Bell to Sell BA609 Program to ItalyBell Helicopter has agreed to sell its share in theBA609 civil tiltrotor to AgustaWestland, theItalian company’s CEO Giuseppe Orsi said here at Heli-Expo.

A year ago he said that AgustaWestland’s frustration over Bell dragging its feet on the program, had forced him to set a deadline ofend-June on the fate of the program. Anagreement was reached, but negotiations

have been stymied by difficulties in transfer-ring assets from Bell to AgustaWestland.

These problems revolve around separating theintellectual property rights of the civil tiltrotorfrom the U.S. military’s V-22 Osprey tiltrotor,which Bell builds in partnership with Boeing.

“We are now developing a very definite sepa-ration of intellectual property rights from theV-22,” said Orsi. “Bell has agreed to sell; we have

agreed to buy. We hope the dealcan be concluded within the nextcouple of months.”

Asked why Bell would want tosell its share in the BA609 pro-gram, Orsi said “just compareour range of civil helicopters withtheirs. It is clear where they mustallocate their resources instead oflooking at a limited market.”

Ironically, Bell used to be apartner in what is now theAgustaWestland AW139, theworld’s fastest selling mediumtwin-engined helicopter, withmore than 500 delivered or onorder. Bell is now exploring acompetitor under its “Magellan”program for a future mediumtwin. —John Morris

Why Have a Cockpit?Eurocopter says you won’trecognize it in new X4.–Page 2

Sandel HeliTAWS to CollinsCollins will use Sandel’s soft-ware for terrain alerts. –Page 2

Russian Helicopters HereHeli-Expo like a fashion show,says new chief. –Page 3

Orsi’s Vision for 2050AgustaWestland CEO saysfast vertical lift is vital. –Page 4

Thales Enhances S-76D Integrates new functionalitiesin Sikorsky cockpit.. –Page 5

Large, Small, Old and NewTwo pages of photos of thehelicopters here. –Pages 6-7

A Military AW139M in StaticSurprise appearance by modelproposed for U.S. –Page 8

AW169 Aims to be a WinnerOrder book opened for newlight-medium twin . –Page 11

ShowNews Day1, Day 2See both issues online at:www.aviationweek.com/shownews

The EC 145 T2 (T stands for ‘Tango’) was unveiled by Eurocopter president & CEO Lutz Bertling. –Page 13

HELI-EXPOMARCH 7, 2011

HELI-EXPOMARCH 7, 2011

www.AviationWeek.com

Bell Helicopter svp Larry Roberts presented the 407 gunship.

Bell Arms Its 407–Page 9

A NEW EC 145 FROM EUROCOPTER

Tiltrotors will be vital.

Sandel LicensesHeliTAWS to CollinsTerrain safety technology developed by SandelAvionics (Booth 3518) for its HeliTAWS and proprietaryTrueAlert ground warning software will be used by RockwellCollins under a licensing agreement between the two companies. Sandel says its TrueAlert adaptive algorithms determine pilot intent throughout an entire flight range to provide terrain alerting while virtually eliminating nuisance warnings. The system is entirely automatic and does not require pilot management ofthe phase of flight. Rockwell Collins (Booth 4306) will incorporate HeliTAWS into itsown integrated rotorcraft avionics systems.

K-Max Without the Man “It’s got unprecedented payload,” Kaman busi-ness development manager George Schafer saysof his company’s K-Max. “No one’s even closeto it.” That’s why the aircraft is being developedin league with Lockheed Martin to supply com-bat outposts in Afghanistan. Two K-Max heloshave been dedicated to the program, in compe-tition with Boeing’s A160T Hummingbird UAV.

A fly-off at the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground in Utah is expected for late thissummer and a downselect by year-end. Beyond the military? “As the unmanned aircraftworld opens up,” says Schafer, “so do the commercial opportunities.” Booth 2521.

