DAY 1 January 28, 2020

HAI PUBLICATIONS Convention News « HAI’s new president and CEO James Viola flew Viola in this Bell 505 solo to the Anaheim Convention Center where he is meeting many members tune with of the rotorcraft industry for the first time and affirming his commitment to HAI’s HAI safety key issues, especially initiatives the target of zero by Curt Epstein Sanfran has big year › This year’s Heli-Expo marks the end of one page 27 era and the beginning of another as Matt Zuccaro, who had helmed the organiza- tion as president and CEO for the past 15 OEMs years, retired as announced before the show Schweizer brings S300 started. To succeed him, Associ- ation International (HAI) selected James back to market › page 21 Viola, bringing on board a long-time gov- ernment and military professional with deep Controls aviation safety and helicopter experience. He assumed his new role with HAI on Garmin GFC 600H set January 16, and at an introductory press con- page 28 ference at the Anaheim Convention Center for certification › on Monday ahead of the show’s opening, he found himself thrust into the media spotlight Operations as he addressed the tragic helicopter crash the day before which claimed the life of for- Politicians attack NYC mer NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, his daugh- helo › page 30 ter, and seven others, in nearby Calabasas. “High-profile incidents and accidents cer- tainly bring more visibility, and not in a posi- Industry tive way for the industry,” he told the audience, Zuccaro reflects on 15 as he then touched on the safety classes and

presentations being offered at the show. “But AMBROSE BARRY years at HAI › page 36 if there is any connection to what we are doing this week, it will show that this industry really goes out of its way to try to make sure that we provide the safest industry as possible on the helicopter side of the house.” He concluded Performance packs boost AW169 power his response stating, “It’s about zero fatal accidents, that’s the vision, the goal, because by Mark Huber no loss of life is acceptable.” Viola was chosen from a pool of approx- Leonardo is developing two performance and as a retrofit to existing (OEI) hover. Shortly after initial EASA imately 50 qualified applicants from all packages for the AW169 medium twin that beginning in 2021. certification approval for the helicopter, around the world, according to HAI chair will increase shaft horsepower Retrofit pricing was not disclosed, but Leonardo certified the AW169 for a maxi- Capt. Jan Becker. “I think the thing that Jim (shp), transmission rating, and available a company spokesman said he expected mum gross weight increase from 4.6 to 4.8 brings to the table is just an industry pas- payload. The “Enhanced” and “Supe- them to require 16 man-hours of labor. tons in 2016. That increased-gross-weight sion,” Becker told AIN. “He has an ability rior” performance packs rely on software Available payload would increase from kit upped the aircraft’s maximum takeoff to see both the operator and the member- updates and minor aerodynamic modifi- 440 to 770 pounds, depending on phase weight from 10,141 to 10,582 pounds, a ship sides, what do the people want on the cations to deliver increased performance. of flight and external conditions; more capability that could add up to 100 nm of ground, what do we need in the regulations Leonardo expects EASA approval for the than 770 pounds for hovering, some 660 additional range from the original ferry and internationally, bringing the people packages by the end of 2020 and will pounds for CAT.A-PC1 operations, and range of 431 nm (no reserve). continues on page 38 make them available on new deliveries 440 pounds for one-engine-inoperative continues on page 38

Pg-1-38_d1_v4.indd 2 1/27/20 6:29 PM Bryant’s helicopter in rapid ADS-B TELEMETRY descent before fatal crash by Mark Huber

Retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball aboard—identified as 50-year-old Ara legend Kobe Bryant, 41, and his daugh - Zobayan of Huntington Beach, Califor- ter Gianna, 13, were two of nine aboard nia. Zobayan held instrument helicopter a 1991 Sikorsky S-76B—registered as and commercial ratings, as well as an N72EX—who died Sunday at approx - FAA second-class aeromedical certificate imately 9:45 a.m. local time when the with limitations for corrective lenses for 15 SECONDS > helicopter went down just south of the near vision. FEET 101 freeway in Calabasas, California. After departing Santa Ana, the helicop-

The accident helicopter was being oper- ter proceeded northbound over the I-5 SPEED IN KNOTS ated under Part 135 as an on-demand highway to Glendale, California, where charter flight. a Burbank Tower controller put it in a It lifted off from John Wayne Airport 15-minute hold for traffic before grant- in Santa Ana, California, at 9:08 a.m. en ing a special VFR transition through its route to the Camarillo Airport (KCMA), Class C airspace. Both Van Nuys and Bur- n Altitude (ft AMSL) near Bryant’s basketball academy in bank Airports reported marginal weather n Vertical Speed (fpm) n Thousand Oaks, California, when it hit conditions near the time of the accident. Ground speed (Kts) terrain in conditions described as low At 9:51 a.m., Van Nuys reported 2.5 miles ceilings and heavy fog. The helicopter, visibility, 1,100 feet overcast, and haze. 22 SECONDS which was registered to Island Express At Burbank at 10:16 a.m., it was also 2.5 Holding, was flying with one pilot miles visibility with a ceiling of 1,100 feet ADS-B Out data provided by Flightradar24 showed that just before Sikorsky S-76B N72EX in haze. crashed, it was descending at a high rate of speed, with the rate of descent reaching 4,864 Burbank Tower cleared N72EX via the fpm and groundspeed increasing from 110 to 161 knots. INDEX north side of the airport along the I-5 free- Air Methods United Rotorcraft ...... 29 way from the southeast to the northwest answered in the affirmative that he wished with the aircraft climbing rapidly in a turn Aero Asset ...... 3 at or below 2,500 feet. Zobayan told the to switch frequencies to Socal Approach. from west to southeast to east from an Helicopters ...... 12, 26 tower controller he intended to follow the Van Nuys approved a requested turn altitude of 1,200 to 2,150 feet in less than Alpine Aerotech ...... 25 I-5 to the 118 freeway for the next transi- to the southwest (to intercept the 101). 40 seconds, before descending at a rate of Aston Martin ...... 12 tion, through the Van Nuys airport’s Class At 9:39 a.m., Zobayan reported VFR and 4,864 fpm. Astronautics...... 6 D airspace, and then proceed southwest 1,500 feet. At 9:42 a.m., he squawked ident In the final 15 seconds of the flight, Avidyne ...... 26 and pick up the 101 freeway and follow it with Socal Approach. At 9:43:58, Socal ground speed increased from 110 to 161 Axnes ...... 34 westbound to his destination. Approach informed him that he was too knots, with the last radar hit reported at Bell ...... 13, 33 At 9:35 a.m., Zobayan checked in with low for flight following. 1,350 feet. The wreckage was located just Cadorath ...... 25 Van Nuys Tower, reporting that he was Less than a minute later, at 9:44:22, south of the 101 freeway and was con- Cobham ...... 33 at 1,400 feet and requesting a special VFR Socal Approach unsuccessfully tried to sumed by a post-crash fire. Photos from Systems ...... 14 transition. He was then cleared into Van reach N722EX. Thirty-one seconds later, the accident area appear to show elevated Direct Helicopter ...... 10 Nuys Class D airspace at or below 2,500 near Calabasas, it appears the accident terrain on both sides of the 101 freeway. EIT Avionics ...... 22 European Helicopter Association ...... 4 feet on the northeast side along the 118 sequence began. Data from Radarbox and Terrain within 4 nm of the accident site European Union Aviation Safety Agency ...... 4 freeway. Zobayan acknowledged and Flightradar24 both suggest that the final climbs higher than 2,800 feet. Frasca ...... 34 reported a heading of 325 degrees and moments of the flight were unstabilized, Following the accident, both the Garmin ...... 28, 32 Helicopter Association International GE Capital Aviation Services ...... 20 (HAI) and the accident aircraft’s man- Genesys Aerosystems ...... 14 ufacturer, Sikorsky, issued statements Green Power Monitoring Systems...... 23 of condolence. HAI said it “expresses HAI ...... 1, 34, 36 Helicopter operators Bristow and Era merge our deepest sympathies to the families, ...... 8, 22 friends, and coworkers of those lost in Kopter ...... 16 The long-awaited consolidation of the off- The new Bristow will have operations today’s crash.” Leonardo ...... 1, 4, 19 shore helicopter market began late last in the Americas, Nigeria, Norway, the UK, Sikorsky also extended condolences Luma Technologies ...... 34 week with the announcement that the Era and Australia. Under terms of the proposed and said it stood ready “to provide assis- Mars Helicopter ...... 6 and Bristow groups would merge in an all- deal, Bristow shareholders would own 77 tance and support to the investigative MD Helicopters ...... 3, 22 stock, tax-free transaction to create a pub- percent of the new company and Era share- authorities and our customer. Safety is Mecaer Aviation Group...... 24 licly-traded company with global operations, holders would own 23 percent. our top priority; if there are any action- National EMS Pilot’s Association ...... 34 expected annual revenue of $1.5 billion, The proposed merger was unanimously able findings from the investigation, we NYC Helicopter ban ...... 30 and more than 300 helicopters including approved by the boards of both companies will inform our S-76 customers.” Pratt & Whitney ...... 31 the largest global fleets of Sikorsky S-92 and is expected to close in the second half In addition to the Bryants and pilot Robinson Helicopter ...... 18 and Leonardo AW189 and AW139 models. of the year, pending customary regulatory Zobayan, the remainder of the passengers S.A.F.E. Structure Designs ...... 34 were identified as Orange Coast College Safran Helicopter Engines ...... 27 The merged helicopter fleets will be more approvals. At closing, the new company is ...... 21 than 80 percent company-owned with the expected to have “a strong balance sheet” baseball coach John Altobelli, 56, his wife Sikorsky ...... 3, 25, 28, 29 remainder under “attractive lease rates.” with $250 million in cash. Keri and their daughter Alyssa, 13; Sarah SNC ...... 33 The combined company will be named “We believe this merger will create sub- Chester, 45, and her daughter Payton, 13; StandardAero ...... 32 Bristow, and Era Group CEO Chris Bradshaw stantial value for the stakeholders of both and Christina Mauser, 38, an assistant Thales ...... 32 will serve as CEO. Combining the compa- companies,” said Era CEO Chris Bradshaw. coach at Bryant’s basketball academy. True Blue Power ...... 20 nies is expected to achieve $35 million in Bristow CEO Don Miller said the merger The accident helicopter was previously Twirly Birds ...... 8 annual cost savings via the elimination of would build on Bristow’s safety and qual- owned by the State of Illinois, registered Universal Avionics ...... 3 redundancies and through “substantial and ity culture and “create an even stronger, at N761LL, from 2007 to 2015. The NTSB USHST ...... 36 highly achievable cost synergies.” more integrated industry leader.” M.H. has dispatched a team from Washington Utah Rotor Pathway Program ...... 18 to investigate. n

2 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

Pg-2_d1_v4.indd 1 1/27/20 5:32 PM Sikorsky firms timeline for upgraded S-92 variants by Mark Huber

Sikorsky’s A+ upgrade kit for legacy S-92 200 flight hours and also later torn down helicopters will be available for custom- and inspected in the presence of the FAA. ers in 2023, while the S-92B is planned Notably, the design uses a supplemen- to enter service in 2025, the company tal fuel pump and additional oil lines to announced on the eve of Heli-Expo 2020. reuse main gearbox oil that is accumu- It will reveal prices for both variants today lated in a lower sump in the event of at the show. primary lubrication failure. While some Audrey Brady, Sikorsky vice president other OEMs have developed “run dry” of commercial systems and services, said gearboxes that can function for between the timing of the rollouts was designed to 30 and 50 minutes without primary lubri- accommodate customers’ fleet planning cation, Sikorsky found this of dubious decision cycles. In talking to customers value given the offshore distances some

in the ensuing months after Sikorsky of its customers must fly. MARIANO ROSALES first announced the programs last year at When secondary lubrication kicks in, Audrey Brady, Sikorsky vice president of commercial systems and services, outlined the Heli-Expo, Sikorsky determined that the the event generates a “technical indica- company’s plans for significant upgrades to the S-92, including a new main gearbox. ability to retrofit the new main gearbox tor” back to Sikorsky to facilitate trouble- was their customers’ top priority. shooting once the impacted helicopter operate with both full seats and full fuel as 20 percent larger cabin windows, tita- The new gearbox fits into the existing lands or returns to base. Brady said cus- under most conditions. nium sideframes that increase fuselage space for the legacy component and pro- tomers greeted the new gearbox enthusi- Kit options will be rolled out progres- service life, and a common cabin door vides for increased time between overhaul astically and want it “as soon as possible.” sively, Brady said. They also include the for offshore and SAR missions. Other interval of up to 25 percent. The extra The new gearbox can be fitted to exist- previously disclosed Matrix advanced options are being contemplated for the weight of the new gearbox is offset with ing helicopters as part of the current flight computing hardware and software. S-92B, including electrochromatic win- weight savings elsewhere on the aircraft. 1,500-hour inspection, she said, and is Matrix enables other new Sikorsky tech- dow shading. Brady said the air condi - Sikorsky has both ground tested and flight just one of several menu items that can be nology such as Rig Approach 2.0 and tioning system in the current S-92 is tested the new gearbox. selected for the A+ upgrade. Other options SuperSearch. For offshore missions, Rig sufficiently robust to compensate for During ground testing, the gearbox ran under the upgrade include an increased Approach permits the helicopter to fly a any increased solar heating due to the for more than seven hours and the test was gross weight kit to 27,700 pounds and mission profile to within a quarter-mile of larger window area. halted only when the engineers got to the an uprated engine, the GE CT7-8A6, that the helideck on an oil rig. Sikorsky’s communications manager, time when the helicopter would have run offers better payload capability high and All of the features on the A+ kit will Eric Schnaible, said the A+ B models out of a full load of fuel. The new “Phase hot performance. The new engine, which be incorporated into the B model, along demonstrate Sikorsky’s ongoing commit- IV” gearbox was also flown for more than was certified in June, allows customers to with several other improvements such ment to the civil helicopter market. n

MD Helicopters reroutes back to Universal Avionics by R. Randall Padfield

MD Helicopters (MDHI) has changed all types of operations. Insight is near course regarding avionics for its new certification, and then, of course, it will twin-engine MD 900/902 Explorer heli- have to be STC’d and certified in the 902 copter, choosing Universal Avionics’ Explorer. But the system as a whole is InSight display system, the companies nearing certification.” announced this morning here at Heli- The Insight suite will have head-up The Universal Avionics InSight suite will upgrade the MD Helicopters MD 900 and MD 902 with Expo 2020. This returns the helicopter technology, as well as head-down, modern displays, cursor control devices, and features such as synthetic vision. to the Universal panel—MDHI selected Golan continued. “We pay a lot of atten- InSight for the MD 902 at Heli-Expo 2013, tion to situational awareness and safety on the aircraft itself, so there should be for the MD 902 Explorer. The new avi- but switched to Genesys Aerosystems avi- enhancements. To reduce the pilot’s a relatively short time to the market,” he onics were to replace aging Bendix/King onics in March 2017. workload, we have a unique aircraft said. “There will also be some declutter- EFIS 40 cathode-ray-tube displays with Now, InSight will replace the MD view combined with synthetic vision, ing of switches and knobs. Everything is high-resolution 10.4-inch Universal LCDs 900/902’s aging avionics with two 10.4- which elevates the pilot’s situational much more simplified and user-friendly.” in landscape orientation. InSight made its inch portrait, high-resolution LCD awareness and reduces workload. The One such user-friendly feature is with first flight in March 2016. But in March screens, with LED backlighting. The sys- FAA is making big efforts to reduce the the cursor control, which is mounted 2017, MD Helicopters selected Genesys tem will be compatible with night vision number of accidents in poor visibility on the primary flight controls, enable a Aerosystems to provide the new flight

goggles and provide the latest in synthetic with loss of situation awareness, loss of “point-and-click” interface. “It’s relatively deck forYOUR the SOURCE MD 902, FOR replacingAVIATION NEWS Universal vision, 2D topographical moving maps, spatial orientation, or controlled flight easy and intuitive to just float over with InSight at thatwww. time.ainonline .com n electronic charts, checklists, system syn- into terrain. Our systems are designed the cursor and change the values on the optics, engine instruments, and rotor data. with that in mind.” display itself,” he said, adding it sets the Tal Golan, UA rotorcraft business Insight does not require a lot of changes system apart from other suites. development manager, told AIN, “Insight to the helicopter given the work previ- In 2013, MD Helicopters and Universal will be a full solution and enhance the ously accomplished, according to Golan. Avionics Systems unveiled a new NextGen ENEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION aircraft’s capability for IFR, VFR, and “We’re not changing anything significant flight deck mockup, later dubbed InSight, www.ainonline.com/alerts

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Pg-3_d1_v3.indd 1 1/27/20 6:21 PM AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY ENEWSLETTER www.ainonline.com/subscribe

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE and features an adjustable observer seat our TH-119-based offer and us as a local Leonardo TH-119 wins Navy that provides a full view of the cockpit, as and long-term partner,” said Leonardo well as reinforced skids with removable CEO Alessandro Profumo. “We are shoes. It allows for “hot” pressure refuel- proud to be a core contributor to the helicopter trainer contract ing without shutting the engine down. future of U.S. defense.” All AW119s sold worldwide are man- The TH-73A contract is the second big by Mark Huber ufactured in Philadelphia. The AW119 is U.S. defense win for Leonardo in recent in service in 40 countries and has been years. In 2018, partnering with , The U.S. Navy has selected Leonardo’s intermediate tiltrotor training require- selected by military, government, and Leonardo was awarded a $2.4 billion single-engine TH-119 as its new training ments for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, parapublic customers, including the Por- contract for 84 MH-139 medium twin helicopter, the company announced on and Coast Guard through 2050. tuguese Air Force, New York City Depart- helicopters from the U.S. Air Force to January 13. A military variant of the civil In July 2019, Leonardo announced that ment of Environmental Protection Police, replace the fleet of Bell UH-1Ns used to AW119, the new military trainer—the the TH-119 received IFR supplemental type and others across Europe, the Middle provide security at the nation’s intercon- TH-73A—will replace the service’s existing certification from the FAA. The TH-119 is East, Asia, and Latin America. tinental ballistic missile (ICBM) bases fleet of Bell TH-57s. The initial contract is equipped with Genesys Aerosystems avi- “On the cusp of celebrating nearly 40 and transport U.S. government and secu- for 32 aircraft with spares, support, and onics and a Pratt & Whitney PT6B engine. years of operating in Philadelphia, Leon- rity forces. The MH-139s are scheduled training, and is valued at nearly $176.5 mil- It is based on the AW119 civil helicopter ardo is thrilled the U.S. Navy has selected to become operational next year. n lion. Subsequent individual-year contracts should bring total deliveries to 130 aircraft by 2024, with a value of $648.1 million. Leonardo (Booth 5536) had been com- peting with Bell and for the deal and those companies had offered variants of its single-engine model 407 and light twin H135, respec- tively. Leonardo said the delivery of the helicopters “is expected to be completed in October 2021.” The aircraft will be assembled at Leonardo’s AgustaWestland The single-engine Philadelphia Corp. IFR-certified Leonardo William Hunt, managing director of TH-119 will fulfill the Leonardo Helicopters Philadelphia, said, U.S. Navy’s Advanced “Our plan since day one has been to offer helicopter training the U.S. Navy the training capabilities system requirement, they asked for, without compromise. We for training Navy, are honored to deliver on that promise, Marine Corps, and build the new fleet in Philadelphia, and Coast Guard pilots maintain it from Milton, Florida.” through 2050. The In September 2019, Leonardo had prom- initial order is for 32 ised to build a 100,000-sq-ft facility in helicopters. Milton that would support the estimated 130 helicopters the Navy requires for its primary training mission. The new facil- ity would be built in partnership with the Santa Rosa County Economic Development partnership with Messe Friedrichshafen, Office, as well as Space Florida, in the 269- EASA and EHA launching which coordinates the annual Aero Frie- acre Whiting Aviation Park adjacent to the drichshafen general aviation show in air station where all helicopter pilots for Germany. Show director Frank Liemandt the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard European Rotors show told reporters that the plan is to keep the currently are trained. Envisioned as a full- event in Cologne for two or three years service Part 145 repair station, the facility by Charles Alcock and then move it to various locations would offer 24/7 service, including spare around Europe. parts, warranty processing and renewal, The European Helicopter Association also participate. The new show will include an indoor technical and product engineering, and (EHA, Booth 114) and the European “The event is the perfect opportunity to static display for aircraft. An arrange- component and airframe repair. Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) talk about safety with the whole commu- ment has been made for helicopters to “The new Leonardo TH-73A helicopters are launching a new annual conference nity, and the timing is right because we be moved to the downtown Koelnmesse are the cornerstone of AHTS (advanced and trade show called European Rotors, have recently launched our new safety convention center from nearby Dussel- helicopter training system), which is the to be held from November 10 to 12, 2020 road map,” said David Solar, head of dorf Airport. planned replacement to address the capa- in Cologne, Germany. EASA’s VTOL department. Organizers said members of the public bility and capacity gaps of the current This new show is intended to include all Until 2018, EHA partnered with Reed will be allowed to come to the event and aging TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter train- vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air- Exhibitions for the annual Helitech show. especially welcome on the third day, when ing platform,” said Capt. Todd St. Laurent, craft, including both conventional helicop- In 2019, Reed launched its new Vertical admission will be free. “It is important Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Sys- ters and new-generation electric (eVTOL) Flight Expo event, but this was not sup- that we are not seen [by the public] to tems (PMA-273) program manager. “The aircraft being developed for so-called ported by any of the main helicopter be behind the curtain and that they can TH-73A will provide a modern helicopter urban air mobility applications. The manufacturers. really trust us [industry and regulators] training platform that will serve rotary and conference program will include EASA’s “This is the first time there has been a and see what we are doing,” said Solar. tiltrotor training requirements into the annual Rotorcraft Symposium, which has common rotorcraft and VTOL event that In July, EASA issued new special condi- foreseeable future. These new helicopters been held at its headquarters in Cologne. is fully supported by all EHA members tions to cover the certification of eVTOL will ensure the Navy has capacity to train EHA said it has the support of all lead - in partnership with EASA,” said EHA aircraft. Solar told AIN that in the next several hundred aviation students per year ing helicopter manufacturers, includ- chairman Peter Möller. “It is the one few weeks the agency plans to publish the at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field ing Airbus, Bell, Leonardo, and Kopter. show organized by the industry for the associated means of compliance for these in Milton.” Sikorsky and MD Helicopters were not whole industry and with participation by rules, as well as a set of special conditions According to the Navy, the new helicop- present at the launch press conference the regulator.” for propulsion systems used by this cate- ters will meet advanced rotary-wing and and have yet to state whether they will European Rotors is being organized in gory of aircraft. n

