DAY 2 March 6, 2019

HAI PUBLICATIONS Convention News

Heli-Expo attendees crowded the Kopter booth on the show’s opening day as CEO Andreas Löwenstein revealed the company’s plan to build new SH09 helicopters for the U.S. market at a former Bell facility in Lafayette, Louisiana. The single-engine SH09 is near design freeze, and certification is planned in 2020. Löwenstein expects more than 50 percent of sales to be in the U.S., and plans call for another factory in Asia to serve those markets. MARIANO ROSALES Industry Pre-owned sales on Kopter lands in Bayou State the rise › page 24

by Curt Epstein OEMs

Swiss OEM Kopter selected Lafayette, Loui- The state initially funded construction proceeding, according to Don Pierson, Lou- Airbus snags major siana, as the location for its U.S. production of the $25.3 million facility, which occupies isiana’s economic development secretary. medevac order › page 3 and service facility, company CEO Andreas nearly 15 acres at Lafayette Regional Air- “We have here a turnkey solution,” said Löwenstein and Louisiana Gov. John Bel port/Paul Fournet Field. While the lease on Löwenstein. “It’s a facility that has been Edwards (D) jointly announced yester- the facility was clear for reassignment, lit- built to assemble and deliver helicopters.” Technology day morning at Heli-Expo 2019. Kopter is igation against the former occupant is still continues on page 30 ASU designs, builds preparing to freeze the design on its large- cabin, single engine SH09 helicopter ahead own NVGs › page 20 of anticipated certification in the second quarter of 2020. Insurance The company expects more than 50 per- Kaman seeks FAA approval cent of its market over the next decade to Rotorcraft coverage come from North America, with orders for costs rising › page 14 25 SH-09s already on the books from U.S. for pilot-optional K-Max customers. Thus, the announcement tracks with its stated intention to have production Kaman aims to have the first pilot-optional Corps in Afghanistan in 2011 to test unmanned Leasing facilities located near its demand centers. A helicopter certified by the FAA, the Con- capabilities in combat zone cargo deliveries. similar facility is also planned for Asia. necticut-based airframer said this week at “It started out as a limited objective experi- Milestone Aviation Kopter will lease an 84,700-sq-ft facility Heli-Expo 2019. It expects to have such a ment and was supposed to fly for 30 days,” diversifying › page 12 from the Lafayette Airport Commission, version of its K-Max heavy-lift helicopter said Romin Dasmalchi, the company’s senior which owns the complex, that was once available for commercial use by 2020. director of business development. “It was occupied by Bell as a planned construction The aircraft, with its unique intermesh- such a resounding success that three years Innovation site for its 505 light single helicopter. Bell ing twin rotors, was first certified in 1994 for later they decided to redeploy back to the U.S. decided to build the 505 at its Mirabel facility manned operations, but two were used in a after the work was done in Afghanistan.” Lord bearings planned in Canada, leaving the Louisiana site fallow. demonstration project by the U.S. Marine continues on page 30 for AS350 › page 21 STORY INDEX Aero Asset...... 24 Aero Products...... 18 Airbus Air Methods...... 29 Airbus Helicopters...... 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 23 Aircraft Belts Inc...... 22 embraces Astronautics...... 12 Astronics Corp...... 2 Av-Base Systems ...... 25 big data Aviation Search Group...... 12 Aviation Specialties Unlimited...... 20 by Mark Huber Bell ...... 4, 28 Blue Sky Network...... 22 Airbus Helicopters (Booth C305) is Brightwater Aviation...... 29 embracing big data. On Tuesday, the com- Dallas Airmotive...... 11 pany announced a pair of deals to speed Dart Aerospace...... 22, 28 the flow of real-time data from its helicop- Enstrom Helicopter...... 3 ter to the ground and then have that data GPMS...... 28 expeditiously analyzed post-flight. Helicopter Insurance...... 14 Airbus signed a letter of intent (LOI) HeliOffshore...... 8

with Skytrac that will enable Airbus heli- MARIANO ROSALES HeliSpeed...... 22 copters equipped with Skytrac equip- Airbus Helicopters and Skytrac Systems signed a letter of intent for Skytrac’s airborne HFI ...... 20 Hillsboro Aviation...... 16 ment to transmit flight data directly to transmission of flight data to Airbus ground servers. Honeywell Aerospace...... 22 Airbus’ ground servers for analysis. The IDAG...... 3 data will be pooled with data collected as ISEI Helicom, the Appareo 1000 flight JetNet...... 6 from other sources to assist Airbus in data recorder, and the Outerlink Iris data Kaman...... 1 refining its analytics and thus optimizing recorder. Data includes altitude, ground Kopter...... 1 costs and reliability. speed, vertical speed, and engine param- Leonardo Helicopters...... 22, 23, 24, 31 According to Airbus, about 600 heli- eters. It is then augmented with weather Lord Corp...... 21 copters are currently sharing flight and data and sky conditions. The app also per- Luxaviation Helicopters...... 23 maintenance data with the helicopter forms a confidence check for each event Macquarie Group...... 6 manufacturer across virtually all models. assessing the reliability of the data. Mecaer Aviation Group...... 18 “By opening new pathways and collec- Flight Analyser users are given access to Metro Aviation...... 18 tively pooling the rich data available, we dashboards that are updated post-flight. SIEBENMARK JERRY Milestone Aviation...... 12 help operators gain greater visibility into The output can be used in a safety manage- This Sikorsky S-92 heavy twin is OPS Inc...... 12 their day-to-day operations and access ment system to support decision-­making. Everett Aviation’s first, and it is on Phoenix Heli-Flight...... 26 new tools and analytics for pilot and crew,” “We’re helping our customers uncover display at Sikorsky’s booth at Heli- Precision Aviation Group...... 18 said Stephanie Bonnefoy-Fourie, Airbus issues that would have been near impos- Expo 2019. Robinson Helicopter...... 31 Rolls-Royce...... 24 Helicopters head of connected services. sible to see in the raw data,” said Gilles Schweizer...... 3 Concurrent with its LOI with Sky- Bruniaux, Airbus Helicopters’ head of avi- Sikorsky...... 30 trac, Airbus officially launched its Flight ation safety. “Being able to make sense of Tanzania’s Everett Universal Avionics...... 22 Analyser application that evaluates data this rich data and learn from it represents Aviation taking Van Horn Aviation...... 26 from a variety of onboard sources such another step forward for safety.” n delivery of S-92 East African aircraft operator Ever- ett Aviation has acquired its first Sikorsky S-92, with the heavy twin on display this week at Heli-Expo 2019 (Booth B2507), the fixed- and rotary-wing provider announced. “Many countries across sub-Saha- ran Africa are seeing a tremendous boom in infrastructure and civil engineering projects and our new S-92 is ideally suited to supporting those missions,” CEO Simon Ever- ett said. The helicopter will be the larg- est of its type to operate in his company’s region, so the S-92 will bring a unique capability to its fleet. Everett will take delivery of the 19-seat helicopter in mid-April and will initially base the S-92 at its headquarters facility in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Everett, which is nearly 23 years old, offers offshore and onshore crew transportation, search and rescue, medevac, external load,

MARIANO ROSALES aerial survey, and VIP transpor- tation. Its customers represent Helmet heaven for rotorheads energy, government, and other Gearing up for helicoptering is not only an important element of participation in the rotorcraft industry but it’s also fun, and the crew at Flight commercial sectors. J.S. Helmets understands that pilots like shopping for accessories almost as much as flying.

2 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com AIRBUS H125 MARIANO ROSALES Enstrom Helicopter announced an updated version of the 280FX at its booth yesterday at Heli-Expo 2019 and handed over the keys to French flight school Golf Tango. Air Medical Group orders 21 Enstrom unveils refreshed 280FX single Airbus H125s and H135s Enstrom Helicopter (Booth B2624) with illuminated control panel, and rede- revealed several enhancements to its signed avionics and switch console. by Mark Huber 280FX light piston single on Tuesday at The cabin doors and collective upgrades Heli-Expo 2019. In addition, the initial mimic what is found on Enstrom’s larger Air Medical Group Holdings (AMGH) placed Response (GMR). AMGH is one of Airbus refreshed 280FX will be delivered to the turbine 480B. “This mirrors our 480 collec- an order for 21 new Airbus Helicopters H125 Helicopters’ largest customers, with a cur- Menominee, Michigan-based company’s tive system, so for pilots that are training singles and H135 light twins for delivery over rent Airbus fleet of nearly 85 helicopters. first French customer in years. “We look in this, when they go to the turbine aircraft, the course of the next three years, the heli- Fred Buttrell, AMGH president and forward to the first of many new Enstroms it’s going to be a real natural transition,” copter manufacturer announced yesterday CEO, said the new helicopters would be going into France,” said director of sales Martin said. at Heli-Expo 2019. AMGH operates a fleet of used for fleet replacement. More than and marketing Dennis Martin. In other news, Enstrom also more than 306 helicopters and 100 airplanes 700 of the latest version of the H125 are France-based Golf Tango, a flight announced a new authorized service from 320 bases nationwide under six subsid- currently in operation around the world. training school, will take delivery of the center in France, Copter & Boat’s Dream, iaries—Air Evac Lifeteam, Guardian Flight, In North America, the H125 is built by first upgraded 280FX, which features which Martin said has been servicing Med-Trans, REACH, AirMed International, Airbus Helicopters Inc.’s facilities in redesigned cabin doors with an exter- Enstroms for a long time. “But now it’s and EagleMed. Columbus, Mississippi. To date, the more nal hinge, improved LED forward and aft going to have the full support backing of In 2018, the company merged with than 1,300 H135s in service at 300 oper- landing lights, a new collective design the factory,” he added. J. S. ground ambulance operator American Med- ators in 60 countries have accumulated ical Response (AMR) to form Global Medical five million flight hours. n

Schweizer secures $11M fleet order from IDAG by Jerry Siebenmark

International Defense and Aerospace Pennsylvania-based IDAG currently has Group (IDAG) has signed an $11 million a fleet of more than 30 S300s, as well deal to buy 25 Schweizer S300CBi heli- as an existing company fleet of more copters, less than two weeks after IDAG than 50 primary, advanced, and tacti- bought the former Bristow Academy, Sch- cal training aircraft, including UH-60 weizer announced yesterday at Heli-Expo Black Hawks. “This purchase allows us 2019. Fort Worth, Texas-based Schweizer to deploy assets across multiple satellite (Booth C2802) said the deal marks the locations as we look to expand opera- first commercial sale of the S300CBi since tions” inside and outside of the conti- it purchased the helicopter line from nental U.S., Caldwell added. Sikorsky last year. In late February, IDAG purchased “With our multiple flight training USATS from a group of private investors, operations in Europe and with our who purchased the flight training school recent acquisition of United States Avi- in 2017 from the financially challenged ation Training Solutions (USATS) in offshore operator Bristow Group.

Titusville, Florida, IDAG is the largest Schweizer said S300CBi deliveries to MARIANO ROSALES Schweizer operator worldwide,” IDAG IDAG are scheduled to begin in the third The classic S300 got a new lease on life when Fort Worth, Texas-based Schweizer bought the chief executive Robert Caldwell said. quarter of 2020. n line from Sikorsky last year. IDAG has placed a big order for 25 of the S300CBi models.

ainonline.com \ March 6, 2019 \ HAI Convention News 3 equipment on all new-build H125s world- Airbus lowers prices for wide by 2020. H125s currently assembled by Airbus in Columbus, Mississippi, are HAI already equipped with CRFS, and the H130 Convention News has come standard with CRFS since 2012. JAMES HOLAHAN (1921-2015), FOUNDING EDITOR crash-resistant fuel system WILSON S. LEACH, MANAGING DIRECTOR “As an OEM it is our responsibility to EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – Matt Thurber by Mark Huber take the lead on safety,” said Chris Emerson, PRESS ROOM EDITOR – Kerry Lynch president of Airbus Helicopters Inc. “We’re PRESS ROOM MANAGING EDITOR – Chad Trautvetter Airbus Helicopters will make a retro- The company is also offering training looking to incentivize our customers. It costs THE EDITORIAL TEAM fit crash-resistant fuel system (CRFS) credits to customers who purchase CRFS money to take an aircraft out of service.” Curt Epstein Kim Rosenlof available for its AS350B3 and EC130B4 retrofits from third-party providers for ear- Airbus Helicopters has been a defen- Mark Huber Jerry Siebenmark single-engine models for the first time, lier H125 variants, including B2 and earlier dant in several lawsuits for post-crash fires Guillaume Lecompte-Boinet James Wynbrandt will lower the price of the CRFS, and models. Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno involving its aircraft. Most recently it was R. Randall Padfield Annmarie Yannaco will provide customers who have already Even said it was the company’s “duty” to party to a $100 million settlement involving Mark Phelps purchased the CRFS at a higher price for increase the safety of its helicopters. the crash of a 2013 AS350B3e in Colorado. GROUP PRODUCTION MANAGER – Tom Hurley other models of Airbus H125 helicopters Any Airbus H125 or H130 family model The NTSB found that the lack of a CRFS on PRODUCTION EDITOR – Martha Jercinovich GRAPHIC DESIGNERS – John Manfredo, Grzegorz Rzekos a credit for the price difference, the com- can be retrofitted with a CRFS either that helicopter contributed to the severity PHOTOGRAPHER – Mariano Rosales pany announced yesterday at Heli-Expo. through Airbus or a third-party pro- of the injuries of one of the survivors whose – Michael Giaimo Kits for the B3 and B4 will be available for vider, based on model, and Airbus said it body was burned more than 90 percent in LEAD DEVELOPER DEVELOPERS – Nathan Douglas, Ryan Koch customers beginning in early 2020. expects to have CRFS as factory-standard the post-crash fire. n GROUP PUBLISHER – Dave Leach ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER – Nancy O’Brien ADVERTISING SALES Georges France – Western Europe “We needed that space and we needed a Tel: +33 6 80 21 17 93 good partner that we could trust to operate Melissa Murphy – Midwestern U.S. Bell approves 1st U.S. trainer Tel: +1 (830) 608-9888 with our logo, and take over some of our leg- Nancy O’Brien – Western U.S./Western Canada/Asia Pacific by Curt Epstein acy aircraft business,” said Nelson. Tel: +1 (530) 241-3534 “For an organization like Bell-Textron Anthony T. Romano – Northeastern U.S./Eastern Canada/ Mexico/Brazil Tel: +1 (203) 470-4957 Flight training provider Universal Heli- recurrent courses. It will have access and to partner with a small company like mine Joe Rosone – Southeastern, Mid-Atlantic U.S./Middle East copters (UHI) has been named as the first employee training on Bell’s training reg- is very unique,” said UHI president and Tel: +1 (301) 693-4687 Bell-approved and certified training facil- istration system, as well as the use of Bell CEO Gordon Jiroux, who has operated the Diana Scogna – Italy/Northern Europe/Middle East Tel: +33 6 62 52 25 47 ity in the U.S. In addition, UHI will take Training Academy 206B simulators. model since the 1980s. “The part about Bell Victoria Tod – Great Lakes U.S./United Kingdom over Bell’s recurrent and ab initio flight “We found the ultimate partner to take that seems to stand out is they truly want a Tel: +1 (203) 733-4184 training for the 206B starting next month. over some of our legacy training, specifically partner—they­ don’t just want a contractor.” Yury Laskin – Russia Tel: +7 05 912 1346 Arizona-based UHI is establishing a pilot training on the 206B,” said Sam Nel- UHI (Booth C4623) will base its two AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – Jeff Hartford new 8,000-sq-ft Bell-centric training son, Bell’s general manager for global cus- 206Bs at the Dallas facility, one of which MARKETING AND CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER facility in a refurbished hangar at Dallas tomer training and head of the Bell Training is on display at Heli-Expo. – Lisa Valladares Executive Airport, near the airframer’s Academy. He explained that as Bell contin- Between its locations in Scottsdale and MANAGER OF ONSITE LOGISTICS – Philip Scarano III ONSITE PRODUCTION – Zach O’Brien training academy, where it will perform ues to develop and deliver new helicopter Prescott Ariz.; Waco, Texas; and Provo, SALES COORDINATOR – Nadine Timpanaro training using a Bell approved syllabus models, it is looking to offload the training Utah, the company has 55 helicopters in SALES ADMINISTRATOR – Cindy Nesline and training manuals for the initial and for some of its out-of-production models. its training fleet. n DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES – Michele Hubert ACCOUNTING MANAGER – Marylou Moravec ACCOUNTS PAYABLE – Mary Avella ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – Bobbie Bing

