and commando have SAHEL Less than 90 seconds after the crash, the Tiger with been damaged or lost in the accident. All they can its rotor turning lands around 30 metres from the do is lock their arms, hold on and not let go. A real burning wreckage. A maritime Atlantique 2 is filming challenge for two injured men. the scene from a moderate altitude: the Gazelle’s The Tiger’s crew, who know what danger all three TIGREX! onboard sniper, who was the least injured during men are in, are living their own nightmare. the crash, drags the Gazelle’s commander towards Weighing up the situation, the commander decides the Tiger. Incapable of walking, the Gazelle’s that getting off the helicopter puts everyone at Article: Alexandre Marchand – Photos: Thomas Goisque 1 commander tries to roll himself away from the greater risk and would prevent an emergency take- burning helicopter. off in the face of immediate danger. His intuition tells The commando does what he can: he positions him that the three survivors can hang on for a few the first man on the right landing gear strut, the minutes, that they have the strength to pull through. Sahel, 2019. A Gazelle is shot down in combat and the daring rescue Paco calmly gives the order: - Come on, let’s take off and head for the helicopter lift zone. of its crew by a Tiger leads to an incredible adventure. One year later, “HOLD ON GUYS…” survivors and crew tell their story. 2 The second Gazelle contacts the Tiger: - Are you picking up two? “Fighting lasted In June 2019, French armed forces launch The first shots ring out as soon as the commandos - I’m taking three… we’re trying for three. all night, it was Operation Aconit, a major push in the Liptako land, leaving no doubt: the enemy is on the run. It The Tiger pilot focuses, flying low and slow. A few difficult, intense region, a hotbed of armed terrorist groups. Around is 2300 at night and level 5: no moon or residual centimetres away, separated by the plexiglass and covered 20 helicopters are deployed: Gazelles and Tigers illumination. canopy, he can see his two comrades in pain. Hold a wide area.” for reconnaissance and attack missions and NH90 “Fighting lasted all night, it was difficult, intense on guys, just a few more seconds… hold on… With Caïmans and Cougars used to transport and drop and covered a wide area,” says Colonel Meunier. the two men positioned on the forward landing Colonel Meunier, commandos. By early morning, firing continues, but the battle is gear strut, the helicopter is off balance. Focused Commander of the 23 22 less intense. Two Gazelles are brought in, taking on his flying, the pilot ignores this. The Tiger takes Tactical Desert Air THE LONGEST NIGHT advantage of the first light of dawn to replace the everything he throws at it without complaint. After Combat Group. “On the night of 13 to 14 June, after tracking two Tigers, one of which stays behind a few minutes four minutes in flight, maybe five, the helicopter a motorbike all day, a surveillance drone spotted to transmit instructions. lands near the commandos. The doctor on duty a group of about a dozen men in a remote forest. immediately takes charge of the injured men and No fire…very suspicious,” explains Colonel Meunier, A HORRIBLY FAMILIAR SOUND prepares them for evacuation. After a few more commander of the Tactical Desert Air Combat Group. “I was heading into my tenth flight hour and my third minutes of waiting, a Cougar medevac lands to Around 40 mountain commandos, travelling in four rotation in the combat zone since the night before,” transport them straight to Gao. Caïmans, are sent to assess the situation, about says ‘Paco’, commander of this last Tiger. “We were Today, all three men have resumed their full 15 minutes after two Tigers had also deployed. glad to return to Ménaka for some well-earned rest…” commando and pilot duties. 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY UPMISSION ABOVE