4 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

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FLIGHTSAFETY INSTRUCTOR HELICOPTER HERE FOR YOU AD - AIN CONVENTION NEWS - HELIEXPO 2020 - Trim: 10.8125” w x 13.875” d Bleed: 11.0625” w x 14.125” d This is part of an effort by Astronautics Rotorcraft Services Group (RSG), has to continually enhance its products and completed its submission for the STC expand its lines, said company president and is anticipating approval shortly. RSG Chad Cundiff. In the last several years, is an authorized dealer, installer, and PMA Astronautics has invested strategically in kit provider for the RoadRunner retrofits. reinvigorating and expanding its product Meanwhile, in line with its vision to lines, and as a result, many of those pro- continually build on its product lines, grams are coming to fruition, including Astronautics already is rolling out its next the Bell programs, Cundiff noted. round of upgrades for RoadRunner. The first was implemented last fall, and now RoadRunner Replacement the company is improving integrations Another such program that is now reach- with H-60 platforms, as well as enabling ing the market is its AFI4700 RoadRun- support for military functions such as tac- ner drop-in replacement electronic flight tical air navigation systems (Tacan). instrument. RoadRunner won FAA TSO As a smaller company, yet one with and STC on its initial platforms, the high capabilities, Cundiff said, Astronau- Leonardo A109/119, last spring. Since tics has the flexibility to move forward on then, Astronautics has obtained Euro- some of these upgrades more swiftly than pean Union Aviation Safety Agency and a larger company typically could. “It’s Brazilian ANAC nods for the Leonardo hard to find a good retrofit program that Astronautics is providing its Badger Pro+ integrated flight display system to Bell, a models, with other approvals in the works. can address Tacan, for instance,” he said. company, for new-production Bell 412EPXs and Bell 429s. “This is the first time, at HAI, that some- “We’re able to add those enhancement body can come to our booth and say, ‘I packages to the RoadRunner.” want one,’ and we can cut an order and A third upgrade is already in the works, he have it delivered to them,” Keery said. added. “It’s just about listening, seeing what Bell taps Astronautics for Designed as a lower-cost, easy-to-in- the customers like about the product, and stall replacement for legacy attitude direc- trying to make sure that we build on that.” tor and horizontal situation indicators, Another product family coming to Bell 412EPX, 429 displays RoadRunner provides the functionality of fruition was unveiled last spring—the modern electronic flight instrument sys- Ibex “semi-smart” display designed for by Kerry Lynch tems, such as enabling LPV approaches special-missions operations, which may and display of H-TAWS, synthetic vision, require the ruggedness of a system that Astronautics has captured a key program have to search as hard to find informa- weather, and other information. can withstand wide temperature swings as the provider of the integrated flight dis- tion,” he added. “It’s a very clear display.” As the units begin to enter the field, the and high altitude but may not need all of play system on the newly designated Bell The displays are particularly easier to read upgrade is receiving strong interest. It is the processing capability. Astronautics 412EPX, as well as the 429. The supplier in sunlight with higher contrast. They also already capturing about 40 percent of the already has the first customer for that fam- agreement is significant for the Milwau- have improved color saturation, enabling A109 market in the U.S. and is starting to ily and has begun to field the initial units. kee-based electronics specialist, which a wide view angle. “With the clarity, you reach into the markets where the helicop- As it builds out its product lines, the has invested substantially in the past five can see it no matter where you are…you ter is most prevalent, such as South Amer- company has moved into a new headquar- years to build on its existing product lines can’t get out of viewing angle,” Keery said. ica and Europe. ters in Milwaukee. The Oak Creek facility and add new displays, connectivity equip- Along with the improved viewability, Work also has been underway to install will enable the company to better align its ment, and other technologies. the system includes new advisory verti- RoadRunner as part of the UH-60L Fire- teams and more efficiently use its space. Under the agreement with Bell, Astro- cal approach capability, LED mode-select hawk upgrade that Arista Aviation has Administrative, engineering, and other nautics is providing its updated Badger lights on the autopilot controller, flashing undertaken for the Santa Barbara County staff moved to the new facility just this Pro+ displays for the Bell BasiX-Pro flight messages synchronized between displays, (California) Fire Department. month, and production and MRO opera- deck, replacing Rogerson Kratos displays. clear on-screen presentation of the heli- Next up is an STC on the and tions are expected to follow over the next The Badger Pro+ project has been in copter terrain awareness and warning sys- 412. Astronautics, in partnership with 18 months or so. n the works for several years, and Astronau- tem (H-TAWS), LED-based night vision tics (Booth 1428) has secured FAA TSO goggle compatibility, sealed enclosure for the display line as well as certification with passive cooling, and seamless inter- for both the 412EPX and 429. face with other avionics. The first few Bell 412EXPs have rolled One of the more notable enhance- Mars helicopter replica to land in Anaheim off the production line, including one that ments of the Badger Pro+ system is its is on display at the Bell booth (1231). video capabilities, including inputs for Helicopters have hovered over and landed Center. Representatives of NASA and its Astronautics is providing four six-by- FLIR and other camera types. The dis- on the 29,029-foot summit of Mount Ever- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are bring- eight-inch, high-resolution displays for the plays accept four video formats, includ- est, but hovering anywhere on Mars is a ing the replica and will discuss the 2020 BasiX-Pro flight deck of the 412EXP and ing analog and high-definition inputs, and whole new ballgame. The Martian atmo- Mars Mission, which includes research three for the 429. Working with Bell, Astro- have full and split-screen modes with pan, sphere is less than 1 percent of the atmo- into the potential for finding life on Mars. nautics customized the displays to the zoom, and rotation capabilities. spheric volume on Earth—the equivalent Speakers will also discuss the challenges specifics of the BasiX-Pro flight deck, pro- As for maintainability, Badger Pro+ of flying at an altitude of about 100,000 of designing, developing, and testing a viding improved viewability to easily access offers greater than 25,000-flight-hour feet above Earth. helicopter on Mars. primary flight, navigation, and engine data, mean time between failure and comes This week at Heli-Expo 2020, visitors To create enough lift to sustain flight as well as system synoptics, weight-and-bal- with built-in flight-data monitoring that will see a non-working model of the in such a thin atmosphere, the engineers ance, and checklist information. can provide download rates that are 20 twin-rotor, solar-powered Mars Helicop- designed a rotor system thatw spins at The displays build on the heritage of times faster than previous products. The ter. The actual Mars Helicopter has already more than 3,000 rpm (Earthbound heli- the Badger family, which has proven itself system provides a weight savings of 2.7 been attached to the bell of the Mars 2020 copter main rotors operate at about 400 during one million flight hours on aircraft pounds per display. rover in preparation for the scheduled to 500 rpm). The Mars Helicopter will fly such as the Pilatus PC-7, Boeing 747, and While some features in the Badger Pro+ launch in July as a part of NASA’s Mars autonomously because the time lag for Bell UH-1, Astronautics said. were developed in concert with and spe- 2020 rover mission. radio signals between Earth and Mars The enhanced graphics include fonts cifically for the Bell suite, other display Tomorrow at the show, a special presen- makes direct control impractical. Radio and black outlines that make symbology enhancements already have been folded tation, “Taking Flight with the Mars Heli- signals from Earth to Mars (and Mars to “pop,” said Brian Keery, product strategy into Astronautics products designated for copter,” will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m Earth) can vary from about 25 seconds to manager for displays and cockpit inte- other platforms and future developments, in Room 204B at the Anaheim Convention about three minutes. R.R.P. gration for Astronautics. “A pilot doesn’t Keery said.

6 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

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ENGINE SERVICES GROUP: 972-586-1570 | [email protected] aviall.com/helicopter rolls-royce.com Mexico and the U.S., a not “as dominant” enforcement in the 2019 forecast was an Honeywell outlook calls for political crisis in Venezuela, and better anomaly, whereas this year’s number of certainty around with Brazil’s new gov- 50 mentions for new helicopters is a his- ernment, overall confidence has returned torically normal figure. Purchase plans meager helo delivery bump to the region. “There was a big jump in also were 6 percent lower year-over-year Brazil in the corporate sector,” he said, among Asia-Pacific respondents. by Jerry Siebenmark adding that in last year’s survey Brazil Most of the overall purchases are only had six mentions for new helicopters expected to occur this year—more than Total helicopter deliveries will increase While overall purchase plans are down 0.8 while the new survey has 40 mentions 20 percent—and 2024—nearly 45 per- slightly to 4,100 units between 2020 percent compared with last year’s fore- there. “A lot of that has to deal with the cent—according to the forecast. and 2024 while overall purchase plans cast, they vary—some substantially—by corporate sector that totally disappeared Among industry sectors, new helicopter slip slightly in the same period, accord- region. Europe, Latin America, and BRIC last year,” Handfield said. “So every purchase plans were significantly stronger ing to Honeywell’s 22nd annual Turbine- (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) are the region, every country has its own stories in the corporate/VIP and emergency med- Powered Civil Helicopter Purchase Out- only regions of the forecast’s six regions and that changes over time.” ical services/search and rescue segments, look. Released this morning, this year’s where purchase plans increased. More New helicopter purchase plans were while it was weaker in the law enforce- forecast expects about 100 more helicop- than 18 percent of survey respondents also higher—4 percent—for the BRIC ment and oil and gas segments. Oil and ter deliveries over the five-year period in Europe expected to replace or expand region, but it is all driven by Brazil, Hand- gas and the heavy and intermediate heli- compared with the 2019 forecast. While their fleets with new helicopters in the field noted. “China, India, and Russia are copters this industry flies continue to be purchase plans are lower than last year’s next five years, compared with 15 percent actually lower in 2019 when compared to a challenging market, especially with oil forecast, Honeywell executives note of survey respondents last year. 2018,” he said. only around $60 a barrel. “There’s still a they’re only down by less than a percent- Also, lower were the regions of North very high inventory out there,” Handfield age point. Big Jump for Latin America America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East said. “I don’t see any improvement yet.” “This year, we anticipate higher deliv- In Latin America, new helicopter pur- and Africa, the latter of which saw pur- eries due to entry into service of new chase plans increased by 20 percent chase plans fall the most—10 percent— Type Preference helicopter platforms,” said Honeywell from last year’s survey—well above the compared with last year’s survey. Regional variation continues with Americas Aftermarket president Heath global average of 14 percent. “Last year Purchase plans were down 6 percent favored helicopter types. While light, Patrick. “Despite the slight dip in pur- [Latin America’s purchase plan rate] in North America, which accounts for single-engine helicopters continue to chase plans, we see several bright spots, was quite down at 9 percent,” Hand - about a third of the global helicopter fleet. be the survey’s overall most favored including higher utilization rates. This field said. “Historically, Latin America Twelve percent of North American survey type—because of price, range of utility, means operators plan to use their aircraft was above 20 [percent].” respondents this year planned to replace and direct operating costs—preferences more frequently over the next 12 months.” The reasons for that lower rate last their fleets compared with 18 percent in change based on region. The three top factors operators con- year varied by countries in the region, he last year’s survey. According to this year’s survey, inter- sider when making a new helicopter explained: Mexico was affected by uncer- “That’s a bit of a surprise if you ask me,” mediate and medium twin-engine classes purchase are brand experience, aircraft tainty around a trade deal with the U.S.; Handfield said, noting that the stock accounted for 41 percent of total pur- performance, and cabin size, according there was a political crisis in Venezuela; and market performed well in 2019 and the chase plans for new helicopters in Europe. to the forecast. a new, right-wing government was being economy was robust. Part of that decline Meanwhile, 37 percent of respondents Between mid-October and mid-Decem- installed in Brazil, leading to uncertainty is related specifically to the law enforce- indicated plans to purchase light sin- ber, Honeywell surveyed more than 1,000 there as well. “Each one of these also is very ment sector, which last year accounted for gle-engine helicopters, up 5 percentage chief pilots and flight department manag- dependent on oil prices, so again, this was more than 100 mentions of new helicop- points from last year. ers of companies operating 3,559 turbine all playing into the results,” Handfield said. ter purchases/replacements. In the Middle East and Africa region, and 282 piston helicopters worldwide for With a trade deal in place between He noted that the high number for law nearly 62 percent of new helicopter pur- the forecast. chases will be light, twin-engine models. Higher utilization expectations by sur- In Asia-Pacific, 38 percent of purchases are vey respondents stood out in particular expected to be intermediate/medium twin in North America and Europe. In North engines and 32 percent are planned for light America, it increased by about 12 percent singles. And in Latin America and North from the 2019 forecast, with about 19 per- America, light singles account for more than cent of respondents expecting fleet utili- half of new helicopter purchase plans. n zation to rise in the next 12 months. And in Europe, utilization expectations were up 6 percent in 2019 compared with 2018, NEWS note and 13 percent of respondents said 2020 will be higher than in 2019. International helicopter pilot organiza- Higher deliveries over the next five tion Twirly Birds will once again hold years will be supported by new models, at Heli-Expo its annual membership including the Airbus H160, Bell 525 Relent- meeting. The meeting is scheduled at less, Kopter SH09, and Leonardo AW109 5:30 p.m. today at the Anaheim Marriott Trekker, senior man- (Ballroom 3 and 4) and held in conjunc- ager of market research Gaetan Handfield tion with Heli-Expo. Founded in 1945, told AIN. “Longer term, the outlook will Twirly Birds members must have flown be supported by the expectation of more solo in a helicopter or vertical lift aircraft favorable exchange rates,” he added. at least 25 years ago, but attendance at “As you know this market is less the meeting is not required to join. Previ- U.S.-centric than the business aviation ous members include Charles Lindbergh, market, about 55 to 60 percent of deliv- , and Stanley Hiller. eries are international, so [the rotorcraft The organization is purely a social market is] very dependent on exchange group and has no political or com - rates and commodities, which are pre- mercial interests. Its sole purpose is dicted to be better moving forward than “to recognize and foster the fellowship the last couple of years.” The forecast’s of those brought together by the com- delivery growth breaks down to an annual mon bond of vertical flight, and to facili- rate of 2.7 percent, which is in line with tate the cordial exchange of experience the world’s economic growth rate over and opinions.” n the next five years, Handfield said.

8 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

Pg-8_d1_V4.indd 1 1/27/20 10:50 AM GTP_10340_HeliExpo_AINTabloidAd_2020_v01.indd 1 1/13/20 12:19 PM All packed up and someplace to go. This Airbus EC135P3 delivery represents one of the 143 full-service helicopter transport jobs handled by Toronto-based Direct Helicopter in 2019. Direct Helicopter sees transport business booming by Curt Epstein

Need to get a from Brazil to reassembling 22 helicopters, traveling from Bangladesh or send a Sikorsky S-76 from South America and the U.S. to Africa and Canada to Nigeria in a hurry? Dave Urban, Europe and back several times. “It was per- CEO of Canada-based Direct Helicopter, fect—he wasn’t sitting on his ass for even knows how to do it. He has been shipping one day,” said Urban, who spends much of rotorcraft for close to two decades and his time painstakingly coordinating jobs has arranged transportation of more than and averages $45,000 a month on labor, 2,000 helicopters over that span. hotels, and airline tickets for his staff. “He Urban has attended Heli-Expo since was either on a plane or turning wrenches.” 2001 and he decided last year to exhibit To accomplish much of the air shipping, his company at HAI’s annual showcase for Direct Helicopter relies on Germany-­ the first time (Booth 8743). He toldAIN based, family-owned cargo operator Sen- that the decision proved fruitful, as he con- ator International, which operates a small tracted for two deals on the show floor. fleet of Boeing 747 freighters on dedicated While the company will truck a helicop- routes between airports. Urban will have ter from Louisiana to Vancouver, Canada, customers fly the helicopters to be trans- Urban doesn’t consider that a big job. Over ported to those designated airports for the years, Direct Helicopter’s services have disassembly and loading. For those jobs expanded to the point where it can now outside the routes, Urban contracts with perform turnkey international shipping major air freight 747 operators to trans- with a single phone call. “I insure it, take it port the disassembled rotorcraft. For less-­ apart, load it, do all the shipping,” he said. urgent movements, he uses ocean freight. “I’m the importer of record into America, Another area where the company has and I pay all the harbor taxes, pay the man- seen strong growth is in its spare-parts ufacturer processing fee to U.S. Customs, shipping business. “That’s something we do the actual customs clearance, do the ISF never pursued,” said Urban, adding that [importer security filings]—we’ll even do it arose organically from operators asking title change for you.” At the end of the trip, him for follow-up service for helicopters the company will reassemble the helicop- he’d delivered previously. “If you’ve got ter and return it to service. a set of blades going from Capetown in Urban noted that some of his customers South Africa to a shop in California, it’s a specialize in scouring the Earth for deals on hell of a lot better to use me than to use Bell 407s, which they will then bring back FedEx, which will kill you on price for to America to part out or sell. “A lot of these 17-foot-long blades,” said Urban. He also guys don’t want to worry about any of this claims to be able to beat the express pack- stuff,” he explained. “They just say, ‘Dave, I age delivery companies at their own game found another machine in England, get it by having a truck ready to pick up a part for to my hangar in America and just take care an overseas AOG customer first thing in of everything.’” While the company’s pre- the morning, rather than later in the day. “I vious high-water mark for such full-­service can catch those afternoon flights and save jobs was around 100 in any given year, in my AOG clients six, 12, and sometimes 24 2019 it blew past that, tallying 143 turnkey hours, and when you’ve got an AOG, six deliveries spanning the globe, including hours is sometimes life and death.” several from very high-profile clients. Urban estimates performing nearly 500 Urban has a staff of eight technicians on parts deliveries last year, contributing to contract. Over the summer, one of them a year-over-year doubling of revenues for spent three months straight on the road, the company and continuing its strong disassembling, loading, unpacking, and upswing over the past four years. n