U.S. HEADQUARTERS: 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432 +1 (201) 444-5075 Advertising Inquiries: +1 (201) 345-0085 [email protected] Circulation Inquiries: +1 (201) 345-0085 [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C. EDITORIAL OFFICE: Kerry Lynch (business aviation) [email protected] +1 (703) 969-9195 EUROPEAN EDITORIAL OFFICE: Ian Sheppard; [email protected] Hangar 9, Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey RH1 5JY, UK Tel: +44 1737 821409 Mobile: +44 7759 455770

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THE CONVENTION NEWS COMPANY, INC. AIN PUBLICATIONS EXECUTIVE TEAM Wilson Leach Jennifer Leach English Matt Thurber Dave Leach MARIANO ROSALES Michele Hubert Nancy O’Brien Avatar in Atlanta? Printed by Geographics Inc., Atlanta GA Looking like a futuristic aerial transport that got lost on its way to the planet Pandora (from the movie Avatar), Bell’s Nexus eVTOL is draw- ing a consistent crowd at this year’s Heli-Expo. The full-scale Nexus display builds on the fuselage mockup that Bell unveiled last year and features a central wing, integrated landing skids, and a modified V tail topped by a short horizontal stabilizer. PUBLICATIONS

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JETSUPPORT.COM declined to 78 percent from 94 percent to 100 percent as late as the 2013-2015 period, and that weighted average lease terms were down to just 2.2 years from 3.1 at the end of 2016. In 2016, Waypoint was leasing 121 air- craft that generated $135 million in annual revenues; by November 2018 it was leas- ing 165 aircraft that produced just $106 million in annual revenues. In its bank- ruptcy papers, the company acknowl- edges, “The strain on the company’s net revenue has been further exacerbated by the debtor’s extensive orderbook obliga- tions,” noting that it has made $19 mil- lion in payments on obligations of $35 An unsettled million in pre-order payments out of a oil-and-gas total of $175 million in remaining obli- industry has gated pre-order payments. upset the Through October, the company had rotorcraft assets of $1.62 billion, largely in the form leasing market. of aircraft, and liabilities of $1.23 billion, a goodly part of that multiple nine-figure­ loans from the world’s largest banks including SunTrust and Wells Fargo Waypoint’s helicopter fleet consisted in the U.S., BNP Paribas in France, and Macquarie’s Waypoint buy of 25 heavies, three super-mediums, 73 Sumitomo Mitsui’s Brussels branch. The mediums, 41 intermediates, and 23 lights company was founded in 2013 with $375 divided across 17 different models and million in seed money from investment doubles its leased fleet four OEMs with an approximate book entities controlled by billionaires Michael value of $1.5 billion. Sikorsky accounted Dell and George Soros, along with Carte- by Mark Huber for 40 percent, Leonardo 33 percent, Air- sian Capital. bus Helicopters 24 percent, and Bell 3 Waypoint began looking for a way out Australia-based Macquarie Group’s pur- grounding of helicopters in the EC225 percent. Waypoint’s leases require all as early as 2016. An attempt to sell the chase agreement to buy the assets of family, and was the final straw on the customers to enroll their helicopters in business to an unnamed Chinese entity Waypoint Leasing (Booth C2014) for $650 back of financially strapped CHC; it filed hourly maintenance programs. The heav- “at a premium to book value” failed after million provides a lifeline for the helicop- for bankruptcy protection one week later. ies included six Airbus H225s that cost a 14-month dance. It received a settle- ter lessor that filed for bankruptcy pro- The helicopter services business, whose Waypoint $156 million for which it has not ment from Airbus related to the H225 tection in late November. The agreement, fortunes are tightly tied to those of off- been able to find homes after the Turoy groundings and a modest capital infu- proposed in December, represents a deep shore energy exploration and recovery, accident. “There is currently little to no sion from investors. Earlier this year it discounting of Waypoint’s fleet of 165 had been under stress since 2014. Even demand for the H225 model aircraft from attempted to negotiate for better terms, helicopters, which the company valued so, the CHC financial reorganization plan the debtor’s customer base,” the bank- including repayment forbearances, with at $1.5 billion in bankruptcy papers filed. was breathtaking in scope: CHC turned ruptcy filing notes. its two dozen lenders and to implement Macquarie plans to combine Waypoint’s back 90 of its 230 helicopters to creditors Weak energy prices, coupled with an internal economies, but as energy prices rotorcraft assets with its own. within the first 60 days and another 65 in aggressive expansion plan, threw Way- failed to hold, not even this was suffi- A diversified global leasing company 2017. Helicopters returned within the first point into a sea of financially toxic math. cient. Last summer the company again with $381 billion worth of assets under 60 days included Airbus EC155 (1), AS332s Waypoint noted that its overall revenues put itself up for sale and also prepared management, Macquarie is mainly in (18), H225s (20); Finmeccanica (Leonardo) declined by 12 percent between 2016 for bankruptcy, as a means of facilitating the commercial aviation and rail sectors. AW139s (19); and Sikorsky S-76s (16) and and 2017, that fleet utilization rates had the sales process. n It entered the rotorcraft sector in 2013 S-92s (16). Of the 230 helicopters in CHC’s with the launch of U.S.-based Macquarie fleet, 153 were leased; 44 from Waypoint, Rotorcraft Leasing. according to documents in the latter’s Macquarie’s acquisition of Waypoint November 2018 bankruptcy filing. The is expected to close in the first quarter, CHC bankruptcy cost Waypoint $45 mil- JetNet beefs up market report features subject to bankruptcy court and regula- lion in annual revenues and saddled it with tory approval. Waypoint will continue to another $28.4 million in associated costs. Business aviation information provider company noted. Another new function operate in the ordinary course of business JetNet (Booth B6735) will demonstrate lets users compare three aircraft makes until financial close with the assistance Offshore Sector Dominates Fleet new report software customization and models on the same range map, as of $45 million of debtor-in-possession Before filing bankruptcy, CHC was 53 per- features here at Heli-Expo. “Our new well as details key flight utilization infor- financing provided by existing lenders. cent of Waypoint’s business, accounting features will increase professionals’ mation. It also includes a dashboard that The Waypoint acquisition would more for $75 million in annual revenue. Way- productivity and improve their client shows the market absorption rate. than double Macquarie’s existing rotor- point noted that the CHC helicopters decision-making,” said JetNet market- JetNet’s Market Report offers 20 craft fleet. Stephen Cook, Macquarie’s turned back to it were maintained by ing director Mike Foye. “Nearly all of our pages of information, including model global head of transportation finance, CHC’s Heli-One division and in many improvements are based on client and specifications, range maps, fleet com- said the purchase of Waypoint places cases “are in need of significant repair.” industry input, so we are providing tools position, market characteristics and Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing “to be a Waypoint’s remaining large offshore our users want and need.” insight, buying habits, and sales trends. pre-­eminent provider of helicopter leas- customers include Bristow Group and Additions to JetNet’s popular Market The company said its helicopter data- ing and financing products.” Babcock. Altogether, the offshore sector Reports will allow subscribers to custom- base has information on nearly 32,000 Waypoint’s autorotation into the accounts for 73 percent of Waypoint’s ize their reports for clients and internal in-service airframes worldwide, transac- billion-dollar­ bankruptcy was acceler- aircraft value. By the time Waypoint filed users by selecting which parameters to tions for more than 52,000 retail heli- ated when on April 29, 2016 a CHC Air- bankruptcy in November 2018, 35 of its display while incorporating their logos copter sales over the past two decades, bus EC225 shed its main rotor hub and 165 helicopters were parked. Five more and brands. The new features were in addition to 12 makes and 143 models fell out of the sky over Turoy, Norway. aircraft had been scheduled to come off designed for formal presentations, the of turbine and piston airplanes. J.S. The crash killed 13, lead to the worldwide lease by the end of 2018.

6 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com IN THE U.S.

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14043_AIR_352x275_50_Years_of_Airbus_AIN_HAI_Show_Daily_1.1.indd 1 26/02/2019 11:03 HeliOffshore places focus on data-centric strategies by Ian Sheppard

In less than five years, offshore helicopter views HTAWS (helicopters terrain aware- association HeliOffshore has gathered 116 ness and warning systems) as a key tool for member companies, including 44 opera- driving operational effectiveness and has tors, to work together on a number of been “working with regulators, including fronts to raise the safety level of an indus- the CAA, EASA, and the FAA, over the last try that has suffered some high-­profile couple of years. We believe we can opti- losses at sea over the past decades. It mize the warning and alerts using offshore started in October 2014 when the five larg- flight paths,” said Haskins. CityAirbus UAM preps for flight this spring est offshore helicopter operators (Avincis, The organization is collaborating Bristow Group, CHC Helicopter, Era, and with OEMs, regulators, and operators to Airbus Helicopters (Booth C305) recently The flight-test campaign will comprise PHI) stopped competing among them- advance a new set of parameters more completed ground testing for its CityAir- automatic takeoff, acceleration, and flying selves on safety and formed HeliOffshore. suited to offshore operations (rather than bus urban air mobility (UAM) technology at cruise speed. Engineers will start at 50 fixed-wing operations). Through these demonstrator and is progressing toward km/h (27 kt) speed and steadily increase parameters, “we can get another 30 sec- first flight this spring. to 80 km/h. “The final commercial vehicle onds of warning” in some cases—as shown The CityAirbus demonstrator is part of will have a cruise speed of 120 km/h with by test pilots in simulators, Haskins said. an Airbus strategy to explore the potential a 30 km range,” said Bebesel. The OEMs have begun incorporat- of UAM by pushing the limits of technology Takeoff weight of the demonstrator is ing the new HTAWS approach in their in the fields of connectivity, artificial intelli- around 2.2 tonnes, while the final vehicle Gretchen software, and Leonardo and Airbus have gence, autonomous systems, and electric will weight around 1.8 to 1.9 tonnes. Price Haskins, already carried out flight test, said Haskins. propulsion. Developed at Airbus Helicop- target is less than €1 million ($1.129 million) HeliOffshore “The first helicopter to benefit is likely to ters’ factory in Donauwörth, Germany, the per vehicle. CEO be the Leonardo AW139 midway through four-seat, electrically powered, eight-rotor The main challenge for Airbus, however, this year,” she said. (Leonardo is working aircraft can take off and land vertically. It is lies in safely integrating this new class of on the AW189 too, while Airbus has been designed to transport passengers in fully vehicles in the urban environment and in [HeliOffshore developing it for the H225 and H175, Bell automated flight in large cities to major the airspace. A proof of concept ready for has been] hopes to incorporate it for the produc- destinations via fixed routes, such as from commercial operation is scheduled for 2020, tion-standard 525, and Sikorsky is looking the city center to the airport. though the commercial entry-in-service could working with at it for the S-92.) Ground-run tests started February 4. take place in the middle of the next decade. regulators, including “The specification was created with the Following a first takeoff and short station- Airbus created a new UAM Unit in June UK CAA so it wouldn’t [belong] to any ary flight in Donauwörth, the next step 2018 to host its on-going UAM activities the CAA, EASA, and one supplier,” she said. Honeywell has will be the first flight of the demonstrator, across the company, from CityAirbus to the FAA, over the last been active in the development, as have said Marius Bebesel, responsible for the Voom, an on-demand helicopter mobility other avionics suppliers such as Garmin CityAirbus project. Bebesel estimated that service in Brazil and Mexico. Airbus A3 in couple of years. and Thales of France. “It’s meant to be a flight might be completed between April Silicon Valley is developing a single-seat, We believe we can level playing field for anyone to be able to and May in Manching, another Airbus facil- electrically powered aircraft equipped adopt and share—it really is a joint effort,” ity in Germany. with rotors and tilt-wings G.L.B. optimize the warning said Haskins, who said EASA’s accident and alerts using database was particularly useful in iden- offshore flight paths.” tifying which improvements would have the greatest impact on improving safety. Gretchen Haskins was selected to lead In addition, the International Associa- design out the top RTB factors,” she said. ensure pilots can more easily and efficiently the London-based association as CEO, tion of Oil & Gas Producers have signed Alcock further pointed out that HeliOff- transfer between helicopter types. having been group director of safety at a letter of intent to support the initiative. shore’s Helicopter Safety Intelligence Haskins said HeliOffshore is also sup- the UK CAA and before that a similar role Program is “proving very powerful, as it porting an initiative to improve crew sit- at ATC provider NATS. Cooperation on Data gives a way of measuring that things are uational awareness at sea, for example, to Speaking to AIN ahead of Heli-Expo In addition to collaborating on HTAWS working, and helps to illustrate the busi- avoid “wrong-deck landings.” Part of this 2019, Haskins reflected on the achieve- parameters, Haskins noted, “operators ness case for more people to implement is installing low-cost ADS-B transmitters, ments to date in moving toward its stated and manufacturers are sharing data on the changes.” which also allows data to be sent to heli- goal: no lives lost in offshore operations. an unprecedented scale.” HeliOffshore As the oil-and-gas market recovers and copters about local weather, rig IDs, etc. Given that the key stakeholders in the has identified several target areas where the offshore helicopter fleet grows with Heli-Expo has served as a venue to sup- oil-and-gas sector are collaborating on it can exploit this to garner better under- a greater number of operations, HeliOff- port many of the HeliOffshore initiatives. safety now, the association is taking a standing, the two key ones being approach shore believes that incorporating some of Haskins mentioned the Hazard Analysis data-driven approach so it can measure path management (APM)—leading to the the safety best practice from the airline Workshop and a Poker Night sponsored by safety improvements. creation of new APM guidelines—and the world, adapted for offshore operations, can Milestone on the eve of Heli-Expo. This is “We have two key work-streams: the second being flight data monitoring “to not only prevent a degradation of the acci- the third year for the event. The proceeds first relating to the reliability of the heli- see how it’s working in the real world.” dent and incident rates but also completely of the night (over $50,000) go to support copter itself and performance in safety-­ Another major initiative for HeliOff- revolutionize the level of safety. HeliOffshore’s work, with winners able to critical conditions, and the second being shore is its return-to-base (RTB) study. It is also about efficiency and having choose the specific projects. “Three years operational effectiveness—managing the “We want pilots to RTB if there’s any sign the operators buy in to the real benefits. ago, funds went to human factors in main- flight path and making sure you don’t hit of a problem,” said Haskins. Because the To this end HeliOffshore has been work- tenance, and this allowed us to engage anything,” Haskins said. evidence is that pilots do have good judg- ing on greater standardization of training world-class experts in human factors.” A ment on this, the main focus is on fixing and Flight Crew Operating Manuals as focus was to avoid errors that could lead HTAWS Parameters for Offshore Ops the root causes to avoid scenarios that well, “another thing we have learned from to single-point failures, in particular tak- “A snapshot of how HeliOffshore works is would necessitate an RTB. “At Heli-Expo the fixed-wing world,” noted Haskins. She ing feedback from operators. HTAWS,” added HeliOffshore communica- [2019] we will have a very important con- added that the helicopter manufacturers are The Helioffshore Conference & AGM will tions director Charles Alcock. HeliOffshore versation on actions that can be taken to due to meet later this year to discuss ways to take place May 3-6 in Athens, Greece. n

