Rotor Torque

The Ka-32’s robust design and capabilities have been proved in the operation of 188 aircraft in service in Canada, Spain, Switzerland, China, Japan and its native Russia.

Its firefighting capabilities represent more than the traditional use of the Bambi Bucket or Simplex systems. In April 2012 a serious fire broke out on the 66th and 67th floors of a new high-rise building in Moscow.

The Ka-32’s integrated water cannon was used to positive effect in the fire, something that Mary Jardine Clarke of Clarke Consulting, the firm advising Russian Helicopters on the entry-into-service and marketing of the Ka-32 in Australia, said would be an additional benefit of the helicopter.

“Australia does not have this type of aerial firefighting capability as yet. This type of firefighting capability in the urban environment is also very important. ” While Russian Helicopters is confident of the Ka-32’s firefighting

credentials, the aircraft’s other attributes could be particularly useful in airlift scenarios.

In addition to its five-tonne sling lift capacity, the Ka-32’s internal load capacity is 3. 7 tonnes. The 7. 3m3 transport cabin can be configured for up to 13 personnel, for search and rescue missions or medical evacuation.

New CEO for Europcopter

Following the resignation of Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling, EADS has appointed Guillaume Faury, who will take up the role on May 1.

EADS CEO Tom Enders said Lutz had led Eurocopter through a period of strong growth that made the company more international and more innovative. Faury previously worked at Eurocopter in various senior management positions between 1998 and 2008.

AgustaWestland unveils ‘Project Zero’ demonstrator

AgustaWestland has unveiled the world’s first electric tilt-rotor to demonstrate what the company sees as the future of rotorcraft.

The hitherto secret ‘Project Zero’ made its first unmanned tethered flight in June 2011 at AugstaWestland’s Cascina Costa facility in Italy and has since performed several untethered hover flights inside a ‘secured area,’ the company says.

The electric powered demonstrator is designed to give insight into what future rotorcraft might look like and to develop and test next-generation technologies, AgustaWestland said. Like other tilt-rotor aircraft, most famously the V-22 Osprey, it is designed to hover like a helicopter and fly like a plane.

“The ‘Project Zero’ technology demonstrator program brings together many of the advanced technologies AgustaWestland has been researching in recent years and demonstrates our strong technological base,” company CEO Daniele Romiti said. “We strongly believe in the tilt rotor concept as the future of high speed rotorcraft flight as it offers much greater speed and range than compound helicopter technology. ” Completely electric powered, the ‘Project Zero’ aircraft is built around twin rotors that can be tilted past 90 degrees. During cruise, lift is provided primarily by the wings, with the blended fuselage and shroud also making a contribution. The aircraft also features detachable outer wings for missions that will be performed primarily in helicopter mode.

Elevons provide pitch and roll control in forward flight while the V-tail provides longitudinal stability. AgustaWestland says the aircraft has a very low noise and thermal signature in flight and does not require oxygen, thereby permitting it to fly at altitude or in heavily polluted conditions, such as volcanic eruptions.

The demonstrator’s rotors when on the ground can be tilted forward and the aircraft pointed into wind to allow the rotors to windmill and recharge the aircraft’s electrical storage device.

S-92 fleet surpasses 500,000hrs

The Sikorsky S-92 global helicopter fleet has surpassed 500,000 flight hours.

“In the nine years that the S-92 has been steadily carving its place in the large helicopter market segment, it has grown from the ‘new kid on the block’ proving its potential to a super performer in a variety of missions,” said Carey Bond, president of Sikorsky Global Helicopters.

More than 90 per cent of all S-92 hours are flown in the offshore configuration. Designers mandated FAR/JAR safety margins, on-condition maintenance and revenue-producing operating costs for commercial customers.

Sikorsky’s big Heli-Expo

Sikorsky announced the sale of 23 S-92 and seven S-76D helicopters to leasing company Milestone Aviation Group at the Heli-Expo trade show in Las Vegas in early March.

The deal also includes options on 14 S-92s and 10 S-76Ds. Sikorsky said is expects to begin deliveries of the helicopters in 2013.

“The global appetite for oil continues to drive significant growth in demand for offshore oil helicopters and operators, and no one has fueled the offshore oil helicopter market sector with more financial capital in the last two years than Milestone,” said Robert Kokorda, Sikorsky’s VP of sales & marketing.

Founded in 2010, Milestone has leased out more than 79 helicopters valued at upwards of $1 billion, Sikorsky said.

Sikorsky also announced that Bristow Group had purchased 10 S-76D helicopters with options on 16 more. The helicopters were expected to be introduced into service with offshore oil operations in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere.