Aircraft and Engine Certifications Several new aircraft and engine certifications are on the way. Pleased with a 16% rise in sales during the past year given the market, Safran expects EASA certification for its Arrano 1A for Airbus H160s, Aneto-1K for AW189Ks, and Ardiden 1U for HAL light utility helicopters, as well as Chinese certification for the Ardiden 3C/WZ-16 engines this year. Leonardo’s long-awaited AW609 tilt-rotor is expected to
receive certification in 2019. Te first production aircraft was to begin assembly this spring while the company starts construction on a new training academy in Philadelphia to support a full flight simulator and maintenance trainer for the AW609. Bell expects certification for its 525 in 2019; Airbus expects
the same for its new medium-twin H160, aimed at the helicopter air ambulance market. Both models are deep in certification testing. Kopter’s highly anticipated SH09 will soon begin the
certification process; the company announced plans in Atlanta to freeze the design. Certification is expected by mid-year 2020. In preparation for manufacturing, and in response to its hoped-for 50% market share in North America, Kopter announced the selection of Lafayette, Louisiana, as its North American manufacturing location. Kopter will lease an 84,700-sq-ft facility at the Lafayette Airport (KLFT), initially built for the construction of the Bell 505, which later moved to Canada. Several manufacturers are working toward certification
for single-engine IFR helicopters. Bell is working toward certifying the 407 for IFR, and Leonardo is doing the same for the TH-119. Both manufacturers will offer these aircraft as possible replace- ments for the US Navy’s TH-57 trainer and plan to create commercial versions as well.
Aircraft Manufacturers While most OEMs are experiencing some level of growth, the trend is clearly leaning toward efficiencies and cost- effective solutions. Sikorsky sees a stable commercial helicopter market and is experiencing traction with both its legacy S-76 models and the new S-76D, yet the trend is moving toward doing more for less. “It’s going to be very interesting in 2019,” says David Martin,
“It’s going to be very interesting in 2019.… The number of aircraft are staying stable, but operators are flying each aircraft more, with better utilization in the field.”
Sikorsky’s vice president of oil and gas. “Customers are starting to gain traction around efficiency of aircraft use. Te number of aircraft are staying stable, but operators are flying each aircraft more, with better utilization in the field. Once companies get long-life expensive assets up to full efficiency, balance sheets and financial metrics turn around, which leads to future investment.” Robinson Helicopter Company continues to innovate inside and out. All new aircraft now come equipped with the Garmin GTX 335 with ADS-B Out transponder, and
Leonardo announced plans to expand its US operations: the Italian OEM is building a new training academy in Philadelphia to support the AW609, which will also be the location of the aircraft’s final assembly.
SPRING 2019 ROTOR 33
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