8 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com

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Kaman AIN 1P.indd 13 2/20/19 10:19 AM Airbus Helicopters remains upbeat on industry’s future by Guillaume Lecompte-Boinet

Airbus Helicopters (Booth C305) predicts But a dark cloud still hangs over the oil- the rotorcraft market will grow 2 percent and-gas segment. “In the past, operators to 5 percent over the next few years, bought new helicopters to expand their even if the oil-and-gas segment remains fleets. Now it’s a replacement market uncertain. According to an internal study, that is facing oversupply, especially in the the company expects delivery of nearly heavy segment that will take at least two

22,000 helicopters worth nearly $142 bil- to three years to be absorbed,” he noted. MARIANO ROSALES lion in all market segments by 2036. In fact, most of the company’s orders While 1,350 helicopters were delivered over the past two years for its Super Puma much more dynamic for Airbus Helicop- potential for Airbus Helicopters, despite industry-wide last year, “This level is below family came from other markets, such as ters. In the U.S. and Europe, this segment legal or technical restraints in these the 2013 to 2014 period, but the market is the military sector. Last year, Airbus Heli- is a replacement market; but in Asia, it is a countries. Much of the airspace has yet quite dynamic,” said David Prevor, head of copters received orders for only 17 H225s less mature market that could be a boon for to be opened to civil operators in China, marketing at the Franco-German helicop- versus 54 in 2017. several of the company’s models. where pilot supply and training issues ter manufacturer. In 2013, the entire indus- Still, some of these replacement orders “The light single-engine H125/130 is also exist. “It depends on a new aviation try shipped around 2,100 new helicopters. could benefit its medium-twin models— doing well in the U.S. market for primary ecosystem being built in China,” said Airbus accounted for about a third of the the H175 and not-yet-certified H160. Mex- EMS missions—patient transport from Prevor. “But this market is clearly the overall helicopter deliveries last year, ship- ican oil-and-gas operator Transportes the accident scene to the hospital,” noted future of our growth.” ping 356 rotorcraft, down 13 percent from Aéreos Pegaso has signed for an addi- Prevor. Its H135/145 light twins and H160 On the military side, 2018 has been “a the 409 units it handed over in 2017. Billings tional H175, bringing its firm order for the are better suited for secondary missions, very good year,” said Prevor. Worldwide at the company fell 6 percent year-over-year, model to four. However, Airbus inked just meaning hospital-to-hospital transport defense market share outside of the U.S. to $6.73 billion, in the same time frame. four orders for this model last year, com- of patients. EMS operator Metro Aviation has more than doubled in recent years, Despite this, gross orders climbed 18 percent pared with 19 in 2017. It has a backlog of placed an order for 25 H145e helicopters surging from 12 percent to 25 percent. This year-over-year, to 413 units. “This increase is about 100 H175s remain unchanged from last February for this purpose. is partially thanks to the order from Tur- a positive signal, which allows us to be con- last March. Emerging markets, which includes key for 16 H225s and 20 H145Ms, the latter fident about the future,” said Prevor. On a brighter note, the EMS market is China and India, also hold great with HForce weapon management. n BIGGER. Increased Capabilities BETTER. Faster Turn Times BOLDER. Enhanced Customer Service

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10 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com maintenance. This is not just in firefighting, but other sectors such as air tour, he added. Hagen to expand Dallas Airmotive support Hagen joins Dallas Airmotive as it recently completed a consolidation that by Kerry Lynch brought four locations together into a sin- gle 220,000-sq-ft engine maintenance and Dallas Airmotive has reinforced its the asset resources on hand, such as engine flying more, particularly as the firefighting testing facility at Dallas-Fort Worth Interna- reach in the Western U.S., bring- rentals, that will reduce downtime. season has lengthened. “The work is com- tional Airport. The location employs more ing on board rotorcraft engine Hagen is optimistic about the opportu- ing back and people are flying again,” he than 400 and houses a half-dozen test cells maintenance veteran Charles nities for growth as helicopters have begun said, adding this has increased the need for and extensive testing equipment. n “Chuck” Hagen. With 25 years of maintenance experience, Hagen was last year’s HAI Rolls-Royce Excellence in Helicopter Main- tenance Award recipient, recog- nizing his accomplishment in managing and supporting heli- copter maintenance operators around the world. He had spent more than 20 years of his time with AeroMari- time. The jump to Dallas Airmo- tive shifts his territories more toward the Western half of the For missions U.S. Hagen formerly handled a lot of business on the East Coast, but for Dallas Airmotive, his accomplished focus is on the southwest U.S., along with states in the Moun- Whatever the missions, whatever the times, tain region and Alaska. wherever the places, we’ll get you where you’re going.

Dallas Airmotive has hired rotorcraft engine maintenance veteran Charles “Chuck” Hagen.

Mark Stubbs, chief commercial officer of BBA’s Global Engines Services, which includes Dal- las Airmotive plus H+S Aviation, praised Hagen’s dedication to solu- tion-based services for operators. For Hagen, the move to Dallas Airmotive enables him to expand his support for customers. He noted that Dallas Airmotive’s breadth of services across mul- tiple engine platforms enables him to serve as a single point of contact for customers that oper- ate a range of aircraft, as well as continue to support the single-­ aircraft operator. Along with accommodating a wider variety of engines models, he said he is able to offer more extensive services, such as an Join our event on Kopter booth B4016 at 12:00 on 5 March. array of inspections, and partic- ularly important to operators is

ainonline.com \ March 6, 2019 \ HAI Convention News 11 News Clips ASG Recruits 200 Helo Pilots for Clients Aviation Search Group (ASG) has directly placed more than 200 helicopter pilots with operators across the globe despite an industry-wide shortage that began four years ago, the company announced yesterday at Heli-Expo 2019. “Our proprietary IQR Process, along with our 20 years of experience in this industry, ensures we find people to not just fill an open position, but to grow with a company long term,” said ASG managing director Brad Stemmler. Based in Texas, ASG (Booth C2429) is a direct-hire and executive and technical professionals recruitment firm specializing in the aviation industry. In addition to helicopters, it works with clients in commercial, corporate, and general aviation, as well as defense. MILESTONE AVIATION MILESTONE Milestone Aviation Group has seen growth in the VIP and emergency medical services markets while a recovering offshore market remains Tests Prove Efficacy of challenging, CEO Greg Conlon said. Astronautics Wireless Comm Initial ground tests of the Astronautics (Booth C2028) wireless airborne communication system (wACS) were Milestone diversifies to counter oil decline recently completed on Airbus Helicopters’ H145 prototype. During these tests, wACS by Jerry Siebenmark collected and transmitted data wirelessly via cellular and Wi-Fi from the helicopter Helicopter lessor Milestone Aviation’s The remainder of its lease transactions diversification of its portfolio since the to the wACS ground system. The system top executive looks to the rotorcraft leas- last year, almost $600 million, was new downturn, such as in VIP and HEMS. “We’re also enables operators to securely push ing market in 2019 as “a recovering but capital Milestone used for what it called seeing more growth in search and rescue,” data—configuration, navigation databases, challenged market,” president and CEO key strategic projects, including the pur- Conlon added. “That’s a bigger piece, both flight plans, and so on—to the aircraft. Greg Conlon told AIN at Heli-Expo 2019. chase of 21 Leonardo AW139s and five municipal work, and private-party work.” “This successful ground test was a great And Conlon doesn’t see a return to the Airbus H145s for Saudi Aramco’s fleet Demand for new helicopters in the off- accomplishment for both Astronautics offshore industry’s seemingly insatiable renewal plan, as well as H145s and Leon- shore sector should resume longer term and Airbus teams,” said Ed Callahan, appetite for helicopters before the down- ardo AW169s for helicopter emergency but not with the same exuberance as Astronautics director of connected turn in oil and gas prices. medical services (HEMS). before. “We think there’s growth in the aircraft solutions. “The entire system “We saw examples where certain end What once accounted for as much as 80 space, over the five-, 10-year period,” he was tested from end-to-end, from the users had a need for maybe three or four percent of Milestone’s business—leasing said. “We think there is going to be con- airborne hardware to the secure ground helicopters,” he said. “They leased five or of helicopters for oil and gas exploration— tinued oil and gas exploration.” system, enabling secure two-way data six, just in case. As things got tougher, oil is now about 50 to 60 percent, Conlon But the need for new equipment will be transmittal. The ability to push data to went down to the $30s [per barrel] from explained. “Because you’re really not in a tempered by a more cautious market with the aircraft is a real game changer.” the $80s or $100, they looked at every- great place if you’ve got 80 percent of your fresh memories of the last downturn. “In thing. And now they’re coming back and book in one area,” he said. “That’s just not our view, I think it’s more ‘let’s soak up First Fatal Bell 505 Crash saying, ‘You know what? We’ve figured out a prudent way to run a financial company.” the demand that’s there and once that’s Kills Five in Kenya how to operate three helicopters, not five. The unit of GE Capital Aviation Ser- stabilized, then we can talk about the new The first fatal Bell 505 accident occurred We’ll do two crew changes a month rather vices has turned to other sectors for stuff,’” Conlon said. n Sunday night in Kenya, killing all five than three. Once you do those types of aboard—four U.S. tourists and the things, even if oil goes back to where it pilot, a Kenyan national. The accident was, you have some of the systemic effi- occurred shortly after takeoff at 8:35 p.m. ciencies that you don’t unlearn.” as the helicopter—registered to KIDL Conlon’s remarks come after the Dublin, OPS signs exclusive distribution deal Helicopter Operations of Nairobi—was Ireland-based lessor (Booth B5204) closed conducting a tourist flight from Lake out 2018 with $1.5 billion in aircraft lease Operations, Procurement & Supply Chain finished aircraft thermal-acoustic insu- Turkana Central Island to Lobolo Camp. transactions. Of that, $900 million was Services (OPS) has entered into an agree- lation panels and sleeves, metallic insu- Rescue workers located the wreckage for new leases and lease extensions of its ment to become the exclusive distributor lation, and high-temperature insulation at 3:20 a.m. on Monday after a search own inventory of helicopters that numbers for Tecnologie Industriali and Aeronau- blankets. was coordinated by the Kenya Civil more than 300 and is valued at $5 billion. tiche (TI&A) commercial and military avi- “We are proud to join forces with TI&A Aviation Authority Rescue Coordination “The key to all this is transitions,” he said. ation products. The Italian manufacturer and supplement their advanced prod- Center. An accident investigation has “You really have to focus on, as a leasing specializes in the design and production ucts and design capabilities with our been launched by the Air Accident company—we’re not a bank, we’re an asset of high-performance insulation products, supply-chain and customer-support solu- Investigation Department of the Ministry management leasing company—transfer- gaskets, and protective covers for aircraft. tions,” said OPS president Luca Pastore. of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, ring these aircraft from operator A to oper- As the exclusive distributor, Pompano “The agreement with TI&A is an import- Urban Development, and Public Works. ator B, and you need to do that in the most Beach, Florida-based OPS will be respon- ant milestone in ensuring efficient and The pilot of the helicopter, Marious cost-effective, efficient, and short period of sible for selling, ordering, warehousing, cost-effective support to our customers, Magonga, was KIDL’s chief pilot. He time as possible. And if you can’t do that performance of aftermarket product dis- and demonstrates our continuous com- held an ATP and instructor licenses and when you have roughly $1 billion of assets tribution, and coordinating the repair of mitment to offering world-class products multiengine rating, had served in the Kenya that’s rolling off every year, you’re going to genuine TI&A parts, which also include and services.” C.E. defense forces, and had accumulated find yourself in a tough spot.” more than 5,500 hours in helicopters.

