Heli-Expo 2010: What the Major Helicopter Manufacturers Said
Coverage from HAI’s Heli-Expo 2010 in Houston is spread throughout this month’s issue. Pages 14, 15 and 19 consist of wrap-ups
from the many Agusta Westland, Bell, Eurocopter and Sikorsky announcements. A series of news briefs from other manufacturers and
support companies can be found on pages 20-21, with a photo spread on pages 24-25. There’s also a great deal of information, videos
and photos available at www.rotorandwing.com by clicking on the Heli-Expo links, located on the left-hand side of the page.
Agusta Westland CEO
Guiseppe Orsi
AgustaWestland
Possibly the biggest announcement
from AgustaWestland during Heli-Expo
was the unveiling of the Grand New, a
version of the Grand with an updated
avionics package and other features. The
Grand New comes with an enhanced
vision system (EVS), helicopter terrain
awareness and warning system (HTAWS),
Chelton Flight Logic synthetic vision EFIS
(electronic flight instrument system), and
highway in the sky (HITS). The helicopter
meets the FAA/NTSB recommendations
for EMS operators regarding the use of
night vision goggles and EVS, according
to AgustaWestland. The manufacturer
has already obtained EASA certification
for the Grand New, with FAA approval
projected in mid-2010.
• Era Group bought 10 AW139s for offshore
transport missions. The company, which
primarily operates in the Gulf of Mexico,
has 22 AW119Ke, 17AW139 and seven
AW109 Power helicopters in its fleet.
• Bristow Group ordered four AW139s
during the show. The agreement adds to
a previous deal for three AW139s. Bristow
will use the helicopters for offshore
transport in the Gulf of Mexico.
• EASA has issued certification for the
AW139 full ice protection system (FIPS).
The approval allows operators to fly
into known icing conditions. FAA and
Transport Canada certifications are
Photos by Ernie Stephens
imminent, according to Agusta Westland.
• ICSS of Greece is the newest authorized
service center (ASC) in the AgustaWestland
network. Its service center at Megara
Airport provides maintenance and repairs
on the AW109 Power and Grand light
twins.
• Four AW119Ke single-engine helicopters
will join the fleet of Spain’s FAASA
Group. Heliduero will operate two of
the helicopters, and all four are slated for
firefighting missions.
• Japanese AgustaWestland distributor
Kaigai Aviotech Corp. ordered an AW109
Power. The helicopter is scheduled for
delivery by 2012.
• Esperia Aviation Services placed a mixed
order for two AW119Kes, one AW139 and
one Grand. The company will employ the
helicopters for passenger transport in Italy.
• Portugal’s Vinair Aeroservicos purchased
two Grand New light twins. The launch
customer for the type, Vinair will use the
helicopters for corporate/VIP transport.
Delivery is scheduled for summer 2010.
• Spain’s Grupo INAER signed an
MoU to receive training services from
Agusta Westland. The agreement covers
training for engineers and crews, including
for specific missions using simulators.
Bell Helicopter CEO John Garrison
Bell Helicopter
Twelve Bell Helicopter customer service
facilities (CSFs) received a Platinum-level rating for 2010: Air Asia Company
of Taiwan; Alpine Aerotech of Canada;
Arrow Aviation of Broussard, La.; Avialta
Helicopter Maintenance and Eagle
Copters Maintenance, both of Canada;
Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan; Germany’s
Motorflug Baden-Baden; Northwest
Helicopters of Olympia, Wash.; Sweden’s
Patria Helicopters; Rotorcraft Support
Inc. of Van Nuys, Calif.; Sikorsky Aircraft
Australia/Sikorsky Helitech; and Uniflight
of Grand Prairie, Texas.
• Bell and Rolls-Royce have partnered
to explore a retrofit project to install the
RR500TS turboshaft on the Bell 206B
JetRanger. The agreement signed at
Heli-Expo 2010 covers the evaluation of
supplemental type certificate (STC) kits
to equip the helicopter with the RR500TS
engine, which is slated for FAA approval
in late 2011.
• A new STC allows Bell 407 operators to
achieve better hot-and-high performance,
including to increase its in-ground-effect
hover by around 3,000 feet or useful
load by more than 400 pounds. The STC
takes advantage of excess power from the
Rolls-Royce 250-C47B to improve the
performance.
• Bell Training Academy has obtained
EASA training approval for the 429. The
certification covers a maintenance course
and electrical and avionics maintenance
courses. The academy has also inked a five-year contract with the U.S. Government
Service Administration’s acquisition
schedule. Under the agreement, the
academy’s full course catalog has become
part of the GSA schedule at Alliance
Airport (AF W) in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Bell’s Finance Group is making new
financing opportunities available for
acquisitions finalized in the first half of
the year. The Bell Rotorcraft Financing
Program offers a 5. 15 percent rate for
customers that take delivery of a new
helicopter before July 2010.
