Rotor Torque

“The signing with BAE Systems establishes the groundwork for what will be the premier provider of service and support for future customers of Bell Helicopter military rotorcraft in Australia,” said Bell Helicopter’s executive vice president of military business Lisa Atherton. “BAE Systems is an Australian aerospace leader with unmatched technical knowledge and expertise. This relationship aligns our interests and pursuits as we work together to pursue opportunities to strengthen and support the capability and posture of the Australian Defence Force. ” Dubbed the Zulu Cobra, the AH-1Z was overlooked in preference for the Tiger ARH during the original $2 billion AIR 87 evaluation process in 1999 to provide a reconnaissance and fire support capability for the ADF.

Interestingly, the teaming arrangement pre-dated the release of the Defence White Paper which revealed the government’s decision to retire the Tiger from the mid-2020s (see our Defence White Paper roundup elsewhere this issue for details). The White Paper’s accompanying Integrated Investment Program described the Tiger program as having a “troubled history”.

New Jandakot base for Mc-Dermott Aviation

McDermott Aviation has moved into a brand new hangar at Jandakot Airport to bolster its aerial firefighting capabilities in and around Perth.

The hangar, in the northern corner of the airport, became operational in early November last year and is equipped to carry out heavy maintenance or refurbishments on McDermott’s fleet of five Bell 214Bs, an AS355-F1 Twin Squirrel and an AS365N2 Dauphin based at Jandakot outside of their high utilisation during the fire season.

“We built the hangar for the sole purpose of operating our firefighting fleet of helicopters from, allowing enough apron space to be able to launch up to four aircraft simultaneously,” said McDermott Aviation’s operations manager Damien Lindsay. “The requirement came about through trying to come up with the simplest way of integrating both operations and engineering within the requirements of our client base. ” In addition to firefighting, McDermott Aviation conducts helicopter utility missions from its Jandakot base including search and rescue missions and sling load operations.

Robinson ranks number one for deliveries in 2015

Robinson Helicopter’s R44 Raven II ranked as the top selling civil helicopter in 2015 according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) General Aviation Aircraft Shipment 2015 Year End Report.

Robinson delivered 347 helicopters in 2015, comprising 117 R66s, 152 R44 Raven IIs, 44 R44 Raven Is and 34 R22s, a slight increase over the 329 helicopters it delivered in 2014.

Airbus Helicopters’ deliveries totalled 279 (including 90 H125s) with Bell Helicopter shipping 175 (including 99 407s). Finmeccanica Helicopters, listed as AgustaWestland during the reporting period, delivered 60 helicopters (including 37 AW139s) in the first three quarters. GAMA said data for Finmeccanica’s final quarter had yet to be made available.

The report showed an 8. 6 per cent increase in piston helicopters and an 8. 9 per cent reduction in turbine helicopter shipments for the year.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation’s Black Hawk was the leading military helicopter delivered in 2015 with 106 of the type shipped.

Heli-Expo 2016 highlights

The Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) annual Heli-Expo exhibition and conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky across March 1-3.

Bell Helicopter displayed its 505 Jet Ranger X and 525 Relentless working prototypes for the first time. Despite bringing its V-280 Valor mockup to the largest civilian helicopter expo in the world, Bell’s recently appointed chief executive Mitch Snyder confirmed his company has no plans of developing a commercial variant of the tiltrotor and instead emphasised the small role Bell still plays in the Finmeccanica AW609 program.

Finmeccanica officially launched its AW009, a renamed and upgraded version of the PZL-Swidnik SW-4 produced by its Polish subsidiary. The five-seat AW009 is powered by a 450shp (336kW) Rolls-Royce M250-C20R engine with a planned option for a Rolls-Royce M250-C30P 650shp (485kW)-rated engine to enhance performance. The SW-4’s flight characteristics have been modified to cut vibration and increase control authority and features a Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit common to the larger AW109 Trekker (see separate item).

Airbus Helicopters announced it is planning a 300kg increase to the H175’s maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) by the end of the year, allowing for an additional 40nm of range with the same payload. The company also began taking letters of intent for its H160 ahead of the first production helicopter beginning manufacture early next year. H160 program lead Bernard Fujarski said initial demand from the VIP sector was “beyond expectations” and that Airbus Helicopters expects to begin commercial negotiations by the end of the year and announce a launch customer shortly after.

MD Helicopters revealed details of two new types currently under development – the MD 969, an evolution of the MD 902 and a new military single-engine attack helicopter, currently labeled the MD 6XX.

The 969 will include engine improvements for hot and high operations, improvements to the NOTAR system design, a solid state power distribution system and additional fuel capacity.

MD Helicopters chief executive Lynn Tilton said the clean-sheet 6XX will be powered by the Rolls-Royce M250-C47E/3 and offer a 400nm range. The company is working towards having the first MD 6XX ready for 2018 for delivery to an unidentified potential customer.

On Robinson Helicopter’s stand, its new two-seat R44 Cadet was on show. Just prior to Heli-Expo, Robinson confirmed pricing of the ‘quieter’ (by three decibels) training and utility helicopter. Starting at US$339,000 for a standard-equipment and US$367,000 for the float version, Robinson says Cadet serial numbers and delivery dates will not be confirmed until the type has achieved FAA certification.

Heli-Expo 2017 will be held at Dallas, Texas from March 7-9.

Army Foxtrots approaching initial operational capability

Acceptance of the Boeing CH-47F Chinook into the Army’s operational service program is progressing with more than 3,000 simulated and actual flight hours logged in 2015.