FRANCE 1: “In the first few days, the constant presence of helicopters in the WHAT REALLY MATTERS valleys reassured the inhabitants, who were completely cut off from the world,” Article: Belén Morant – Photos: TRE/ Benjamin Bechet Florence Mayere recalls. On 2 October 2020, Storm Alex hit the Nice countryside, destroying almost 2: RTE used four H125s to inspect everything in its path. Devastating homes and cemeteries, torrential rains lines and transport technical teams, and destroyed several bridges and over 50 km of roads. The towns and villages the H215 to transport loads weighing up to of the Tinée, Vésubie and Roya valleys were cut off from the world, sometimes two tonnes. left without running water or electricity. are delivered by HDF helicopters, they are working non-stop to restore rail traffic as quickly as possible. “Here, rail access hasn’t been as badly hit as road access, so it’s important to sustain it A few days earlier, when the first alerts began to reach the base of Maritimes regions, there was nothing ordinary about this mission: to open up the villages above the valley as soon as possible,” he Helicoptères de France (HDF, HBG Group) in Carros, a flight assistant “I’ve been flying over these valleys for more than 30 years as part of states. “In this emergency situation, the helicopter is an essential and sales executive for the company, Florence Mayere, thought that my job, and I myself live in the countryside. Emotionally, it felt like tool, to ensure the safety of personnel when moving loads, and the floods would be like many that had affected the valley in the past. an apocalypse as we know people who live in the valley. I even because of its flexibility, which allows us to go wherever we need “Nobody had predicted the scale of Alex. At this HDF base, where we have colleagues who lost their homes,” explains the RTE worker. quickly. There is a price, of course, but all things considered, the 2 usually operate one H125 for aerial work, we quickly increased our The most urgent need was to assess the extent of the damage, helicopter offers maximum guarantees for safety and technical fleet to four aircraft operating at full capacity,” says Mayere. deal with alarms from transformers in the Roya valley and monitor performance.” the electrical network connected to the hydroelectric plants that Tende Hospital, which was forced to accept some patients from A HIGHWAY IN THE SKY had been buried. The STH helicopters, those belonging to RTE, Saint-Lazare Hospital when it was rendered unusable after Alex hit, Others immediately joined them. In the first few days, more than were in the area from Sunday to evaluate the Roya, Vésubie and result, we were able to focus on electrical substations, to find out was also isolated. The only way to access the area was by air. 30 helicopters were operating in the valleys. With the support of the Tinée valleys. if it was possible to keep the lines going.” For this surveillance “Medicine, oxygen, gas, heating fuel, food… everything had to armed forces, the prefecture immediately established an extremely mission, teams used the H125, and the inspection was purely be brought in by air,” explains Xavier Coye of Brunelis, pilot and effective organisation: all take-off clearances required their approval AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION WITHOUT HELICOPTERS visual. “We inspected close to 350 km of cables, most of which are coordinator, responsible for regulating helicopter resources for and permanent radio contact was introduced to give priority to the “No high-voltage network had been impacted, because in our inaccessible on foot. It’s basically an impossible mission without the CHU (University Hospital Centre) in Tende. “Under ordinary most urgent missions, that of delivering supplies, evacuating the valleys all lines are up high,” explains Philippe Anfosso. “As a a helicopter. On foot, it would have been a distance of around circumstances, the H125 can carry 15 tonnes of freight, in a regular wounded, searching for missing persons and emergency material 1,200 km… basically, I would still be inspecting the lines today.” operation with several rotations, including a tonne of oxygen, assistance. RTE set about helping Enedis by transporting generators and other 12,000 litres of fuel, medicine, masks, food, etc. We operate “We managed material damage: roads, electricity and water. It was essential equipment for repairs. A week later, 97% of the people around 20 rotations per week that enable the hospital to continue a great example of collaboration. With so many helicopters in the 1 affected by the storm once again had electricity in their homes. For treating its patients.” sky, a unique configuration with many electric power lines… we several weeks, RTE continued these helicopter missions to monitor needed really effective rules. It was like a highway: permanent radio high-voltage installations. * RTE: réseau de transport de l’éléctricité, or French electricity transport network. contact, ascending and descending on the left…,” Florence Mayere remembers. THE ONLY CONNECTION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD Watch the video here 24 25 Roads and railways were cut off, isolating thousands of inhabitants 15,000 HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT POWER who were unaware of what was happening in the neighbouring At the height of autumn, with overnight temperatures already at valley. “When we flew over the valley for the first time the Saturday RTE DURING STORM ALEX zero degrees, power cuts deprived many households of heating after the storms, it looked like a war zone. It was as if the road had and hot water. With several roads closed or blocked, electrical been bombed; in some places there was no road left,” explains • Close to 200 flight hours provider Enedis depended on the pilots of STH, the helicopter Antoine Albin, works coordinator at NGE Foundations for the French • Five helicopters: a Super Puma and four Ecureuils carried services division for RTE*, to transport emergency teams and railway system, SNCF. “It’s scary when you know the valley and out non-stop daytime rotations. heavy equipment, such as power generators, to villages left without what it used to look like.” • 20 generators and response teams were transported electricity. For Philippe Anfosso and his team, responsible for Antoine Albin and his team are currently securing the Conti- • Around 40 employees were mobilised during the crisis the maintenance and upkeep of RTE lines in the Var and Alpes- Vintimille line. In inaccessible areas where machines and equipment 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY MISSION