Turbomeca Names Plant for FounderTurbomeca comes to Heli-Expo 2011 boasting a newhelicopter engine plant, as its $138 million, 453,600-sq-ft,1,300-employee facility at Bordes, in southwest France,was inaugurated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy thispast June. “The Joseph Szydlowski plant represents aninvestment equal to more than 10% of Turbomeca’s sales,but it will generate savings in inventories and work-in-process of at least that much,” said Jean-Paul Herteman,CEO at parent Safran. Joseph Szydlowski foundedTurbomeca in 1938. Booth 1637.

Becker for Los Angeles Sheriff CommsThe first of a dozen DVCS6100 digital audio systems for the Los Angeles CountySheriff’s Office has been installed by San Diego’s Hangar One Avionics on a EurocopterAS350B2, reports supplier Becker Avionics. The system was selected “due to its unique

ability to effectively manage and control all audiosources in the helicopter,” Becker says: “theDVCS6100 manages all transceivers, receiversand audio warning sources in one central sys-tem and provides simulcast capabilities on8 channels.” The first aircraft was delivered toLACSO on February 11. Brett Gardner is salesdirector at Becker (Booth 1652).

Pilot Yes, Cockpit No, Says Eurocopter of X4

“Why have a cockpit?” asks Eurocopterpresident and CEO Lutz Bertling.

Eurocopter’s next hel-icopter, the X4 replace-ment for the Dauphinand EC155 light twins,will dispense with it, hepromised at Heli-Expo.

His comment seemed so outrageousthat it skimmed over the heads of jour-nalists at the company’s annual pressconference here. But later, he toldShowNews, he meant what he said.

“The X4 will not have a cockpit as youknow it,” he said. “The way of flying thishelicopter will be completely differentfrom any other aircraft you’ve everseen.” Eurocopter, he said, is workingwith avionics companies on the new con-cept, which might not be fully imple-mented by the time the X4 is formallylaunched late in the first half of this year(read Paris Air Show, if it is ready in time).

The design of the X4 is pretty muchfrozen, Bertling said, adding that the hel-icopter will bring breakthrough increasesin payload and performance for its class.

More than that he would not say. “Youmust wait for the launch,” Bertling said.

Productivity, Not SpeedIs Eurocopter’s Goal

“We are not in the race for speed” withthe high-speed X3 demonstrator, says Eurocopter president and CEO Lutz Bertling. The 180 kt hybrid helicop-ter (plans call to push it to 220 kt) is allabout productivity. Compared to theEC155, it could increase payload-x-rangeper flight hour by 50% and decrease lifecycle costs per hour by 25%, when usedover long range. “The point is that theincrease in cost for more speed must beless than the value of the increase inproductivity,” he explained.

Lutz Bertling.

2 www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011

RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS’ modernized Mil Mi-34C1 light helicopter, being promotedhere at Heli-Expo, is expected to fly for the first time in May or June. The piston-powered four-seater will join a growing line-up of civil machines from the former Soviethelicopter industry. The Mi-34 was last pro-duced in the late 1990s, and the modernizedversion introduces a new engine and avion-ics. Voronezh is expected to deliver the first365 hp M-9VF engine for prototype OP-1by April, with the powerplant for the secondMi-34C1, OP-2, due to arrive by May.

Certification will involve 130-150 flights,says Russian Helicopters. The aerobatic Mi-34C1 has a maximum takeoff weight of 3,200 lb (1,450 kg), a payload of 660 lb (300 kg), cruise speed of 105 kt (195 km/h)and range of 330 nm (610 km).

The company’s civil line-up includes the light Kamov Ka-226T and Kazan Ansat, medium Mi-17 family, multi-role Ka-32A11BC and heavy Mi-26T2, but it isdeveloping the new 15.6-tonne Mi-38 andstudying the market for the 6.5-tonne Ka-62.

