Rotor Torque

Also yet to be decided is what affect the re-structure will have on Airbus Helicopters’ Australian subsidiary, Australian Aerospace, especially following the recent departure of former EADS AustraliaCEO, Fabrice Rochereux, who is now heading up Airbus Helicopters’ Asia-Pacific regional sales efforts from the company’s Marignane headquarters.

Boeing/Thales selected as preferred HATS tenderer

A teaming of Boeing Defence Australia and Thales Australia has been down-selected as the preferred tender for the ADF’s AIR 9000 Phase 7 Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS).

The Boeing-led team was selected ahead of short-listed offerings by Australian Aerospace, and a team of Raytheon Australia, Hawker Pacific and Bell helicopter. Other offerings from Lockheed Martin and Qantas Defence Services were withdrawn or discounted last year.

“This work involves Defence engaging with Boeing DefenceAustralia in a series of contract negotiations over the coming months, which will inform Defence prior to seeking second pass approval from government in mid-2014,” a Defence spokesman stated.

AIR 9000 Phase 7 will deliver a rotary-wing training system for Army and Navy at HMAS Albatross at Nowra, NSW to replace the Navy’s AS350BA Squirrels and the Army’s Bell 206B‑1 Kiowas in the training and light transport roles. The Boeing team will use the Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter) EC135 as the HATS training platform, while the tender also calls for the provision and operation of training facilities, and synthetic training devices by the contractor.

Robinson gets glass cockpit

The Robinson Helicopter Company was due to unveil a new optional digital ‘glass’ avionics suite forits popular R22, R44 and R66 lines at the Helicopter Association International convention (‘Heli-expo’) in Los Angeles from February 25 to 27.

The new system will comprise a Garmin GTN 600/700 touch screen navigator, and Aspen Avionics PFD and MFDs, while a Garmin’s GTR 225B COM radio, GMA 350H audio panel, GDL 88 universal access transceiver (UAT), and GTX 330ES transponder will also be available.

To accommodate the new avionics, Robinson has changed its previously-used seven, nine and 10-hole cockpit panels with new six and eight-hole panels. The company says FAA flight testing has been completed and approval has been received for most of the new systems, and is in the final stages of certifying the last few systems combinations.

First Romeos accepted into RAN service

The first two of 24 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters were formally accepted into RAN service in a ceremony held at NAS Jacksonville in Florida on January 24.

The aircraft were handed over to the RAN at Lockheed Martin’s Owego NY facility in mid-December before being ferried to Jacksonville where they are based alongside US Navy units as NUSQN 725 trains its first cadre of pilots, aviation warfare officers and maintainers.

“Today is a proud day for our Squadron,” commanding officer CMDR David Frost said at the ceremony. “Not only are we celebrating a significant milestone for the aircraft, we have a chance to reflect on how much we have achieved over the past year. During 2013, NUSQN 725 officers and sailors have worked hard to master the skills needed to fly and maintain the MH-60R. ” A further five Romeos are due to join the unit at Jacksonville before it relocates at the end of this year to new dedicated facilities currently under construction at HMAS Albatross at Nowra.

AgustaWestland AW189 certified

The AgustaWestland AW189 super-medium helicopter was granted certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on February 7.

The 8. 3 tonne helicopter, a growth development of the 6. 5 tonne AW139 medium twin, was unveiled at the 2011 Paris Airshow. Following certification, the first two machines which are configured for the offshore transport role are being prepared for delivery to launch customer Bristow Group.

“EASA certification of the new generation AW189 is a tremendous achievement and marks a major milestone in the development of new generation long range helicopters as well as bringing into service the newest member of our unique family of helicopters,” company CEO Daniele Romiti said. “We are committed to ensuring that the many customers who have already ordered the AW189 and will soon take delivery of their helicopters, will get industry leading levels of service to enable them to exploit the AW189’s class leading capabilities. ” More than 130 AW189s have been ordered to date, and they will initially be manufactured in offshore configuration at the Vergiate facility in Italy. A second line due to open soon at the company’s Yeovil facility in the UK will specialise in SAR-configured machines.

First S-76D delivered to Bristow

Sikorsky has announced it delivered the first fully-configured S-76D to the Bristow Group in late 2013. The new helicopter is the first of up to 26 S-76Ds Bristow has on order for offshore support missions.

The S-76D features new P&WC PW210S engines with dual FADEC, the Thales TopDeck integrated avionics system and four-axis autopilot, a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), active vibration control, all-composite main rotor blades, and an optional rotor ice protection system (RIPS).

Initial FAA type certification for the S-76D was granted in October 2012, while certification for offshore oil operations and an expanded baseline certification followed a year later. The expanded certification allows for operations up to six tonnes and a capacity of 12 passengers for the medium twin.

New Eurocopters tour region

Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) conducted a series of demonstration flights of three of its new models for prospective customers and media in December.

In early December local subsidiary Australian Aerospace demonstrated the first EC130 T2 light single to be delivered in Australia at Rose Bay in Sydney. The new EC130 T2 has been delivered to a Victorian tour operator, and features a more powerful Arriel 2D engine with extended times between overhauls, a new active vibration control system (AVCS) and other upgrades.

Also in December the company demonstrated a new EC145 T2 and an EC175 to prospective customers on a three-week tour of Asia.

The EC145 T2 light twin is the latest evolution of the popular and flexible BK117/EC145 family,and features a new fenestron tail rotor, more powerful Arriel 2E engines, new digital avionics, a four-axis autopilot, and Class 2 OEI performance. In development since 2012, the EC145 T2 is expected to be certified later this year.

The EC175 medium twin is finally due to be certified as we go to press in mid-February after a protracted four-year development. Designed to carry up to 16 passengers in offshore support work or up to 12 in a VIP/executive configuration, the EC175 can also perform search and rescue missions. It will compete against the AW189 in the 7. 5 to 8. 5 tonne medium to super-medium class.

Sikorsky flies first refurbished S-61T

Sikorsky has announced it successfully test flew its first upgraded S-61T helicopter in “late 2013. ” The S-61T is a substantially modernised version of the S-61/H-3/Sea King line featuring a complete structural refurbishment with enhanced crashworthiness, an integrated glass cockpit, a modular wiring harness, overhauled dynamic components and a new composite main rotor.

Candidate aircraft are recovered from storage, with the comprehensive conversion process planned to take about six months once production upgrades are underway.