INTEROPERABILITY OF THE THREE FORCES An important milestone was reached on 6 October, when the 2 H225Ms belonging to all three forces conducted a joint landing on board a Brazilian Navy ship for the first time, thus cementing the idea of the interoperability of the individual forces. The Ministry of Defence had planned for the necessity of this interoperability in 2008, when it signed the contract for the purchase of 50 H225M helicopters, which are manufactured locally by Helibras. The second phase involved the deployment of special forces from the NAM Atlántico, which transports approximately 60 military personnel to the Navy Training Center, on Rio de Janeiro’s southern coast, for infiltration and exfiltration exercises. The H225M helicopters were armed with 7.62 mm machine guns and flew with snipers on board.

FULLY PREPARED 1 Lieutenant-Brigadier Raul Botelho, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces, monitored the exercises closely, stressing 3 the importance of the operations being carried out. “Our three armed services can only be brought together through exercises BRAZIL and joint operations, and these allow us to pinpoint improvements that can be made going forward. We believe that we can best serve our country and Brazilian society by ensuring that we are H225M: STRONGER always prepared for whatever circumstances we may face. We also believe that to defend our nation is to guarantee national sovereignty, which requires well-trained armed forces.” TOGETHER “We need to know how our other forces operate so as to work together,” explained General Luiz Dias Freitas, Land Operations Commander (COTER). “This exercise enables us to enhance the work done by these other forces and vice versa.” Article and photos: Guilherme Wiltgen

All three Brazilian armed forces conducted joint exercises with their H225M

in order to increase the interoperability and capabilities of the Brazilian 4 Armed Forces when faced with hybrid threats and their ramifications.

From 28 September to 9 October 2020, the Brazilian and was carried out by crews of the 1st Army Aviation 1: The exercises increased Navy’s 2nd Naval Division and Naval Special Battalion (Brazilian Army) and the 3rd/8th Aviation Group interoperability between troops Operations successfully conducted the joint exercise, (Brazilian Air Force) operating from the Brazilian flagship. and squadrons. Operation Poseidon.The joint exercise was intended to These units operate the same model helicopter as the 26 2: Joint operations 27 foster the interoperability of the Brazilian Armed Forces 2nd General Purpose Helicopter Squadron (HU-2), the demonstrated the H225M’s H225M, which was acquired through a strategic alliance capability for carrying out special operations missions. “Our core operations are based on joint exercises involving entered into between Brazil and France. the Army, Navy and Air Force. In this difficult [year of] 2020, Before the sea phase, Naval Aviation conducted 3: The H225M can operate both deck landing training with the aid of a naval air station from ships and from land, in all weather conditions by day or the Ministry of Defence planned 17 joint operations, which the landing platform, which simulates a ship’s landing deck. by night. Armed Forces have successfully carried out. The same helicopter Holding patterns, approaches, landings and take-offs 4: Its large cabin and heavy-lift was tested by all three Forces and we are operating as one.” were carried out in order to simulate actual shipboard performance enables the H225M General Fernando Azevedo e Silva, operational conditions as closely as possible, aiming to to carry up to 28 troops in cabin the Brazilian Minister of Defence. familiarise crews with operating procedures at sea. seats. 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY BEHIND THE SCENES 1: Ferry flights often have the advantage of showing the helicopter’s operational side to a new owner.

2: The UK team flew in formation over Germany, Luxembourg and France before arriving back in Oxford in the afternoon to deliver the H145s.

FERRY FLIGHTS DELIVER ON A PROMISE

The particular task of delivering new helicopters to their end customers falls to the hands of ferry flight teams, who often convey aircraft across scores of countries, terrain and weather conditions. A look behind the scenes.

Article: Heather Couthaud

Helicopters may need to be ferried to a customer. Often as they become familiar with the machine. And many they’re flown from a port of arrival, as in an aircraft flown times, flights cement relationships. “Some customers by Antonov to Thailand and ferried two hours to its still call me,” says Robert Vincenti. “They were proud to base. In another case, an H225 was ferried from France have flown such a mission. There is a confidence that’s Before the doors close confirm their services would be open. to Tanzania on a 20-stage, 7,700 nautical-mile journey established and they know that if there’s a problem one The above-and-beyond effort meant that the helicopters of thirteen days. day, we’ll be there to help.” on Oxford… literally were delivered to the MoD by the end of May and No matter the distance, flights are meticulously planned through June, ensuring continuity in the country’s training around the helicopter’s autonomy and crew workload. On 24 March 2020, just a week after the UK entered a programme. “There’s no doubt that Airbus Helicopters For multi-day journeys, visas, lodging and transport national lockdown to control the COVID-19 outbreak, UK’s quick actions in getting their personnel into place must be arranged, as well as ground handling and Airbus Helicopters UK (AHUK) faced a problem: four were crucial to avoiding a very difficult situation for ferry maintenance stops. H145s ordered by the Ministry of Defence were ready for flights once the COVID rules kicked in across Europe.