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19-MCJT18580 Helicopter Solutions Ad-10.8125x13.875-AIN_ShowDaily-HAI.indd 1 2/22/19 3:28 PM VISIT US Helicopter insurance woes AT HELI-EXPO BOOTH C4704 are ‘already in full swing’ by Mark Huber

Helicopter owners are in for major sticker an insured exposure equivalent to 15 to shock when they receive their next insur- 25 percent of the aircraft’s value. ance premium bill, particularly private Ironically, the premium increases come pilots and small commercial operators. So at a time when the overall accident rate, counsels Matt Drummelsmith, president particularly the fatal accident rate, for of insurance brokerage Aviation Specialty helicopters is trending down dramati- Insurance (Booth B4926). Drummelsmith cally. But, Drummelsmith insisted, that said premiums are in some cases even doesn’t matter. “Even if accidents are doubling, while some carriers are drop- down, it doesn’t mean they aren’t severe; DO YOU RECOGNIZE ping customers and others are refusing insurance companies base premiums not to underwrite entire policies. on the count, but on the amount of the Drummelsmith said the carnage claims paid,” Drummelsmith said, noting THESE PARTS? “already is in full swing” and no one is that individual helicopter accidents now immune. “It doesn’t matter what your can trigger settlements up to $500 mil- size, scope, or experience is,” he said. lion. Those potential liabilities are driving “Some carriers are not even quoting at some insurers from the marketplace. this point and those that are are taking a It’s already happening in Europe, he much harder look at pilots and operations. said, noting that nine European aviation Things that could be underwritten six to insurance syndicates closed their doors AIRWOLF REDUCES YOUR D.O.C’S eight months ago are now being declined, or merged in recent years, and two more AND SAVES YOU MONEY. the policies that are being written have carriers closed in the U.S., including W.R. heavy restrictions, and some premiums Berkley. “Smaller carriers, mainly of avi-

PMA ELASTOMERICS FOR BELL 407 HELICOPTERS. are even doubling. It’s a much harder ation insurance, don’t have the capacity Dampers, Shear Bearings, Lead Lag Bearings process,” especially for new helicopter to write policies with 10- to 30-million-­ buyers, cautioned Drummelsmith. dollar limits anymore,” Drummelsmith A low-time pilot in a Robinson R44 said, “and big carriers don’t want to be AIRWOLFAEROSPACE.COM • 440-632-1687 could easily face premiums of up to hit with writing a massive check.” The sit- ADD AIRWOLF TO YOUR TRUSTED SUPPLIER LIST $20,000 a year in this environment, he uation overall is creating “a hell of a lot noted. Drummelsmith said the premium more work for people in the brokerage increases are being fueled by ballooning world,” he said. “We spend most of our accident settlement costs that can now time just trying to keep clients in compa- VISIT US run into nine figures, especially with EMS rable policies at a reasonable rate.” AT HELI-EXPO operators. “Carriers don’t want any new While larger settlements are driving liability in this segment,” he said. “And some of the rate increases, so is the down- BOOTH C4704 they quote accordingly.” turn in the lucrative medium and large helicopter operator segment that services Demise of the ‘Slam Dunk’ Policy the offshore energy industry. With sub- In his own practice, Drummelsmith gives stantially fewer helicopters flying in that the example of the difficulty obtaining market, the aggregate amount of premi- insurance for a client with a Bell 429 that ums paid has declined and insurers need is dual-pilot professionally flown. “This to make that money back on the remain- client should have been a slam dunk for der of helicopters flying, a spokesman for any carrier out there,” he said. Instead, one helicopter OEM told AIN. Drummelsmith needed to find several The impact of all of this could be sub- carriers to take on portions of the policy. stantial on both the used and new heli- He said policies for large helicopters now copter market, said Jason Kmiecik, acting sometimes need as many as five carriers president of HeliValue$ (Booth C1417), the to share the risk. helicopter sales tracking and valuation firm. FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF, While premiums that double are on “This is going to put a large hurt on the extreme end of the spectrum, Drum- some operators,” he said, possibly to WHY CAL FIRE CHOOSES melsmith warned that even good opera- the point of forcing some operators out tors with good safety records are in for of business, and depressing helicopter pain. “Low-risk Part 91 operators will prices. “This market does not need any AIRWOLF likely see increases of between 5 to 10 more machines for sale than it already percent, while an EMS operator with 15 has,” he said. HIGH QUALITY. THE LOWEST PRICES. THE BEST VALUE. to 20 claims of any kind, which is not all Drummelsmith thinks the rate hikes are AIRWOLF TT STRAPS FOR: that uncommon, will easily see premium temporary, but there really is no effective // BELL JET RANGER, LONG RANGER & OH-58 increases above 20 percent,” he said. way an operator can shield from the impact. NEW LOWER PRICES FOR 2019 New buyers who operate single-pilot “Once the market normalizes, it will be back // BELL 204, 205, 212, UH-1 & AH-1 ENSTROM 480 n // ENSTROM F28/280 TT STRAP CONVERSION STC will take the biggest hits. Drummelsmith to a buyer’s market,” he said. said that those operators can get insur- ance, but with large deductibles, some- times as much as $250,000. Even then companies are increasingly reluctant to AIRWOLFAEROSPACE.COM • 440-632-1687 YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS insure for anywhere near full hull value, Always in Stock, Always Saving you Money www.ainonline.com sometimes leaving aircraft owners with

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FLIGHTSAFETY HERE FOR YOU HELICOPTER AD - AIN CONVENTION NEWS - HELIEXPO 2019 - Trim: 10.8125” w x 13.875” d Bleed: 11.0625” w x 14.125” d Hillsboro Aviation rebrands, spotlights continued growth by Kerry Lynch

Over the past three years, aviation ser- its flight school. Acquired by Renovus Capi- vices company Hillsboro Aviation (Booth tal Partners and Graycliff Partners, the flight C4628) has opened its new corporate head- school had become a major piece of Hills- quarters and hangar, added a half-dozen boro’s operation, expanding into a business turbine aircraft to its contract flying fleet, that involved 74 aircraft and six simulators. and now is wrapping up a rebranding ini- Training students from more than 75 coun- tiative that highlights its continued growth. tries, the school had become a key part of The rebranding is providing an oppor- Hillsboro’s identity and remained a part of tunity to showcase a company that began it for a few years after the sale. in 1980 with a single helicopter and has “We realized when we sold the school, grown into to a global business with more we had been known internationally as a than 90 employees and varied operations flight school and we want to make sure that range from contract operations to people know we are still growing,” she said. aircraft sales, services, parts, charter, and By the time of the sale, Hillsboro Hillsboro Aviation built its new Oregon headquarters in 2016; the 51,000-sq-ft, $8.5 million management. A culmination of a few years, had grown to 16 profit centers, added FBO, maintenance, and office facility captures the pioneering spirit of the Northwest U.S. the rebranding includes an interactive Max Lyons, owner and president of the updated website with “relationship-cen- company. With its sale, Hillsboro subse- firefighting, search and rescue, natural different businesses provided balance. tric” customer portals. The bulk of the quently turned its attention to investment resources, aerial survey, construction, Its parts business, for instance, has rebranding is complete, but a new look is in its remaining business. This resulted and numerous other activities. grown exponentially in some years and still in the future for its Heli-Expo booth. in the 2016 opening of its state-of-the-art This investment has come with cau- is still growing. The rebranding also enables Hillsboro 51,000-sq-ft facility that represented an tious optimism, Lyons said. Noting Its contract flying in support of firefight- to spread the message that as the com- $8.5 million investment. Hillsboro also the economic uncertainties that the ing has remained solid business for Hills- pany approaches its 40th anniversary, it has added five turbine helicopters—two helicopter community has weathered boro. In fact, it has become so demanding is continuing to invest and expand in core Bell 205A-1++ and three H125s (AS350 over the past decade, he said Hillsboro that a season that once ran six to seven businesses, said Rekha Lyons, director of 3Be)—to its fleet over the past 30 months, also faced challenges—including the months is stretching to nine months, and marketing and communications. along with a Beechcraft King Air. cancellations of $50 million in aircraft that is presenting logistical challenges and This message is particularly important The additions brought its fleet to 14 orders. But at the same time, Hillsboro requiring additional support. because four years ago, Hillsboro had sold turbine aircraft that provide support for also was able to stay profitable as its Also, Lyons said he is beginning to see improvement in the aircraft sales side, particularly for light helicopters. “Building a company like this, you have optimism and confidence,” he said. “I don’t have specific levels of confidence in the global economy…what I am confident in is our ability to navigate through it.” One of the keys, stresses Lyons and Hillsboro v-p and COO Ryan McCart- ney, is that the Hillsboro team focuses on personal relations in an industry that has become focused more on operational and transactional relationships. McCart- ney said Hillsboro took this approach in designing a facility with green technology and would attract a variety of customers. The facility incorporates Pacific North- west detail including Douglas fir accents, a fireplace, and local artwork. But that same approach extends to the workforce, McCartney added, noting that the facility has an “exceptionally large” number of long-time employees. Reten- tion is particularly important when com- petition for new hires intensifies. As for the future, Lyons said the company is eyeing development of nearby property for warehouse space, and McCartney added that additional hangar space may be a pos- sibility. “Even though we’ve only been in this building for three years, we’re already starting to outgrow it,” he added. n HAI Two big names join forces to fight fire Coulson Aviation USA, a member of the Coulson Group, and Unical Air, a new unit of the Unical Group of Companies, formed a heavy-lift YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS helicopter joint venture last week to build and operate Boeing CH-47s and Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawks for aerial firefighting among other www.ainonline.com markets. The JV is well along in designing and modifying the UH-60A and the CH-47D to install Coulson’s RADS tanks.

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AIN CONVENTION NEWS_CS&T.indd 1 26/02/19 10:17 Mecaer Group News Clips Precision Aviation Group, Lord Join Up on Bell Spares delivers a Precision Aviation Group (PAG, Booth B5624) and Lord Corp. (Booth B4006) have formed a strategic partnership landmark VIP to support Lord’s line of elastomeric helicopter components. Under the agreement, PAG will “not only focus Jet Ranger X on supporting the Bell 206 and 407 platforms in the U.S. and Canada with by James Wynbrandt an emphasis on tension-torsion straps and motor hub kit components, but VIP rotorcraft interior specialist also assist with new Lord product Mecaer Aviation Group (MAG, Booth improvements on additional platforms,” C2629) delivered the first Bell 505 said Rodolphe Leroy, manager of

Jet Ranger X in North America outfitted MARIANO ROSALES global aftermarket sales for Lord. with Mecaer’s MAGnificent interior to Destined for a role in VIP transport, this Bell 505 interior features “leather and a great finish.” PAG’s substantial investment in Lord Canada’s Helite Aviation in a ceremony products “will make it easier for Bell yesterday at Heli-Expo 2019. Helite will Helite’s blue Bell 505 is on display at was a challenge,” said Pugnali. More 206 and 407 operators to access spares use the Bell 505 for VIP transport from MAG’s booth throughout Heli-Expo and sporty than plush, the installation brings in real time, ultimately minimizing its downtown Montreal heliport and marks the first time the Italian company panache to what is often an owner-flown aircraft downtime,” said Ketan Desai, anticipates strong demand for the five- has shown an entire helicopter at a trade platform, and weighing less than 70 PAG v-p of sales and marketing. “We place light single. show. The aircraft is available for demon- pounds, the option “will be a no-brainer” are confident that this expanded “The people who charter from us are strations following the show and for the for VIP buyers, Pugnali said. relationship with Lord Corporation will walking out of a chartered jet or coming remainder of the year by arrangement Of the more than 100 Bell 505 Jet bring added value to our customers.” out of an expensive car,” said Mathieu through MAG. Ranger Xs ordered thus far, 20 to 30 Atlanta-based PAG operates from Norman, Helite’s co-owner. “They’re Small details add to the interior comfort percent are opting for the MAGnificent nine sales and service locations expecting an aircraft with leather and a and style: cupholders, coat hooks, smart interior, said Grayson Barrows, MAG’s worldwide from locations in the U.S., great finish. When you have a brand-new, device holders, and leather-wrapped flight director of marketing and sales. Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Singapore VIP-configured aircraft with a bespoke control boots. Customized logos can be Having decided to buy a Jet Ranger X, via distinct business units, including Italian interior, that’s sex appeal.” embroidered onto headrests and engraved Helite bought the interior upgrade “on the Precision Heliparts and Precision The MAGnificent interior includes into door thresholds. An optional, remov- spot, unseen,” after reading about it and Accessories and Instruments. PAG all interior panels; seats (built up from able center cabinet with small infotain- meeting with MAG, Norman said. subsidiaries have MRO capabilities standard frames) and leather upholstery; ment system can replace the middle of Regarding the Jet Ranger X purchase, on more than 35,000 products such low-pile carpeting; and a rear passenger the three rear, forward facing seats. he added Helite was “impressed by the as avionics, engine components, service unit with adjustable reading and The installation kits are “100 percent pro- increase in performance compared to hydraulics, and instruments. mood lights, gaspers, and air conditioning duced in Italy at the Cabin Comfort Sys- a regular Jet Ranger” in climb rate and outlets. It’s available in color palettes of tems headquarters” in Monteprandone, cruise speed. “It’s a time saver for the Metro Aviation Hires EMS soft whites, creams, blues, or grays. said Maximo Pugnali, MAG president. same operating cost.” Additionally, com- Dispatcher Veteran The 505 replaces the discontinued 206 Installations are performed at the compa- pared with some other helicopters in Stewart Corbin was hired as customer JetRanger in the Bell (Booth C4007) prod- ny’s U.S. facility at Pennsylvania’s North- class, the two-blade configuration makes communication center training uct line. Powered by a Turbomeca Arrius east Philadelphia Airport (PNE). storage easy. “I can stash six in a hangar manager for Metro Aviation’s air 2R and made in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, The MAGnificent interior borrows and still have plenty of room.” ambulance operations spanning the 505 has a 1,500-pound useful load, top elements from the MAG VIP interiors The MAGnificent upgrade costs about more than 30 programs in 18 states. cruise speed of more than 125 knots, and created for the Bell 429 GlobalRanger $100,000 to $120,000, and can be installed Corbin was most recently v-p of a Garmin G1000H flight deck. Price is light twin and forthcoming 525 Relent- as a retrofit in legacy 505 Jet Ranger Xs. MedComm Dispatching Services, a about $1.07 million. less, but “doing a smaller helicopter MAG will perform some at PNE, but kits Columbus, Ohio-based provider of can be shipped to any Part 145 facility that emergency dispatch services to has the Bell 505 on its capabilities list for EMS agencies and hospital-based air installation. ambulance services in nine states. Given the upgrade’s appeal and the “Stewart will provide industry- Aero Products looks to expand Bell 429 target customer, MAG hopes to notch leading training at our customers’ more orders at the show. “The type of communication centers, both field-maintenance success to other models clientele that is going to be looking at onsite and at the Metro Aviation this at the booth are the kind of people CommLab,” Metro Aviation (Booth New and anticipated demand prompted continue to provide both AZDOT and SRP who make decisions and sign contracts C1023) director of operations Jim Aero Products (Booth C5035) to add Bell complete support,” Aero Products presi- on site,” said Barrows. Arthur said. “Additionally he will add his 429 field maintenance to its component dent Ted Johnson said. One Aero Products Also being shown at Heli-Expo, along expertise to operational assessments, overhaul services. The company is now technician has received 429 field mainte- with images of the MAG VIP interior recommendations to align with industry working to do the same for Bell 407s and nance training, and a second technician is for the Relentless, are new renderings best practices and onsite support 206s, the Bell-approved service facility currently receiving the training at the Bell of its VIP cabins for Leonardo’s AW139 for any Metro Aviation customers in announced at Heli-Expo 2019. These ser- Academy in Fort Worth, Texas. and Airbus Helicopters’ H145. MAG is need of this beneficial service.” vice additions are designed to position the Three regional wildfires over 14 years also displaying torque pedals, flight con- Corbin spent 23 years at MedComm company to meet anticipated municipal near Show Low, Arizona, where Aero Prod- trol systems, control surfaces and other and has experience with rotor- and and community needs. ucts is based, is leading the company to add rotorcraftYOUR componentsSOURCE FOR AVIATION it manufactures NEWS fixed-wing, as well as ground services. The decision to add Bell 429 field main- field maintenance for the Bell 407 and 206 for OEMs. www.ainonline.com n Before MedComm, Corbin also tenance comes after the Arizona Depart- series. “Eastern Arizona is a staging ground  worked at MedFlight of Ohio. “It ment of Transportation and Salt River for aerial fire support,” Aero Products v-p has prepared me to assist and Project each acquired new 429s in 2018. Jeff Winn said. “With two hangars already further develop other dispatch “We felt it our responsibility to add the Bell on the airport, it was an easy decision to centers in regard to safety, quality ENEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION 429 to our capabilities; in this way we can support operators with fire contract[s].” J.S. improvement standards, and process www.ainonline.com/alerts improvement standards,” Corbin said.