Ad_AIN_HAI Show Daily_MSB_Feb 2020.indd 1 1/8/20 7:50 AM 10 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com KAM-COM_AIN-HAI_1P_JAN2020 Untitled-1 2 1/13/20 5:36 PM Airbus, Aston Martin create special-edition ACH130 by David Donald

Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) from the Aston Martin car range, colors revealed its ACH130 Aston Martin Edition comprising Oxford Tan, Pure Black, Cor- at an event held this month at Courchevel morant, and Ivory. The rear of the front in the French alpine skiing region. The seats features the brogue detailing found

special edition is the first result of a part- in the DB11 car, and Aston Martin’s wings DONALD DAVID nership between ACH and luxury car man- signature is embossed in some of the Airbus Helicopters and Aston Martin have created the Aston Martin Edition ACH130. ufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda (AML). leather elements. Design teams at both companies have Speaking at a prelaunch media event ACH130 Aston Martin Edition.” ACH and AML have signed a three- been working for more than a year to in December, Frédéric Lemos, head of For Aston Martin, the project represents year partnership deal, but it is likely to create the Aston Martin Edition, which ACH, characterized the project as “how another avenue to explore. “In recent be extended. For now, the partnership is available with four external schemes. to put what makes Aston Martin so spe- years we have been learning how to apply is focusing on the ACH130, but the The first aircraft, which is being used as a cial into a helicopter,” before going on our [automotive] principles to other areas learning process could lead to more demonstrator but is to be handed over to to note that the companies had a similar of design, such as architecture, motorcy- programs. a customer in the first quarter of 2020, is customer profile. cles, and now helicopters,” remarked v-p ACH (Booth 3432) already has a painted in a Sterling Green scheme, which “The ACH130 Aston Martin Edition is and chief creative officer Marek Reichman. long-term partnership with German fades into Jet Black on the undersides. optimally positioned in the market for ACH130s destined to receive the Aston carmaker Mercedes-Benz concerning The intakes are in Skyfall Silver. Other hands-on owners who draw satisfaction Martin Edition styling are built on the special-­edition ACH145s, but Lemos schemes are also based on the Aston Mar- from personally piloting their aircraft, regular H130 line at Marignane in France sees no conflict with AML tie-up due tin car palette, based around Xenon Grey, and it generates strong brand loyalty,” and are then delivered to Airbus Helicop- to differing customer profiles. He told Arizona, and Ultramarine Black. said Lemos. “In the same way, Aston ters UK at Kidlington (London-Oxford AIN that the ACH145 was operated The interior offers a higher level of Martin’s products are cars for drivers Airport), where they are completed with almost entirely by private and corporate comfort than the traditional ACH130, who relish being at the wheel and they the customer-specified paint scheme owners who did not fly the helicopters which can seat seven, including the pilot. inspire a comparable attachment to the and interior. No price details have been themselves, in much the same way as The cabin is trimmed in Pure Black ultra- brand. So they are the perfect partner revealed, although the basic H130 has a they would usually employ a driver for suede, with leather trims again drawn for us in developing this superb new list price of €2.8 million. their Mercedes automobiles. n EXPERIENCE BELL 505 LUXURY. Let your Light Single Engine Helicopter feel

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12 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com immediately. AerOS creates an optimal Bell builds flight schedule based on goal-seeking opti- mization algorithms and artificial intelli- gence to anticipate passenger behavior and smart urban desires as determined from the booking engine and the vehicle’s needs for battery recharging to meet the schedule. air mobility There is much more to the battery needs than simply recharging them peri- odically, Snyder explained. Some flights cityscape will be so short, for example, that it isn’t necessary to fully recharge the vehicle’s by Matt Thurber batteries. Those batteries that get a deep discharge will need more time to recharge, At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which adds cost to the entire system, so show in Las Vegas earlier this month, Bell if the software can intelligently schedule demonstrated a model-size cityscape with Bell built an interactive “smart city” at the CES show to demonstrate how its AerOS vehicles to avoid deep discharges, this scale flying versions of its Nexus passenger software can manage urban air mobility passenger demand in a busy metropolitan area. lowers the average system cost. air taxi and Autonomous Pod Transport The software also looks at each day’s (APT) operating with Bell’s AerOS urban cities to speed up their adoption of UAM tablet stations where visitors could inter- operations and predicts upcoming air mobility operating system. capabilities. act with AerOS, choosing departure and demand, then afterward analyzes how Calling it a “smart city ecosystem,” Bell has also settled on a smaller ver- destination, and then watching in real- that deviated from the original plan for Bell president and CEO Mitch Snyder sion of its Nexus passenger vehicle, with time how the flying models interacted. The the day. That way, each day, the predic- explained, “This year, we’re demonstrat- four rotors instead of the six previously flying models were not controlled by indi- tion model improves to keep the system ing what governing, operating, working, shown at CES. The Nexus is designed for viduals flying them, but by the AerOS soft- running more efficiently. “We are using and living in a smart city will look like.” all-electric or hybrid-electric power, but ware, which constantly assesses demand goal-seeking optimization algorithms to The Bell Nexus City demo at the CES is “propulsion-agnostic,” according to across the scale-size city and deploys the build the best-fit schedule,” he said. Mobility Hall was designed to highlight Bell, “depending on customer needs.” The vehicles to meet that demand. “We are working on modeling simulation how “mobility as a service” software four-rotor Nexus, a mockup of which was The AerOS software also takes into tools now. We need to do better than have like AerOS can manage a metropolitan shown at CES, will initially have a 60-mile account problems that inevitably come a good model, but we have tools in-process area’s urban air mobility (UAM) activ- electric range, but that could be greater up during passenger and cargo flying to refine and update that without an army of ities. Bell intends to offer AerOS, which with hybrid-electric power. operations, for example, weather events PhD data scientists. This solves the digital runs on Microsoft’s Azure platform, to At CES, the smart city demo included that might require all vehicles to land backbone need of aerial mobility.” n

Bell revamps Nexus as four-rotor eVTOL to enable autonomy,” he said. “Our founda- 10-to-the-power-of-seven might be sufficient,” tions in fly-by-wire are secure.” he said. “We’re at a fundamental disagree- When Bell introduced its full-size Nexus con- electric Nexus is 60 miles, and that would be Bell hasn’t identified its vendor for the ment, and we’re confident this should be cept for an electric vertical takeoff and landing longer for the hybrid version. Nexus electric-drive system but has finished done and we can do it. In a helicopter, you craft at the recent Consumer Electronics Show The Nexus 4EX is also designed to be fully the downselect process, according to Drennan. can’t lose a rotor or a mast. We engineer (CES), it gave the world a glimpse at where Bell autonomous, saving the space needed for a With long experience in aircraft manu- reliability into those components to meet or technologists see a possible future for verti- pilot, although the earliest model will be piloted. facturing, Bell is not willing to compromise exceed 10-to-the-ninth, and we will do the cal-lift urban transportation. “Once we’ve proven [the technology] and gained safety in the design of a passenger- or even same on the Nexus rotor and duct system.” The original Nexus concept was unveiled the trust of the public, they will feel more com- cargo-carrying vehicle like its Autonomous That said, he added, “There is a deeper con- as a fuselage mockup at CES 2018, and the fortable flying autonomously,” Snyder said. Pod Transport. versation about what other pieces of the sys- 2019 version came in a full-scale, six-rotor There are about 70 people out of the Bell is targeting 10-to-the-power-of-nine tem add to safety: the vehicle, flight operations, configuration with seats for four passengers 150-strong Bell innovation team working on reliability (the number of failures in one bil- and maintenance.” For traditional rotorcraft, and one pilot. Plans called for a hybrid-elec- the Nexus program. “Nexus is taking the front lion operating hours), the current standard he said, “the preponderance of incidents are tric propulsion system using a turbine engine line of development,” said Scott Drennan, v-p that applies to aircraft flight control sys- related to flight operations and maintenance.” to generate electricity to power six tilting of innovation. tems, according to Drennan. “We can have Attention will need to be paid to these factors. ducted fans. Safran was picked for the Fly-by-wire (FBW) flight controls are a key 10-to-the-nine that can be affordable,” he said. “We have to bring those to the same level.” hybrid propulsion and drive systems, Moog feature in the Nexus. “Bell’s roots are in fly- “Our vehicles will be at that level.” In the Nexus, this translates into making for flight-control actuation, and Garmin for by-wire,” he said, with the Bell-Boeing V-22 He acknowledged that there is some the rotor system as reliable as a helicopter’s. avionics and vehicle-management computer. the company’s first production aircraft with discussion within the eVTOL industry that For electrical system emergencies, “We’re taking the next step this year,” said FBW and the not-yet-certified Bell 525 also the reliability standards could be low- redundant battery packs will provide power Bell CEO Mitch Snyder at CES 2020. That’s featuring FBW. “We look at that as our basis ered. “We’re hearing lots of folks say to bring the Nexus to a safe landing. While where Bell demonstrated its Smart City the Nexus won’t autorotate like a helicopter, concept, with Nexus models flying between its structure and the ducts provide some scaled-down buildings, carrying out the com- lift, and it could land in an airplane-like mands of virtual passengers as expressed by mode if some minimum amount of power show attendees interacting with tablet com- were available. Ultimately, Drennan said, puters to plan their trips. “Power failure is prevented by a combina- The Nexus itself has evolved and now is a tion of redundancy and reliable systems. four-rotor design, thus called the Nexus 4EX But [power failure] won’t happen, because for four fans, electric power, and experimen- we’re designing in appropriate redundancy tal. The plan is to field a fully electric-powered and reliability.” version but offer customers the opportunity “With any design that Bell has done,” con- to buy a hybrid-electric-powered version if cluded Snyder, “the first requirement is safety. they desire. “It’s propulsion-agnostic,” Snyder With [Nexus], we want to make it safe, quiet, said. “We can make hybrid work. It depends clean, and green, and we want to make it on customer needs.” Planned range for the affordable and accessible to everyone.” M.T.

ainonline.com \ January 28, 2020 \ HAI Convention News 13

Pg-13_d1_v4.indd 1 1/26/20 2:32 PM Collins reels in fire heli sales with Goodrich hoists by Curt Epstein

Collins Aerospace Systems’ newest res- joined Collins a little more than a year ago cue hoist, the Goodrich 44318, has been as part of the merger with UTC Aerospace selected by a trio of California aerial Systems. It began in the 1970s as Western firefighting agencies to equip their latest Gear, which was acquired by Lucas Aero- helicopters. The Los Angeles County Fire space, which was in turn bought by TRW. Department and California Department Goodrich later owned the business, which of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal still retains the brand name for its hoist Fire) have chosen the unit for their new and winch product lines. S-70i Firehawks, while the Santa Barbara Today, the hoist and winch division County Fire Department will install the has merged with the company’s cargo hoist in an HH-60L Black Hawk helicop- activities as part of Collins’s mechan -

ter it is having converted to firefighting ical-systems business unit, which also EPSTEIN CURT configuration. includes actuators, , and Hoist and winch technician Jim Verhague assembles a new 44318 HEC-certified hoist at The 44318 hoist is an advance to the propellers. “The names change, but Collins Aerospace’s Brea, California headquarters. The unit has been selected by three 44311, which has been operating on L.A. the products are still out there,” said California fire and rescue agencies to equip the latest entries to their helicopter fleets. County’s S-70s since they entered ser- Demogines, during a pre-Heli-Expo vice nearly 20 years ago and meets cur- media tour of the company’s Brea, Cali- which was established in Xiamen, China, while still in prototype form, is expected rent regulatory standards for human fornia, engineering, assembly, and MRO in 2018, greatly helps the customers there to enter service in 2021. The company has external cargo (HEC)—more stringent facility. “We still see Western Gear who find it difficult to ship units and parts distilled everything it has learned over requirements that allow work crew mem- products coming back, so they are in in and out of their country for servicing. A the past four decades to create the blank- bers or rescue responders to remain on operation around the world.” similar MRO facility is being considered sheet-design model; and in honor of that the cable longer for transport or emer- Over its more than 40 years of existence, for South American customers as part of achievement, it has eschewed its normal gency missions. The hoist features a the company has been a pioneer in the Collins Brazil. numerical nomenclature and selected the 600-pound-maximum lift load and allows evolution of the helicopter rescue hoist, At the Brea location, the MRO process name Pegasus. An example of the hoist operators to make continuous rescues from the initial internal units to external is embedded alongside the new hoist will be on display at the Collins Aerospace without a required cool-down period. and then hydraulic and electric units to assembly line. As in-service units return booth (6333). The 44318 and its sister 44316 (differing the current HEC-rated models, which are to the facility for repair and/or overhaul, In a “voice of the customer” initiative, only in AC or DC current operation) are being used for missions beyond search and they undergo three hours of testing to Collins Aerospace interviewed its opera- the only HEC-certified hoists on the mar- rescue. Other applications include servic- diagnose any problems before being torn tors and their maintenance departments ket and are in service on several platforms, ing offshore wind turbines and power lines, down, and repair quotes are issued. As to learn what they desired in a hoist and including the Leonardo AW189, AW169, as well as transferring harbor pilots to and the quotes are approved, the units join to hear “the good, the bad, and the ugly” and AW139; Airbus EC225; and Mitsubishi from ocean-going vessels. the queue for cleaning, replacement of about their products. As a result, the Heavy Industries UH-60J. It is a highly specialized piece of equip- necessary parts, and reassembly. They company designed the HEC-compliant “As Firehawk fleets expand, Collins ment, but for those customers who are then diverted back into the main Pegasus with a suite of improvements, Aerospace is proud that operators con- require it, having a dependable, durable assembly stream where they undergo the according to Bryson, including modu- tinue to equip them with Goodrich rescue hoist is the difference between the heli- same eight to 10 hours of rigorous test- lar architecture, with the ability to sim- hoists,” said Nicholas Demogines, Col- copter being operational or listed as AOG. ing that newly manufactured units are plify maintenance by allowing users to lins’s director of business development “We’ve had customers that say we can’t run through before being shipped back field-swap interchangeable modules in for its hoist and winch unit. He added do the job without the hoist,” said Rich- to the customer. case of problems, rather than remove that the company is honored to deliver ard Bryson, program chief engineer for the entire unit. The hoist will require its customers innovative, reliable solu- Goodrich Hoist and Winch. “The aircraft Coming Soon: Generation Five no special tools, have easily removable tions to support their lifesaving missions. doesn’t really matter. I can buy this, this, With nearly a half-century of hoist design fairings, and offer better visibility for “With decades of experience and more or this, but I need that hoist.” under the company’s belt through its sev- the cable drum. than 7,000 airborne hoists throughout The company has a second design and eral name changes, the process until now It will also be thoroughly sen - the global fleet, Collins is a leader in the manufacturing facility in the Paris sub- has been evolutionary, but that is chang- sor-equipped, through the manufac- helicopter hoist rescue community.” urb of Saint-Ouen L’Aumône, as well as ing with the development of Collins Aero- turer’s data acquisition, sensing, and The Goodrich winch and hoist unit six other MRO shops globally. The newest, space’s first fifth-generation hoist, which, health system (DASH), relaying not only mission parameters to the opera- tor but also health diagnostics through application-based software. DASH will be able to be incorporated into the air- Genesys Aerosystems unveils digital com and nav radios craft’s own health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) or provide stand-alone Genesys Aerosystems (Booth 234) has embedded 225-400 MHz UHF. Frequencies segments of the aviation market.” In addition reporting for the unit. The Pegasus hoist developed its own line of digital radios for for com radios range from 118-136 MHz and to electronic flight displays, Genesys also will weigh 106 pounds with a cable move- application in any aviation segment, includ- 118-156 MHz, with 25- or 8.33-MHz frequency manufactures autopilots and sensors. ment speed of up to 400 feet per minute ing special-mission operators and a variety spacing and transmit power of 16 or 25 watts. With radios in its product line, Genesys and a 600-pound required load. of civil helicopters and airplanes. The digital Nav functions include VOR/localizer/glide- (established from the former S-Tec and The prototype is undergoing environ- radios, the first-ever designed and manu- slope and marker beacon. The GDRs inter- Chelton Flight Systems businesses) can mental testing in the company’s Brea lab, factured by Mineral Wells, -based face with a host controller/display unit, which now offer fully integrated avionics systems. including electromagnetic interference Genesys, can be integrated with its displays controls com and nav functions via RS-232, “The GDR is a powerful radio line that is cus- evaluations, which are becoming more and avionics or serve as standalone units. RS-422, or Arinc 429 protocols. tomizable and is the perfect complement to important due to the increasing amount The Genesys Digital Radio (GDR) family The new radios meet software design our avionics suite, including our EFIS, auto- of electronics on today’s aircraft. Once consists of remote-mount, software-defin- assurance level A and Mil-STD 704E and 810G, pilot, and sensor product lines,” said busi- the design is frozen and moves into the able VHF com and nav radios, with optional according to Genesys, “accommodating all ness development v-p Gordon Pratt. M.T. production phase, units will be sent to outside labs for certification testing. n

14 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

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www . extantaerospace . com offshore oil-and-gas operators is not yet on offer, “but I’m very confident within the coming weeks we will be there.” Aircraft production will initially be in a provisional facility in Mollis, about 70 km southeast of Zurich. The facility could produce 20 helicopters a year, ramping up to 40. “But we have to plan already for the The final design step after,” explained Löwenstein. “We of the seven-seat are working with industrial architects and Kopter SH09 single- production specialists in order to shape engine helicopter the facility. We hope to start building by will be embodied the end of this year, which will allow up in the PS4 version, to triple-digit production.” which is expected The plan is to maintain control in to fly mid-year. A Switzerland of “dynamic autonomous key feature of PS4 airframes,” including gearboxes and and the fifth flight driveshafts, and then ship the kits for test helicopter, final assembly in Lafayette, Louisiana, for PS5, is a gearbox the North American market, Asia (Kopter from a new supplier. signed an MoU in October with Korea Aerospace Industries regarding assembly and customization), and potentially Bra- zil, which is the third-largest market for single-engine helicopters. Kopter outlines final SH09 design The company has announced firm orders for 70 SH09s and anticipates by Rick Adams “another double-digit figure of orders” in negotiation, some of which should be Switzerland-based Kopter Group’s “can take more equipment or bulky things pounds) with a sling-load capacity of revealed in Anaheim. Pre-Series 4 (PS4), expected to fly by on board. Space in a helicopter is always 1,500 kg. Distributors on board include Swiss mid-year, will incorporate the “represen- welcome, and now everybody gets more Configurations available include six, Helikopter Norway; AviFlex in Central tative” final design of the company’s new, space for free.” seven, and eight passengers, four seats America; Gualter Helicopters, Brazil; clean-sheet single-engine SH09 helicop- PS4 and a fifth flight-test model, PS5, and a stretcher for EMS, or two standard Safomar, South America; Heliflite, Oce- ter. Kopter (Booth 6845) is revealing the will incorporate a gearbox from a new pallets for cargo operations. Claimed to ania; and Aerofacility, Japan. The next features of the design at Heli-Expo via supplier after the quality of the initial offer the largest “one-volume” cabin in its territories to be named include the UK a full-scale mockup in seven-passenger supplier’s upper-housing casting was category, the SH09 is equipped with clam- and Russia. configuration with 3D animations for deemed unacceptable. During tests in shell doors on both sides, plus a rear-ac- Training for the SH09 will incorporate other mission packages. Italy of the first three prototype air - cess cargo hold under the tailboom for up a virtual-reality-with-motion device from Kopter’s HAI exhibit will also enable craft, “we were very much limited with to 10 suitcases. Swiss startup VRMotion. Its devices for pilots to test the virtual reality (VR)- regard to the flight envelope and to the the and Airbus H145 have based training system in development maneuver scope: speed, torque, altitude,” Kit Roadmap generated positive feedback, including by VRMotion. Löwenstein said. The changeover took “From the beginning,” Löwenstein empha- from EASA regulators who are develop- “We are close to finalizing the config- about eight months. “We have tested it, sized, “we will come with mission equip- ing training guidelines for goggle-based uration of the to-be-certified aircraft,” and now we are flying it, which means we ment, which allows our customers to fulfill devices. VRMotion claims a student pilot CEO Andreas Löwenstein told AIN. “We no longer have any limitations.” their missions. We have a roadmap in which can hover during a first flight in the air- have progressed very well with the design. Promoted as having the “performance we will build up equipment baskets. We craft after only eight hours in their simu- We have progressed very well with the of a twin-engine at the cost of a single- have EMS, tourism, passenger transport, lator. It also said also boast that the sim flight-testing operations.” engine,” the 2.5-tonne-class SH09 with a and utility customers who already have mis- “allows [students] to practice vortex ring Kopter is targeting EASA and FAA cer- 1,020-shp Honeywell HTS900 sion equipment in their contracts.” state recovery procedures in different tification by the end of 2020. “We are still engine will have a range of more than 432 Kopter Group’s “competence center” flight situations, even close to the ground.” convinced we can do it,” Löwenstein said, nm, or five hours of endurance, with a in Germany is developing “safety-rel- “One point we strongly put forward is though he acknowledged that approval top speed of 140 knots. Maximum takeoff evant” mission equipment, with the safety,” Löwenstein said repeatedly. “The could slip into 2021. weight (external) will be 3,000 kg (6,614 balance provided by partners. Gear for authorities are extremely sensitive with “We have a very strong feeling from the regard to this. From the beginning, we have market; people are really expecting this focused not only on the technical aspects aircraft to arrive,” he added. “We have of the aircraft but also the crash-resistant sold out roughly three years of produc- fuel system, individual crash-resistant tion. And despite that, people order air- seats, bird-strike resistance, IFR-ready craft for years like 2024 and 2025, which Garmin G3000H avionics suite, etc. And is pretty amazing for a brand new aircraft.” one major aspect of safety is training.” A major modification in the fuel system, “You will be able to do more with vir- with less fuel under the floor, has allowed tual-reality simulators, a new category of Kopter to increase the cabin size of the devices between the flight-training device SH09, which can now accommodate eight (FTD) and full-flight simulators, particu- passengers and a pilot in transport configu- larly for the mission-training hours,” the rations. More glass area will allow improved Kopter CEO added. He suggested such views for tourism passengers. lower-cost training devices could be For other missions, such as EMS, noted located “in all the spots where major fleets Löwenstein, “you have more breathing are existing.” VR simulators might also be space to move around the patient; it will be circulated to multiple operators locations. extremely easy for the nurses and doctors Kopter also plans its own pilot on board to reach the patient from head to Excellent visibility is a key attribute of the Kopter SH09, which is powered by Honeywell’s and maintenance training academy toe.” Medical or law enforcement personnel HTS900 turboshaft and can fly for more than five hours and at up to 140 knots. in Switzerland. n

16 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

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20-MCJT28334 GFC 600H-Stablization Ad-10.8125x13.875-AIN_HAI Day1.indd 1 1/14/20 4:04 PM Robinson hoping for an uptick in 2020 sales by Curt Epstein

The past year was a slow one for Rob- inson Helicopter, the world’s most pro- lific . While the domestic market remained fairly stable, the California-based­ OEM generally exports approximately 70 percent of its

output, and headwinds from many direc- THURBER MATT tions, both financial and political, placed Robinson’s Rolls-Royce-powered R66 turbine single fleet recently surpassed one million flight hours. Close to 1,000 are in service worldwide. a damper on deliveries in 2019. “We expected it to be a slower year,” disassembly and ultrasonic cleaning, are tool, the system engages when the heli- The helicopter will also be fitted with company president Kurt Robinson told situated in close proximity, and once copter is powered up, and operators have the company’s Slimline auxiliary fuel AIN. “The high dollar and some of the aircraft are disassembled, cleaned, and the option of recording cockpit audio or tank, which was certified last summer tariffs have affected us, and it has been a inspected, they are brought to the main shutting it off. The video is available after and sits in the five-seat rotorcraft’s bag- slowdown for us.” In each of the previous facility for reassembly, paint, flight test, each flight by simply removing an easily gage compartment. A smaller version of two years, Robinson delivered more than and delivery. accessible USB drive. In advance of the the existing auxiliary tank, which holds 300 helicopters, but with various con- At Heli-Expo Robinson (Booth 8324) Anaheim show, pricing for the option had 43 gallons of fuel, it was developed in cerns in China, Russia, Brazil, and South will display three of its products, includ- not yet been firmed up but Robinson said response to customer requests. “What Africa, the company viewed its delivery ing the two-seat R44 Cadet trainer, R44 that it would range between $1,000 and the owners really like is that it takes up totals heading into Heli-Expo as closer to Raven II, and the turbine-powered R66. $2,000. The company plans to initially less baggage space,” said Robinson of the 200-unit territory. Robinson said the All three will be equipped with the man- offer the system as a factory-installed the new tank, which occupies only one- decrease was particularly notable with ufacturer’s new cabin video recorder, delivery option but expects it will eventu- third of the baggage compartment, leav- regard to the company’s midrange R44, which the OEM developed in partner- ally be available as a field-kit installation. ing space for up to 200 pounds of cargo. which is its biggest seller. ship with Rugged Video. It features a 4K The R66, which debuted in 2010, recently “This is one of those fun things that was “All of these areas that we are talking high-resolution camera mounted over- surpassed the one-million-flight-hour offered because people out there said, about, over the last year we have seen a head in the comm box. “We wanted to mark. Powered by the Rolls-Royce RR300, ‘I really like the aux fuel tank but it’s decrease in the sales to those countries,” make sure it recorded the outside view the fleet—which now numbers nearly blocking some of the baggage I want to said Robinson. “Obviously, we’d like to from the front two seats forward, along 1,000—reached that plateau without a hold.’” With a capacity of 23.2 gallons, see pent-up demand, and if the dollar gets with the instruments and flight con- single reported in-flight engine failure. The the Slimline adds an hour of operation a little weaker, then these areas—as they trols,” Robinson explained, adding that fully loaded model on display on the show to the R66’s normal, fully fueled three- have done in the past—could suddenly the system will satisfy the recent EASA floor will include the 10-inch touchscreen hour endurance. “Now they routinely spring back and be very strong.” recommendation for all light helicopters Garmin G500 TXi display coupled with a have four hours of fuel onboard, which Despite the fall-off in deliveries, the to be equipped with recorders. Intended GTN 750 GPS navigator and the Genesys is a big difference,” said Robinson. “It company has attempted to minimize for tourist flights or as a flight-training Aerosystems HeliSAS autopilot. allows them to do a lot of jobs and go staffing changes in an effort to preserve places they couldn’t go before.” its talent pool. “I have seen this too many The smaller tank weighs 29 pounds years in the past,” explained Robinson. “If empty and 189 pounds full. It includes a you have good people you want to keep crash-resistant fuel bladder that fits in an them, and these things tend to go kind of Utah launches rotor career pathway program aluminum and fiberglass enclosure with cyclical. When things come back and the an internal pump that transfers fuel to the dollar gets weaker, you want to be ready A program that provides rotor-specific air medical and heavy-lift, as well as flight helicopter’s main tank at approximately to meet those demands.” aviation classes to high school students schools, tour operators, and local govern- 40 gallons per hour. With a list price One area where the company gained through partnerships with industry, high ment agencies. of $29,000, the tank and its fiberglass staffing flexibility is in its recently opened schools, and universities has officially Students at Cedar Valley High School in mounting tray can be removed from the repair facility, a renovated 37,000-sq-ft rolled out in Utah, according to Helicopter Eagle Mountain, Utah, will be among the helicopter when not in use. structure that once housed Robinson’s Association International (HAI). The Utah first to benefit from the program and are With this year’s Heli-Expo show production headquarters. The year-and- Rotor Pathway Program partners univer- teamed up with Southern Utah University taking place less than an hour from a-half-long project opened in July. As the sities with local high schools to teach and Utah Valley University. “The rollout Robinson Helicopter’s Torrance, Cali- service center has ramped up operations, rotor-specific aviation flight training and of the Utah Rotor Pathway Program is a fornia headquarters and factory, show the company—which has a worldwide technician classes where high school stu- testament to Lt. Governor Spencer Cox’s attendees are invited to call the office to fleet numbering more than 12,000 heli- dents learn basic ground school material leadership, dedication of the Governor’s arrange a tour of the facility. Among the copters—has been able to divert some and earn college credit. Office Economic Development and Talent sights to see is the company’s proof-of- manufacturing workers to customer-­ High school students will also have Ready team, along with our industry and concept, standalone helipad. “With all of service and repair duties. The facility per- opportunities to work with industry part- education partners stepping up to build this talk about eVTOL off-airport land- forms repairs and overhauls and is set up ners through job shadowing, internships, out this program in less than a year,” said ings and everything, we’ve actually been to efficiently tear down, clean, and inspect and mentoring. Though in initial stages HAI v-p of government affairs Cade Clark. hit up a lot with questions like, ‘What’s a components, engines, and complete air- of implementation, the program already “This program is working because Utah has safe heliport where you can land?’” said craft. Dedicated areas for disassembly has more than 40 members from 22 dif- leaders in industry, education, and govern- Robinson. “This is something that was and storage of blades, engines, and com- ferent program partners that in addition ment willing to think outside the box, will- put together by our engineers, and we’ll ponents, along with a large media blast- to universities include local operators in ing to step up, and get involved.” J.S. be showing it to our dealers and people ing room and a clean room for hydraulic around here.” n

18 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com Leonardo flies fourth flight-test AW609 by Richard Ward

Leonardo is confident that the first flight be brought into the cabin using a winch of the production-representative fourth and then rotated lengthwise. The winch prototype AW609 (AC4) from Northeast is planned to be capable of lifting a 600- Philadelphia Airport on December 23 rep- pound load. To provide more headroom in resents the beginning of the home stretch the cabin, the company lowered the floor. for certification of the civilian tiltrotor. AC4’s flight deck has been upgraded to During that initial flight, some eight years production standard from the Rockwell Leonardo added a fourth AW609 prototype to its flight-test program in Pennsylvania. after Leonardo assumed full ownership Collins Pro Line 21 that equips the pro- of the AW609 program, AC4 performed totypes to the Pro Line Fusion system, tasks. Bill Sunick Jr., Leonardo’s senior final assembly at Philadelphia, and when a 20-foot hover to enable data collection which features three 14-inch touchscreens. manager for AW609 marketing, declined AIN visited in September, the wing and and photos, said test pilot Dan Wells. “We The touchscreens are of the resistive type, to commit to a specific timeline for certi- fuselage had not yet been married. First moved the controls in each axis and the requiring a positive pressure to make fication but said, “We are getting closer,” flight is expected sometime this year. response [was all good]. Then we did a selections, making them suitable for adding that EASA certification “will fol- Sunick was uncertain whether the aircraft pedal turn to the left, a pedal turn to the operation in turbulence and when in the low approximately one year after the would be delivered to launch customer right, and then landed. All went very well.” hover, reducing the possibility of mis-se- FAA.” When asked about the pace of the Era Group as soon as possible following AC4 is equipped with a nine-passenger lection. The system is compatible with certification process, Sunick noted that certification or whether it would be used cabin and a newly configured and widened TCAS II, ADS-B, and the Rockwell Collins Leonardo is moving at a pace that the initially as a demonstrator and sales tool. cabin door. After discussions with EMS Multi-scan Threat Detection weather radar FAA felt comfortable with. Wells added, This summer, Leonardo (Booth 5536) and SAR operators, the company enlarged offered as a customer option. “It is just a matter of accomplishing all the intends to open a helicopter training the entry door on the starboard side to 35 “The new touchscreen cockpit layout testing to meet the certification basis.”As academy in Philadelphia, with the first inches and modified it from a side-open- really proved its value and the aircraft of the end of September, aeroelastic sur- level D FFS AW609 simulator, which is ing configuration to a vertical clamshell exceeded all of our expectations,” Wells vey testing—how the airframe responds being developed with CAE. Instructors door with an electric hoist mounted to the said of AC4’s first flight. to and damps out vibrations—was almost for the AW609 have already been sourced upper section, if required for the SAR role. AC4 will be dedicated to avionics devel- finished, as were engine-installation tests. from American military personnel with The increased width allows a stretcher to opment and completing certification AC5, the first production AW609, is in V-22 experience. n

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ainonline.com \ January 28, 2020 \ HAI Convention News 19 as mounting hardware, wiring harness, and the “Magic Button” digital computer/ Demand drives STCs for Li-ion batteries annunciator/battery warm-up switch. It also plans to seek STC approval from the by Jerry Siebenmark European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Transport Canada, and Brazil’s ANAC. n True Blue Power has added supplemental about the partnership, Reid said. With over fixed-wing, Reid said. At the moment, type certificates (STCs) for its lithium-­ion the forthcoming STCs, True Blue Power’s demand is driving the Wichita, Kansas, (Li-ion) batteries on more models of heli- main-ship batteries will be on 17 legacy company’s Li-ion batteries onto more copters than fixed-wing aircraft because of and new helicopter models, including the helicopters than airplanes. “We’re letting NEWS note a new partnership with STC specialist Air- Bell Jet Ranger X and for the market come to us and decide what do GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) wolf Aerospace, the companies announced which its batteries are type certificated. you want next and who wants to step up named Pat Sheedy to take the helm on the eve of 2020 HAI Heli-Expo. This is not a strategic move by True and get it done,” he said. of its Ireland-based helicopter leasing Ohio-based Airwolf (Booth 6020) Blue Power to favor the rotorcraft market He added that on the fixed-wing side business, Milestone Aviation Group, expects to receive FAA STC approval and of the market, True Blue Power has more as CEO. He succeeds Greg Conlon, who kits by the end of first-quarter 2020 to batteries as standard equipment on new recently was promoted to GECAS presi- install True Blue Power main-ship Li-ion models than it does on new rotorcraft. dent and CEO. batteries—TB17, TB20, TB30, TB40, and In general, Reid thinks there is greater Sheedy steps into his new role with TB44—on all variants of 10 helicopter acceptance of Li-ion batteries in the avia- 19 years of international financial ser- models: Airbus H125 (AStar), H130, H135, tion industry. They are especially attrac- vices experience, the majority of which and H145; and 407; Enstrom tive because of the weight savings they he acquired with GE’s Aviation Risk 480; and MD369, MD500, and MD600. offer compared with conventional lead- Management business, where he fo- STC approval and kits for the Bell 204, acid batteries and because of their reliabil- cused on emerging markets. He most 205, 212, and UH-1 and Leonardo AW139 ity and relatively low maintenance needs. recently was chief risk officer and head are expected to follow later in 2020. “Because of the 505 [alone], we have of portfolio and underwriting, leading “Of all the customers that we’ve had go hundreds of batteries in over 60 countries Milestone’s underwriting and portfolio after STCs and installations, this has been flying around,” he said. “That’s a testament management, as well as overall risk for the largest grouping at one time,” True to the product. And the technology is con- GE Engine Leasing and the cargo busi- Blue Power chief pilot Ryan Reid told AIN. tinuing to be more and more sought after, ness of GECAS. Before that, he was se- “I don’t know if it’s a unique [STC] pro- New STCs by Airwolf Aerospace are expected better understood, and accepted as what’s nior v-p and regional risk manager for cess, but they seem to have it down.” to put True Blue Power’s family of Li-ion next for aviation main-ship batteries.” GECAS in Dubai, covering the Middle Airwolf approached True Blue Power batteries—TB17, TB20, TB30, TB40, and TB44— Airwolf said its True Blue Power STC East, Africa, and Russia. n (Booth 5729) at last year’s Heli-Expo aboard all variants of 15 helicopter models. kits will include the Li-ion battery as well

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20 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com aircraft by year-end. He forecasts a market Schweizer RSG prepping to relaunch S300 for 50 to 75 new Schweizers annually, split between the utility and training markets— by James Wynbrandt exclusive of China, whose unknown mar- ket appetite could be huge, he said. Two years after it launched to aircraft before its acquisition in 2004 by In addition to the IAG order, Schweizer Additionally, Schweizer would like to bring Schweizer Aircraft’s heli- , which closed the com- has a firm deal for another trainer and bring the turbine-powered S330C back copters back into production, Sch- pany in 2012. Horton led a group that an S300C and commitments for an addi- into production, priced at $1.1 to $1.2 mil- weizer RSG appears to be on the acquired the rights to Schweizer’s helicop- tional 36 aircraft, evenly split between the lion in VFR configuration, but no plans for cusp of receiving production cer- ters from Sikorsky in 2018. models. Horton hopes to deliver 12 to 14 that are in place. n tification, with deliveries of new robinson-r66-aux-tank-ad-ain-heliexpo-opening-day.pdf 1 12/9/2019 1:32:39 PM S300 models commencing later this year, according to company president David Horton. Fort Worth-based Schweizer (Booth 3224) offers two helicop- ters: the S300C, a 2,050-pound utility rotorcraft powered by a 190-hp Lycoming HIO-360-D1A, TURBINE with a 950-pound useful load and 95-knot top speed; and the S300CBi trainer (1,750-pound max takeoff weight), equipped with a 180-hp Lycoming HIO-360-G1A and deliv- ering a 648-pound useful load and 94-knot top speed. Both models Fly Long carry a maximum of three passen- gers, with hover ceilings in-ground effect of 10,800 feet and 7,000 feet respectively. Estimated prices are $450,000 for the S300C and $410,000 for the S300CBi. With FAA approval for pro- duction of key components, Sch- Fly Far weizer has assembled two of each model in pursuit of a full aircraft production certificate, with cus- Optional Aux Fuel Tanks Extend tomers waiting. C Flight Endurance Up to 5 Hours Training Orders M Last March, the company Y announced the sale of 25 Schweizer 300CBi trainers to InternationalCM Defense and Aerospace GroupMY

(IDAG), marking the new enterCY- prise’s first commercial sale; deliv- CMY eries are slated to begin in the third quarter. “This purchase allows usK to deploy assets across multiple satellite locations as we look to expand operations in the [U.S.],” said Robert Caldwell, IDAG CEO. R66 OPTIONAL AUX FUEL TANKS IDAG operates more than 30 Schweizers in flight-training oper- 23 GALLON TANK OR 43 GALLON TANK ations in Europe and the U.S., the 1 HOUR FLIGHT ENDURANCE 2 HOUR FLIGHT ENDURANCE latter under the Aviation Training OVER 100 NAUTICAL MILES* OVER 200 NAUTICAL MILES* Solutions brand (the former Bris- tow Academy), which it purchased one year ago. Horton estimates that as many as 1,700 Model 300s may be fly- ing and foresees making factory Contact Your Local Robinson Dealer maintenance support a key part of Schweizer’s portfolio. Schweizer Aircraft was estab- lished in 1939 by three Schweizer brothers and enjoyed consid- erable success building gliders, helicopters, and agricultural

a *Actual flight endurance and mileage may vary. © Robinson Helicopter Company. R66 is a registered trademark of Robinson Helicopter Company YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS www.ainonline.com

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FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE Honeywell brings focus on connectivity to Heli-Expo by Jerry Siebenmark

