March 2013 Serving the Worldwide Helicopter Industry rotorandwing.com Offshore Operators Continue Expansion Commercial Market Outlook Controversy at Aero India UK Metro Police Service Return of the Ratings RADIO AUDIO DIGITAL AUDIO AUDIO-RADIO MGMT EDITORIAL Andrew Parker Editor-in-Chief, [email protected] Ernie Stephens Editor-at-Large, [email protected] Andrew Drwiega Military Editor, [email protected] Claudio Agostini Latin America Bureau Chief Contributing Writers: Chris Baur; Lee Benson; Shannon Bower; Igor Bozinovski; Keith Brown; Tony Capozzi; Keith Cianfrani; Steve Colby; Frank Colucci; Dan Deutermann; Ian Frain; Pat Gray; Emma Kelly; Frank Lombardi; Elena Malova; Vicki McConnell; Robert Moorman; Douglas Nelms; Mark Robins; Dale Smith; Terry Terrell; Todd Vorenkamp; Richard Whittle. 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Fecto Executive Vice President, Human Resources & 1-928-708-1550 Administration Maximum power = clear, long-range [email protected] Heather Farley Divisional President, Business Information Group communication Sylvia Sierra Senior Vice President of Corporate Audience Development Robert Paciorek Senior Vice President/Chief Information Officer AUDIO - N301A Michael Kraus Vice President of Production & Manufacturing Steve Barber Vice President, Financial Planning and Internal Audit Ideal for single-/multi-user networks Gerald Stasko Vice President/Corporate Controller Enhanced noise reduction Alison Johns Vice President, E-Media, Business Information Group Removable, customizable legends DIGITAL AUDIO - DACS The most-installed digital audio system Visit us at Heli-Expo and on civil aircraft AEA Annual Convention Enhanced performance For photocopy or reuse requests: Reduced weight, complexity, cost 1-800-772-3350 or [email protected] Flexible and configurable AUDIO-RADIO MANAGEMENT - ARCDU Total control of all aircraft communications Access Intelligence, LLC 4 Choke Cherry Rd., 2nd Floor Significant space and weight savings Rockville, Md. 20850 - USA Reduced power consumption Phone: 1-301-354-2000, Fax: 1-301-354-1809 E-mail: [email protected] www.cobham.com MARCH 2013 | ROTOR & WING MAGAZINE 3 Editor’s Notebook Signs of Progress [email protected] By Andrew Parker or many in the helicopter the first S-92 delivery under a 16-heli- up $1.2 billion from the close of third industry, the weeks leading up copter order to Avinicis Group, parent quarter 2012. Fto Heli-Expo are among the company of Bond Offshore Helicop- AgustaWestland comes into Heli- busiest times of the year—sec- ters (see story on page 28). Expo following the Feb. 12 arrest ond only to the actual event. It’s also Robinson Helicopter CEO Kurt of Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe one of the most exciting seasons of Robinson anticipates that 2013 will Orsi in Italy over corruption charges the year, as thousands come together continue a northward trend, with the stemming from a $748-million con- to watch manufacturers and suppliers Torrance, Calif.-based manufacturer tract with the Indian military for uncover their newest products and selling 517 helicopters in 2012, up 12 AW101s (see story on page 12). latest innovations. from 356 the year before. Robinson is Finmeccanica’s board of directors Just about everyone looks for signs currently on backlog for the R66 until acted quickly to appoint Alessandro of progress, and decision-makers Sept. 1, 2013 based on current pro- Pansa as CEO and chief operating within the industry are predicting that duction of five copies per week. officer to take over Orsi’s role. As of 2013 will build on the momentum of Eurocopter is reporting €6.3 billion mid-February, current AgustaWest- the past couple years and continue the in revenues for 2012, or approximate- land CEO Bruno Spagnolini was also recovery from the low point of 2009. ly $8.4 billion USD, a growth of 15 under house arrest. The hard work that people within percent over €5.4 billion in 2011 (see The annual “Russian Hour” returns the industry have put in over the story on page 16). The all-time high in to Heli-Expo this year on Tuesday, past three to four years is starting to revenue comes with 475 total deliver- March 6 at 1:00 pm in room N110 pay off. While some manufacturers ies in 2012, despite a steady decrease of the Las Vegas Convention Center. and suppliers wait to make formal in deliveries each year since a high Russian