HAI Convention News March 6, 2019 ainonline.com 18 \ \ AERO DEFENSE INDUSTRY ENEWSLETTER www.ainonline.com/subscribe

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FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE GTP_10240_2019_HeliExpo_AINBooklet_Ads_02.indd 2 2/20/19 10:52 AM Aviation Specialties joins ranks of NVG OEMs by Curt Epstein

For nearly a quarter-century, night vision E3 lightweight night vision goggle (NVG) imaging system specialist Aviation Spe- can purchase them for $11,995, which will M RE cialties Unlimited (ASU) had been known include the Aeronox mount and battery solely for selling and servicing night vision pack along with a one-year warranty. Heli- goggles (NVG), modifying cockpits, and Expo showgoers can demo the E3 gog- RANGE conducting night vision training. It gle at the ASU booth (C1435), and is now spreading its wings as an down payment is due when ASU OEM, with its first self-designed sets the official production dates. and manufactured NVG, “Most don’t realize that the lightweight E3, ASU has been con- which it unveiled duction imaging SPEED this week at Heli- and electro-opti- Expo 2019. cal research and “The industry development for has been asking years,” said Joseph for a lighter-weight Estrera, the compa- PAYL AD solution for night vision ny’s chief technology goggles for years,” said Aviation Specialties Unlimited officer. “The introduc- company president Jim unveiled its new lightweight E3 tion of the new E3 affirms Winkel, adding that every night vision goggles. that ASU is not solely gram of weight matters. a value-added reseller, “We were able to take more than 200 but is in fact now an original equipment grams of weight off of the NVG user’s manufacturer.” flight helmet, while improving function- The company will also continue to sell ality and performance.” and service existing NVGs and remains With flight testing complete and envi- authorized to repair and service products ronmental testing underway, the com- from L3 and Harris, according to Win- pany expects to have the E3 in production kel. “ASU has a long-standing record of by the third quarter. The Idaho-based working with the goggle OEMs and will company is offering a special introductory continue to foster those relationships to price—commercial customers who com- continue to meet the needs of the indus- mit to pre-order the first 100 of its new try in the best way possible.” n

HFI Awards scholarships worth $70,000

Helicopter Foundation International (HFI) Tracy Geest of Tremonton, Utah; Hamin is awarding $70,000 in scholarships to Kirn of Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Michael 20 recipients this year. “The cost of edu- Ranker of Laurel, Maryland; Noah White cation in aviation is high, both for pilots of Cornerbrook, Newfoundland-Labrador, and maintenance personnel,” said Allison Canada; and Carlos Ybarra of Waco, Texas. McKay, v-p of HFI, the charitable arm of And the recipient of the Michelle North HAI. “Through the scholarship program, Scholarship for Safety, which provides we help to offset this burden and allow full tuition to the HFI Safety Management the students to focus on continuing their program at Heli-Expo, is Joshua Chason of education. We offer our congratulations to Braselton, Virginia. this year’s recipients and encourage stu- HFI also oversees the Bill Sander- dents around the world to apply for 2020 son Aviation Maintenance Scholarships, scholarships.” administering the program on behalf of the Recipients of $5,000 scholarships to HAI Technical Committee. Recipients (and pilots working toward their commercial sponsors) of scholarships and stipends (up rating are: Sakaya Arai of Beverly Hills, to $1,600) are Paul Pelletier of Columbia, California; Charles Beesley of Cole Camp, Connecticut (Airbus); Cody Bentzel of Wil- Missouri; Melissa Cooper of Kona, Hawaii; liamsport, Pennsylvania (Leonardo); Ethan and Joyce Yu of Portland, Oregon. Mutschler of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania New flight training scholarships at (Pratt & Whitney); Klade Kerr of Timmons, Southern Utah University, worth up to Ontario (MD Helicopters); Daniel Galica of $20,000 were awarded to Brendon Peter- Tinley Park, Illinois (Honeywell); Evan Falk son of Ionia, Michigan; and Kaylee Elliot of of Holt, Michigan (Rolls-Royce); and Cullen Cedar City, Utah. Thompson of Mountain, Ontario, Canada Recipients of $2,500 scholarships for (Safran Turbomeca). students in maintenance technician pro- The application process for HFI’s 2020 grams are: Evan Falk of Holt, Michigan; scholarships begins in August. R.R.P.

AD_AIN_Convention News_MSB 20_30_40_HAI 19.indd 1 2/25/19 3:32 PM 20 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com training, elastomeric components are not Approval soon for Lord tail rotor bearing always understood by maintenance per- sonnel and pilots, who are often required R. Randall Padfield to inspect them at regular intervals, even though they are used extensively on all Lord Corp, well known in the heli- B4006) once again conducted its training course meets FAA requirements for recur- modern helicopters. “Our experience has copter industry for its tension-tor- course on the construction, functions, main- rent training and is admissible for Inspection shown that too often parts are removed sion (TT) straps, is bringing to tenance, and inspection of various types of Authorization certificate renewal. prematurely due to misunderstanding of market a new elastomeric tail rotor elastomeric components. Presented as a According to Lord customer man- the construction and workings of these bearing (TRB) for the Airbus Heli- manufacturer technical briefing, the training ager Francis Magnan, who presented the complex components.” n copters AS350 that promises longer intervals between visual inspec- tions and shorter downtime. The company, which is finalizing valida- tion testing on the TRB parts, said FAA approval is imminent. According to Lord, the current requirement for the OEM tail rotor bearing is a visual inspection every 10 hours and a comprehensive inspec- tion with complete disassembly of the tail rotor every 600 hours. The Lord TRB is expected to provide extended life to this flight-critical part, which should lower mainte- nance and direct operating costs. “An AS350 helicopter is typically flown between 300 and 600 hours a year,” said Rodolphe Leroy, Lord manager of global aftermarket sales and marketing. “In most cases, the bearings do not reach this mark and are replaced before reaching 600 flight hours. The intent of the design is to make sure there will be no unscheduled removal.” Separately, Lord announced that EASA certified its TT straps and the company is offering them directly to the European market. Leroy said the direct sales will provide “our customers in multiple countries all the savings associated with buying direct, while avoiding the risks and uncertainties that often come with STC parts.” On Monday at Heli-Expo, Cary, North Carolina-based Lord (Booth

NEWS note

Deborah Wells, most recently with United Technologies, has joined BBA Aviation’s Global En- gine Services (GES) as vice pres- ident of strategy and business improvement. In this capacity, Wells will lead the integration of GES’s core operations, which comprise engineering, quality, and continuous improvement, with global strategic planning. “Deborah is a strong asset with a track record of success spanning aviation’s corporate, airline, and government sectors,” said Hugh McElroy, president and COO of Global Engine Services. A native of Texas, Wells will oversee GES’s global strategic operational and business improvement.

ainonline.com \ March 6, 2019 \ HAI Convention News 21 HeliSpeed needs more pilots News Clips Blue Sky Integrating ATU Data smallest satcom controller that supports by Ian Sheppard Required for Firefighting all Iridium-based services, Honeywell said. Blue Sky Network (Booth B3424) is now In a related announcement, Honeywell HeliSpeed (Booth B4324) is seeking more helicopter in Indonesia.” integrating additional telemetry unit (ATU) said its Aspire connectivity system has pilots for its database and has announced According to HeliSpeed operations data to its hardware and software solutions. been approved by the FAA for installation the creation of a new training school, director Gemma Walker, “We currently This includes incorporating Olympic Aero on the Bell 429. The light twin joins the mainly to offer type rating training. Com- have more than 700 pilots stationed Services’ Series 606 ATU into Blue Sky’s Leonardo AW139, Airbus H125, and Sikorsky pany CEO Geoff Packer toldAIN that the around the world, with certifications to SkyRouter. The FAA-approved ATU records UH-60 Black Hawk with approved STCs company’s primary reason for attending operate more than 90 different types of firefighting data and sends it to a remote portal for the satcom system, which uses the Heli-Expo this week in Atlanta is to attract helicopter, and we’re continuously seek- via the firefighting aircraft’s automated flight Inmarsat SwiftBroadband network. FAA-licensed pilots to use its HeliTrax ser- ing to add experienced pilots to our team. following (AFF) system. U.S. Forest Service vice for connecting pilots with vacant posi- We can provide organizations around the 2018 regulations require firefighting helicopters Leonardo Testing RFID Tags To tions. “FAA pilots are more widely accepted world with highly qualified and experi- to collect ATU data and transmit it to state Monitor AW189 Components than any other license,” he pointed out. enced pilots at short notice.” and national regulators through an AFF device. Leonardo and Gulf Helicopters of Qatar “There isn’t a pilot shortage [in our sec- The company also manages aircraft and Required data to be reported in the AFF are testing Radio Frequency Identification tor]—how many do you want?” Packer logistics, often sourcing pilots to do ferry format includes tank or bucket openings (RFID) tags on the latter’s fleet of AW189 said. But he does admit there is a “skills ad positioning flights for clients. But its and closings, gallons filled and dropped, super-medium, twin-engine helicopters. shortage, which is very different.” “peak shaving” idea has quickly caught events with GPS data, time, latitude, Approximately 60 major components The company has found a niche provid- on as operators can provide pilots to longitude, altitude, speed, and heading. ATU of Gulf Helicopters’ AW189 fleet will ing pilots for all sorts of operations, with people that need them when they don’t, data can now be integrated with Blue Sky be RFID tagged, allowing automatic operators realizing the savings they can offering their services through HeliSpeed software and hardware and transmitted downloading of data when the aircraft make by not having pilots sitting idle on to another operator, even though they via the Iridium satellite network to the returns from a mission via dedicated the payroll, just so they can be ready for remain on the payroll of the former oper- AFF’s central fire suppression database. smart tag readers. The pilot project is the peaks in demand. “I set it up partly to ator. “If you have spare pilots and have a The Series 606 ATU supports helicopter planned to be completed by mid-2019. keep myself in a job [as a helicopter pilot] slack period but don’t want to get rid of aerial firefighting operations for both Once fully available, RFID solutions will and at the time I had friends who flew them, as it costs so much for training, you airframe-mounted water tanks or water be available for all Leonardo Helicopters 225s who were struggling to find work, can deploy them with another company.” buckets. Current Blue Sky Network D1000 models and will be retrofitted at following the crashes and the downturn Prompted by difficulties sometimes customers will have access to the ATU customer option. Leonardo said its RFID in oil and gas,” Packer said. finding pilots with the right type ratings firmware upgrade for free. Blue Sky also pilot project is part of the company’s Matching pilots with demand from and pilots who need to transfer types to offers the 606 ATU for purchase. The wider digitalized service initiatives that operators has proved an invaluable service find a job, HeliSpeed said that it is starting system integrates with the HawkEye include the Skyflight mission planning in an industry where there is such a diverse an aviation training school, also based at 7200A aircraft tracking system. mobile service, Helilink product support range of flying experience, and by having Blackpool Airport. “We have been work- engineering assistant, training predictive/ a large number of pilots on its HeliTrax ing on it for six months and are hoping ABI Develops New Restraints adaptive learning, and Heliwise/HUMS. database now it can quickly put together it will be up and running by April 1,” said for Bell Helicopters a shortlist for any requirement, he noted. Packer. “We’re looking to build new facil- Aircraft Belts Inc. (ABI), a North Carolina- Dart Gets Canadian Nod for “For example, we may be asked to find a ities and hangarage. We know there is a based aircraft safety restraint manufacturer, New Emergency Float System Super Puma pilot who’s familiar with fire- skills shortage and believe we can help to has developed OEM-substitute four-point Aftermarket equipment provider Dart fighting—this is an actual case—and we satisfy the demand.” He is also keen to crew and three-point passenger restraints Aerospace (Booth C2010) received STC can do it anywhere in the world,” Packer ensure top-quality training and will also that are manufactured to a TSO standard approval from Transport Canada for its said. Another example was a company offer PPL training, but focused on pilots for Bell 412, 407, and 206 series helicopters. new EC130/H130 emergency float system seeking a pilot to fly a Canadian-registered who want to go commercial. n “We are very happy to offer choices for the (EFS). Suitable for both the legacy EC130B4 customer and are excited about bringing and current-production H130, the system more standard catalog restraint aircraft offers two improvements over the previous models to the market,” said ABI v-p of version: compatibility with OEM fixed business development Steve Meyer. provisions and the addition of quick-release Bell catalog restraints are available in fittings, which will allow for 70 percent black, tan, and gray. A unit of Ontic, ABI of the kit’s weight to be removed in less (Booth C3404) is a provider of restraints than five minutes without any tools. to Textron Aviation, Bell-Boeing, Leonardo, The system is approved for the latest Twin Commander, and Sikorsky, as well gross weight on the H130 and features a as military programs and customers. squib-free electro-mechanical valve of corrosion-resistant steel. As an option, Honeywell Expands Helo customers can select an integrated Connectivity Solutions liferaft on both float bags, which can Honeywell Aerospace (Booth C3107) has accommodate up to six passengers. developed a new, compact satcom device “Versatility is the key in the light single for helicopters and racked up another STC segment,” noted Wesley Reid, the company’s approval for its Aspire 200 connectivity product strategy and business development system, the Phoenix-based company manager, adding that was the impetus announced Tuesday at Heli-Expo 2019. Its behind using quick-release fittings to easily new digital Mission Communications Terminal change the helicopter’s mission. “This kit

