Kopter Press Book Main articles published since 1st February 2018 Day of company rebranding @ Kopter Group AG 4.7.2018 L'Usine Nouvelle - 3570 Imprimé par Tous droits réservés http://pveditorsla6.immanens.com/fr/pvPrintWLI.asp?skin=usine&publication=005885&issue=3570&page=1&choice=48-49 1/2 4.7.2018 L'Usine Nouvelle - 3570 Imprimé par Tous droits réservés http://pveditorsla6.immanens.com/fr/pvPrintWLI.asp?skin=usine&publication=005885&issue=3570&page=1&choice=48-49 2/2 AIRMED&RESCUE MAGAZINE magazine POLICE AVIATION EDITION ISSUE 90 | JUNE / JULY 2018 Insights into medical interiors Is a modular solution the answer for an aircraf performing many roles? Profi le: South Africa Police Service Insights into the operations of the Air Wing ISSUE 90 JUNE / JULY 2018 ISSUE 90 JUNE / JULY COMPANY PROFILE Kopter Company Profile 46 46 AIRMED&RESCUE COMPANY PROFILE ntering the headquarters of Kopter in Wetzikon, ESwitzerland, what immediately strikes you is the air of quiet excitement; as well as the large helicopter placed in the middle of the open plan offce – the frst prototype of the SH09 has been given pride of place in the building. The team at Kopter is right now working steadily towards its goal of certifcation of its SH09 helicopter, which will happen during the second half of 2019, with P3 (the third prototype) to head into fight testing in the coming weeks. For CEO Andreas Löwenstein, the ramp up towards delivery of the helicopters to the frst customers is an exciting time, and one he has been working towards since he joined the company some 18 months ago. With more than 28 years of experience in the aerospace and defence industry, having worked at EADS and Eurocopter in the past, there is little doubting the fact that he knows what the market needs, and for him, the opportunity to be at the helm of a company that is delivering a brand-new helicopter to the market was one So, what is different about the SH09 to other aircraft? “New technology has that he couldn’t pass up. “I’ve always been a builder,” he told AirMed&Rescue, allowed for a change in fundamentals – the helicopter architecture being one,” “whether that is building a company or building a team. To bring together the he said. “Being made from composite materials means it is both light and crash team and knowledge that inspires the spirit of innovation is a very enjoyable resistant. The second revolution is the additional safety features that we have put experience.” on the aircraft as part of the initial design – these (such as many dual systems) A costly one though – CHF300 million (€253,670,343) has been spent so are often optional extras [on other aircraft]. Finally, the cost of maintenance and far, and certifcation has still to come. In a move new to the industry, Kopter is operation will be lower.” There was mention too of linking the digital systems aiming for dual accreditation from the European Aviation Safety Agency and US of the aircraft and some more sensors with an app on the customer’s mobile Federal Aviation Administration at approximately the same time – ambitious, for device, which would allow connected services, enabling for more effcient sure, but achievable, said Löwenstein, depending on how the two agencies will maintenance processes. work together, which seems to be going very well today. The cabin of the SH09 will come equipped with a full glass cockpit, with an avionics suite from Garmin – the newly launched G3000H. “The G3000H Fresh approach will ease the workload of SH09 pilots while providing best-in-class situational Designed originally in 2009 by Martin Stucki from scratch, with large rear- awareness. This will enable a higher level of safety for every mission, the core opening cargo doors and no separation between the cockpit and the cabin, principle behind the design of our helicopter,” noted Michele Riccobono, the spacious interior of the SH09 allows for a wide range of confgurations Kopter Executive Vice-President Technology. Safety has been at the heart of the – emergency medical transport, surveillance and law enforcement, utility, and helicopter’s development from its inception. passenger transport. Its modular design means that the change from one mission The air medical industry will without doubt be a key customer segment for profle to another can be effected quickly and easily – from adding another Kopter – for the past 18 months, it has been working on the interior cabin stretcher, to moving the design with Metro Aviation, one of the largest providers of air medical services pedals from the second in the US. This has resulted in more space for stretchers, better access to the pilot’s seat in order patient (s) for the medics, and more space made available for medical kit thanks to allow an additional to the movement of a fuel tank from the cabin wall into the cabin