If any of these hits a snag, the delay can lead to © Anthony Pecchi pick-up… in Donauwörth, Germany. I’d like to thank them for going the extra mile and getting repercussions, from having clearances expire, to To meet its contract to deliver four H145s and a 13-year these new helicopters to the UK on time,” said Group missing a weather window. En route to Tanzania, support system to the UK Ministry of Defence, Airbus Captain Chris Mullen, Commandant of No. 1 Flying rigorous planning ensured the crew avoided a severe Helicopters UK needed to send four ferry pilots and three Training School. low pressure area. “There is no improvisation. We must engineers to and from Oxford and Donauwörth at a time “We feel a huge sense of duty to our customers,” says manage flights to this degree,” says Robert Vincenti, an when the pandemic was forcing borders to close and air Colin James, Airbus Helicopters UK Managing Director. 29 28 Airbus Helicopters test pilot. travel to shut down. “The job had to be done, people were willing to do it, and the company did everything it could.” BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRCRAFT GOING THE EXTRA MILE Ferry flights often have the advantage of showing To reduce the risk to the crew and the length of time they the helicopter’s operational side – its endurance, its would be away, the Oxford team hired a private jet to “You must do the maximum to reduce behaviour under various climatic conditions (icing, depart on 30 March and drop them at a municipal airport in the exposure to all sorts of risk, humidity, sand, maritime) – to a new owner. Seeing the Germany. The next day the UK team left Germany, flying in while having an optimum return in machine fly five or six hours at a time is a gauge of its formation over Germany, Luxembourg and France before terms of route, security, and workload.” 1 reliability. Because a customer’s pilots make the flight arriving back in Oxford in the afternoon. En route, they Robert Vincenti, with the Airbus flight crew, it leads to greater assurance refuelled twice, having called the airports shortly before to test pilot at Airbus Helicopters, on ferry flights. 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY PROFILES PROFILES

1 Greg Barton, Durban, which was operated by Starlite Aviation. paramedic with STARS I have always had a passion for the aviation “The H145 is an incredible You never know what you’re going to experience industry, in particular the facilitation of aeromedical platform to work on. The from day to day. The variety comes from the evacuations. When I was offered the opportunity ability of our crews to uncertainty of what we deal with and the to join the Starlite team as the Medical Operations environments we work in. In Calgary, we could Manager, I welcomed it and have been with the provide care is significantly be at 30 degrees Celsius and have to fly into the company since September 2019. improved. And the heater’s mountains and end up at a high altitude where it’s A flight physician or flight paramedic requires all the fantastic! ” zero degrees. necessary qualifications to operate and for those

