Rotor Torque

Designed to Go Head-to-head With Eurocopter’s Ec175, the Aw189 is a Civil Development of the Military Aw149, Which Itself is a Development of the Aw139, and as Such Uses the Same Airframe and Basic Equipment as the Aw149, Which is Yet to Find a Customer.

“the Aw189 is Specially Designed for the Global Oil and Gas Market to Fly Longer Ranges at the Best Economics,” Said Agustawestland Chief Executive Bruno Spagnolini. “it is an Ideal Platform for Search and Rescue as Well. ” During the New Model’s Unveiling at the Paris Airshow, Spagnolini Added That the Aw189 Was “low Risk” Due to Commonality With the Aw149 Heritage, That the Company Had Been Flying a Development Aircraft Since Last November, and That It is Expecting Certification by the End of 2013 and Deliveries From 2014.

The Aw189 Will Be Powered by Two Ge Ct7-2e1 Turboshafts and Features a Microturbo Apu. The Four Abreast Layout Seats 16, or 18 in a High Density Layout, and the Machine Will Have a Full Load Mission Radius of 140nm at a Cruise Speed of 145-150kt.

Malaysia Signs for Ec725 to Replace Nuri

the Government of Malaysia Signed a Contract for 12 Eurocopter Ec725 Helicopters at the Paris Airshow to Replace the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s Ageing S-61 Nuri Search and Rescue Aircraft.

The Contract Includes the Establishment of a Number of Cooperation Projects to Be Developed With the Objective of Strengthening Malaysian Strategic Aeronautical Skills and Capabilities. These Include the Integration of Malaysian Industry Into Eurocopter’s Global Supply Chain, the Development of an Mro Centre for Government Helicopters, the Creation of a Regional Ec725/ec225 Full-flight Simulator Centre for Operations in Malaysia for Regional Civil and Military Customers, the Transfer of Technology to Malaysian Industry, and the Development of an Aeronautical Training Centre.

Eurocopter to Upgrade German Nh90s for Medevac

Eurocopter and the German Federal Ministry of Defence Have Signed a Contract to Upgrade 12 German Armed Forces Nh90 Tactical Transport Helicopters for Quick Change, Intensive Care Medical Transport in Forward Air Evacuation Operations.

The Agreement, Which Was Signed at the Paris Airshow, Includes the Delivery of Forward Air Medevac Kits (Fwdairmedevac), Enabling Retrofit of the Nh90 in Eurocopter’s Response to a German Ministry of Defence Initiative to Establish the Capability for Protected Medical Evacuation in Combat Situations.

Germany’s Fwdairmedevac Kits Capability is Due to Be Deployed From July 2012.

Sikorsky Phases Out S-76c++ Production for S-76d

Sikorsky Has Announced the End of Production of Its S‑76c++ Helicopter as It Prepares to Begin Delivering the New S-76d.

Aircraft Number 822 Will Be the Last S-76c++ to Be Built, With Deliveries of the S-76d Expected to Start in 2012.

“with Aircraft Number 822, the Last S-76c++ Helicopter Closes Out That Production Program and We Are Looking Forward to Introducing the Newest Version in the Series, the S-76d, When We Deliver the First Aircraft to the Launch Customer Next Year,” S-76 Senior Program Manager Tim Fox Said.

The S-76d Features All-composite Main Rotor Blades, Pratt & Whitney Canada Pw210sengines, an Advanced Th Ales Integrated Avionics System and Autopilot, Active Vibration Control, and an Optional Rotor Ice Protection System (Rips).

Faa Certifi Cation is Expected to Be Achieved by the Fourth Quarter of 2011.

Agustawestland Takes Control of Ba609 Tiltrotor

Bell Helicopter Has Sold Its Remaining Stake in the Ba609 Tiltrotor Program to Joint Venture Partner Agustawestland, With Bell to Take on a Smaller Support Role. As a Consequence, the Aircraft Will Be Renamed the Aw609.

“i Believe It is in the Best Interests of the Program for Agustawestland to Assume Ownership and Management Over the Program Going Forward,” Said Bruno Spagnolini, Ceo of Agustawestland. “we Consider the Tiltrotor Concept as the Answer to the Growing Need for an Aircraft Matching the Vertical Capabilities of Helicopter With the Speed, Range and Altitude Capabilities of Fi Xed Wing Aircraft. Agustawestland is Investing in the Next Generation of Rotorcraft Technologies and the Aw609 and Future Tiltrotor Concepts Are Part of Our Innovation Commitment. ” Agustawestland Says the Aw609 Program Will Now Be Managed by a Single ‘integrated Development Team’ Based at Cascina Costa, Italy, From the Northern Autumn of This Year, While the Nearby Cameri Site Will Be Dedicated to the Development Program for Aw609 Government Applications.

Agustawestland Will Also Open a New Operational Base in Arlington, Texas, to Manage Usbased Tiltrotor Operations.

Bell Meanwhile Will Remain a Key Provider of Engineering Services and Components for the Program, With the Company Looking to Focus on Next Generation Tiltrotor Research and Development Using the Bell-boeing V-22 Osprey as a Platform.

“this Decision Will Free Up Research and Development Resources Allowing Bell Helicopter to Increase Our Investment in the Revolutionary V-22, to Develop the Next-generation Tiltrotor Technologies for Us Department of Defense Programs and Other Applications, as Well as Increase Our Investment in Our Innovative Commercial Product Line,” Bell Helicopter President and Ceo John Garrison Said.

Agustawestland Says “faa/ Easa Certification is Planned in 2015 With Deliveries Following Immediately Afterwards. ”

Briefs

• Eurocopter Has Completed Its Acquisition of Vector Aerospace Corporation After Acquiring 98. 32 Per Cent of Vector’s Shares With a C$13. 00 Per Share Cash Offer. Eurocopter Says the Acquisition of Vector Aerospace Will Help to Increase the Growth of Support and Services Activities for It and Parent Eads in Both the Civil and Governmental Markets in North America and the Uk.

• Bell Has Delivered the First Oh-58 A2d Wartime Replacement Cabin for the Oh-58 Kiowa Warrior to the Us Army.

The Cabin Was Delivered 30 Days Ahead of the Contract Schedule, and Sees an Oh-58a Kiowa Upgraded to the Vastly More Capable Kiowa Warrior Standard Through the Addition of Avionics, Enhanced Dynamic Components, Sensors and Weapons Capability.

Bell Has a Contract for 19 A2d Conversions as Oh-58d Attrition Replacements.

• Bell’s Oh-58 Block Ii Demonstrator Has Successfully Proven That Its Hover Out of Ground Effect Performance at 6000ft and 36°c Exceeds Requirements for the Us Army’s Armed Aerial Scout Program. The Oh‑58 Block Ii is a Company Funded Demonstrator Which Utilises Enhanced Honeywell Hts 900 Engine, an Integrated Conditionbased Maintenance System, and Upgraded Avionics.

• the Us Army Has Taken Delivery of Its 300th Sikorsky Uh-60m Black Hawk.

• Eurocopter Has Signed an Agreement With Kazakhstan Engineering to Assemble and Customise Ec145 Helicopters in Astana in the Central Asian Republic. The Joint Venture Will See the First Six of 45 Ec145s Assembled at Astana This Year, With Production Running Through to 2016.