An improved second prototype of the

Mi-38, OP-2, first flew in December at Kazan Helicopters and is now in Moscow forflight testing. Flight controls, fuel and hydraulic systems, and main rotor blades, havebeen upgraded based on tests of the first pro-totype, OP-1, which first flew in 2003.Theupgrades have brought the Mi-38 into fullcompliance with Russian AP-29 airworthi-ness requirements, equivalent to FAA Part 29certification, the manufacturer says, addingthat handling and stability are improved.

Russian Helicopters plans demonstrationflights with OP-2 this year. A third prototypeis being built at Kazan, where series produc-tion is scheduled to begin in 2015. The Mi-38 has Transas glass-cockpit avionics and is powered by two 2,500 shp P&WCanada PW127/5s, but can be equipped withRussian Klimov TV7-117V engines.

The Ka-62 program is awaiting an enginedecision, says Russian Helicopters, identify-ing candidates as the Turbomeca Ardiden 3G,RussianNPO Saturn RD-600V, Ukrain-ian Motor Sich TV3-117VMA and an enginefrom Pratt Canada. There are no firm plansyet for certification, the company says.

“Heli-Expo is like a fashionshow for the global helicopterindustry. We come here to availourselves of the latest trends,and to verify whether our visionand strategy are aligned with the rest of the world,” saysDmitry Petrov, director generalof Russian Helicopters.

For Petrov, who took chargeof Russia’s helicopter industrylast November, the event not only gives his products a global show-case, but also allows him to meet his major international customers.Many of them are here, including Russia-based UTAir (Booth 506),the world’s fourth largest provider of helicopter services and oper-ator of nearly 250 of Petrov’s aircraft. Input such as theirs, he toldShowNews in his first press interview since becoming director gen-eral, is valuable because they are also buying Western helicopterssuch as the EC175 and AW139, and Russian Helicopters can learnmore about how to improve aftermarket and customer services.

Russian Helicopters, he said, is developing a range of productsfor its traditional markets, but a number of them also meet require-ments for FAA certification and could be attractive to the U.S. and

Canadian markets – if and when they are cer-tified. For Russian Helicopters to pursueFAA certification would require “sufficient or-ders” to warrant the investment, he said.

The most likely candidate would be thetwin-engine Kamov Ka-32 A11BC, coaxial-rotored utility helicopter, which has achieved

EASA and Canadian certificationand is operated in Spain, Portugal,Switzerland and Canada.

Petrov believes the piston-engined Mi-34C1 could also be attractive for training and sportutility, while the Mi-171 mediumtwin, already in use with the U.S.armed forces and governmentagencies in places like Afghanistan,could find customers in NorthAmerica.

But sales in the U.S. are not thesole focus of Russian Helicopters (Booth 628) here. “Since not justU.S. players but all other key players in the global market attend,it is very important for us to be at Heli-Expo.” —John Morris

AVIATION WEEK

PresidentGreg Hamilton

ShowNews Briefing

PublisherMark Flinn

Editor-In-ChiefJohn Morris

Morrisoff@aol.com860-365-0445

Senior EditorRich Piellisch

Senior Art Director & IT ManagerKirk Fetzer

Art Director Maureen Spuhler

Director of SalesIain Blackhall

iain_blackhall@aviationweek.com

Operations ManagerErving Dockery, Jr.

Show News Briefing is published at Heli-Expo 2011 byThe McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.,

2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121

AVIATION WEEK also publishes Show News,Aviation Week & Space Technology, Aviation Daily,

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report,Business and Commercial Aviation,

Overhaul & Maintenance, The Weekly of BusinessAviation, Defense Technology International, and the WorldAerospace Database including World Aviation Directory.

Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

© Copyright 2011 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Library of Congress ISSN 1092-6151

www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011 3

Russian Helicopters Studies U.S. Markets

...And Here’s What It Has to Offer

Dmitry Petrov took over atRussian Helicopters last year.

An original Mi-34C.

Sikorsky’s Milestone Deal for Its S-76C++Milestone Aviation Group, the global leasing company for helicopters and private jets setup by Richard Santulli of NetJets fame, will take delivery of five Sikorsky S-76C helicop-ters in the second half of 2011 under a firm contract signed last December. They will be

offered for lease to operators around the world. “By leasingout and providing 100% financing that ultimately allows endusers to operate our aircraft, Milestone Aviation Group hasquickly become an important customer for Sikorsky,” saidCarey Bond, president of Sikorsky Global Helicopters.

Sikorsky S-76B Rebuilt to Tilt at WindmillsA Sikorsky S-76B has been reconfigured to perform specialty maintenance operationson windfarms in Germany by Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) in Coatesville, Penn.The maintenance, repair and overhaul company carried out comprehensive modifica-tions to reconfigure the VIP S-76B for its new role maintaining windmills with Germany’s Heliservice International GmbH. “SAS MRO successfully executed severalcomplex modifications to transforming the VIP configured S-76B helicopter into an aircraft equipped for completely different applications,” said Joe Coleman, Director ofSAS maintenance, repair and overhaul.

Defense, Agency OK for ColumbiaColumbia Helicopters can now bid on Department of Defense andother government agency contracts for heavylift helicopter servicesfollowing approval from the Commercial Airlift Review Board. TheCARB audit, conducted by the DOD Commercial Airlift Division,extensively examined all areas of Columbia Helicopters, including maintenance, qual-ity and flight operations. “This will open up whole new areas of opportunities for ourcompany,” said Columbia Helicopters president, Michael Fahey. The company ownsand operates the world’s largest privately held fleet of heavy-lift helicopters. Booth 1017.

Erickson Shows Air-Crane Disaster ResponseHeavylift helicopters have proven their worth in response tonatural catastrophes, and Erickson Air-Crane is here with abroad set of mission components that allow it to respond rap-idly to any disaster from forest fires to earthquakes. Its Air-crane Incident Response System (AIRS) includes a universal

pod that can carry cargo or troops or be converted into a ground-deployable medicalfacility; a 2,650 gal firefighting tank and water cannon; an aluminum alloy cage rescuebasket capable of carrying up to 60 people; and a smaller 15-person basket manufacturedby Precision Lift Inc. Erickson is showing all these and an S-64 helicopter at Booth 459.

Rolls-Royce RR500 in Focus at Heli-ExpoRolls-Royce’s hot ‘n’ high RR500TS is due for certification either this year or next andhas been gathering Memoranda of Understanding with OEMs for the 450 shp C20lookalike. When unveiled in 2009, the engine was described as a scaled-up RR300, theengine that powers the Robinson R66. This year the company can be expected to an-nounce some new airframes for its newest small turbine, and that could mean the BellLongRanger, MD500, Enstrom, or, for that matter, Sikorsky Global’s line of ex-Hughes,ex-Schweizer light helicopters, the S-333 and S-434 models. Booth 2528.

Orsi’s Vision for 2050

Vertical-lift air transportation will be vitalto the infrastructure of crowded citiesby the year 2050, says Giuseppe Orsi,CEO of he l icopter manufacturerAgustaWestland.

His recommendation to the industry,he told the press at Heli-Expo, would beto promote that vision and to aim for air-craft up to70-80 passengers having ver-tical takeoff capability. “We have to startto consider the helicop-ter not just for emergen-cies, but as a modalityfor transportation,” hesaid. “And HAI shouldencourage this.”

Helicopters are now so much moretechnologically advanced than 10 yearsago, but outdated perceptions surround-ing safety and noise persist, Orsi said.“We must convince people that verticallift is needed, and that it is less impactive[environmentally and on its surround-ings] than other forms of transportation.

He called the press to task for not beingmore supportive, and being too eager toreport complaints of helicopter activities,such as noise, when they are in fact lessintrusive than nearby road traffic.