MARIANO ROSALES (MCT) satcom controller will offer two- will suit the needs of a VIP customer just as way texting and push-to-talk functionality easily as the sightseeing or utility operator Heads Up for Helicopter Pilots between dispatchers and flight crews, as well trying to get the most out of their aircraft.” Grady Dees, Univeral Avionics director of technical sales, is demonstrating the in-devel- as provide weather and mission updates. According to the manufacturer, the EFS opment Heli-ClearVision enhanced helicopter vision systems at Booth C4028 at Heli-Expo. Colorado-based EMS helicopter provider has 18-month inspection intervals offering The two versions are SkyLens, a wearable head-up display (HUD), which looks like safety Air Methods, which operates 300 bases in reduced maintenance costs. The floats can glasses with a rectangular box on top, and the SkyVis helmet-mounted HUD. Both integrate 48 states, is the launch customer for the be inspected at the company’s Broussard, Universal’s InSight avionics suite with parent company Elbit Systems’ SkyLens HUD. They are MCT, with plans to upgrade its helicopter Louisiana facility or newly established capable of showing primary flight display symbology, conformal information, synthetic vision, fleet with the unit. The MCT controller, service center in Amsterdam, as well as enhanced vision via input from an EVS-4000 multispectral camera, and combined vision. available for delivery in late spring, is the at any Dart-approved service center.

22 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com Leonardo taps CMC sensor for 1st GBAS approaches by Jerry Siebenmark

Leonardo Helicopters’ AW189 P5 proto- navigation performance, and offers an type recently completed multiple ground- SBAS precision approach guidance solu- based augmentation system (GBAS) satnav tion with localizer performance/localizer approaches at Zurich Airport using CMC performance and vertical guidance. Electronics’ CMA-6024 Landing System The achievement by Leonardo’s (Booth Sensor Unit as the precision approach B7024) light intermediate twin is one of sensor, the unit of Esterline (Booth B4724) the first GBAS approaches by a helicopter Avionics Systems announced Monday at and will lead the way toward certification the opening of Heli-Expo. “We are proud of satnav precision approaches for heli- of this latest milestone and confident that copters, Esterline said. Leonardo and other customers will appre- In other news announced on Monday, ciate the CMA-6024’s performance, reli- Esterline said CMC signed an agreement to ability, versatility, and ease of installation,” partner with MRO provider StandardAero Esterline president Michel Potvin said. on rotorcraft retrofits. Under the agree- ment, CMC and StandardAero will jointly pursue new business for upgrades to medium- and heavy-lift commercial, mil- itary, and government helicopters. “We expect to deliver meaningful cost and logistic benefits to helicopter owners and operators using our combined instal- lation expertise and world-class avionics Its CMA-6024 is an evolution of the solutions, creating a whole that is greater CMA-5024 GLSSU that Esterline said adds than the sum of its parts,” Potvin said. a complete satnav solution to helicopters Esterline’s piece of the partnership and all types of aircraft, delivering high-re- agreement would include CMC prod- liability, GBAS, and satellite-based augmen- ucts such as 10-inch smart MFDs, rugged tation system precision approaches. The displays, CMA-900 flight management product doesn’t require specialized instal- system, CMA-5024 GPS hardware, and lation or integration. It is compliant with optional Doppler, and electronic flight bag Arinc 743C satellite-based augmentation equipment. StandardAero will offer cus- system (SBAS)/GBAS, ADS-B, and required tomized integration and engineering. n App for that yacht helipad by Mark Huber Luxaviation launches heli charter network Building a superyacht and want to include structures, among others. “The app uses a helipad? Airbus Corporate Helicopters augmented reality that displays three popu- Luxemburg-based Luxaviation Helicopters working with Wyvern to create an audit- (ACH, Booth C305) has an app for that. lar types of yachts, shows how various mod- has launched a network of charter oper- ing and approval process for prospective The augmented reality tool is download- els of helicopters look on the yacht, and ators offering global access to more than members. able from the Apple iTunes or Google Play shows if there are any obstacles. We can 70 VIP-outfitted rotorcraft. Members of the The alliance has been in development for stores. ACH CEO Frederic Lemos said the also 3D model their yacht via a private space Luxaviation Helicopters Charter Alliance the past 18 months and tested last summer in tool provides a starting point for yacht on the app,” Lemos said. The app gives include U.S.-based HeliFlite; Azur Héli- a trial with HeliFlite in the New York market, builders and owners who want the “must 360-degree views along with data blocks coptère of France; UK-based Starspeed; and in which Luxaviation promoted the U.S. com- have” convenience of instant lift and want that display individual helicopter model ExecuJet, with rotor fleets based in Mexico pany’s service on its website. That resulted in to avoid headaches associated with adding range, weight, and passenger capacity. and South Africa. Starspeed, a Luxaviation a 20 percent boost in HeliFlite’s web traffic it too late in the design process. Lemos noted that a major yachting pub- Helicopters subsidiary, operates a fleet of and more inquiries about its services. “Too many times we were seeing lication recently identified the helipad as some 25 helicopters primarily dedicated to Though not exhibiting this year, the helidecks built on these yachts that were the second most popular design feature on serving superyachts around the globe. Luxaviation Helicopters alliance team is not commercially compliant or were not modern superyachts and that a new gener- According to Luxaviation CEO Charlotte at Heli-Expo 2019, meeting with operators built with the best dimensions for safety ation of owner of these vessels are pushing Pedersen, more than 5,000 helicopter and partners. Going forward, the alliance and comfort,” Lemos said. He recalled a them to extremes, staying at sea for lon- companies are in business worldwide, is “not looking for specific numbers” of recent visit to a new superyacht in Italy. ger periods and sailing to more exotic and “but when you want to charter one in a members or helicopters, but wants to have “The captain was so proud of the helideck harsher destinations such as Antarctica as local area, on Google you can find 50 com- “companies in different regions, in inter- on the bow, but it was only nine meters, opposed to the traditionally more placid panies, but you don’t know if they’re an esting cities, in places where people need barely big enough for a Robinson R22, and waters of the Caribbean and the Riviera. operator or a broker or their safety record. helicopters,” Pedersen said. certainly not large enough to do commercial “People want helicopters to explore So I sensed there was a need to establish a The alliance prefers that members have operations. Even if it were 12 meters, oper- when they reach very remote locations” global network of [vetted] operators.” at least one twin-engine helicopter, but ating with an ACH135 would be very tight.” on their yachts, he said, adding that of the Pedersen likens the network to airline operators who otherwise meet the alliance This scenario was not uncommon, so 10 ACH145s sold in 2017, six were destined alliances, in which members adhere to standards could be members in regions ACH decided to build the yacht app. It for duty on superyachts. He said that the common standards, but said the model where no twins are available, said Pedersen. includes information with regard to heli- trend was not just for bigger boats, but hasn’t previously been applied in the There are also plans for the alliance to part- copter models, weights, dimensions, and bigger helicopters on them, noting that rotor world because “helicopters tend ner with airlines to offer premium customers capacities, rotor diameter, tie-down points, ACH has received orders for ACH175s to fly locally.” Luxaviation is currently first- and last-mile service, she said. J.W. blade and fuel storage requirements, com- and ACH160s destined for superyachts mercial regulations, and necessary support in recent months. n

ainonline.com \ March 6, 2019 \ HAI Convention News 23 Light twin sales lift used helicopter market by R. Randall Padfield

Retail trades of preowned helicopters were sixth most liquid twin in the preowned up 9 percent across all helicopter configu- helicopter market. And it noted that the rations and weight classes last year, with Leonardo AW139 fleet experienced a 350 the light-twin market leading that increase, percent leap in sales volume, while the according to the inaugural Preowned Heli- supply at 30 units, is up 20 percent year- copter Market Trends report released by over-year. Meanwhile, the report is call- newly established Aero Asset. ing the EC225/H225 volume “opaque” and Co-founders Emmanuel Dupuy, Wil- “cloudy,” finding a retail trading range of liam Sturm, and Valerie Pereira announced between $1.5 million and $8 million. the formation of Aero Asset, a new global Overall, the report detailed 90 sales of helicopter brokerage, this week at Heli- light twin helicopters last year, a 13 per- Expo 2019. All are experienced helicopter cent increase, while 44 medium helicop- sales specialists who formerly worked for ters traded hands, unchanged from 2017. Avpro. Dupuy and Strum are leading sales In the heavy market, three helicopters at Aero Asset, while Pereira, a specialist in were tracked as sold in 2018. aircraft market research, is the director of Preowned twin-engine helicopter business development and research. prices range from sub-$1 million at the “We believe the time is right for an very bottom—the Airbus H155/EC155B1 independent, advisory-focused helicop- and Leonardo A109E Power—to more ter brokerage,” Dupuy explained. “The than $12 million for the top end marked by preowned market took an upturn in 2018, the Sikorsky S-76D. Absorption rate—the after several years of flatlining, and we amount of time it would take to deplete Deliveries of three new Leonardo AW139s begin later this year for the Police Air Wing in look forward to the trend continuing on inventory at current sales levels—varied Victoria, Australia, at Essendon Airport. Nearly 120 Leonardo helicopters fly in Australia. an upward curve.” from 1.6 years for light helicopters to 2.8 At the same time, the Aero Asset exec- years for mediums to five years for heavy. utives released the Preowned Helicopter This rate was lower year-over-year by dou- Market Trends Report for 2018. Based on ble digits across all weight classes, with Victoria Police order trio of the firm’s proprietary intelligence and that for the medium helicopter category knowledge of the market, the report focuses down 48 percent, from 4.1 years in 2017. exclusively on the twin-engine preowned “Brokers and dealers cultivate a short Leonardo AW139 helos helicopter markets, ranking the best and view of the markets, leveraged by intel worst markets in 2018. It also provides anal- from past deals and best buys available by Mark Huber yses of 15 twin-engine helicopter models in for sale,” said Dupuy. “This data is very the light, medium, and heavy categories, refined. This report aggregates 2018 heli- The Victoria, Australia Police Air Custom mission equipment to be fit- from the Airbus H135 to the Sikorsky S-92A. copter trading intel and compares it with Wing will add three new Leonardo ted onto the aircraft includes advanced For instance, the report finds the sales the previous year and leverages key com- AW139 intermediate twins as part of its mission console, camera, wire cutter, and for the Bell 429 fleet up 30 percent in 2018 parative indicators.” fleet-modernization program. The heli- rescue hoist. and the supply was down 20 percent, with Toronto-based Aero Asset plans to copters will be supplied by StarFlight Nearly 120 Leonardo helicopters are cur- a retail trading range of $4 million to $5 publish its market report quarterly going and will be used for law enforcement, rently flying in Australia. Worldwide, more million. The report called the 429 the forward. n surveillance, and maritime search-and- than 1,100 AW139s have been ordered by rescue operations from the police air some 270 customers in 70 nations. The wing base at Essendon airport. They model is widely used by law enforcement, are slated to be delivered later this year maritime, and border patrol agencies in from the Leonardo (Booth B7024) Ver- Italy, the UK, U.S., Japan, Republic of Korea, giate, Italy assembly plant and enter Malaysia, Sweden, Spain, Estonia, Nether- service in 2020. lands, Brazil, and UAE, among others. n

Rolls renews first network for M250 support Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce (Booth “The world’s most comprehensive C931) has renewed contracts with the helicopter service network just got even 32 engine repair and overhaul suppliers better, with the refresh of the Rolls-Royce that make up its authorized global First First network,” said Rolls-Royce helicop- (fully integrated Rolls-Royce support ters service executive Jerry Sheldon. “The team) network. power of the First network is available First network service providers have 24/7 to helicopter operators worldwide, conducted more than 100,000 M250 backed by the world-class Rolls-Royce repairs and overhauls, and operators can operations center.” have engine work done by any member of Operators can access the First network the network. Parts support is provided to via a dedicated website or with the net- First network members by Boeing’s Aviall work’s mobile app, which is available on Aero Asset co-founders William Sturm (left), Valerie Pereira, and Emmanuel Dupuy saw an distribution operation. iOS and Android devices. M.T. upturn in the preowned rotorcraft market during 2018 and expect that to continue.