Honeywell (Booth 1108) plans to unveil which “has been in service for nearly a a package of improvements to its Sky decade, but we’ve now added push-to- Connect satcom tracking and com- talk support for that so customers can munications system and an improved upgrade their satcom terminal…without demonstration of its Aspire 200 satcom having to change their front-end cockpit connectivity system at 2020 Heli-Expo. controller,” Ronis added. It also will use the show to unveil avion- While Honeywell’s Aspire 200 system ics improvements for Leonardo’s AW139 is not new, the company is bringing an twin-engine intermediate helicopter. improved demonstration of it to Anaheim. Officials from the Phoenix-based The system is an Inmarsat-based connec- manufacturer told AIN that the com- tivity solution using Inmarsat L-band sat- MD Helicopters increases deliveries of pany has made “critical upgrades” and ellites and Swift broadband service that is enhancements to its Sky Connect sys- capable of transmitting real-time video Cayuse Warriors to Afghan forces tem that are based on legacy Iridium from a helicopter to the ground. “This year satellites using low-bandwidth commu- we’re taking real field data from one of our MD Helicopters (Booth 6815) recently where they are reassembled and readied nications and tracking services. “So it’s helicopters with the Aspire 200 installed delivered the final five MD 530F Cayuse for flight. MD has 24 aircraft contracted not using any new capabilities of the and we’re putting it into a canned demon- Warriors to the Afghan Air Force that were via the IDIQ contract and future deliveries new satellites,” said Iain Ronis, who stration that shows the video transmitted part of a 30-aircraft order placed in Sep- remain on schedule. manages the Sky Connect product line. over the satellite,” said Mark Goodman, tember 2017, the company announced. “The iconic MD Helicopters airframe was The first enhancement to Sky Connect who manages the Aspire product line. The order was part of a $1.4 billion, five- born to serve the warfighter,” said MD CEO hardware shipping now is the addition of Goodman noted that the goal of year IDIQ (indefinite delivery, indefinite Lynn Tilton. “As a proud American manufac- the Iridium push-to-talk service, which Aspire 200 is to provide high data-rate quantity) contract. Sixty 530Fs have been turer with a decades-long pedigree of deliver- allows a helicopter or fleet of them to do connectivity to commercial and military delivered to the Afghan Air Force. ing best-in-class rotorcraft options, we remain push-to-talk voice communication just helicopters. It’s ideal for intelligence, The aircraft are shipped to Afghanistan committed to the ongoing delivery of robust like with a VHF radio but over satellite, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) via Boeing 747 freighter from MD’s assem- light scout attack helicopter solutions to U.S. Ronis said. missions—and that’s where a lot of the bly plant in Mesa, Arizona, to Kandahar, and allied nations around the world.” M.H. “There’s no requirement to be in visual interest has been—but it’s also useful line-of-sight like you need to have with for oil-and-gas, inspections, law enforce- a VHF radio,” he said. “So you get the ment, and HEMS operations, Goodman benefits of push-to-talk—one-to-many added. The Aspire 200 is capable of communications—[that is] far less providing connectivity at rates of up to expensive than the typical Iridium tele- about 600 kilobytes per second, he said. EIT Avionics matches display device phony phone call, which is just one-to- Honeywell also will use the show to one [communications].” unveil some of the features of its Epic 2.0 with its flight operation data recorder “So it’s a great enhancement to fleet Phase 8 avionics upgrades to Italian heli- operations where you would like to facil- copter OEM Leonardo’s AW139 interme- Leesburg, Virginia-based electronics man- The half-pound Esaid is also STC approved itate that ease of conversation between diate twin. Jason Bialek, a product-line ufacturer EIT (Booth 116) has opened EIT for the R44, and its power consumption is aircraft as well as with ground opera- director for integrated flight decks Avionics, a division that is bringing new just 0.2 amps at 28 volts. In addition to tions,” Ronis added. at Honeywell, told AIN the upgrades safety and efficiency products to the rotor- graphical display of performance infor- Helicopter EMS (HEMS) operator include a track-based synthetic-vision craft market. mation based on the pilot’s operating Air Methods is the launch customer for system that is usable down to the hover. The EIT Avionics Flight Operational handbook, the Esaid gives aural alerts for push-to-talk, he said, and is planning to “So when very dynamic maneuvering Data Recorder (FODR) received FAA sup- critical conditions. adopt push-to-talk as it upgrades its fleet happens, it does reverse the heading plemental type certificate (STC) approval of nearly 360 helicopters over the next base, but generally speaking you never in October, for installation in the Robin- few years. lose sight of the target or the flight path,” son R44. The FODR meets Part 135.607 In conjunction with push-to-talk is a he explained. Included in the upgrades helicopter flight data monitoring require- new interface for the cockpit that Hon- are better maps and improved capabil- ments, according to EIT, and it can cap- eywell is calling MCT (mission commu- ities for custom approaches. “So even ture 21 channels at five times per second, nications terminal), a controller that is for steep approaches up to nine degrees, storing up to 2,200 hours of data. The a lightweight front-end module. “So it which are unique to helicopter opera- unit weighs just one pound, and data is provides push-to-talk service as well as tions, you’re still not losing sight of that downloaded via connection to a com- two-way text messaging in a very compact flight-path sector and your landing zone,” puter’s USB port. Data can be used for device,” Ronis explained. he said, adding that that’s ideal for oil- safety management systems, flight oper- and-gas operations. ational quality assurance, warranty repair, “EIT Avionics was founded to develop Further Upgrades Flight testing with Leonardo has been exceedance tracking, and accident/inci- products that promote aviation safety and Honeywell also has upgraded the Sky completed and European Union Avia- dent investigation. efficiency using technology,” said EIT Avi- Connect system to allow for offloading tion Safety Agency certification of the To make the FODR even more useful, it onics chief technology officer Joe May. recorded flight data through a cellular upgrades is expected in the second quar- can be integrated with EIT’s Esaid, a touch- “The FAA and NTSB have great inter- network connection, which should save ter of YOUR2020. SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS n screen display and annunciator device est in promoting greater usage of data operators money, because someone won’t www.ainonline.com that helps pilots use the FODR data while recorders like our FODR,” added avionics have to go out to the helicopter, connect a flying. Esaid displays density altitude, product manager Jeff Byrd, “and we don’t cable and download the data after a flight. power, hover, and airspeed performance want to just be a crash recorder or another “So it’s faster and cheaper,” he said. limitations, with updates every half sec- display—we want you to use data from The final enhancement to Sky Connect ENEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION ond, according to EIT, “giving the pilot our system proactively to prevent crashes, M.T. is the addition of push-to-talk service to www.ainonline.com/alerts unprecedented situational awareness.” breaking the accident chain.” Honeywell’s existing MMU-II controller,

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FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE less than half of those for legacy HUMS According to Bechhoefer, a low-cost, Foresight Mx HUMS ideal equipment developed for larger helicop- lightweight, and flexible HUMS solution ters. The company is looking at providing could be especially valuable to eVTOL air- the system via a subscription-based, soft- craft, which will likely have to perform many for helos, eVTOL | by Charles Alcock ware-as-service business model that would movements each day to earn their keep. In further reduce the upfront costs for users. the context of high-volume urban air mobil- Green Power Monitoring Sys- from now, we may be adding new sensors we Foresight Mx’s hardware is a small box ity operations, he argued, aircraft reliability tems (GPMS) says its low-cost, haven’t even thought of yet,” said Bechhoefer. that weighs less than a pound. For a trial will be especially important, and this is cloud-based Foresight Mx health GPMS claims that for most applications, installation on a Bell 206, the company was where the trend-monitoring capability of and usage monitoring system the upfront costs for Foresight MX will be able to fit this outside the cabin. HUMS could prove especially valuable. n (HUMS) is gaining traction in the light-helicopter­ market. The Vermont-based company recently provided the system for evaluation of Beta Technologies’ new Alia pro- totype and believes the technology will prove its worth with new-­ generation electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In 2019, GPMS (Booth 824) received supplemental type certif- icates (STCs) allowing Foresight Mx to be used on Bell 407GX /GXP singles, and Bell now provides the system as standard equipment on the latest 407GXi. According to GPMS founder and CEO Eric Bechhoefer, further STCs are anticipated this year, including for PERFORMANCE UP THERE the Airbus AS350 AStar. The Foresight MX system pro- STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION DOWN HERE vides mechanical diagnostics and prognostics, including engine per- formance monitoring, exceedance monitoring, flight regime recogni- tion, automated data acquisition and optimization solutions for rotor track and balance. The data can be accessed via a web browser and users can get automated alerts via email or text message. “We want to be able to provide better support not only for [air- craft] design engineers but also for maintainers and so it’s import- ant to have a better connection with them,” Bechhoefer told AIN. “With HUMS you are doing a vir- tual aircraft inspection every time you acquire data.” Building Foresight Mx around a cloud-based “internet of things” architecture, GPMS says, will make Electrical Power Systems Enhanced Vision Systems Lighting Systems it easier to implement improve- ments to the technology. “A year Some companies start with a contract. We start with eye contact. In a world of mega mergers, Astronics takes a different approach. We invite you to sit side-by-side with us to discuss how our breadth of technologies can seamlessly integrate and serve on your next manned or unmanned rotorcraft project.

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POWER | LIGHTING & SAFETY ELEVATING innovation The Foresight Mx HUMS offers a lower-cost and capable alternative.

ainonline.com \ January 28, 2020 \ HAI Convention News 23 recent retrofit customer selected a style and Mecaer interior makes Bell 505 a VIP materials “outside of the four basic moods, giving it a one-of-a-kind appearance,” Bar- by James Wynbrandt rows said, adding that “watching the trans- formation from utility to VIP was amazing.” With mockups of its VIP helicopter interi- The Magnificent interior borrows ele- ors and gleaming examples of flight-control-­ ments scaled down from the MAG VIP actuation systems on display, Mecaer interiors created for the Bell 429 Global- Aviation Group (MAG; Booth 4929) regu- Ranger light twin and forthcoming Bell larly draws a big crowd at Heli-Expo. The 525 Relentless. More sporty than plush, company often announces product devel- the installation brings panache to what opments of complementary interest—such is often an owner-flown platform, and as last year’s news of the first deliveries of weighing under 70 pounds, extracts little the outfitted with performance penalty. Some 20 to 30 per- MAG’s “Magnificent” interiors, which cent of new 505 customers are ordering was accompanied by a display of the most the interior, which costs about $100,000 recently delivered 505 at its booth. to $120,000, Barrows said. This year, the company was finaliz- No airframe provisions are required ing its display centerpieces as the event for retrofits, and kits are universal to approached rather than preparing for an many of the airframe options available unveiling, said Grayson Barrows, MAG’s The Mecaer Magnificent VIP interior is available for new Bell 505s or as a retrofit. The VIP on the Bell 505. director of marketing and sales for the interior is being ordered by 20 to 30 percent of new 505 buyers. Powered by a Turbomeca Arrius 2R, the Cabin Comfort Systems Division. However, 505 has a 1,500-pound useful load, a top given the range of Mecaer’s services, includ- In September, MAG announced delivery of headquarters in Monteprandone, Italy, are cruise speed of more than 125 knots, and a ing its Tier 1 supplier status to OEMs for a Magnificent interior retrofit of a utility-­ shipped to its Philadelphia Part 145 repair Garmin G1000H flight deck. Price is about flight-control, landing-gear, and interior sys- configured Bell 505 (Booth 1231; Static station for installation, which is completed $1.07 million. tems, it could be playing a supporting role in Display 2). The interior includes all panels; in less than one week. (Kits can be shipped Also being shown at Heli-Expo, along news that another exhibitor is announcing seats (built up from standard frames) and to any Part 145 facility that has the Bell with images of the MAG VIP interior for in Anaheim—though Barrows insisted he leather upholstery; low-pile carpeting; and 505 on its capabilities list for aftermarket the Relentless, are renderings of its VIP wasn’t hinting that that’s the case. a rear passenger service unit with adjust- installation.) cabins for Leonardo’s AW139 (Stand 5536) In any event, Mecaer continues to make able reading and mood lights, gaspers, and Offered in color palettes of soft whites, and Airbus Helicopters’ newly upgraded news of its own, with updates on the 505 air-conditioning outlets. The kits, manu- creams, blues, or grays, the interiors can twin-engine H145 (Stand 3432; Static Dis- Magnificent interiors among the highlights. factured at MAG’s Cabin Comfort Systems be further customized upon request; the play 19, 21), announced in March. n

Visit us at booth #2824 BIGGER. BETTER. BOLDER. HAI Heli-Expo 2020 FULL SERVICE Your source for comprehensive, tip-to-tail aftermarket support

WE DELIVER on what you value most. For over a century, the helicopter industry has relied on StandardAero to provide best-in-class rotary wing support with excellent operational efficiency and custom MRO solutions. Through our innovative, safety driven approach, comprehensive helicopter support capabilities and reliable service provided by our expert technicians, it’s no wonder why we are the trusted service partner.

Engines • GE T700/CT7 • Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T Dynamic Components • Rolls-Royce M250 and RR300

• Safran Arriel 1 & 2 Fuel Systems

Airframes Avionics • Airbus H125/AS350, H130/EC130, H135 and H225/AS332 • Bell 204/205, 206, 212/412, 222, 230, 407, 427 and 430 • Sikorsky S-76, S-92 and S-61 STCs

Safety Driven | Innovative | Full Service | Reliable

www.standardaero.com

24 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com selected AEM’s 1,320-watt loudspeaker AEM products picked for S-70i, 480B system. The new S-70i is also outfitted with by James Wynbrandt equipment developed for California’s growing firefighting challenges, includ- California’s Anodyne Electronics Man- Heli-Expo. Further, the company will installed for air-to-ground communica- ing a new water tank design; a 600-pound ufacturing (AEM, Booth 231) has been also design and manufacture the mas - tions in seven new Sikorsky S-70i Fire- external rescue hoist; and a 9,000-pound selected to provide the loudspeaker ter caution annunciator panel for the hawks. The first three were delivered . United Rotorcraft and system for a fleet of new Sikorsky Enstrom 480B. to state’s Department of Forestry and Sikorsky expect to deliver more than a S-70i firefighting helicopters for the For the state of California, AEM’s Fire Protection (Cal Fire) in December. dozen S-70i Firehawk aircraft in the next state of California, it said this week at LS1320 loudspeaker system is being United Rotorcraft and Sikorsky jointly two years. Meanwhile, Enstrom has previously used AEM loudspeaker and illuminated panel products in its single-engine heli- copter fleet, which prompted its choice as the master caution panel provider for its forthcoming flagship. “When we needed Seven new Sikorsky a custom solution for our 480B master S-70i Firehawks for caution annunciation panel, AEM was California feature our top choice,” said Enstrom’s director AEM’s new LS1320 of engineering, Bill Taylor. loudspeaker system, Steve Broderick, AEM’s distribu - which outputs 1,320 tion and business development repre- watts. AEM is also sentative, added that “redesigning a supplying a master caution warning panel is not a small caution panel for the undertaking.” new Enstrom 480B, AEM and Enstrom are exhibiting in tan- first delivery of which dem this week at Heli-Expo. First delivery is expected later of a 480B, which was developed to U.S. this year. Army new training helicopter require-

BARRY AMBROSE BARRY ments, is expected later this year. n

Alpine Aero intros electronic instruments Cadorath details M250 Canada’s Alpine Aerotech (Booth 4639) announced, but Alpine plans “to price secured FAA and EASA STC approvals for the kit aggressively in relation to repair/ its digital instrument kit for Bell 212 VFR replacement expenses” and believes it combustion case fixes operations, it announced this week at Heli- will become “the next obvious upgrade Expo 2020. The digital flight instruments for cost-conscious Bell 212 operators.” by Mark Huber can replace analog heading and attitude Installations have already been com- indicators, as well as Tarsyn/rate gyros, pleted on Canadian-registered aircraft, Cadorath (Booth 3228) has completed flux valves, remote compensators, com- and “customers have already provided initial deliveries of repaired and over- pass controls, and all associated wiring, great feedback from the initial installa- hauled Rolls-Royce M250 engine series reducing the number of components that tions” said Taylor Wilson, Alpine’s manager IV outer combustion cases. The over - can fail. of manufacturing. haul includes repairs to the fuel boss The kit also includes all installation Aerotech, marking its 30th year, pro- and replacement of the existing wire provisions to create a near plug-and- vides solutions aimed at increasing mesh patches with reinforced dual play solution requiring only minor struc- aircraft utilization and decreasing main- mesh patches. tural modifications. No price has been tenance costs. J.W. It developed the repair following a year of testing alternative braze alloys, surface preparation procedures, and fatigue after Cadorath developed a Rolls-Royce M250 Rolls-Royce issued a mandatory com- outer combustion case overhaul process. mercial bulletin (CEB) with regard to the affected outer combustion cases (P/N including Garmin avionics with ADS-B 23030911) on Oct. 28, 2018, at engine Out, NVG compatibility, Bose head - overhaul or 2,000-hour inspection. The sets, new paint and interior, new win - repair is performed at Cadorath’s Brous- dows, Onboard cargo hook and load sard, Louisana facility. cell, engine particle separator, and dual “Since the release of the CEB, there has aircraft controls. been considerable urgency for this repair,” SUU uses refurbished aircraft such said Cadorath director of operations as the 206L4 for advanced helicopter Larry Barkley. “The completion of this training. The university also provides its project reaffirms our commitment to the 206L4 and pilots to the Iron County, Utah Rolls-Royce FIRST Network, as well as all sheriff’s department for search and law M250 operators and maintainers,” he said. enforcement missions. n Separately, this week at Heli-Expo 2020 Cadorath unit Meridian Helicop- ters (Static 15) of Lafayette, Louisana, Alpine Aerotech’s new electronic attitude and heading indicators clean up the look of is displaying a Southern Utah Univer- YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS this Bell 212’s instrument panel and help make it more reliable. sity (SUU) Bell 206L4 it recently over- www.ainonline.com hauled and modified with components

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FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE At the “HCare Corner,” attendees can line, customers can experience a demo in Diverse Airbus Helicopters receive more information regarding an H125 equipped with the new Garmin a new online customer portal, digital TXi avionics, H135, and ACH130 with a services, analytics, training, and HCare bespoke interior. fleet arrives at Heli-Expo global contracts. “Customer centricity is the focus More Airbus helicopters are on static of our display at Heli-Expo this year, by Mark Huber display, including an AS332 from Heli as it is for our operations on a daily Austria in a firefighting configuration, basis,” said Bruno Even, Airbus Heli - Airbus Helicopters is displaying three are badged ACH. H125 from Brainerd Helicopters in an copters CEO. “The continuous product aircraft to its booth (3432, Hall B) this Additionally, the company’s exhibit aerial work configuration, H125 from the improvements and service enhance- week at Heli-Expo 2020—an H125 sin - features a “digital support concept” Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) ments being implemented on our wide gle, ACH130 single in Aston Martin and an “immersive experience” for the Air Support Division in law enforcement range of aircraft are intended to provide livery, and H175 super-medium twin new H160 medium twin in three con - configuration, H145 from San Diego value to our customers and to facilitate in offshore configuration. Helicopters figurations: offshore energy, private and Gas & Electric, and the Vahana eVTOL the varying missions of our helicopters sold via Airbus Corporate Helicopters business aviation, and air ambulance. demonstrator. On the Heli-Expo flight all over the world.” n

AS332 Super Puma LAPD H125 PHOTOS: BARRY AMBROSE BARRY PHOTOS:

with Avidyne’s GeoFill, which automatically 7.5 inches tall by 5.75 inches wide and Avidyne Helios adds touch fills in likely next waypoints, reducing the 10.615 inches deep. While the IFD series number of entries the pilot needs to make. offers many of the same functions and are Helios also offers built-in holds as well as already installed in multiple helicopter FMS to rotorcraft avionics circular holds for orbiting around a point, types, they are too wide to fit in a typical and these can be sized as needed to make console-mounted application, according by Matt Thurber a simple circular search-and-rescue pattern. to Schwinn. “To some extent this prod- For operators of helicopters with lim- uct [was requested] by several customers Following introduction of the Atlas touch- satellite-based augmentation system ited panel space but with a console, Helios who liked our panel-mounts,” he said. “It’s screen flight management system (FMS) GPS navigation, Qwerty keyboard, full- is designed as a replacement for existing tough to shoehorn the IFD in a console, it’s for legacy business jets in October, Avi- color moving-map with high-resolution, Dzus-mounted FMS units and measures a half inch too wide and the mounting is dyne has developed the Helios version three-arc second terrain basemap, and wrong for IFDs.” for rotorcraft. Helios is a Dzus-mounted geo-referenced Jeppesen terminal charts Helios comes with standard autopilot unit that fits into a typical cockpit console and airport/heliport diagrams. interfaces, including Arinc 429. A USB port on Part 27 and 29 helicopters, and Avi- Further functionality can be added with in the face of the Helios unit facilitates dyne’s initial target market is the Sikorsky optional 16-watt VHF navcom with ILS; quick database updates and doubles as a UH-60 Black Hawk and S-76 and Bell 212 helicopter TAWS; Avidyne GPS Legacy Avi- charging port for portable devices. Avidyne and 412. Helios will be available later this onics Support for compatibility with Collins designed the USB port and the Helios dis- year, with prices starting at $23,999, and Pro Line 21 and Honeywell Primus avionics play and front face so they are impervious Avidyne is showing the unit’s features at to add coupled approach guidance and LPV to liquid spills. Helios includes Bluetooth its Heli-Expo booth (7727). approach capability; radar display; NVG and Wi-Fi connectivity, and operators are Like Atlas, the Helios hybrid touch- compatibility; and RS-170 video input. welcome to design their own apps that screen user interface allows for conven- A new feature for Helios is a powerline take advantage of those using Avidyne’s tional multi-touch gestures or the use of database, plus it can also display weather software development kit. buttons and knobs. Hybrid touch has long and traffic information as well as be a Helios will meet the latest helicopter been a feature on Avidyne’s IFD series control panel for remote-mounted tran- environmental and vibration test standards. com/navigators and it is “gaining traction sponders. Helios will work with Avidyne Avidyne expects the first supplemental type with the rotorcraft crowd,” said Avidyne and most other ADS-B Out transponders. certificate for Helios in rotorcraft in the sec- CEO Dan Schwinn. “It’s more focused on Helios includes an exocentric synthetic ond half of this year. n actions with the fewest number of but- vision system (SVS) display, which is appro- ton presses and not having to worry about priate for a console-mounted unit, where missing a button on the screen. It’s a great a panel-mounted display would be more selling point for this market.” suitable for egocentric SVS. Helios also Avidyne’s Helios, named for the Greek titan YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS Helios adds many modern capabil- includes forward-looking terrain alerting of the sun, offers modern console-mount www.ainonline.com ities to legacy helicopters, including as standard. Flight planning is made easier FMS capabilities for legacy helicopters.