Having flown through Ronald ReaganWashington National Airport on his wayto Heli-Expo, Orsi observed that capac-ity could be doubled there if helicopterswere used to fly into DC instead of con-centrating all the traffic into regional jetsat the airport.“We cannot have the lux-ury of not using vertical lift in our crowdedcities,” Orsi said. He is participating inan EU program to envision transporta-tion in 2050, and he urged the industriesinvolved not to focus on tomorrow’s prob-lems, but the goals for 40 years hence.

AgustaWestland is already workingwith the city of Milan to build and oper-ate two downtown heliports to show howthey can be integrated into the infrastruc-ture, he added. Low level airways, withminimum impact on their surroundings,will also be needed, Orsi said.—John Morris

Giuseppe Orsi.

4 www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011

Thales Adds Functions to S-76D CockpitWhile Thales claims to have the most inte-grated and up-to-date glass cockpit in thecivil helicopter world with its TopDecksuite on the Sikorsky S-76D, it has takenadvantage of delays in the program to addnew functionalities before the aircraftenters service next year.

New software will allow TopDeck toincorporate LPV (Localizer Performancewith Vertical guidance), XM Weather(on-screen satellite weather services), FFS(Flight Following System), and ADS-B out(Automatic Dependent Surveillance –Broadcast, transmission from aircraft toground stations). Sikorsky will offer thesecapabilities as options.

This new standard involves enhance-ments to the iFMS 200 flight managementsystem, the TopStar 200 GPS receiver andthe Automatic Flight Control System(AFCS) to ensure compatibility with newGPS SBAS (Satellite-Based AugmentationSystem) precision approaches.

Yves Joannic, vice president in chargeof Thales’s helicopter activities, saidTopDeck is already in production forSikorsky, and it will be ready with all FAA certifications to deliver to customerswhen the helicopter itself is certifiedtowards the end of this year.

He noted that because Thales is pro-viding the whole integrated cockpit, it wasable to offer the new functionalitiesthrough software enhancements thattouch on the GPS, FMS and autopilot.“It’s just software; it adds no weight to the

aircraft,” he told ShowNews.Thales’ victory on the S-76D (it signed

the contract in October 2005) was a break-through first on a U.S. commercial heli-copter. In return it offered breakthroughtechnology, with TopDeck’s philosophy ofIcube-S (it stands for Intuitive, Interactive,Integrated and Safe).

Joannic explained that the intuitive fea-tures of TopDeck enable it to help the pilotby anticipating his needs enroute from Ato B, or as he changes his flight plan whilein the air. It will, for example, be ready withall needed radio frequencies, and monitorfuel flow, even suggesting a refueling stopif needed, to reach the new destination.

Interactivity is through a trackball cur-sor control and drop-down menus thatanticipate what information will be needed.

Integration refers to the fact that Thalesdeveloped the whole cockpit, although itsopen architecture means that sensors andequipment from other manufacturers canbe accommodated. “It also means we canintegrate future needs with software, suchas HTAWS (helicopter terrain alert warn-ing system) and SVS (synthetic visionsystem), said Joannic.

The cockpit, he added, is 100% NVG(night vision goggle) compatible.

Thales is exhibiting its latest concept forTopDeck, for commercial and military hel-icopters, at Booth 4038. This incorporates a15-inch screen in between the two primaryflight displays, for SVS, digital map or sen-sor displays, or to be used as a tactical screenin military or law enforcement helicopters.

—John Morris

www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011 5

Many functions are contained in the IESI.

Pilots will interact with theS-76D’s TopDeck avionicsvia trackball cursors.

Thales’ Integrated Electronic Standby Instrument (IESI) for helicopters is undergoing finalflight tests before certification, according to Yves Joannic, vice president in charge ofThales’s helicopter activities. It will be standard equipment in the Sikorsky S-76D and allfuture Eurocopters. An example is on show at Booth 4038.

Unlike other IESI’s that have been adapted from the fixed-wing world, Thales believesthis is the first such instrument designed from the outset for helicopters.

It is fully autonomous and battery powered, meaning it works even when there is a complete power failure. It not only provides emergency situational awareness, but alsoincorporates a communications function.

