LEONARDO PHOTO
Leonardo TH-119 Max cruise speed: 131 kts
Max range: 515 nm (1,516 lbs of usable fuel, no reserve fuel, at 5,000 feet)
Useful load: 2,756 lbs Seating: 6/7
and less expensive to install overall will significantly increase safety. It’s an excellent example of bridging regulation with advanced technology.” Like Leonardo’s TH-119, the IFR-capable Bell 407 GXi is
available for civilian purchase as both a new aircraft and a retrofit kit, with more concrete time lines and details to be unveiled at HAI HELI-EXPO 2020. Bell reports customer interest is very strong.
Other OEM Plans for SE-IFR While not developing directly for the US Navy contract, other manufacturers are looking at how they can exploit the new market niche. Kurt Robinson, president of Robinson Helicopter Co., says the manufacturer is looking to add an SE-IFR–capable aircraft to its line of small, affordable heli- copters. “We’re excited about this direction and think it’s very much in the realm of possibilities at Robinson in the next three to five years,” says Robinson. At MD Helicopters, Steve Suttles, vice president, military/
commercial sales and marketing, says SE-IFR isn’t a “must- have” feature for the majority of commercial utility or general flight operations. “Based on our research and experience, our commercial operators with a significant IFR requirement are better and more affordably served with a light twin-engine
aircraft, like the IFR-capable MD 902,” says Suttles. “Tat said, MD Helicopters is certainly interested in offering IFR capability in our sought-after single-engine aircraft, should that capability be required by a qualified fleet customer.” Kopter Group’s clean-sheet design, the SH09, is ideally
positioned for SE-IFR, and the manufacturer plans to market it as such, says Cecile Vion-Lanctuit, head of communications and marketing for the OEM. Te aircraft’s baseline version includes the Garmin G3000H integrated flight deck and offers standard safety and redundancy features typical of FAA Part 29 rotorcraft, such as dual hydraulic and electrical systems, easing the development of the IFR-optional kit.
New Challenges After a 20-year absence, SE-IFR helicopters are once again available in the US market. Teir return is certainly a win for the industry and the FAA. Te industry submitted con- cerns, and the FAA listened, eventually developing a policy that allowed for a more nuanced approach to aircraft certi- fication. Best of all, operators and pilots now have more, safer choices of aircraft to fly. Yet there are still issues to overcome for our industry to
take full advantage of the safety benefits of SE-IFR flight. “IFR is paramount to safety, especially with fully capable
WINTER 2020 ROTOR 33
Leonardo’s TH-119 in July 2019 became the first SE-IFR helicopter in 20 years to be approved for production.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