24 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com they have an internet connection,” Lawn MD500, and Bell-Boeing V22 Osprey, along Av-Base brings a new look, explained. “For helicopter users, for exam- with several fixed-wing aircraft. ple, this puts them in a position where they “The blog and news content are are always ready because they can access included on WinAir to attract visitors to information to WinAir site their maintenance and inventory informa- the site who may be interested in our avi- tion at any time.” ation software,” Lawn said. “This content by R. Randall Padfield Av-Base Systems is also using the web- acts as a conduit to our website and an site to attract potential WinAir custom- introduction to WinAir.” Av-Base Systems of London, Ontario (Can- addition, the site details services to enable ers by posting content such as blogs and More than just an update, the new web- ada) has rolled out the latest version of its the transition to the software packages. news. For example, the site offers several site also includes image-rich photos of WinAir website. The new site provides Being browser-based is an important information-rich­ and illustrated infograph- WinAir itself to help potential users bet- easier access to information, services, and feature of WinAir. “Users can access the ics and guides about numerous helicopters, ter understand the product. “There’s also features of its WinAir V7 aviation mainte- system anywhere in the world, as long as such as the Sikorsky S-92, Airbus H145, a video of clients explaining what WinAir nance software packages in a tailored for- does for them. We’re hoping that the con- mat for a variety of organizations. More tent will encourage potential customers than 15,000 users in at least 30 countries to contact us so that they can learn more use the system to manage the maintenance about the software,” said Lawn. activities of more than 9,000 aircraft. The refurbished He added that a handful of dedicated “The idea behind the website revamp WinAir website people (including himself) designed the was to provide users with the import- offers new features renewed website with input from others ant information they are seeking,” Chris and functionality to throughout the organization. The com- Lawn, WinAir marketing specialist, told customers around pany has some 50 employees. AIN. “We wanted to tailor the online the world. To clear up any confusion, “Av-Base experience to the various industries that Systems is the company, but we do busi- use WinAir, along with the key industry ness under WinAir, which is the product,” user roles that use the product.” Lawn explained. “We’ve been in business These include packages for all sizes of over 30 years, and as the years progressed, airline, charter, and special-mission oper- everyone began to use the product name ators; civil and military helicopter opera- as our company name. So, we have been tors; MROs; and continuing airworthiness doing business as WinAir for a number of management organizations (CAMOs). The years,” he explained. website includes several images of the desk- The company is exhibiting under the top functions for each of these packages. In name WinAir (Booth B1926) at Heli-Expo. n B505 Advert copia.pdf 1 25/01/2019 13:55:11 EXPERIENCE BELL 505 LUXURY. Let your Light Single Engine Helicopter feel

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ainonline.com \ March 6, 2019 \ HAI Convention News 25 warning triggers at 600 fpm. “If you are his job and Phoenix recovered $83,000 doing 800 you are going to get an e-mail and from the company that overhauled the if you are over 1,000 you are going to have a hook prior to the accident in an out-of- sit down with the chief pilot, the operations court settlement. manager, and the safety manager to explain In yet another incident, a pilot coming why you needed to do that.” off 15 days of firefighting duty spun an He added that there are missions that aircraft during an engine wash, damaging necessitate flying outside what are nor- a ground power cart and breaking some mally considered safe parameters, such of the helicopter’s windows. The video as movie and seismic work or firefight- showed the pilot, who initially blamed ing operations, and that data recorders the mishap on the helicopter, was on his and cameras aren’t meant to be applied phone, not wearing a helmet or flight suit, as blunt instruments to his pilots, but didn’t have his feet on the pedals or hands as tools that are part of a just culture on the controls at the time of the accident. environment. Quoting business econom- Several of these conditions were viola- ics legends Peter Drucker, Spring noted, tions of the company’s operating proce- “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” dures, but Phoenix Heli-Flight also used “You have to go in there calm, cool, and the video to revise its policies concerning collected and say, ‘Let’s talk about this.’ If fatigue. you go in looking for blood, you are going Finally, an EC135 on a medevac mis- to wreck the whole system. My job is to sion returned shortly to dispatch when pay for these things [aircraft damage] and its two-pilot crew said the rotor tach Veteran operator makes the not look for revenge, but to look for learn- failed. The video showed the rotor tach ings, especially if the incident or accident was never working, the crew breezed by wasn’t intentional.” the problem during the takeoff checklist case for cockpit cameras and then took 20 minutes to discover the Cost Savings condition after departure. by Mark Huber Spring gave several examples where Putting cameras in the cockpit and cockpit cameras have saved his company then using the lessons learned from that Cameras in the cockpit don’t just improve comes down to culture and that the two substantial amounts over the years and/ video also helps Spring pay what he said the safety of helicopter flight operations, are used in unison. “What kind of organi- or helped improve the quality of opera- are some of the lowest hull insurance they save money, and occasionally can zation are you? Are you an organization tions. A helicopter with a relatively new rates in Canada: 0.5 percent. Cameras even save a pilot’s job, according to Paul that lets your pilots do whatever they engine experienced a torque exceedance. also help him safeguard his firm’s most Spring, president of Phoenix Heli-Flight want, or are you an organization whose The camera showed the event occurred valuable asset—its reputation. “Repu- in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Phoe- aim is to provide safe transportation and at 40 knots so no teardown was required. tations built over decades can be lost in nix operates a mixed fleet of Airbus light continually improve? If you’re the latter, Had the airspeed been 55 knots or greater seconds,” he cautioned, while pilots seem singles and twins and has had cameras in you need to understand what is going on a teardown would have been mandated, to acclimate to big brother riding along its cockpits for nearly 10 years as part of in your organization. Without the data, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. fairly rapidly. “People totally forget the its flight data recording systems. you don’t know what you don’t know.” In another case, an EC130T2 long-lin- cameras are there,” Spring said. “Except “The environment we work in can go Spring said recording flight data helped ing a 2,300-pound Kubota mini-ho (small for the guys who decide to tamper with from good to bad in a hurry, but when the company map speed, descent rate, roll bulldozer) prematurely jettisoned the your data. I would terminate someone you know better, you do better,” Spring rates, approach angles, and G-forces and load. The cockpit camera showed that the who played with our equipment.” said. “Cameras should be in the cockpit compile a list of 30 triggers for unsafe or pilot’s hand was nowhere near the hook He said the company generally keeps of every aircraft. Cameras always seem approaching unsafe conditions. For exam- release button when the load departed the this encrypted data and video for up to to be a touchy subject for a lot of rea- ple, below 500 feet agl the maximum aircraft. The pilot, who initially thought six months, unless for some reason it is sons and there are cases of crews inten- approved descent rate is 500 fpm; a low he would be fired over the incident, kept needed longer. n tionally defeating these devices. But if cameras are operated responsibly, the pilots do not need to fear these record- ings. In some cases, cameras validate that crewmembers did nothing wrong during Van Horn LongRanger blades receive Brazil, Canada approvals the post-incident investigation. We’ve learned a lot in my company over the Tempe, Arizona-based Van Horn Aviation ANAC greenlighted the STC on November 206L operators since the FAA STC was last 11 years” that Phoenix has been using (Booth B2012) is expanding the market for 29. These approvals followed an FAA STC announced in August,” said Van Horn Avi- aircraft data and cockpit video recorders, its composite 206L LongRanger main rotor nod in August and both cover the 206L-1, -3, ation president Dean Rosenlof. “We’re Spring said. blades with STC validations from Canada and -4 fleets. In addition, Transport Canada pleased that both Transport Canada and He dismisses pilot concerns about and Brazil. Canadian STC approval was validation applies to 206Ls. ANAC were able to validate the FAA STC privacy. “Who says you have a right to a granted on December 3 after the Brazilian “We’ve had orders from several Canadian within a few months so we could get the private work environment in an aircraft? product to our customers in these countries.” I never guaranteed that when I hired any- The blades are designed with corro- body. If you are doing your job correctly, sion and damage-resistant carbon fiber you have nothing to fear from a cockpit skin, titanium root grip plates, foam core, recording. To those who say this takes and electroformed nickel and stainless the fun out of flying, I never said this was steel abrasion strips along the leading going to be fun. Our clients come to us edge. Van Horn Aviation customers have looking for safe transportation; they don’t reported speed increases of one to three want fun when they walk in the door.” knots thanks in part to the NASA-designed Spring said the financial cost of install- laminar flow airfoil that enables air to move ing a system is small, starting at $10,000, more efficiently over the blade. considering that a new turbine single “Our 206L main rotor blades offer per- starts at $3 million and that damage formance and fiscal improvements over awards from accident lawsuits can easily the OEM blades, at nearly the same initial top $50 million. According to Spring, the acquisition cost,” said Rosenlof. K.L. decision to install recorders and cameras

26 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com Join over 25,000 industry professionals for the most important three days of business aviation, with 1,100 exhibitors, 2 static displays of aircraft – one inside the exhibit hall and the other outside at Henderson Executive Airport, and more than 50 education opportunities. Save the date and visit the NBAA-BACE website to learn more. www.nbaa.org/2019 data, and engine performance. “The putting all the complicated things that GPMS’s Foresight MX HUMS diagnostic portions of [legacy] HUMS happen in the background and simpli- have some limitations on how they can fying them in the user interface so that be used,” Kalkstein said. “We’ve heard maintainers can easily make decisions STC’d for light turbine helos of special operations teams needing to about what they need to do. call [the OEM] to ask if they can fly their “We think our system brings a number by R. Randall Padfield next mission because they don’t have the of advantages that will make return-on-­ kind of useful life estimates that can make investment easier for all helicopter opera- Health and usage monitoring systems they are acceptable for large aircraft and these systems more valuable.” tors, but in particular making the technology (HUMS), which monitor critical aircraft large fleets, but not smaller aircraft and Bechhoefer and Jack Taylor (GPMS’s available for light helicopter operators for parts and systems using onboard sensors, smaller fleet operators. Our system was other co-founder and also its senior software the first time,” Kalkstein concluded. are typically found on large helicopters, designed around the maintainer—ease architect) have been developing systems for GPMS also offers Foresight FX for the oil- such as those serving the oil-and-gas of use and actionable information. Our condition monitoring and prognostics for and-gas industry and other industrial appli- industry and military operations. Now, HUMS kit for the 407 [a Part 27 helicop- 19 years, including being on the team that cations: “anything that vibrates or rotates Cornwall, Vermont-based GPMS (Booth ter] weighs less than nine pounds.” Fore- helped develop the integrated vehicle health creates wear; and worn parts eventually fail,” C3828) is offering Foresight MX, a just- sight MX for Part 29 helicopters weighs management (IVHM) system for Goodrich as it says on the GPMS website. n STC’d, next-generation “prognostic 20 pounds, while traditional HUMS UTC. “Eric [Bechhoefer] realized there were health monitoring system” for the Bell weigh more than 100 pounds. a lot of things he would have liked to have 407GX and -GXP, the first such system “Foresight is the first real, prognostic/ done there,” Kalkstein said. “He and Jack designed for light turbine helicopters. predictive, maintenance solution, which went into wind turbines first, for which Subsequent STCs are planned for the gives operators time to plan maintenance,” they designed a bussed architecture. This Dart secures 407GXI, AS350, and MD500. Kalstein continued. “And the automated, reduced the amount of wire and cost, in Eric Bechhoefer, GPMS co-founder, optimized rotor track and balance feature terms of the hardware components. They multiple approvals CEO, and chief engineer, told AIN, “Our makes a black art more like painting by then demonstrated the concept on more Foresight HUMS meets the necessary numbers.” than 100 wind turbines, which accumulated on H135 gear parts requirements for weight, cost, and simplic- more than 18 million hours over five years.” ity for the Bell 407GX and 407GXP, making Monitoring Multiple Parameters Eventually, the co-founders decided to Dart Aerospace is expanding its land- the 407 model a great first platform for the Unlike some basic, less capable HUMS go back into the helicopter HUMS mar- ing gear product portfolio, securing STC.” GPMS has been developing Fore- that monitor only vibration, Foresight ket and started building what became approvals in recent months from sight MX for more than five years. MX monitors vibration, rotor track and the Foresight system. Their goal was to Transport Canada, the U.S. FAA, and Bell, explained Jed Kalkstein, GPMS balance, flight regime recognition, flight design the perfect HUMS solution “by the European Aviation Safety Agency president and CFO, had been trying to for its Airbus EC/H135 replacement get a HUMS for the 407 for many years crosstubes. and had an RFP in process for more than “This achievement represents a a year when GPMS visited the helicopter key milestone for Dart’s landing gear manufacturer. “After the folks at Bell saw portfolio. The development presented Foresight, the OEM abandoned the RFP significant design, manufacturing, and process and started over. This triggered certification challenges,” said David a two-year testing and selection process Shepherd, Dart Aerospace vice pres- for GPMS and culminated in us getting ident of certification, noting the part the certification last spring and signing a marks Dart’s first foray into larger thin- distribution agreement with Bell.” wall aluminum tubes used on Airbus Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, helicopter landing gear. North Carolina, selected Foresight MX, “It definitely increases our capabilities and one of its four Bell 407Gx helicopters to take on more complex landing gear became the platform for the STC. “Duke program development in the future,” Energy was so happy with it,” Kalkstein said, Shepherd added. “that they decided to outfit the rest of their Shreveport, Louisiana air medical fleet.” Installation of Foresight MX on the operation and completion center Metro third aircraft started in mid-January. Foresight MX HUMS meets weight, cost, and simplicity needs for light turbine rotorcraft. Aviation took delivery of the initial Dart H135 crosstubes. Metro Aviation Flight Testing on a Bell 206B further worked with Dart during the Before obtaining the Bell 407 STC, GPMS development phase, and managing partnered with Eagle Aviation Academy of director Milton Geltz said the company Midland City, Alabama, to do the initial Bell’s Singapore center gets Chinese nod is “excited to have an alternate source flight-testing of Foresight MX on a Bell for these types of products.” 206B. However, GPMS has not yet STC’d Bell’s Singapore service center has received in the region,” said Bell Asia general man- The crosstubes are corrosion the product on the 206. “We did an FAA Civil Aviation Administration of China ager Chris Schaefer. “Our focus in Asia-­ resistant, made from improved high- Form 337 installation on the 206B, which approval for the Bell 206, 407, and 429, Pacific will be working with our authorized strength aluminum alloy, and protected requires much of the same paperwork and allowing it to conduct maintenance, repair, customer service facilities and customers by a high-performance primer and engineering,” Kalkstein explained. “As and overhaul work on the helicopters’ com- to ensure Bell aircraft are maintained to paint for offshore operations, Dart said. soon as we have a customer who wants ponents, engines, instruments, and radios. the highest safety standards.” Dart is offering its Standard Low Foresight MX for a 206, we’ll submit the About 150 Bell helicopters are based The certification is expected to give size, as well as Mid-Height that is paperwork to get it certified on that plat- in China, consisting mainly of 40 Bell Chinese operators additional MRO options suited for helicopters requiring extra form as well.” (The FAA Form 337 is used 206s, 78 Bell 407s, and 17 Bell 429s. That on top of local authorized agents, and ground clearance, such as for utility to approve major repairs and alterations number is set to increase to around 360 engineers from Singapore will travel to operations. They are designed to on a certified aircraft.) with the order from Shaanxi Helicopter China when required. Bell (Booth C4007) be compatible with Dart’s Round-I- Why has it taken the industry so long and Reignwood International Investment added that the Singapore facility recently Beam skidtubes and OEM-related to come up with a good next-generation Group for 100 Bell 407GXPs and 110 Bell received non-restricted FAA Part 145 cer- parts such as saddles, skidtubes, HUMS for light helicopters? 505 Jet Ranger Xs, respectively. tification for Bell 205, 206, 212, 407, 412, access steps, and ground-handling “In short,” Kalkstein said, “HUMS has a “The CAAC certification is a key mile- 429, and 505 maintenance, repair, and wheels. The Mid-Height model fur- bad rap. Although being a great concept, stone for Bell as we expand our service overhaul work on all components, engines, ther is compatible with Dart and OEM legacy HUMS are too hard to under- and support offering for our growing fleet accessories, instruments, and radios. C.C. floats, Dart said. K.L. stand, too heavy, and too expensive. So,