© STARS Also, we’re working under a running helicopter, working in the field in Mali, a moderately high level 1 so one of the challenges is the exposure to the of physical fitness is necessary, to cope with the elements, not to mention the patient’s exposure extremes of heat, humidity and long hours both in – trying to keep them warm in a time critical the regions in which we operate as well as in the © Starlite circumstance, where cold is actually bad for them. aircraft cabin. On the personal front, you need to The best part is being able to make a profound have excellent crew resource management skills, difference in the lives of so many people. Seeing which go a long way in strengthening the cohesion those survivors validates the hard work we’ve put in of the medical team and flight crews. A good sense and keeps us motivated. of humour definitely helps to pass the time between Most people in the paramedics profession have the call outs. ability not to become nauseated, since we’re trained to work in a ground ambulance. It’s a different environment in a helicopter, where there are so 3 Dr. Karina Flores Rojas, Xxxx xxxx many planes of movement. Medical Director at Eliance Chile I can say without any exaggeration that I absolutely 2 Tabitha Nicholson, adore my job. The possibility of complementing “The extensivexxx experience xxx xxx xxxxx of the medical crew Starlite Medical Manager urgent medical assistance with aerospace medicine I have worked in South Africa and across the African while in the air and saving people’s lives due to Article: xxxx xxxx xx across a diversity of fields continent in various medical roles. As a student, the rapid response provided by aerial resources is enables us to provide the I worked on the Surf Rescue helicopter service in extraordinary. highest level of emergency It’s a job that combines the rush of adrenaline with interventions in the field.” application of medical knowledge and criteria to optimise resources and make decisions to ensure 2 each patient gets the best possible treatment, “It’s a job that combines and all with the ultimate aim of saving their life and the rush of adrenaline with minimising any short- or long-term after-effects. application of medical © Karina Flores Is there a doctor As Medical Director, I consider it essential for 3 knowledge and criteria to medical crew to have a grasp of basic aircraft aerodynamics and operational security, and pilots 30 31 optimise resources and make should also have an understanding of patient care decisions to ensure each onboard? and aerospace medicine. It’s the only way they can patient gets the best possible speak the same language so that each of them treatment.” A quick, accurate and precise decision can understand the tasks the other person has to can save a life when time is running out. perform. For example, a patient may be suffering respiratory Doctors aboard EMS helicopters know insufficiency which could be further complicated everything about the value of the Golden Hour. if we subject the patient to hypoxia, meaning that we may only be able to fly at a certain altitude. It’s Article: B. Morant / H. Couthaud fundamental for pilots to be aware of these factors. 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

FRANCE the cockpit to monitor readings. He controls the also a long-distance champion, capable of crossing 1: Twenty-one tonnes of equipment were moved helicopter with centimetre precision, following Europe in one go in 2 hours 30 minutes. during just 30 minutes of A SUPER PUMA directions given by the assistants. The 80 metre- “In the days leading up to the Paris lift, we were in flight. long sling makes it possible to limit the effects Switzerland, then Munich and finally Birmingham of downdraft. In four double rotations and 30 where we hoisted advertising panels onto building 2: The Maison de la Radio building is very close to IN PARIS minutes of flight, 21 tonnes of equipment have fronts. We left the UK on 23 October on a direct the Eiffel Tower in Paris. been moved. Doing the same job with a crane flight to Issy-les-Moulineaux.” A tour worthy of a would have taken several days and meant rock group, with space in the cabin to transport Fast, powerful and safe, the helicopter is the perfect response to tricky blocking numerous streets. several cubic metres of equipment. “We are very autonomous with our Super Puma,” explains aerial work. This is demonstrated by Heliswiss International’s AS332 AN ACCOMPLISHED ATHLETE Stéphane Thomann before heading back to his base Super Puma C1 which takes to the skies in a flight over Paris. The Super Puma is a true athlete, where discipline in Switzerland. and performance have been pushed to the extreme. Article: Alexandre Marchand – Photos: Iris Yassur In this, it foreshadows the H215, its replacement in the Airbus Helicopters catalogue, with the same optimisation of performance in aerial work. HELISWISS INTERNATIONAL On Saturday, 24 October 2020, the Heliswiss The cabin is completely empty, no upholstery, no International Super Puma leaves the heliport in seats. Weighing 4,533 kg when empty, it has to Heliswiss International has specialised in transporting Issy-les-Moulineaux for Maison de la Radio, a be the lightest helicopter in its family. Certified for a heavy loads for more than 35 years. The company, modern building in the west of Paris, not far from maximum take-off weight of 8.6 tonnes, it’s basically which is part of the Swiss Helicopter Group, currently the Eiffel Tower. The pilot, Stéphane Thomann, capable of lifting the equivalent of its own empty operates three aircraft. The Swiss Helicopter Group openly admits to having visited Paris only twice in weight. Needless to say, the loads lifted in Paris, the itself operates a fleet dominated by Airbus helicopters his life. By following the Seine though, and keeping heaviest of which came in at 3.9 tonnes, were easily (notably H120s and H125s) across 14 bases in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. an eye on the world-famous metal tower rising from within its power. Watch the video here the morning mist ahead, there is almost no chance The most remarkable thing is that this heavy lifter is of him straying off course.