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FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO

FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE Safran celebrates a fantastic’ 2019 Bruno ‘ Bellanger, by Mark Huber Safran Helicopter A senior Safran Helicopter Engines rotorcraft designed by Hindustan Aero- -1K’s maintenance regime has been opti- Engines (Booth 4924)executive called 2019 “a nautics Ltd. (HAL). The aircraft made its mized with fewer scheduled tasks and executive vice fantastic year” and said the company is first flight in September 2016. longer service intervals and connectivity president for “working very hard” on projects and pro- The 1,430-shp 1U is an increased-power features such as health monitoring. programs. grams in 2020, including eVTOL power derivative of the 1,400-shp Ardiden 1H1, an The Aneto has also been selected to systems. Bruno Bellanger, Safran Helicop- engine that was co-developed by Safran power Airbus’s new Racer compound ter Engines executive vice president for and HAL and is in production with the des- helicopter. The Racer uses elements of intent at the 2019 to jointly programs, noted that the company cer- ignation “Shakti.” It powers HAL’s Dhruv the H160’s fuselage mated to a conven- investigate technologies, including elec- tified four engines in 2019, a feat “never and Light Combat Helicopter, and more tional main rotor, a box wing, and twin trification, higher-efficiency gas turbines, seen in our company in the last 20 years.” than 250 units are in service. Since its first pusher propellers. Top speed is expected alternative fuels, and advanced engine Those programs included engines for ground run in 2015, the Ardiden 1U has to be in the area of 250 knots. architectures that reduce the acoustic foot- the Airbus Helicopters H160, Leonardo accumulated approximately 1,000 ground print of turbines as part of the EU-funded AW189, Indian Light Utility Helicopter and flight-test hours and has performed Exploring the Future Horizon Europe program. (LUH), and Avicopter AC352, the Chinese well, said Benoit Gadefait, Safran v-p of New programs continuing under devel- Ballenger said the company is continu- variant of the Airbus H175. medium-helicopter engine programs. opment include the Add+ demonstration ing its eVTOL “journey” with a focus on The Arrano 1A engine for the Air- “Recently, the [LUH] conducted hot engine, the technology demon- developing hybrid propulsion systems fea- bus H160 received EASA type certifica- and high tests in the Himalayas, showing strator, and hybrid and electric propul- turing a turbogenerator and electric boost tion in June after a test campaign that its abilities to operate in this demanding sion for helicopters and eVTOL aircraft. motors for helicopters—technology he included more than 11,000 run hours and environment. It took off from remote The Add+ technology demonstrator is called “very interesting,” particularly for 2,500 flight hours. The Arrano is a new- areas at more than 5,500 meters’ eleva- based on the current Arrius helicopter single-engine helicopters. generation engine designed to power four- tion [18,044 feet] in hot conditions (ISA engine but with 30 percent of components “Having a backup system like this will to six-tonne helicopters and produces +30 degrees C), lifting more than the produced using additive manufacturing. make it possible for single-engine heli- between 1,100 and 1,300 shp. copters to operate over large cities in Engine features include new-genera- Europe. Additional electrical power pro- tion digital controls and an efficient two- vides the best efficiency for the cruise stage compressor with new variable inlet phase of flight and provides benefits for guide vanes. These components improve fuel savings,” he said. engine thermal efficiency and yield a fuel In September, Safran announced that burn that is up to 15 percent lower than it was working with ZF Luftfahrttechnik comparable in-service engines, Bellanger and MT-Propeller, jointly developing a said. The “gyratory” combustion chamber new turboprop engine system aimed at uses fuel injectors made with additive Europe’s unmanned aircraft market. The manufacturing techniques (3D printing). engine will be optimized for medium and The Arrano 1A was designed to be more high altitude, up to 45,000 feet, and fea- easily serviced, and maintenance time ture Fadec and propeller control for both required is half of that for previous-gen- power and propeller pitch. eration engines, according to Safran. The It is a derivative of Safran Helicopter company offers operators complemen- Engines’ Ardiden 3-based Tech TP demon- tary services with the engine, including stration engine. That engine made its first its electronic engine logbook (Boost) ground run in June at Safran’s Tarnos, and health monitoring. Bellanger said that France, facility. The goal of Tech TP, which more than 1,700 Safran engines across all is part of the European Union’s Clean Sky models are enrolled in Boost. 2 research and innovation program, is to In October, the Civil Aviation Admin- expected payload.” The 1U also features Employing technologies first displayed validate technologies required to develop istration of China (CAAC) certified the what Safran calls “an innovative control in June with Add+, several major engine a new-generation turboprop with light- WZ16, the chinese name for Safran’s 1,700- system specifically designed for single- components—including nozzle guide weight architecture, improved fuel con- to 2,000-shp Ardiden 3C engine, which engine rotorcraft.” The engine addition- vanes, combustion chamber, and stator sumption, and lower emissions. Bellanger was jointly developed and built by Safran ally incorporates dual-channel Fadec, rear module—are manufactured using said the new engine would feature “high Helicopter Engines and Aero Engine Cor- automatic power check, and APU mode. selective laser melting techniques. levels of design maturity and competitive poration of China (AECC). The engine is Safran received EASA type certification This allows assemblies of hundreds of operating and maintenance costs.” installed in the Avic AC352 helicopter, the approval for its Aneto-1K engine, as fit- pieces to be molded into a single piece. According to Bellanger, the eVTOL work Chinese variant of the Airbus Helicopters ted to the Leonardo AW189K, in Decem- By way of example, the accessory gear- involves a “very substantial commitment H175 super-medium twin. ber, following a flight-test campaign that box casing is now made with significantly to the eVTOL, STOL, and logistics markets. The AC352 first flew in December 2016 began in March 2017. The Aneto family fewer pieces. Within every company in the Safran Group, and certification is planned for 2021. produces between 2,500 and 3,000 shp Add+ also integrates components man- there is a huge number of people investing a Safran and AECC subsequently agreed and is intended for super-medium and ufactured by metal injection molding, lot in the technologies.” He stressed that the to strengthen their cooperation on the heavy helicopters. such as free power turbine blades. Bel- mission would drive the technologies. WZ16. Terms of the deal include study of Rated at 2,500 shp, the -1K has a pow- langer emphasized that Safran is already “For the logistics market and low-end, a potential joint venture in China to sup- er-to-volume ratio that produces 25 per- incorporating 3D components into pro- on-demand mobility there is a path for a port and maintain in-service WZ16s, pro- cent more thermal power than existing duction models, including the Arrano full-electric propulsion system, as there duction launch of the first 120 WZ16s with and similarly rated engines. Safran said and Aneto. But using major 3D content is for the low-payload, last-mile logistics an opportunity for 100 more engines, and this will expand the envelope of missions will allow engineers to “think the shape market. Long distances and high payload new applications for the WZ16, including that helicopters such as the AW189K can of the engine quite differently,” he said. require a hybrid solution. But we’re still a turboprop variant for fixed-wing aircraft. perform in applications—including off- Safran and Airbus Helicopters investing a lot in our current thermal In November, Safran received EASA shore transport, search and rescue, fire- announced over the summer that they are engines and believe we can significantly type certification for the Ardiden 1U fighting, law enforcement, and military teaming to demonstrate technologies that improve fuel savings and efficiencies engine, installed in India’s LUH (Light transport—that demand increased hot- reduce noise and CO2 emissions for future there. We’re also working on new syn- Utility Helicopter). LUH is a new three- and-high power margins and assured per- vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air- thetic fuels. It comes down to a mix of tonne, single-engine, multipurpose formance in the transitory regime. The craft. The two companies signed a letter of several technologies.” n

ainonline.com \ January 28, 2020 \ HAI Convention News 27

Pg-27_d1_v4.indd 1 1/26/20 2:39 PM Garmin preps to Garmin’s GFC 600H deliver helo helicopter flight control system can hold hover using position flight control and groundspeed and includes Garmin’s Helicopter Electronic system Stability & Protection limit cueing, which by Matt Thurber protects against steep bank/pitch and Garmin’s GFC 600H helicopter flight overspeed/underspeed control system (HFCS), unveiled two conditions. years ago at Heli-Expo, is nearly ready for installation in customer helicopters. The company (Booth 4910) has been giving NVG compatibility, and “a graphical map by holding pitch and roll steady but also make small changes to the reference point. pilots demonstrations of the system’s overlay within the horizontal situation indi- allowing the pilot to make changes in the ATT mode holds zero degree roll angle features in an Airbus AS350 AStar, and cator (HSI) for most display formats.” flight path without shutting off the sys- (and heading if yaw servo-equipped) and certification of the system is “imminent,” The GFC 600H is a “fly-through” flight tem. “You can go hands-off stick indef- airspeed. But once accelerating above 45 according to Garmin. control system, which means that it is sim- initely without the helicopter going in knots, upper or coupled modes are avail- The GFC 600H is available in a two- ilar to stability augmentation system-type some random attitude,” Loflin added. able, such as HDG, NAV, APR, IAS, VS, and axis or three-axis configuration—both helicopter autopilots in that it maintains a With the optional yaw servo, in ATT ALTS, “like any autopilot,” said Loflin. have pitch and roll servos, with the lat- stable state that frees the pilot to perform mode the HFCS holds heading in hover The ability for the GFC 600H to hold ter including a yaw servo. Later, Garmin other tasks and not have to concentrate and keeps the inclinometer ball centered the hover position by integrating ground- will add a servo for the collective, accord- on maintaining the helicopter’s attitude in cruise. In future versions, yaw trim also speed and position and not using attitude ing to Jack Loflin, Garmin’s engineering all the time. Loflin uses the analogy of a will be available. hold is unique, according to Loflin. Also flight-test team lead. fixed-wing airplane’s inherent stability to In ATT mode, the pilot can easily change unique for this HFCS is Garmin’s Heli- For GFC 600H installations, a Garmin describe how fly-through stability works. the reference point by moving the con- copter Electronic Stability & Protection primary flight display is required. The “Airplanes are inherently stable. Heli- trols to change the helicopter’s position, (HESP) limit cueing, which helps the pilot G500H TXi, for example, provides helicop- copters are not,” he said. The lowest then pushing the force-trim release (FTR) avoid excessive bank and pitch and over- ter terrain awareness and warning system, state or mode for the GFC 600H is atti- button on the cyclic to lock in the new speed and underspeed conditions. Garmin’s WireAware wire-strike avoidance, tude hold mode (ATT), which makes the reference point. Or the pilot can push the In the AStar, the limits are 46 degrees synthetic vision, multiple video inputs, helicopter feel a lot like a stable airplane, four-axis (beep trim) switch on the cyclic to of roll and +14/-13 degrees of pitch. “The onset is gradual and it ramps up over a period of additional pitch/roll exceed- ance,” he explained, with the system nudging the controls to help the pilot Three new Sikorsky S-70i Firehawks grace show floor return to a less radical attitude. HESP engages whether or not the Three new Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk heli- and an integrated digital cockpit. we have the capability to carry 1,000 gallons of HFCS is switched on. Like Garmin’s copters delivered to separate California The helicopters were delivered by water, so we’ll be able to carry approximately fixed-wing autopilots, GFC 600H fire departments are on display this week Sikorsky (Booth 48) and system integrator three times the amount of water compared includes a level (LVL) button, which at Heli-Expo 2020. The new version of this United Rotorcraft (Booth 7024) in 2019, one to our single-engine UH-1H helicopters with when pushed automatically returns the multi-mission helicopter provides improved each to the State of California’s Department water buckets. Because the S-70i is twin-en- helicopter to a level-pitch, zero-bank engine power (T700-GE-701D powerplants), of Forestry (Cal Fire), the city of San Diego gine, we have increased capability at those attitude, a great help during inadvertent greater maneuverability, more lift at higher Fire-Rescue Department (SDFR), and the higher altitudes, a fly-away safety margin and VMC into IMC encounters. altitudes, reduced pilot workload, and a Los Angeles County Fire Department over time, the ability to fly at night under night The GMC 605H mode controller is newly designed 1,000-gal external water (LACoFD). Cal Fire plans to acquire a fleet of vision goggles.” Cal Fire, which operates the night-vision compatible and contains its tank. Other improvements include wide- 12 aircraft to be positioned across the state. largest fleet of aerial firefighting assets. own attitude sensors. Garmin’s G500 TXi chord rotor blades; four-axis, fully coupled Dennis Brown, senior chief of aviation at LACoFD is adding two S-70is to its existing display also has its own sensors, and both flight controls; terrain awareness warning; Cal Fire, explained, “With the S-70i Firehawk, fleet of three 20-year-old S-70A Firehawks, sources are compared, and if there is a dis- which are also used for search and rescue, agreement, the HFCS disconnects. EMS, and medical transport. All three of the For helicopters with teetering rotor Sikorsky S-70i services intend to operate their new Fire- systems, the GFC 600H’s HESP protects hawks single pilot. The S-70i can carry 12 to against mast bumping caused by nega- 14 firefighters in the cabin. tive g loads by nudging the cyclic back The new Firehawks will be immediately toward positive g. The GFC 600H can available to siphon and drop water, per- be installed on a variety of helicopter form hoist rescues, and provide medical types, with the Bell 505 next in line. In transport. The Kawak Aviation Technolo- any helicopter, the HFCS automatically gies water tank is rated for 4g turns with recognizes the position of the collective a full load of water. Other improvements in and when pulling power, will move the the water tank include an auto water snor- pedal in the correct direction to compen- kel reel system, a refill pump that siphons sate for torque. 1,000 gallons in 45 seconds while hovering. The GFC 600H starts at $79,995 and The cockpit displays show the fill status and requires a G500H TXi display, which

BARRY AMBROSE BARRY diagnostic feedback. R.R.P. retails for $23,495 for the 7-inch and $27,495 for the 10.6-inch display. n

28 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

Pg-28_d1_v3.indd 1 1/27/20 12:24 PM specifications based on input from LACoFD. Slattery, president of United Rotorcraft. “This California adds three Cal Fire’s Firehawk is the first of nine air- capability brings unmatched multi-mission craft on order, with an option for three more. capability to these firefighting agencies to LACoFD has operated three older S-70A protect lives and property.” n Sikorsky Firehawks | by Mark Huber model Firehawks since 2001. The county’s new S-70i Firehawk is the first of two ordered Air Methods’ United Rotorcraft can refill the tank in less than one minute. and is more powerful and faster than the older (Booth 7024) unit and Sikorsky United Rotorcraft contracted with Kawak S-70A model. “With the increase in wildfire (Booth 7532, 48) delivered three Aviation Technologies of Bend, Oregon, to danger, the Firehawk has never been more YOUR SOURCE FOR AVIATION NEWS new S-70i Firehawk helicopters design and manufacture the water tank to new relevant to the state of California,” said Mike www.ainonline.com to separate California fire agen- cies—the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the

Los Angeles County Fire Depart- ENEWSLETTER FOR BUSINESS AVIATION ment (LACoFD), and the City of www.ainonline.com/alerts San Diego Fire-Rescue Depart- ment, the companies announced in December. Sikorsky manufac- HELICOPTER ENGINES tured the helicopters and United Rotorcraft outfitted them. AERO DEFENSE INDUSTRY ENEWSLETTER www.ainonline.com/subscribe

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RESPONSIVE AND FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM HELIEXPO MISSION-FOCUSED FOR NEWS VIDEO FROM EBACE

The new Firehawks “can attack fires at night, in strong Santa Ana winds, maneuver with agility and safety in canyons and terrain from sea level up to 10,000 feet alti- tude, while dropping water with tremendous precision and force,” said Jason Lambert, vice president of Sikorsky global military and mission systems. The aircraft can transport up to 12 firefighters, perform rescue Responsiveness and focus, these key qualities are shared with our customers operations, and fly fire suppres- and reflected in their missions every day. With unparalleled helicopter engines sion. They are equipped with a and the steadfast commitment of our support teams, we are a market leader 600-pound external rescue hoist, dedicated to your success. a 9,000-pound cargo hook with safran-helicopter-engines.com load cell system, forward recog- #ARRIUS #ARRIEL #ARRANO #MTR390 #ARDIDEN #MAKILA #RTM322 #ANETO @safran-engines nition lights, and a high-intensity searchlight. Avionics installations include tactical communications and navigation systems. The Fiehawks’ fire-suppres- sion system consists of a newly designed 1,000-gallon water tank attached to the belly; extended landing gear to accommodate the tank; and a retractable snorkel that