foor. passenger to sit safely in Kopter’s manufacturing and fight testing departments are in the dramatic that seat without risking landscape of a valley near Mollis, not far from its headquarters in Wetzikon, an accidental movement and although currently it only has the one hangar, plans are afoot to build a of the pedals by that 16,000m2 facility in 2019. Production of certain parts of the SH09 – such as the passenger. Löwenstein fve rotor blades – are done in-house. Most, though, are sourced from third used the term ‘a fying party suppliers. While every effort has been made to ensure the fnest quality Swiss Pocket knife’. for each of the thousands of components from which a helicopter is built, Löwenstein has there are almost inevitably some teething problems. One such issue has been mentioned in the with the dynamic components provided by a supplier in the third prototype past that innovation (PS03), which will (once fxed!) be off to Sicily for three quarters of intense in the helicopter testing, where it will be put through its paces and pushed to – and past – its market is notable by its operational limits. The small delay in getting the P3 to Sicily for testing has actually absence – ‘it’s easier for had a benefcial side too – the company is taking advantage of the schedule manufacturers to stick shift to refne a number of subsystems where areas of further optimisation with what has been tried were identifed during ground testing. While these refnements were meant and proven’, he said. to be phased into the PS4 (Pre-Series 4) aircraft, by putting them onto the P3, >> 47 www.airmedandrescue.com 47 COMPANY PROFILE diary dates Send your diary dates to: the development programme can be accelerated. The sector in the US will continue, he says, and through a [email protected] PS4 will be the aircraft submitted for certifcation, which close strategic co-operation with Metro Aviation, Kopter Kopter expects will be achieved next year, ensuring the is planning on holding a strong position in this area in frst aircraft can be delivered to customers before the end years to come: “We are going to aim to take a signifcant 12-14 June of 2019. per cent of the market in the next 10 years,” he told AIRMED World Congress While currently the plan is to build the helicopters in the AirMed&Rescue. With many operators in the US still using Warsaw, Poland facility in Switzerland, there will be a time in the near the AS350 Ecureuil, the time will soon be nigh for these future, according to Löwenstein, when this will not be helicopters to be put out to pasture, and thus comes 18-24 June the case: “The SH09 has been built in the knowledge the opportunity for the SH09 to potentially become 50th Annual Washington that parts can be made here, and tested here, but can the aircraft of choice. While it is possible that other States Search and ultimately be put together in other countries.” There manufacturers could downgrade a twin-engine aircraft into Rescue Conference will be a manufacturing facility in the US before long, he a single-engine one, question marks hang over whether Ellensburg, Washington, US said, and there are also plans to expand to the Asia Pacifc or not this would be a proftable move for them. region. Assembly facilities around the world are a sensible Kopter’s frst customers of the SH09 ‘will be partners’, 9-14 July move – not only to ensure compliance with local laws said Jan Nowacki, Executive Vice-President of ALEA Expo 2018 and regulations, but lso because it is a much more cost Operations. Kopter isn’t going to deliver hundreds of Airborne Law Enforcement effective way of doing business, he explained, as Kopter helicopters in the frst few years. There will be time Association Louisville, Kentucky, US will be able to meet local operator requirements for for feedback from these initial customers, with the customisation of the helicopter. opportunity to improve and streamline processes 10-12 July and services. Without data from these customers, the International Search & Rescue Market opportunity company is unable to progress further. “It is normal Conference 2018 The belief in the product among the Kopter employees in a complex technical development process that Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to whom AirMed&Rescue spoke for this article was unforeseen circumstances will appear,” said Löwenstein, infectious. Christian gras, Executive Vice President of “and we have mitigation processes in place for when 7-9 September Customers, has lengthy experience in the industry, and that happens.” SAREX 2018 is passionate in his belief that strong, adaptable single- A passion for what they are doing is apparent throughout El Dorado, California, US engine helicopters such as the SH09 are the future of the layers of the company, from the CEO to the Chief the industry.