“It’s immune to big-city radio interference, can sustain 4G maneuvers, and will sustainhigh vibration,” said Joannic. “It is not, as in the past, coming from the fixed-wing world.”

Thales Standby is a Helicopter First

Around the Show

6 www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011

Heli-Expo is the world’s showcase for thelatest in helicopter trends. This year’s dis-play brought out new models, revitalizedclassics, and a notable presence of militaryaircraft as Bell showed its 407 gunshipand AgustaWestland the AW139M.

The venerable Bell 47 is being revived by Scott’s–Bell 47 Inc.

Eurocopter showedits new EC135 2Te.

Eagle Copters re-engines Bell 407s with Honeywell’s HTS-900.

The 250-kt Sikorsky X2 is currently the world’s fastest helicopter.

Two lightweights: A Robinson R22 (rear) and a Sikorsky S-300CBi.

A well-dressed outrider at Dart Helicopters.

AgustaWestland’snew AW169 twin.

Sikorsky S-76D aims forcertification late this year.

Cougar Helicopters operatesthis Sikorsky S-92.

www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011 7

AgustaWestland Debuts the AW139MAgustaWestland (Booth 3811) last month unveiled the made-in-Philadelphia AW139M,the customized military version of its multi-role, AW139 medium twin. The AW139M

has been fitted with proven U.S. military technologyfor the U.S. Air Force’s Common Vertical Lift Sup-port Program. Equipment includes high-definitionFLIR, self-protection hardware including infrared de-tection and countermeasures, avionics, heavy dutylanding gear, and ballistically-tolerant, self-sealing fueltanks. The AW139M is available with a full ice pro-

tection system, “allowing all-weather operation at the U.S. Air Force’s northern-tier mis-sile bases,” the manufacturer says. The helicopter can be seen here in the Static Display.

Honeywell HUMS Available on AW139Honeywell’s 1134 Zing HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System) is now avail-able with STC approval on the AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter, which is also equippedwith Honeywell’s Primus Epic avionics. The 1134 Zing is an on-board HUMS for fullaircraft monitoring of rotor tracking and balance, engine diagnostics, drive train andgearbox. Data is uploaded from the helicopter to a web-based portal after every flight.The first installation is on the AW139 used for transportation by Honeywell chairmanand CEO Dave Cote. Honeywell is at Booth 3021.

Embry-Riddle Wants Data on BirdstrikesGot a birdstrike story? Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University would like to hear aboutit. ERAU’s Center for Wildlife and Aviation is here for the first time (Booth 4206) as partof its campaign to encourage wildlife strike reporting among airport operators, pilots,and others involved in aviation. It is providing this service under funding as a non-profitorganization on behalf of the FAA/USDA-WS Birdstrike Database outreach program.http://wildlifecenter.pr.erau.edu/

It’s a British Cover Up for Robinson R66Air Covers, the British designer and manufac-turer of military and civil helicopter covers, hasuncovered its latest product here: a hull coverfor the Robinson R66. The company visitedthe Robinson factory in Torrance, Calif., lastyear for form and fit, and has spent threemonths developing the R66 cover. Its covers,CAD designed for each model, are protecting many makes of helicopters in climatesfrom the Arctic to offshore, and are serving with the military in Afghanistan. Booth 1646.

First CAE S-76C++ Level D Sim for BrazilCAE and Lider Aviacao, the largest helicopter operator in Brazil, will form a joint ventureto provide advanced, simulation-based, helicopter pilot training in South America in early2012 with a full-motion Level D CAE 3000 series full-flight simulator (FFS) for the Siko-rsky S-76C++. “Offshore oil and gas platform transport services will generate significanthelicopter fleet growth in the coming years, requiring well-trained, highly-skilled pilots,” said Junia Hermont Correa, chief operating officer of Lider. The company oper-ates more than 50 helicopters –nearly half the fleet servicing the oil and gas market in Brazil.