28 HAI Convention News \ March 6, 2019 \ ainonline.com Air Methods signs with Spectro Jet-Care BrightWater by Amy Laboda Aviation plans

Medical transport services company Air for Air Methods’ fleet of 450 helicopters fluid, fuel, debris, and filter analysis, as UAG acquisition Methods, which operates from 300 loca- and airplanes. well as engine trend monitoring by gas tions in the U.S., has signed a contract Forty-year-old Spectro Jet-Care pro- path analysis. These tests are designed to BrightWater Aviation president David with Spectro Jet-Care (Booth B7817) to vides a range of services to clients in 140 identify operational issues at the earliest Adler inked a letter of intent to acquire provide oil and engine analysis services countries, including aircraft oil, hydraulic possible stage. The company has labora- Stratford, Connecticut-based United tories in the U.S., UK, and Switzerland Aero Group (UAG, Booth B4609), the and holds approvals and preferred sup- companies announced at Heli-Expo plier status from companies that include 2019. UAG holds extensive inventories Safran Helicopter Engines, Pratt & Whit- of helicopter parts for the Sikorsky S-76, ney Canada, Honeywell Aerospace, Leon- UH-60, and S-70, in addition to several ardo Helicopters, Airbus Helicopters, and Bell, Leonardo, and Airbus models. ZF Gearboxes. “UAG, in conjunction with Arista Avi- “We understand the challenging envi- ation and our other BrightWater enti- ronments in which the Air Methods ties, builds upon our focus of providing teams work and the critical nature of unrivaled service to commercial, utility, the operation of their fleet,” said Alan and military operators throughout the Baker, international sales and marketing world,” Adler said. manager at Spectro Jet-Care. “Our fast UAG founder, president, and gen- sample turnaround, experienced techni- eral manager Jamie Gelder and Adler cal teams, and 24/7 availability for AOG both have Sikorsky experience. Adler samples allows us to provide a first-class was president of Sikorsky Aerospace analysis service.” n Services, which grew from $600 million to $2.5 billion annual reve- nue annually under his leadership from 2008 to 2015. Gelder served at Sikorsky Aircraft as director of after- YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS Spectro Jet-Care has been analyzing oils, filters, and debris for 40 years and serves market sales and support. A.L customers in 140 countries, helping them discover problems as early as possible. www.ainonline.com

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ainonline.com \ March 6, 2019 \ HAI Convention News 29 continued from page 1 oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, and it is centrally located to customers UH-60M Kopter planning to throughout the U.S. Among the incentives to further entice build in Louisiana Kopter, the state offered its Faststart worker training program, along with a $2.5 The company expects to begin out- million up-front industrial tax exemption. fitting and staffing the U.S. facility later “Part of that is to renovate the production this year, with an eye towards beginning facility and part of that is some lease production there later in 2020. The first assistance,” explained Edwards. “It was U.S.-assembled SH09 is expected to be a competitive incentive package that we delivered in 2021. Edwards noted that put on top of the facility.” the company will create 120 jobs at the location with a $7 million payroll, and it U.S. Components is expected to ramp up production to 100 Kopter plans for the production SH09s to aircraft a year from the location by 2025. incorporate 50 percent to 70 percent of “We are delighted that Kopter chose U.S.-made components, and being built in Louisiana and Lafayette for the assem- Louisiana, to allow it to compete for gov- FAA OKs Sikorsky S-70M for utility ops bly of a dynamic new aerospace prod- ernment contracts. “We will quite easily uct,” said Edwards, noting the company with this set up reach levels of American The FAA has awarded Sikorsky type certi- municipalities, and commercial transport could have chosen any location in North content which will allow us to be an inte- fication in the restricted category for the companies across the U.S., and even to America for its production and service gral part of bigger contracts of that type S-70M, enabling the Lockheed Martin com- some international operators, that want to hub. Indeed, according to Löwenstein, in the future,” said Löwenstein. pany to produce the non-military version acquire new Black Hawk helicopters direct no fewer than 38 locations were eval- As it prepares to ramp up production of the UH-60M for special-purpose civil from Sikorsky to accomplish specific tasks.” uated by the company before it settled at its headquarters facility in Mollis, Swit- operations such as external cargo, agri- The Connecticut-based manufacturer on Lafayette. “Louisiana’s outstanding zerland, to an eventual 50 helicopters a culture operations, and forest and wildlife (Booth B2507) said it is increasingly receiv- workforce and facility assets, and our year, the company is also planning a more conservation, the airframer announced ing orders and inquiries from municipalities competitive business climate, make than 215,000-sq-ft expansion. The addi- Tuesday at Heli-Expo 2019. in California and other western states for Lafayette the clear choice for Kopter’s tional space will be used for production Sikorsky v-p of strategy and busi- the S-70 Firehawk, a modified Black Hawk future in the Americas.” of dynamic components, including rotor ness development Nathalie Previte said with a 1,000-gallon external water tank. Löwenstein noted the most attractive blades, gearboxes, and rotor heads, as well the certification “will be tremendously The U.S. Army has purchased more than feature area for the location is its role as as housing testing rigs and warehouses. It attractive to local government agencies, 1,000 UH-60Ms since 2005. J.S a hub of activity for the U.S. helicopter expects to break ground this fall, with a market, with many operators serving the targeted completion in 2021. n

continued from page 1 Flight testing for the unmanned equip- ment will begin by the end of the year, Optionally-piloted according to Dasmalchi, who described it as being able to act autonomously. “It is con- K-Max coming soon trolled by a laptop, not by a joystick where somebody physically manipulates the air- Those two aircraft, known as CQ-24A craft,” he said. “You’re just going to hit the in their military designation, survived button on the computer and the machine is their deployment under challenging going to fly and execute the whole mission.” operating conditions with an operational While it expects to receive FAA certifica- readiness better than 95 percent, hauling tion for the system next year, what exactly more than 4.5 million pounds of cargo to that will entail has yet to be determined. remote outposts—essentially 900 ground “The existing unmanned K-Max, the ones vehicle loads. In that role, the two air- that the Marines used were on an experi- craft protected the lives of soldiers by mental certification,” Dasmalchi said. “We keeping them off of mine-strewn roads don’t know yet what requirements the FAA and reduced the possibility of ambushes. will do for the unmanned. We know the FAA Upon the helicopters’ return to the U.S., is making a push to certify this class of UAS.” they were then put into preservation Though the manufacturer shuttered its by the USMC. Kaman is again working production line for the turbine-­powered with the Marines on the latest version K-Max in the early 2000s, Kaman of unmanned technology for battlefield restarted it in 2015, and after a 17-year logistics and will soon return the pair to hiatus began new deliveries of the $7.25 flight status. million aircraft. It has since delivered 10, Dasmalchi said the idea for the future bringing the worldwide fleet of the spe- K-Max will be to create an optional mod- cialized helicopter to 32. ification that will allow the user to decide “The phrase I would use is ‘back by pop- whether the mission calls for a manned ular demand,’” Dasmalchi told AIN. “The pilot or unmanned configuration. “The current fleet of operators is very satisfied unmanned system that we’re building, with theYOUR helicopter, SOURCE FOR and AVIATION clearly NEWS there is a you could think of it as a modular kit,” he demand forwww. it.” ainonline.com n explained. “If you have an existing K-Max, you could purchase the unmanned kit and it could be installed for you, then you could operate both manned or unmanned.” ENEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION The option would also be available factory When Kaman’s optionally-piloted K-Max achieves certification in 2020, it will be one of the www.ainonline.com/alerts installed for new aircraft. largest unmanned aerial vehicles in the sky.

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FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE Robinson’s safety course logs its 21,000th graduate by Mark Huber

Robinson Helicopter has had more than helicopter pilot with at least three hours 21,000 pilots attend the three-and-a-half- in a Robinson is free to attend, although day safety course at its California factory 65 percent of attendees are instructors since the mid-1980s and thousands more or potential instructors. The course is an at foreign-based courses sponsored by its FAA-approved flight instructor refresher dealers in 30 different countries to date. course (FIRC) and can be used toward CFI Robinson exports roughly 70 percent of the renewal. Fees vary from $500 for the R22 helicopters it builds. In any given year the course to $1,100 for the R66; even so, the

factory teaches 14 to 16 courses with atten- company offers the course at a loss. And THURBER MATT dance averaging 55 to 60 for each one. Atten- that is just fine with CEO Kurt Robinson. dance for the foreign-taught courses can “We’ve had the distinction of mak- and is becoming a popular IFR trainer. Tucker said that crashes in Robinsons run from 15 to 110 students each, depend- ing helicopter flying less expensive and Despite all this, Robinson said any have four main causes: wire strikes and ing on location, with larger markets such as whenever that happens it gets into more helicopter’s main safety feature remains weather (29 percent each), low rotor Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. This year hands. You have to convince people that between the pilot’s ears. “People need to rpm stalls (21 percent), and low G mast the company also held four separate safety it has to be approached differently than set limits before they fly; corporations bumping. When Robinson started the courses in China with the assistance of Chin driving a car on the ground,” he told AIN. do it with their safety management sys- course, the highest cause (36 percent) Tu, owner of Civic Helicopters in Carlsbad, Robinson is the world’s largest manu- tems [SMS]. Safe flying is not just skill, was low rpm rotor stall, but that has California. Tu speaks fluent Mandarin. facturer of low-cost civil helicopters by it’s judgment and we spend a lot of time decreased significantly with the advent Flight portions in foreign-taught courses volume. It has made numerous safety in the course focusing on getting people of the course and improvements to the vary based on helicopter and instructor improvements to its helicopters, includ- to make better decisions. I can’t be more helicopter, Tucker said. availability. The course typically includes ing the availability of crash-resistant fuel proud of our safety course.” Kurt Robin- All of the leading causal factors are dis- 1.5 hours of dual instruction flying time bladders. Also, more than half of all R66 son points out that Robinson was the first cussed at length during the course. “The in Robinson R22, R44, or R66 models and turbine singles are ordered with auto- factory program to teach the Vuichard whole thing is safety. On the first day, we extensive classroom instruction in safety, pilots, and the new R44 Cadet provides vortex ring state (aka settling with power) show some pretty vivid [crash] videos operations, and maintenance. Any licensed more safety margins, is easier to hover, recovery technique back in 2011, which and that turns some people off,” Tucker has now become the international stan- admits. Only accidents in Robinsons dard for escaping this potentially deadly are discussed. The first day of ground flight condition. The recovery consists of instruction covers topics common to all increasing the collective to climb power, Robinson models, while the second and All-electric R44 sets flight record keeping the nose straight with left pedal, third days focus on the pilot’s operating and simultaneously applying right cyclic handbook (POH) for the student’s spe- Tier 1 Engineering set the Guinness World modified, all-electric R44 is powered by to a 10-20 degree bank angle. cific model. There is also a more exten- Record for the farthest distance travelled 1,100 pounds of Brammo lithium polymer Tim Tucker has logged 10,000 hours sive discussion of model systems and by an all-electric helicopter, flying a mod- batteries, twin electric motors, and a con- in Robinsons and is the company’s chief maintenance on day three. The flying ified Robinson R44 a distance of 30 nm at trol system from Rinehart Motion Systems. instructor pilot. “Not everyone who buys portion focuses on the Vuichard recovery, up to 80 knots and an altitude of 800 feet The helicopter first flew in 2016. a helicopter goes through the course,” recovery from low rpm, advanced tech- on December 7. The helicopter was flown Tier 1’s is not the first electric helicop- he said, “but some insurance companies niques for maneuvering in autorotations, by Ric Webb of OC Helicopters under a ter project. In 2011 France’s Solution F require it. We certainly do a lot of things recovery from hydraulics malfunction in special airworthiness certificate in the achieved a two-minute flight in a manned to encourage buyers to take the course,” applicable models, and, time allowing, experimental category issued by FAA’s Los ultralight untethered electric helicopter. chief among them keeping the cost low. anything else of student interest. n Angeles manufacturing inspection district The flight was piloted by Pascal Chretien, office. The flight originated from the Los an aerospace engineer from the firm. In Alamitos Army Airfield. 2010, Sikorsky unveiled the Firefly project, Tier 1 is under contract from Lung Bio- a modified Sikorsky-Schweizer S-300C fit- technology PBC to produce an electrically ted with a U.S. Hybrid Technologies electric Leonardo investing in training and tech powered, semi-autonomous rotorcraft motor and two lithium-ion battery packs, for human organ delivery. The highly capable of flying for 12 to 15 minutes. M.H. Leonardo Helicopters (B7024) managing resources “from outside the company.” director Gian Piero Cutillo said the belea- “We don’t necessarily need to be the first,” guered offshore energy market is improving, said Leonardo senior v-p of competitive but not enough. “Oil and gas is getting better. analysis and strategy Roberto Garavaglia, It is a difficult market and I personally don’t speaking of the potential eVTOL efforts. believe it will come back to the [high] levels “But I dare say that our efforts will be col- we have seen in the past,” he said. laborative. I see four major issues: technol- Nevertheless, buoyed by 2018 deliver- ogy, regulation, infrastructure, and public ies that increased to 177 from 149 in 2017, acceptance. Is our society willing to accept Cutillo said Leonardo is spending $65 a means of transportation that could poten- million to open a new pilot and technician tially cause thousands of deaths per year?” training center in Philadelphia next year With regard to current product enhance- that will include full-flight simulators for ment, the company is working on the devel- the AW139, AW169, and AW609. opment of active main rotor and electric Leonardo is investigating development tailrotor systems. The flap-based active of an electric vertical takeoff and landing rotor will fly soon on an AW139, while the (eVTOL) aircraft, although he acknowl- tailrotor “remains under study,” said Gara- Tier 1 Engineering recently flew an electrically powered Robinson R44 a distance of edged that pushing an initiative forward vaglia. The goal of the active rotor would be 30 nm at speeds up to 80 knots and an altitude of 800 feet. on that front might require enlisting to reduce noise and vibration. M.H.

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