Helicopters will display its announcements at the show, others of 588 in 2008. Customer support advanced-technology Kamov Ka-62, have painted a picture of a healthy activity (at 47 percent) has exceeded which feature Turbomeca Ardiden outlook for 2013 and into 2014. production (45 percent) in terms of 3G engines, and Mi-171A2 in the In this month’s issue, Robert Moor- business activity at Eurocopter. U.S. for the first time. In addition, the Gxgt{"ugeqpf"eqwpvu man provides a snapshot of com- Following the introduction of the manufacturer plans to detail its new mercial market trends for the past 12 525 Relentless last year, Bell didn’t joint project with AgustaWestland. months (see “Let the Good Times Roll,” provide many details heading into Also in this month’s issue, Dale starting on page 36), while looking the show about this year, but a recent Smith highlights a sector that has con- forward into the future. report from parent company Textron tinued to show strength throughout indicates that the global economic downturn. “Heli- GOU" rtqhguukqpcnu" uvtkxg" vq" rtqxkfg" vjg" dguv" ectg" vq" vjg" rcvkgpv0" revenues for copters Allow O&G Producers to Go th e Hu r st , Deeper, Further Offshore,” starting on CiwuvcYguvncpf"rtqxkfgu"wpkswg."kpvgitcvgf"cpf"chhqtfcdng"rtqfwevu"vq" Texas-based page 44, explores a market segment vjg"inqdcn"jgcnvjectg"fgnkxgt{"u{uvgo0" h e l i c o p t e r that is displaying little indication of Vqigvjgt."dtkpikpi"ectg"vq"vjg"rcvkgpv"ykvj"vjg"dguv"cgtq/ogfkecn"uqnwvkqp0 maker rose slowing down. $139 mil- There’s no shortage of excitement NGCFKPI"VJG"HWVWTG lion in fourth heading into this year’s Heli-Expo. If quarter 2012 the next few weeks are as eventful as ciwuvcyguvncpf0eqo in contrast early February has been, we’re in for to the same a “breakout performance” by the heli- p e r i o d i n copter industry during 2013, which Bell’s introduction of the 525 Relentless was one of the biggest announcements 2011. Seg- makes sense, considering this year’s at Heli-Expo 2012. What will grab the headlines at the 2013 version of the event? ment profit show is in Vegas. went up $10 Sikorsky is planning to detail its million, which reflects “higher volume For Heli-Expo 2013 reports and largest-ever single order of S-92s in and mix,” according to Textron. Bell’s photos before, during and after the Las Vegas, only a couple weeks after backlog also increased to $7.5 billion, show, visit www.rotorandwing.com CiwuvcYguvncpf"B"Jgnk/Gzrq"4235"oqdkng"crr Mggr"wr"vq"fcvg"ykvj"vjg"ncvguv"pgyu Kpvgtcev"ykvj"qwt"rtqfwevu"qp"vjg"uvcpf Xkgy"kpvgtcevkxg"ownvkogfkc"eqpvgpv 4 ROTOR & WING MAGAZINE | MARCH 2013 WWW.ROTORANDWING.COM Cxckncdng"2302504235" Xkukv"wu"cv"Uvcpf"P4337."Pqtvj"Jcnn Tqvqt"("Ykpi"ItcpfPgy"GOU"Crr"""3 34124135"""37<7: Gxgt{"ugeqpf"eqwpvu GOU" rtqhguukqpcnu" uvtkxg" vq" rtqxkfg" vjg" dguv" ectg" vq" vjg" rcvkgpv0" CiwuvcYguvncpf"rtqxkfgu"wpkswg."kpvgitcvgf"cpf"chhqtfcdng"rtqfwevu"vq" vjg"inqdcn"jgcnvjectg"fgnkxgt{"u{uvgo0" Vqigvjgt."dtkpikpi"ectg"vq"vjg"rcvkgpv"ykvj"vjg"dguv"cgtq/ogfkecn"uqnwvkqp0 NGCFKPI"VJG"HWVWTG ciwuvcyguvncpf0eqo CiwuvcYguvncpf"B"Jgnk/Gzrq"4235"oqdkng"crr Mggr"wr"vq"fcvg"ykvj"vjg"ncvguv"pgyu Kpvgtcev"ykvj"qwt"rtqfwevu"qp"vjg"uvcpf Xkgy"kpvgtcevkxg"ownvkogfkc"eqpvgpv Cxckncdng"2302504235" Xkukv"wu"cv"Uvcpf"P4337."Pqtvj"Jcnn Tqvqt"("Ykpi"ItcpfPgy"GOU"Crr"""3 34124135"""37<7: THIS MONTH FROM Personal|Corporate Commercial Military Public Service DEPARTMENTS 12 12 Rotorcraft Report 26 People 26 Coming Events 61 Classified Ads 65 Ad Index COLUMNS (Above) HAL Dhruv at Aero India. (Below) ESG Trakkabeam searchlight on an EC135. (Right) RAVCO Bell 206B3. See more news 4 Editor’s Notebook in the Heli-Expo Show Day and at www.rotorandwing.com. 8 Feedback 10 Meet the Contributors FEATURES 60 Public Service 62 Offshore Notebook 64 Law Enforcement 36 ■ Let the Good Times Roll 2009, the year when the bottom dropped out of the civil rotorcraft Notebook industry, seems a distant memory, as 2013 becomes the year of sustained recovery. By Robert Moorman 66 Military Insider COVER STORY 44 ■ Offshore Operators Go Farther Focus on some of the largest offshore providers in this booming commercial market sector. By Dale Smith 50 ■ Return of the Excellence Ratings Rotor & Wing is re-launching its Excellence Ratings, which surveys helicopter operators to find out who provides the best customer 18 satisfaction in key areas.