SafranHelico_199x264_2020_VA .indd 1 16/01/2020 08:42 ainonline.com \ January 28, 2020 \ HAI Convention News 29 the year, then dropped to 681 in 2016 and HAI slams proposed NYC helicopter ban stayed close to that level until this year. by Mark Huber Industry Response “With an industry advancing in terms of A trio of congressional helicopter critics both urban mobility and unmanned air- from New York City has introduced leg- craft, these politicians are looking back, islation to ban them from Gotham’s air- not forward,” said former HAI president space, including over waterways. In late Matt Zuccaro, a veteran NYC helicopter October, Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler, pilot and a former aviation executive for Carolyn Maloney, and Nydia Velazquez the Port Authority of New York and New introduced “The Improving Helicopter Jersey. “These politicians’ draconian solu- Safety Act of 2019” that would essentially tion to the perceived threat of helicopters eliminate helicopter flights conducted is to put an industry out of business.” under either Part 91 or 135 over “any city HAI attacked the bill as having “no pos- with a population of over eight million itive effect on aviation safety over New people and with a population density of York City” and a threat to the “viability” over 25,000 people per square mile.” of the helicopter industry there. HAI In a strongly worded rebuttal issued went further, accusing the bill’s primary shortly after the bill was unveiled, the In 2015, there were 59,000 helicopter flights departing lower Manhattan’s Pier 6 heliport; that sponsors of promulgating falsehoods and Helicopter Association International number was cut to 28,000 beginning in 2017. selectively manipulating accident data (HAI) slammed the bill, calling it “an to create a rationale for the legislation. attempt to completely dismantle a thriv- already highly restricted helitourism, say- agreement, said he had “no use” for civil HAI said the bill’s sponsors used nearly ing industry” and further characterizing it ing, “There is simply no justification for helicopter flights over the city. 40 years of accident data to inflate safety as having a chilling effect on development allowing tourists to joy-ride over our city, While air tour flights that originate in claims and falsely state that the FAA of one of the potentially largest urban air endangering lives and creating unneces- New York are down, the New York Times “does not have any regulations, policies mobility (UAM) markets in the world. sary noise pollution.” reported sharp increases in the amount of or procedures to account for New York The bill would allow civil helicopter The lawmakers were joined by rep- helicopter traffic at both LaGuardia and City’s uniquely crowded airspace.” operations at airports but would charge resentatives of local government and Newark airports in August, with traffic The association pointed out that the FAA the FAA to develop “the shortest, most various community groups, including up at the former by 25 percent to 1,096 updates helicopter route charts in select direct routes possible to access or depart Stop the Chop NY-NJ and the Brooklyn operations and an operations increase of markets including New York City every 56 from airports” and update aeronautical Heights Association. “With the expo- 21 percent at the latter, to 4,391. Per-seat days or as needed and that the charts pro- charts accordingly. Helicopters flying law nential growth of private, commercial helicopter ridesharing services such as vide guidance on “standard routes, specific enforcement and air medical missions helicopter traffic, New York’s skies are Blade and Uber Copter are credited for altitude limitations when appropriate, stan- would be exempted. quickly becoming just as congested as our much of this increase. dard frequencies, and mandatory reporting At a press event in New York City, the streets,” charged New York State Assem- The Wall Street Journal recently points.” HAI also said that the lawmakers lawmakers took aim at the area’s heli- bly member Linda Rosenthal (D). reported a surge in helicopter noise ignored the protections offered by estab- copter businesses.“The risks that com- In 2015, there were 59,000 helicop- complaints to the city’s 311 service this lished altitude ranges in New York Class B muter, charter, and tourism helicopter ter flights departing lower Manhat- year, with 1,171 recorded through August, airspace including the Hudson River and flights pose to New Yorkers far outweigh tan’s Pier 6 heliport. Via an agreement up from 640 in all of 2018. However, in East River Exclusion Special Flight Rules the benefit to the very small number of with operators, that number was cut to 2015, in the months leading up to the deal Area (SFRA), and special practices adopted people who use them,” Maloney said. 28,000 beginning in 2017. New York City that cut helitour flights, helicopter noise by New York helitour operators, including Nadler served harsh criticism on the city’s mayor Bill de Blasio, who brokered that complaints similarly surged, to 1,083 for “established flight routes that standardize pending flight paths, altitudes flown, and frequencies used by all aircraft” that mini- mize the need for interaction with air traf- fic controllers. Global Turnkey Helicopter Shipping HAI noted that helicopter traffic in the city is far safer than ground transporta- tion there, which accounted for more than 60,000 injuries and 203 fatalities in 2018. The association called for increased We Land the Hard Jobs community dialogue, including reconsti- Specializing in professional hangar to hangar shipping and tution of the NYC helicopter task force, to delivery of airworthy helicopters, anywhere in the world. “address the concerns of all stakeholders.” Real time updates of aircraft movements The bill also drew objections from Door to door insurance for all logistical movements the National Air Transportation Associ- Any Helicopter Import/export consultation for buying/selling ation (NATA). “This particular proposal Dedicated/regular scheduled 747F service is poorly disguised as safety legislation Anywhere Landing staging area at airport ramps when in actuality it really is another anti-­ Anytime Disassembly and return to service aviation Nimby-ism proposal,” said Jona- Full world wide ocean services thon Freye, v-p of government and public affairs for NATA. Freye is also concerned about the broader ramifications of such a bill. “Pro- posals like this one are a slippery slope that embolden other policymakers to pur- sue similar legislation,” he said, saying the Come see us at Booth# 8743 WWW.DIRECTHELICOPTER.COM proposal is the latest in a series of attempts to restrict airspace access at the local level. He added, “I think its incumbent on our industry to take all proposals like this one seriously…[as] a call for our industry to reengage with policymakers.” n

30 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com Sébastian Turcotte, IAS CEO Ronaldo Aldrin, and Renato Rafael in the engine disassembly area. Pratt & Whitney Canada adds Brazil overhaul base by Richard Pedicini

Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has the P&WC-powered fleet is in the Rio-São opened an engine overhaul facility in Belo Paulo-Minas triangle and that the choice Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, focusing of Minas avoided “the costs of the Rio- on PT6A and PW200 engine families. Cus- São Paulo axis.” He added that proximity tomers in Brazil, which has the world’s to the international airport is convenient third-largest P&WC fleet (after the U.S. and for parts importation and for customers Canada), will enjoy a 20 to 25 percent mon- from elsewhere on the continent and that etary savings and savings in time because of there are fiscal incentives from the state elimination of the transportation and tariff government, “on which we have an NDA.” costs of sending engines to the U.S. The Sorocaba parts stock will come to Belo Built in 18 months, the facility received Horizonte, and while a bonded warehouse ANAC certification in December. The test- is under study, it may not be possible or bed is scheduled to be ready at the end of needed, given agreements in place with the January, and the first engines are expected Minas government. to be delivered in February. The plant is Sébastien Turcotte, general manager for located alongside the existing facilities South American operations, said another of IAS—IndÚstria de Aviação e Serviços, reason for the move is “to work with a part- which will provide support and also repair ner we trust. We need local support, and components and accessories, though IAS is the best partner. Repair and overhaul P&WC will handle all customer-facing is a complex process. Component repair is roles. P&WC (Booth 2910) has invested a different game, another world. We’ll be $23.8 million in the new facility. up and ready faster to support our clients.” The P&WC facility joins a growing avi- Turcotte also emphasized the impor- ation base in the vicinity of the Confins tance of the new overhaul center by not- International Airport in Belo Horizonte, ing that about half the income of P&WC’s including maintenance centers for air- parent firm UTC is from aftermarket ser- lines Azul and Gol. Charter operator Lider vice rather than new-product sales. From is also headquartered in BH. 2007 to 2017, the Pratt & Whitney Can- The center will initially employ 50 ada engine fleet in Brazil has grown by 80 workers directly, mostly technicians and percent. Of the country’s total number of engineers. P&WC had little difficulty find- P&WC engines in service, the PT6A fam- ing these staffers in the region, which has ily makes up about 60 percent, and the schools that train aviation workers. PW200 family, 11 percent. P&WC sees P&WC’s previous flagship facility in growth in all areas except regional avia- Sorocaba, São Paulo, will continue as a tion, including helicopters (especially for satellite operation, handling the full range offshore), agricultural, business aviation, of the company’s engines, “as far as they and defense. “The Brazilian Air Force has go,” with heavier maintenance outside more [P&WC] engines in operation than the PT6 and PW200 families continuing the Canadian [air force],” Turcotte said. to be performed overseas. , for “The agricultural belt is constantly example, will still be handled in Sorocaba growing and agribusiness has sustained up to C checks. the Brazilian economy,” Rafael said, and General manager Renato Rafael, who will P&WC projects that Brazil will soon sur- be moving with his family from Sorocaba pass the U.S. and become the world’s larg- to Belo Horizonte, noted that 70 percent of est agricultural aviation market. n

Kopter_Corpo1_124x318_uk.indd 1 25/11/2019 16:10 ainonline.com \ January 28, 2020 \ HAI Convention News 31 Garmin developing GFC600H flight control system for Bell 505 by Chad Trautvetter

Garmin (Booth 4910) expects to certify the said. It features a console-mounted mode provide en route navigation guidance, and GFC 600H flight control system for the Bell controller with push-button controls that search-and-rescue patterns. 505 Jet Ranger X in the first half of this year, interface with the Garmin integrated Additional autopilot modes include alti- the Olathe, Kansas-based avionics manufac- flight deck on the Bell 505. Using navi- tude hold, altitude select, vertical speed, turer said. The attitude-based system will gation information from the integrated indicated airspeed, and heading select. have several helicopter-tailored features, flight deck, the GFC 600H can also be The GFC 600H on the Bell 505 will also including attitude hold, Garmin Helicop- used to automatically fly approaches, be night-vision goggle compatible. n ter Electronic Stability and Protection (H-ESP), dedicated return-to-level mode, hover assist, and over-speed and low-speed protection. Following STC approval, the GFC 600H will be available through select Thales, StandardAero team on light helo autopilot Garmin dealers as a retrofit installation. According to Garmin v-p of aviation StandardAero and Thales signed an agree- Meanwhile, StandardAero’s expertise in offering this modern Compact Autopilot sales and marketing Carl Wolf, “The GFC ment to jointly develop and certify an modifications will help it obtain STC approv- allows us to press forward in our aggressive 600H combines our expertise in safety-­ advanced autopilot system for several light als for the autopilot in the AS350 and other pursuit of certifying transformational safety minded technology for helicopters with helicopters, starting with the Airbus AS350. light helicopters, as well as provide after- technologies that address…pilot fatigue and our flight control experience to deliver a Thales (Booth 227) brings to the table its sales support. StandardAero (Booth 2824) entry into inadvertent IMC conditions that can system that essentially affords the pilot lightweight, four-axis Compact Autopilot with said the fielded solution will “far exceed often result in LOC-I and CFIT situations,” said the option to fly hands-off, which would built-in aircraft stabilization capability, elim- basic certification requirements and will StandardAero v-p of business development be unheard of without an autopilot.” inating the need for a dedicated flight-con- satisfy operators’ exacting expectations for for airframes and avionics solutions Elvis The GFC 600H includes AHRS tech- trol computer. Additionally, the autopilot can system operation, airframe integration, sim- Moni. “Until now, we haven’t had the right nology and redundant, cross-checking fully control the helicopter from initial hover plified maintenance, and product support.” technology available for this segment to ade- sensors to support smooth handling to coupled approach and position-hold. “As part of our ongoing Safecraft program, quately address the threat head-on.” C.T. throughout the flight envelope, Garmin

PRO

32 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com Production Bell 525 525 arrives in Anaheim by Rob Finfrock

Bell (Booth 1231) is debuting its first pro- duction-spec 525 Relentless this week at Heli-Expo 2020, though the company is not yet specifying a timeframe for certi- fication of the super-medium-twin heli- copter. Equipped with an oil-and-gas transport interior configuration, the “pro- duction representative” Relentless being shown is serial number 15 off the assembly line. Meanwhile, Bell reported the 525 has made “significant strides” in flight testing and is now transitioning to the final phase

of that program. AMBROSE BARRY The company has increasingly gar- nered headlines for its alternative performance, cost of operations and traffic and birds. Pulselite can be retrofit- option for the Bell 429 at the show rotor-equipped transportation options, support the lifecycle of aircraft,” said ted to earlier models as well. that features a new color scheme and including development of its Nexus 4EX Susan Griffin, Bell’s executive v-p for On the twin-engine side of its product revised leather and carpeting options. urban air mobility vehicle. Nevertheless, commercial business. “As we continue line, Bell is marking the U.S. debut of the Both the 429 and 412EPX are equipped manned helicopters overwhelmingly to invest in new technologies, Bell is Bell/Subaru 412EPX that is equipped with with the Astronautics BasilXPro avi - remain the driving force in its portfolio, growing our aftermarket service offer- a more robust main rotor gearbox dry-run onics suite, offering expanded route and that includes the single-turboshaft ings and global presence.” capability that provides increased inter- mapping and five declutter levels, a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, which is being dis- The company is also touting a recent nal maximum gross weight (to 12,200 two-second power-up time, and lower played at the show with newly standard FAA single-pilot IFR certification for its pounds) and mast torque output of +11 power consumption. The new boxes are Garmin G1000H NXi avionics that are 407GXi equipped with a three-axis auto- percent at speeds below 60 knots. also nearly three pounds lighter apiece also available for retrofit on older 505s. pilot, which Bell said offers the lowest Bell is also unveiling a new interior than the first-gen system. n Bell is also the first OEM to certify direct operating costs of any IFR-capa- a health and usage monitoring system ble helicopter on the market. The 2020 (HUMS) for light singles like the Jet 407GXi also includes the newly standard Ranger X. “Bell is committed to incor- Precise Flight Pulselite system that alter- porating the latest technologies into nately pulses the landing and taxi lights Cobham Titan manages our products to further improve the to enhance the visibility of the aircraft to onboard audio and info by Rob Finfrock Sierra Nevada demonstrates Transport Cobham Aerospace (Booth 8318) functionality that they are used to outside Telemedicine System for HEMS industry launched its new Titan line of digital air- aviation and reflecting the requirements craft audio management products for light for multi-channel audio management sys- Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC, Booth 7550) is The solution incorporates a variety of to medium rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft tems to cope with tactical missions,” said demonstrating its eHealth & Remote Mon- user devices for data entry (based on on Monday on the eve of Heli-Expo 2020. Mickeal Daw, Cobham’s product manager itoring solutions for the EMS industry on transport environment) including an intel- Noting the growing demand for connec- for audio and information management. Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at Heli-Expo 2020. ligent access point, radio and network tivity solutions in smaller aircraft used Titan offers Bluetooth connectivity The solutions capture, store, and forward interfaces, patient-connected medical by police, fire, medevac, and other pub- for those onboard the aircraft, as well pre-hospital patient data wirelessly in real- device interfaces, user-entry applications, lic safety aerial operations, Cobham said as restricted transmission capability, a time from medical devices in the helicopter smart-medicine algorithms, and a web- Titan provides all the necessary function- configurable front panel, and spatially or another medical transport vehicle to pro- based patient-status portal. It is secure, ality for those missions in a compact pro- separated audio to help crewmembers vide improved medical situation awareness, enables HIPAA-compliant videoconfer- file that is more than 50 percent lighter distinguish conversations on different remote expert decision assistance, and encing and data share suites, but can be than other comparable systems. radios. The system can replace as many even telementoring of EMS personnel. driven over an open network. “Titan brings helicopter and turbo- as nine separate communications boxes According to SNC, its eMonitoring Patient information files are stored in prop connectivity into the 21st century, on current EMS aircraft, Cobham noted, has “revolutionized military aeromedical the cloud and viewed via a browser, with providing their crews with the modern shaving weight and equipment footprint treatment,” helping medical professionals no need for downloading or local storage. while also easing operational complexity manage multiple trauma care patients in This makes the system compatible with and reducing the amount of parts num- flight. The demonstration at SNC’s booth virtually any computer or mobile device, bers needed for system certification. showcases the solution’s integration, the Nevada-based company said. SNC Daw added the company has seen “early modification, and lifesaving technologies added that because the company rec- expressions of interest from leading OEMs, and capabilities. ognizes not all health care facilities have who have responded positively to the Transport Telemedicine System (TTS) modern technology, the system can sup- functionality and profile of the system.” services commence at the point of injury port telemedicine consults on as little Cobham specifically cited platforms such and continue until the patient is trans- as a 3G cellphone connection while still as the Airbus H125 helicopter and Cessna ferred to a definitive medical care facility. providing full functionality. J.W. Caravan turboprop single as potential Cobham’s new Titan applications for the Titan line. n

ainonline.com \ January 28, 2020 \ HAI Convention News 33

Pg-33_d1_v3.indd 1 1/27/20 3:12 PM Mx safety and training News Clips Frasca Tapped for New Bellevue, Washington company include Life Flight AATDs LED replacement panels and master reset symposium set for June Aurora, Oregon-based air ambulance switches for the Bell 206/206L and 412, along provider Life Flight Network has selected with master caution panels for the CH-47D by Randy Padfield Frasca (Booth 7724) to provide an advanced and BK-117, and other platforms. All Luma’s aviation training device (AATD) for its Bell panels feature FAA-approved sunlight- S.A.F.E. Structure Designs, along with been frustrating and time-consuming to 407GXi helicopters. The device will feature readable, night-vision-goggle-ready lighting. the Helicopter Safety Alliance (HSA) maintain when mechanics are faced with Frasca’s “Simplicity” software graphical and Southern Utah University (SUU), challenges they haven’t seen before.” user interface, electric control loading, and EMS Pilot’s Organization are co-hosting their first annual Main- Information about Maintenance flight and systems simulation to train normal, Debuts New Website tenance Symposium dedicated to safety Training Symposium, HSA events, and abnormal, and emergency procedures. The National EMS Pilots Association and training for mechanics on June 10 SUU programs can be found at S.A.F.E. The AATD also will include Frasca’s (NEMSPA, Booth 6416) has launched its new to 11 in Dallas. The event will provide a Structure Designs’ Heli-Expo booths TruVision global image generator with website, “updating to today’s technologies, series of interactive presentations that (4432, 130, and 55). three-channel, direct-view projected including mobile responsive design and a bring current information on the new S.A.F.E. CEO Johnny Buscema and HAI visual display system with the company’s new look that is user-friendly,” it said this generation of aircraft that requires an Training Work Group chair Terry Palmer, worldwide visual database. In November week at Heli-Expo 2020. NEMSPA also understanding of technology beyond meanwhile, presented a Rotor Safety 2019, Bell and Life Flight announced a announced it is expanding its membership normal maintenance skills. Challenge session this morning as Heli- purchase agreement for four Bell 429 base and building partnerships “to put While safety events are provided for Expo kicked off. light twins and four Bell 407GXi singles. more resources in our pilots’ hands.” pilots, “This one is just for mechanics and The interactive session, “Maintenance Life Flight will use the helicopters The new site and the organization’s social will help to provide input to the indus- Safety-First Solutions that Work,” was to service portions of its network that media accounts will highlight the initiatives try on what training resources will be designed to remind of basic safety prin- includes 31 bases throughout the Pacific behind its planned growth, as well as give needed to keep up with the new aircraft,” ciples and the new challenges in trouble- Northwest and Intermountain West. The members “an opportunity to tell us what said Palmer, who is also the event director. shooting technology. Said Buscema, “We company is the largest nonprofit air they want from NEMSPA,” said Jill Dunagan, “This symposium is necessary to provide are working with Southern Utah Univer- medical transport service in the U.S. the non-profit group’s general manager. mechanics with resources and techniques sity and industry organizations to identify to help them get the job done effectively and develop training that makes mainte- Axnes Wireless Intercoms HAI Renames HFI and efficiently. New technology has often nance more effective and efficient.” n Flying in More Aircraft Charitable Foundation Axnes (Booth 3841) is incorporating its Helicopter Association International (HAI) PNG (Polycon Next-Generation) wireless has renamed Helicopter Foundation intercom system in Travis County’s International (HFI), its charitable (Texas) Star Flight Leonardo AW169s and arm, in a move that it says will more CalFire’s Sikorsky S-70i Firehawks. Each closely identify the non-profit’s role in airframe has an internal PNG base station, supporting its missions. The tax-exempt control panel, and wireless MP50 handsets organization will now be known as the with a range of two to three miles. HAI Foundation. It shares the same board The wireless handsets enable full of directors as parent HAI, with the communication while performing external goal of “preserving and promoting the tasks such as swift water rescue, hoist rich heritage of vertical aviation while operations, and remote scene response. supporting the next generation of pilots They have a battery life of 15 hours and aviation maintenance technicians.” of continuous operations, 40 hours of “For many years, not everyone realized standby time, and include night vision that HFI is directly connected to HAI, its compatibility, control panel screen, push-to- parent organization,” said James Viola, HAI’s talk, and voice activation. The system also newly-named president and CEO. “This features secure AES 256-bit encryption. name change ties the two organizations Axnes wireless systems are flying more closely together, but the foundation’s in more than 1,500 aircraft. mission and goals have not changed.” Of late, the foundation has focused Luma Touts New Helo LED its attention on the industry’s shortage Master Caution Panels of pilots and maintenance technicians, Luma Technologies (Booth 7451) is and commissioned the HFI-UND showcasing this week at Heli-Expo 2020 study, which was the first to document its recently introduced LED upgrade suite the labor shortage in the rotorcraft for the UH-60 and S-70 platforms, along industry. To help solve that problem, the with other products from its array of LED foundation has been active in workforce caution warning panels and displays. development, sponsoring industry forums The new upgrade is a three-unit and career roundtables. It also awards package including the primary 82-station annual scholarships for student pilots caution advisory panel complemented and aviation maintenance technicians. by a pair of drop-in replacements for the During Heli-Expo 2020 this week, the six-station clusters of primary warning foundation will conduct its customary lights and master caution reset switch silent auction, which includes a variety linked to the main panel. Installation of of donated goods, services, and

BARRY AMBROSE BARRY the package, expected to receive STC experiences ranging from training approval in the second quarter, requires and communications equipment to Crowd-pleasing Cobra Lands at Heli-Expo less than two hours, according to Luma. helicopter tours and flight apparel. The six-pack clusters are available in the The auction window closes at 4 p.m. The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation and Museum’s 1967 Bell AH-1F Cobra—ship 766— traditional 5+1 format or Luma’s optional on Thursday and bids can be placed until always captures Heli-Expo attendee interest. This Cobra served with the U.S. Army’s 227th ”big button” version, featuring a larger and then online at BiddingforGood.com/HAI Assault Battalion in Vietnam, and during the war it logged 2,727 combat flight hours, according more ergonomic center reset button. or at the silent auction booth in the lobby to the museum. Before retiring, the Cobra served in Korea and with the National Guard. Additional products on display from the of the Anaheim Convention Center.

