HAI 2019-The largest helicopter trade show in the worldBy Willie BodensteinHai Heli-Expo, the world's largest trade show dedicated to the helicopter industry this year celebrated its 70th anniversary. Since it was founded, HAI has served its membership and taken many actions on behalf of helicopter operators throughout the world. The organization has benefited the entire industry, to include manufacturers, suppliers, operators, pilots and mechanics. The association's initiatives have had a direct and positive impact on international helicopter activities.The Expo occupied almost 1 million square feet of the Georgia World Congress Centre. From manufacturers to suppliers to service providers and with more than 700 exhibitors including 60 helicopters on static display, 100s of education courses, seminars, workshops, forums as well as 730 industry suppliers the expo featured everything needed to keep an aviation business running. According to data released by U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) at Heli-Expo 2019 the fatal helicopter accident rate has progressively increased over the last three years, from 0.54 per 100,000 flight hours in 2016 to 0.6 in 2017 to 0.72 in 2018.To achieve the safety organization's goal of reducing the overall helicopter fatal accident rate by 20 percent by 2020, the cumulative average rate would need to measure 0.61. Likewise, fatalities per 100,000 hours jumped from 1.02 in 2017 to 1.64 in 2018. However, the overall accident rate has held fairly steady over the last three years, declining slightly from 3.67 per 100,000 flight hours in 2016 to 3.62 in 2018. USHST attributed the rise in fatal accidents over the past three years in large part to accidents associated with non-essential low-altitude operations in which helicopters encountered obstacles. Well supported by the helicopter industry exhibitors at HAI 2019 reported brisk business with a number of fairly large contracts signed. A number of new models were also launched during the exhibition.  These updates will include new flight computing technology and main gearbox, as well as an interior common to search and rescue (SAR) and offshore operations; and an optional engine upgrade that improves hot-and-high performance. The only differences between the variants will be found on the S-92B, which will have larger cabin windows, a common cabin door for offshore and SAR missions and titanium side frames for a stronger airframe.  Concurrently, Kaman is exploring opportunities to support the U.S. Marine Corps in developing co-use versions of autonomous aerial technologies that will have both commercial and military applications. "Whether the need is night-time aerial firefighting, resupplying troops in austere environments or delivering critical supplies in support of humanitarian missions, the next generation of the unmanned K-MAX® will continue to demonstrate its unmatched readiness and efficiency no matter the requirement," the company stated.   Swiss OEM Kopter also announced that it selected Lafayette, Louisiana, as the location for its U.S. production and service facility The company will lease an 84,700-sq-ft facility from the Lafayette Airport Commission, which owns the former Bell complex, as a planned construction site for its 505 light single helicopter. The company expects to begin outfitting and staffing the U.S. facility later this year, with an eye toward beginning production there later in 2020. The first U.S.-assembled SH09 is expected to be delivered in 2021. The company expects to ramp up production to 100 aircraft a year from the location by 2025.  The MD 530F features MDHI's newest all-glass single-engine cockpit as well as a Fargo 21-gallon auxiliary fuel tank, Onboard Systems Talon LC Keeperless 3,600 pound Cargo Hook and Colorado Helicopters Side Hook Bracket, Cascade STC reduced cord leg fairing, Blue Sky Networks D1000A SATCOM aircraft tracker, high visibility main rotor blades, and wire strike protection.  Les Gillespie of Gardner Aviation (GA), a Robinson dealer since 2013, has purchased the retro-painted helicopter and will accept delivery at the show.  Airbus announced at Heli-Expo the launch of the new version of the best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter which features an innovative five-bladed rotor, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150 kg while delivering new levels of comfort, simplicity and connectivity. The new rotor brings a significant increase in overall performance, with a maximum take-off weight raised to 3,800 kg and a useful load now equivalent to the aircraft's empty weight. The simplicity of the new bearing less main rotor design will also ease maintenance operations and improve ride comfort for patients, medical staff and crew, while the reduced rotor diameter will allow the H145 to operate in more confined areas. Airbus also announced that the Rescue and Salvage Bureau (CRS) of the Chinese Ministry of Transport (MOT) is extending its medium class search and rescue helicopter fleet with the Airbus H175, beginning with a signature for two aircraft in search and rescue (SAR) configuration.   Bell's 525 super-medium twin is also progressing well, Snyder said, noting that two aircraft are currently in cold-weather testing in Yellowknife, Canada, and another is flying heavy snow testing in Rome, New York. Currently, four 525 aircraft are in flight testing and have accumulated 1,000 hours. The FAA joined the flight-test program in November. Meanwhile, he revealed that the company plans to offer its 407 long single for the Navy's THXX helicopter trainer competition. Bell is the current legacy provider of training aircraft for the Navy with the TH57.  The newest 280FX which was on display in the Enstrom booth, showed off a redesign of the cabin doors, lighting upgrades including LED Forward (with Pulse) & Aft Landing Lights, a New Collective Design with Illuminated Control Panel and a redesigned avionics and switch console. Enstrom's new door design will give 280FX owners and operators increased utility with their aircraft.  "With our multiple flight training operations in Europe and with our recent acquisition of United States Aviation Training Solutions (USATS) in Titusville, Florida, IDAG is the largest Schweizer operator worldwide," IDAG chief executive Robert Caldwell said. Pennsylvania-based IDAG currently has a fleet of more than 30 S300s, as well as an existing company fleet of more than 50 primary, advanced, and tactical training aircraft, including UH-60 Black Hawks. "This purchase allows us to deploy assets across multiple satellite locations as we look to expand operations" inside and outside of the continental U.S., Caldwell added.  Keeping abreast with developments HAI has created a member category for unmanned operations and is actively involved in numerous advisory committees and working groups. This year the expo hosted several sessions focused on unmanned issues.  "Our members every day are becoming more proficient in the operation of drones and creating subsidiaries and departments within their company to offer those service," he said. "It has worked out really well." But at the same time, HAI has been involved with the safe integration into the airspace.  Emerging electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft "will not only revolutionize vertical flight, but society as a whole," Mike Hirschberg, executive director of the Vertical Flight Society, predicted yesterday during an eVTOL session at Heli-Expo. He cited a confluence of regulatory, technological, and industrial developments that he thinks makes this the right time for eVTOLs, including the trend toward performance-based regulations, advances in electric motors, batteries, computer models and simulations, and increased investment in technology.  At present, Hirschberg said there are no less than 155 different eVTOLs under development. And, he noted, the timetable set by Uber Elevate is not unreasonable-eVTOL prototype aircraft flying by next year with commercial service beginning as early as 2023.   Citing data from the investment bank Goldman Sachs, NASA, and Uber, Bell VP of Innovation Scott Drennan said the global rideshare market will grow from $36 billion in 2016 to $285 billion in 2030, with the potential for 750 million urban aerial passenger trips across 15 major cities by 2030. Further, this data suggests the global market could support 900 to 1,500 air taxis as early as 2025 and that it would support 9,000 to 12,000 by 2035. Comments by visitors and exhibitors alike were generally positive. One comment, "Invaluable for the Rotorcraft Community!" summed up HAI 2019 |
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