PERFECT CONDITIONS After a five-minute flight, he is in position, in front 2 of the famous circular building. “Four assistants were on site,” explains Stéphane Thomann. “Two on the ground where the load was waiting and two others on the roof, to take delivery.” The day’s mission: lifting new window cleaning platforms onto the roof and removing the old ones, a technique referred to in aerial work jargon as double rotation. For the 44-year-old pilot with 11,000 flight hours under his belt, it’s a simple and straightforward job. Weather conditions are perfect, with unrestricted visibility and a slight breeze. The Super Puma HB-XVY he’s flying 32 33 boasts credentials that are remarkably like his own: the same Swiss nationality, almost identical in age (close to 40 years old) and similar experience (15,000 flight hours). “The Super Puma is really well suited to this work and I have complete faith in the aircraft,” stresses Stéphane Thomann. “In a job like this, it’s vital to trust your helicopter.” Stéphane Thomann is now ready. With his head 1 pressed to the aircraft door, he fixes the ground, glancing only briefly at essential instruments inside 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY SERVICES © J. Deulin © J. AS GOOD AS REAL

Rotor Magazine goes behind the scenes of the construction of the H160 full flight simulator, whose qualification was obtained in summer 2020.

Article: Courtney Woo

When H160 test pilot Olivier Gensse stepped unknowns and many moving pieces,” says Sabrina out of the full flight simulator (FFS) after the final Barbera, head of training and flight operations at practice run and said, “that felt just like the H160,” Airbus Helicopters. “This makes the process a it was music to the ears of the simulator project unique and exciting challenge, which had been team.Today, pilots and synthetics flight instructors done only once before with the H175.” have already begun training in the new H160 1 simulator as they prepare for the entry into service REPRODUCING THE TEST of the helicopter in 2021. PILOT’S REALITY The role of the test pilot, therefore, cannot A PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION be underestimated. The test pilot knows the “Whenever a new helicopter is launched at Airbus, helicopter like a second skin, so if the simulator 2 construction of the FFS begins in parallel so that does not replicate the experience of flying the real pilots can begin simulator training well before the thing to perfection, then it’s not up to snuff. SIMULATION FOR SAFETY actual helicopter enters service,” says Christoph “Throughout the H160 flight test campaign, One of the greatest added-values of simulator Zammert, head of customer support and services Olivier’s team recorded all the data and training from a pilot’s point of view is that you at Airbus Helicopters. manoeuvres that were performed, which we then can experience malfunctions that you could not In the H160’s case, this meant tight collaboration incorporated into the simulator’s software,” says perform in real flight, “performing all the critical among three partners: Airbus Helicopters, Barbera. “We then attempted to perform those failures we would not try to simulate in a real aircraft because the risk is too high, and the which sets the requirements and provides same manoeuvres in the simulator, relying on 1: Gensse spent around value too low,” says Gensse. the H160 software and data; Thales, which software to ensure that our results were as close ten sessions inside the A technological breakthrough on the H160 that produces the hardware, motion, acoustics and as possible to the behaviour of the actual aircraft.” simulator, making sure can be understood with FFS training is the visuals; and Helisim, which runs the training centre “During the ‘flight phase’ of the simulator all his assessments were vortex pre-alerting system, which increases 34 taken into account until 35 in southern France and works with Thales on construction, the question I always asked safety by warning pilots when entering flight he could say he felt like installation. myself was, ‘does this feel like an H160’?” says he was “in an H160”. conditions that could lead to a vortex ring state The team worked side by side with the H160’s Gensse. “The flight test pilot brings an analysis that if immediate action is not taken. The level D engineering department, following the aircraft’s any other pilot wouldn’t have at the beginning of 2: “Pilots can experience how the aircraft feels designation is the when the system kicks in, and when it doesn’t,” entire development so that any design changes the helicopter’s life.” highest level of full flight could be rapidly integrated on the simulator as Complete fidelity is essential for all aspects of a full simulation possible. says Gensse. “If you react, you get the good they arose. flight simulator. For the H160, this means having For certain authorities sensation; if you don’t react, you feel the one hour in a level D difference. So pilots remember that feeling and “Building an FFS concurrently with the actual onboard real Helionix and FADEC, the Airbus simulator can substitute

© E. Raz © E. will avoid getting trapped in real flight.” product is always more complex than building a Helicopters data pack and as much real hardware one hour of flight in the simulator for a finished product. There are more as possible, especially in the cockpit. actual aircraft. 122 - JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY 2021ROTOR - N o. 122 JANUARY THE SCENES.

Times may be challenging, but you can rely on our dedicated team to ensure every one of the countless individuals who depend on us, can rise to that challenge. Because the best air support deserves the best ground support. Our dedication, expertise and determination have contributed to over 100 million hours in the air. And it’s this commitment to teamwork, that makes the team work.

Partnerships. We make it y.

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