34 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

Pg-34_d1_v3.indd 1 1/27/20 11:23 AM 8-10 DECEMBER 2020 DWC, AIRSHOW SITE

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WWW.MEBAA.AERO Zuccaro reflects on the past, envisions a dynamic future by Kerry Lynch

Following a 50-plus-year career in the Safety efforts stepped up with the forma- helicopter industry and 15 years at the tion of the International Helicopter Safety helm of the Helicopter Association Inter- Team (IHST), which has had Zuccaro as the national (HAI), Matt Zuccaro has bid industry chair and Viola as the government farewell, calling the rotorcraft market an chair. With international industry-wide col- industry of survivors and touting a bright laboration, the team, formed in 2005, has future with opportunities and a transi- since taken a data-driven approach with tion ahead in vertical flight. Zuccaro last measurable safety goals.

summer announced his plans to retire This includes looking at risk assess - KLOSS KASHEA this year, and the new HAI president and ments and human factors. “It’s no Matt Zuccaro, who retired after 50 years in the industry and 15 at the helm of HAI, stressed CEO, former FAA safety official James secret the majority of the accidents the importance of a commitment to safety and “land the damn helicopter,” but is pleased by Viola, stepped into his role in the weeks that are caused today are human- progress made thus far and is optimistic about the opportunities in a transitioning industry. leading up to Heli-Expo. factors-related,” Zuccaro said. “It’s not “I’ve loved every minute of the last 15 mechanical, it’s not system deficiencies. anywhere we want,” Zuccaro said. “And we general, can offer as a career.” years that I was president and CEO,” Zuc- It’s people. The key to eliminating acci- weren’t exercising that.” He wrote an arti- Promotion of the industry is critical not caro told AIN. In his farewell message, he dents is changing the culture so that cle stressing to the industry that “all you only with potential students but the com- said, “Leading this association offered me safety truly is the first priority.” have to do is do what you do every day for munities themselves, Zuccaro added, not- the opportunity to pay back the industry Along those lines, Zuccaro was pleased a living—land the helicopter.” Statistics ing that despite the array of public benefits, that has provided me with a rewarding and with successes already coming from the show that as many as 30 percent of acci- it still wages public perception battles. As fulfilling career.” Land & Live initiative, which was born out dents could be reduced “by just exercising a result, the industry is constantly facing Zuccaro, who plans to keep his hand in of the simple concept of “land the damn this one simple task.” potential restrictive laws. While the indus- the industry as a consultant and will be at helicopter.” That initiative started several The “Land & Live” initiative, which try is doing “a pretty good job” of working this year’s Heli-Expo, said one of the most years ago, he said. “I was reading accident involves a pledge that both pilots and with local communities, “you’ve always got satisfying areas of progress over the last reports, and I became more and more organizations can make, is now adopted to really laser focus on how we improve 15 years has been the industry’s growing frustrated about the fact that we had the globally, Zuccaro said. “We get constant our relationships with the community and commitment to safety. “One of the great- simplest tool available to us to prevent feedback from the industry about [inci- how we enhance our ‘fly neighborly’ pro- est successes we’ve had is to increase dra- accidents, and we weren’t using it.” dents where] they made the landing, they grams to address those issues.” matically the focus on safety as the first When situations deteriorated, pilots lived, and they stopped the accident chain. This is particularly important as the priority,” he said. “This period right now remained determined to keep flying to the That’s one of the most gratifying things. I industry is in a major transition, Zuccaro is the most intense and the most commit- planned destination. “I found that amaz- am so happy that it’s been adopted inter- said, adding that this transition “on the ted in terms of resources and people that ing because we go around the world tell- nationally by both the industry and the one hand is, in fact, an excellent business have been placed in achieving our goal of ing everybody about this wonderful ability regulatory agencies that support it.” opportunity for helicopters; and on the zero tolerance, zero accidents.” we have in vertical lift—that we can land Despite improvements, Zuccaro other hand is a challenging transition acknowledged that “one of the issues for with the addition of unmanned vehicles the new president coming in is going to into the airspace system.” be to continue those initiatives and push The opportunities have to be nurtured safety at the highest level with the high- and matured, Zuccaro said. On the posi- Rotorcraft veteran Mayhew takes on est commitment. I’m confident that that’s tive side, numerous members have jumped going to happen.” into the drone business and other future new role as USHST co-chairman vertical-lift businesses. “I’m glad to see the Other Challenges helicopter industry stepping up to it,” Zuc- Helicopter training industry veteran Nick Before his position at L3Harris Tech- Also confronting the industry is the work- caro said. “The challenging part of that is Mayhew is the new industry co-chairman nologies, Mayhew managed the Bristow force shortage. Zuccaro pointed to the to make sure we never take our eye off the of the United States Helicopter Safety Group Flight Academy in Titusville, Flor- study HAI conducted with the University target, that drones are integrated into the Team (USHST). Mayhew succeeds Raj Hel- ida. He is a 28-year veteran of the British of North Dakota and in partnership with operating environment and the airspace weg, chief pilot of air ambulance provider Royal Navy, flying the Westland Sea King Helicopter Foundation International in with the highest safety [level] possible.” Air Methods, who continues to serve on helicopter, earning the rank of lieutenant 2018 that found the helicopter field would As part of his farewell, Zuccaro praised the USHST Steering Committee. Mayhew is commander, and serving in both Persian experience a shortage of 7,600 pilots and the staff at HAI, who work to “keep the currently general manager of the L3Harris Gulf wars. In 2017, the Helicopter Associ- as many as 40,600 mechanics over the rotors turning” and bring strong expertise Arlington Training Center in Texas, where ation International honored Mayhew as next 18 years. to their advocacy roles. he oversees a variety of rotary, fixed- the flight instructor of the year. “It confirmed what we thought—that Citing the enthusiasm of the next gen- wing and unmanned high-fidelity training “Nick Mayhew has been a prominent there’s going to be a significant shortage eration, expanded capabilities of technol- devices delivering flight training to both member of the International Helicopter of pilots and mechanics,” he said. “That ogy, and increases in value to society, he commercial and military customers. Safety Foundation and the USHST for the doesn’t bode well because right now we’re also expressed optimism for the indus- past nine years,” said Wayne Fry, USHST growing. We’re actually gaining in value try’s future. “The diversity of the aircraft government co-chairman and FAA Flight and business activities and more and and the people bodes well for our ability Nick Mayhew Standards division manager for general more people are looking towards helicop- to sustain a high level of safety, opera- new industry aviation safety assurance. “He brings a ters to answer their issues and problems.” tional efficiency, and economic viability.” co-chairman wealth of experience to the co-chairman With the shortages, he added, “I’m While an aircraft’s basic mission is to of the United position and a track record of successful not so sure that I see light at the end of get from one point to another transport- States team leadership and motivation. He will the tunnel” because entries into schools ing people and cargo, the helicopter might Helicopter hit the ground running as we continue are down. “It’s a matter of motivating have 50 different missions, Zuccaro said. Safety Team our efforts to reduce fatal helicopter acci- the next generation when they’re at that While noting some areas of struggle for (USHST). dents here in the United States.” M.H. decision-making age and give them the the industry in recent years, he added, opportunity to get information on what “The versatility of the helicopter makes the helicopter industry and aviation, in us survivors.” n

36 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

Pg-36_dx_v5.indd 1 1/26/20 3:16 PM Aero Asset, said the most liquid twin-en- AeroAsset: preowned helo gine helicopter in the pre-owned market FlightSafety to was the EC145C2. “VIP helicopters are 85 percent of the supply, yet only 20 percent add level-D EC145 sales down, but twins up of the sales represent VIP. It is predomi- nantly the C2s that are trading in this mar- and AW139 sims by Curt Epstein and R. Randall Padfield ket. The H145T2 market had only a couple FlightSafety International is expand- of trades last year. And the EMS operators ing its helicopter training programs The global twin-engine helicopter market “Clearly, the most active market during were driving this market with almost 60 with new level-D-qualified simula- conditions saw improvement last year 2019 was the Airbus H145, which at the end percent of the sales.” tors for the Airbus Helicopters EC145 with a tightening of the preowned inven- of fourth-quarter 2019 had seven months “The [A109] Power market was the sec- and Leonardo AW139. Technology tory, but overall sales throughout the of supply available for sale at 2019 trade ond most active market in 2019,” Dupuy advances incorporated into the new preowned helicopter market were down, levels,” said Valerie Pereira, the company’s continued. “It is quite a consistent market simulators include FlightSafety’s Vital according to Toronto-based Aero Asset. research director. “The market that saw year over year. What we see is a very grad- 1150 visual system and CrewView col- In its annual Preowned Helicopter Market the biggest improvement in liquidity last ual decline in pricing year over year and limated glass mirror display. Trends report released yesterday at Heli- year was the H225, with a drop in absorp- to the point where over the last couple The EC145 simulator, scheduled to Expo 2020, the company said overall pre- tion rate of three years, six months, to an of quarters. I think pricing got to a stage enter service in March at FlightSafety owned sales of $444 million in 2019 had 18-month supply at 2019 trade levels.” where single-engine owners really were in Denver, will be used primarily to declined 5 percent from the previous year, Over the past year, mean trading val- confident to jump into an IFR twin. We support Air Methods but also be made while the estimated value of available pre- ues for the Airbus H135 and H155 mod- saw 22 retail trades in 2019, and in January available to other EC145 operators. owned helicopters declined by 18 percent, els rose, while pricing in other markets 2020 only 30 units are available for sale.” The AW139 sim, now being built by the to $1.14 billion, year-over-year. declined, with the Bell 412EP losing the For the medium helicopter segment, aviation training provider, is expected most ground as it tallied a mean $2.2 mil- both supply and sales volume fell slightly to enter service early next year at lion loss in trading value. last year, while preowned supply at the FlightSafety’s Lafayette, Louisiana cen- Overall, the light-twin inventory fell top end of the range has fallen signifi- ter, following level-D qualification. by 20 percent, driven by EMS operator cantly, according to the company. FlightSafety training includes demand for H135’s and H145’s equipped- The number of heavy twins available reviewing and practicing routine, with Thales Meghas avionics and IFR. on the market rose slightly year-over- abnormal, and emergency procedures, Emmanuel While sales volume in the segment saw year, while retail sales volume increased conducted under a variety of simulated Dupuy, Aero a slight decline, market conditions 300 percent. Supply (at 2019 trade levels) conditions, sans delays from weather Asset sales improved with supply (at 2019 trade dropped substantially by the end of the conditions or air traffic control, that director. level) dropping 40 percent since 2018. year to 21 months, illustrating the catego- in-flight training can entail. J.W.

BARRY AMBROSE BARRY Emmanuel Dupuy, sales director of ries continuing improvement. n

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ainonline.com \ January 28, 2020 \ HAI Convention News 37

Pg-37_d1_v4.indd 1 1/27/20 6:44 PM continued from page 1 said Viola. “I fly airplanes if I need to, but do as an association to help them.” if I can, it’s always about the helicopter Viola has more than a decade of experi- HAI Viola in tune that can take off from someplace other ence working with HAI, and was a driving than an airport and land somewhere force behind the creation of the U.S. Heli- Convention News JAMES HOLAHAN (1921-2015), FOUNDING EDITOR with HAI other than an airport.” copter Safety team, serving as its initial WILSON S. LEACH, MANAGING DIRECTOR The search process that led to Viola’s government chair. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – Matt Thurber together and saying we’re part of an inter- selection began last summer, when Zuc- “I am grateful to the board of directors PRESS ROOM EDITOR – Kerry Lynch, national community, we share common caro announced his plans to retire from for selecting me to take up Matt’s role in PRESS ROOM MANAGING EDITOR – Chad Trautvetter problems, we share common goals but the association he has led since November promoting the international vertical-lift Charles Alcock Richard Pedicini David Donald Mark Phelps most of all we share a common passion, 2005. “We sought someone able to take industry,” he said. “Matt’s unwavering Curt Epstein Jerry Siebenmark and I think that he will really mix things up the challenge of leading HAI forward advocacy for safe flight of all kinds made Rob Frinfrock Richard Ward Mark Huber James Wynbrandt up a bit.” to meet the needs of a globally changing him a pleasure to work with while I was R. Randall Padfield Annmarie Yannaco Viola joined the organization after industry,” said Becker. “With Jim, we found with the FAA. I look forward to continuing spending more than a decade with the FAA, that leader, as well as one who understands his legacy of HAI advocacy for safety.” THE EDITORIAL TEAM GROUP PRODUCTION MANAGER – Tom Hurley most recently as director of the Office of and supports HAI’s safety values.” Zuccaro called Viola the ideal person to PRODUCTION EDITOR – Martha Jercinovich General Aviation Safety Assurance. In that In his introductory remarks, Viola laid lead the association. “You’ve got a Chinook GRAPHIC DESIGNERS – John Manfredo, Grzegorz Rzekos role, he oversaw 78 Flight Standards Dis- out a road map of goals for the associa- driver who understands the safety and reg- PHOTOGRAPHERS – Barry Ambrose, Mariano Rosales

trict Offices (FSDOs) and 2,500 employees tion’s next five years, including expanding ulatory issues facing our industry, as well DIGITAL SOLUTIONS MANAGER – Michael Giaimo across the U.S., responsible for the applica- its international industry ties, embracing as the capacity to effect change where and DEVELOPERS – Nathan Douglas, Ryan Koch tion of safety oversight activities involving the growing eVTOL revolution, fight- when it is needed. I am proud to leave this DIRECTOR OF VIDEO – Ian Whelan the general aviation community. ing for helicopter access, forging closer organization in Jim’s hands.” GROUP PUBLISHER – Dave Leach A former U.S. Army special operations relationships with other general aviation An airline transport pilot with ratings for ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER – Nancy O’Brien MH-6 and MH-47 helicopter pilot, Viola organizations on industry-wide concerns, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, Viola ADVERTISING SALES Georges France – Western Europe also gained experience managing large and better serving and expanding HAI’s has accumulated more than 6,000 flight Tel: +33 6 80 21 17 93 operations during his military service. membership. hours, 1,100 of which with night-vision Melissa Murphy – Midwestern U.S. His final assignment was division chief, “This is a great opportunity to come on goggles. He holds three master’s degrees Tel: +1 (830) 608-9888 Nancy O’Brien – Western U.S./Western Canada/Asia Pacific Army Aviation for Current Operations, board right before a major show where and is a member of the Army Aviation Tel: +1 (530) 241-3534 steering the aviation unit station, includ- the whole purpose is to bring the indus- Association of America (Quad A), the Mil- Anthony T. Romano – Northeastern U.S./Eastern Canada/ ing the prioritization and optimization try together,” Viola told AIN on the eve itary Officers Association of America, the Mexico/Brazil Tel: +1 (203) 470-4957 Joe Rosone – Southeastern, Mid-Atlantic U.S./Middle East of 4,200 army aircraft, 100 manned units, of Heli-Expo. “I’m going to do my best to Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Tel: +1 (301) 693-4687 and the combat rotation plan to Iraq and meet as many leaders of the industry while Legion, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Diana Scogna – Italy/Northern Europe/Middle East Afghanistan. “I really do love helicopters,” we’re here and then ask them what we can Association. n Tel: +33 6 62 52 25 47 Victoria Tod – Great Lakes U.S./United Kingdom Tel: +1 (203) 733-4184 Yury Laskin – Russia Tel: +7 05 912 1346 continued from page 1 AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – Jeff Hartford MARKETING AND CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER – Lisa Valladares AW169 gains power MANAGER OF ONSITE LOGISTICS – Philip Scarano III ONSITE PRODUCTION – Kashea Kloss with new packages SALES COORDINATOR – Nadine Timpanaro SALES ADMINISTRATOR – Cindy Nesline

Leonardo’s Samuele Tosi, head of DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES product marketing for dual-use heli- – Michele Hubert copters, said the performance packs ACCOUNTING MANAGER – Marylou Moravec ACCOUNTS PAYABLE – Mary Avella produce an increase of approximately ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – Bobbie Bing 144 shp on the 1,000-shp Pratt & Whit - U.S. HEADQUARTERS: ney PW210A Fadec-controlled engines, 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432 and an increased transmission rating +1 (201) 444-5075 of approximately 150 shp. He said the Advertising Inquiries: +1 (201) 345-0085 [email protected] differences between the packages are Circulation Inquiries: +1 (201) 345-0085 price and the amount of shp increase— [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C. EDITORIAL OFFICE: with the Enhanced pack delivering Kerry Lynch (business aviation) approximately two-thirds the power [email protected] increase of the Superior pack. He said +1 (703) 969-9195 EUROPEAN EDITORIAL OFFICE: the power increases would give the Ian Sheppard; [email protected]

AW169 “the highest power-to-weight AMBROSE BARRY Hangar 9, Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey RH1 5JY, UK Tel: +44 1737 821409 Mobile: +44 7759 455770 ratio in its class. The new performance packages available for the Leonardo AW169 add 144 shp to the “The AW169 is designed to surpass cus- helicopter’s PW210A engines and 150 shp to the transmission’s rating. HAI Convention News is a publication of The Convention News Co., Inc., 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432; Tel: +1 (201) 444-5075. tomers’ expectations and set a new mar- Copyright © 2020 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of The Convention News Co., Inc. is strictly prohibited. ket standard within its category,” Tosi acquired by Travis County, Texas, that EASA in 2015, more than 100 of these The Convention News Co., Inc. publishes Aviation International News, AINalerts, AIN Air Transport Perspective, AIN Defense Perspective, said, adding that it appeals to a wide vari- will be used for a combination of firefight- helicopters have been delivered and over AINtv, Business Jet Traveler, BJTwaypoints, ABACE Convention ety of customers, including those upgrad- ing, EMS, and law-enforcement missions. 220 have been ordered. The in-service News, News, EBACE Convention News, FutureFlight. aero, Farnborough Convention News, LABACE Convention News, ing from Part 27 helicopters (up to 7,000 He also noted that the AW169 received fleet has logged 45,000 flight hours with MEBAA Convention News, NBAA Convention News, Paris Airshow News, Singapore Airshow News, Mobile Apps: Aviation Internation- pounds mtow) and those switching from military certification last year. “The mar- the fleet leader surpassing 2,000 hours. al News; AINonline . PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40649046 older, larger twins, including the BK117 ket is showing increased interest in a The aircraft features Collins glass-panel RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: PITNEY BOWES INTERNATIONAL MAIL, STATION A, P.O. BOX 54, WINDSOR, ON, N9A 6J5, and . “Those designs are now range of missions. This upgrade provides touchscreen avionics with capabilities that returns [email protected]. showing their age,” he said. a wide variety of applications spanning include a four-axis digital automatic flight THE CONVENTION NEWS COMPANY, INC. Customers not only appreciate the from civil to parapublic to military in all control system and a dual flight-manage- AIN PUBLICATIONS EXECUTIVE TEAM AW169 and its newer design standards; weather conditions.” The spokesman said ment system. Wilson Leach Jennifer Leach English more are attracted to it because of its that the helicopter had seen “very inter- Top cruising speed is 155 knots, and Matt Thurber Dave Leach Michele Hubert Nancy O’Brien flexible, multi-mission capabilities and esting success in more niche applications” the 222-cu-ft cabin can accommodate quick-change configurations, a Leonardo such as wind farm support and electronic seven to 10 passengers. The aircraft is Printed by Southwest Offset Printing, Gardena, CA spokesman told AIN. As an example, he newsgathering in Japan. manufactured at Leonardo’s plant in

pointed out the fleet of three AW169s Since the AW169 was first certified by Vergiate, Italy. n PUBLICATIONS

38 HAI Convention News \ January 28, 2020 \ ainonline.com

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