Between July and December last year, 22 aircrew and 168 technicians were trained in Townsville to operate and support 5 Aviation Regiment’s seven Foxtrots, Army News reported in February. The local training was completed by a contracted team from the US to avoid time away from home for the soldiers.

“The CH-47Fs are proving to be more reliable than the CH-47D model, with an online availability of 98 per cent,” Chinook staff officer at HQ Forces Command LTCOL Thorbjorn Johansen told Army News.

Foxtrot initial operational capability is expected shortly.

All five Ambulance Victoria AW139s in service

To correct our caption of an image of an Ambulance Victoria AW139 in our last issue, Australian Helicopters does have five (and not three) AW139s in service on behalf of Ambulance Victoria – one each at Essendon, Warrnambool, La Trobe Valley (Traralgon), Bendigo and an operational spare, and has done so since the contractually specified date of January 1.

The first aircraft has been used for training since mid-2015, the second aircraft commenced operations at Essendon in early December, the third aircraft commenced operations at Warrnambool just prior to Christmas and the fourth and fifth aircraft commenced operations at Bendigo and Traralgon on December 31, Australian Helicopters has confirmed.

An additional aircraft will be brought into service as per the contract, which will be a second AW139 at Essendon commencing in January 2017.

Airbus Helicopters Rig’N Fly EASA certified

Airbus Helicopters received EASA certification on February 4 for an avionics enhancement designed to provide automatic rig approaches for offshore operations.

The ‘Rig Integrated GPS approaches with eNhanced Fly-ability and safetY’ – Rig’N Fly – uses a combination of GPS, barometric altimeter, radar altimeter and weather radar sensors to provide precision flight and enhanced situational awareness for automatic approaches to oil rigs in VMC and IMC conditions, reducing the workload of pilots.

Developed initially for the H225, Rig’N Fly includes offset approaches, which can be tailored according to weather conditions and oil rig environment for the safest, standardised approach, placing the helideck in the most easily visible position for the crew. The H225’s upgraded avionics also includes the introduction of required navigation performance for localiser performance with vertical guidance (LPV) and lateral/vertical navigation (LNAV/VNAV) approaches.

Rig’N Fly will be incorporated into the H175 by the end of 2016 and eventually in the H160 once the type is certified.

No kidding, goat rams a res-cue helicopter

A goat rammed the Adelaide-based Motor Accident Commission (MAC) Rescue’s Bell 412 causing damage to one of the helicopter’s perspex chin windows.

After landing in a paddock while responding to a motor vehicle accident near Onkaparinga Hills in Adelaide’s north on February 22, a herd of curious goats surrounded the 412, VH-LSA ‘Rescue 55’ (which is operated under contract by Australian Helicopters), with one of the territorial goats ramming the helicopter with its horns.

The damage was extensive enough to temporarily ground the helicopter while an engineering inspection was carried out. Deemed safe to fly, Rescue 55 returned to its Adelaide Airport base for repairs with MAC Rescue employing a backup helicopter while the damaged 412 was repaired.

The patient involved in the accident was transported to Flinders Medical Centre by road ambulance in a stable condition with leg injuries.

Auxiliary fuel tank for R66

Robinson Helicopter has developed a 163 litre auxiliary fuel tank for the R66 enabling the helicopter’s range to be extended by up to 200nm.

Weighing approximately 17kg, the removable fuel tank unit consists of a crash-resistant fuel bladder in an aluminium and fibreglass enclosure. The unit is mounted on a fibreglass tray installed in the forward section of the baggage compartment leaving enough space for up to 45kg of additional cargo.

Controls to operate the tank are located in the upper avionics console and features an on/off switch, a no-flow annunciator light and a fuel quantity button.

The US$32,000 tank system is available as an option for R66s ordered after January 2015.

Third AW609 prototype read-ies for flight

Finmeccanica Helicopters conducted ground engine runs on the third AW609 prototype, N609PA, in March, signalling a positive step forward for the tiltrotor program which has been grounded as a precautionary measure since the October 30 2015 fatal crash of Prototype 2, N609AG.

While the accident investigation continues by Italy’s ANSV agency, Finmeccanica Helicopters says it has a view on the most probable causes of the accident. It also says there could be some modifications to the tiltrotor but it does not expect the modifications to impact on certification of the type.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the first flight of a fourth and final prototype is scheduled for later this year. Finmeccanica Helicopters says it will not be replacing N609AG, with the AW609 flight test program being completed with just three prototypes.

The wings and fuselage for initial production AW609s are currently being built with first customer deliveries expected to occur in 2018.

AW109 Trekker makes first flight

Finmeccanica Helicopters’ AW109 Trekker prototype flew for the first time on March 2 from its Cascina Costa, Italy facility, two years after the concept was unveiled at Heli-Expo 2014 in Anaheim, California.

The Trekker is a skidded landing version of the AW109S Grand, the company’s first twin-engined helicopter with skid landing gear, and is powered by a pair of FADEC-equipped 815shp (608kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207C engines. Designed to have a maximum takeoff weight of 3,175kg and a top speed of 168kt, the single-pilot IFR Trekker is fitted with a Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit with 3D synthetic vision.

Two Trekker prototypes will be used in the flight test program which is expected to attain EASA certification by the end of this year.

The company says it holds firm orders for more than 20 Trekkers from customers in Europe, North America and Asia.