Jean Boulet Dead at 90:Famed Test Pilot Flew Many

Early French Helicopters

Eurocopter gave notice last month thattest pilot Jean Boulet, who set 17 worldrecords during his career, including analtitude record in 1972 that still stands,passed away on February 15 at the ageof 90. He was first hired in 1947 bySNCASE, which would later becomeSud Aviation and then the helicopter division of Aerospatiale.

“Jean Boulet was one of the greatestpioneers in the history of rotorcraft flighttesting,” Eurocopter said. Boulet’scareer included the first flights of theSE3000, the SE3101, the Alouette,Frelon, Puma, Gazelle families and the Lama – in which he reached an alti-tude of 12,442 meters (40,820 feet) onJune 21, 1972.

Jean Boulet received the presti-gious “X Supaéro” engineering degreefrom the French aeronautics institute in Toulouse, and logged more than 9,000 flight hours – including more than8,000 in helicopters. “The courageouspilot was well known for his love of fly-ing and derring-do, but was also widelyrespected for his modesty and unassum-ing nature,” Eurocopter said. Eurocopteris at Booth 4637.

Helicopter test pilot Jean Boulet was knownfor his love of flying. He set 17 world records.

8 www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011

407GX Adds Garmin 1000THE EVER-POPULAR LIGHT SINGLE now sports a fully inte-grated Garmin 1000 glass cockpit as the Bell 407GX, andthe new model already has an international launch customerwith an order for 30 helicopters. Several corporate VIP cus-tomers in South America and the Pacific Rim have alsoplaced orders.

“We’re working on a couple of U.S. launch customers aswell,” said Larry Roberts, senior vice president for commer-cial business.

The Garmin 1000 Apogee cockpit brings the 407GX ahost of features to reduce pilot workload and improve situ-ational awareness. Among them: traffic information,HTAWS (forward-looking helicopter terrain avoidancewarning system), synthetic vision, and a fuel flow meter thatdisplays range rings on a moving map display that adjustsautomatically for any pressure altitude ad power setting.

“For the first time in a helicopter, we are bring-ing functionality through voicerecognition,” said Roberts.“The goal is to have many pilottasks, such as selecting radiofrequencies, through voicerecognition.”Another feature is a high-

resolution camera focused to therear that can present views of the tail

rotor in flight or in confined spaces.ADS-B in and out will be part of the

standard baseline package. First deliverieswill be in July/August, said Roberts. Retro-

fits will be available in the future for existing 407s, he added.The 407GX will be produced alongside the standard 407,

and will cost $125,000 more. “That’s roughly what customersspend in the aftermarket for EFIS etc. We are offering somuch more for about the same price.” The Garmin 1000adds only six lbs to the helicopter’s weight, Roberts noted.

“WE’VE ADDED WEAPONS,” said Bell’s senior vice president for com-mercial business, Larry Roberts. “This is the first Bell-qualified,commercially available 407 with guns.”

Unlike previous military gunship developments, the 407AH isintended “as a cheap shooter, not a complex weapons system.” Thereare no complicated targeting systems, just point andshoot, said Roberts.

The 407AH has been qualified in live tests with a 2.75 inch rocket pod on the port landing gear structure, anda Dillon Aero M134 minigun on the starboard. Plans call for qualifying a 50 cal. gun by the end of the month.All weapons can be removed in 15-20 minutes.

Roberts said the goal is to provide a Bell 407 that can beweaponized for some missions and revert to utility mode forothers. It retains its rear seat and large sliding door for passengeror cargo access.

The version on show here has what Roberts describes as “a very,very nice law enforcement package,” including a FLIR Talon dualEO/IR sensor. The cockpit features a Garmin 500 EFIS for itsnav displays.

Price is around $5 million “versus the $8-10 million for what’s outthere now,” said Roberts. The aircraft is available now, and Bell istalking with two governments for first orders, he added.

“We can do this with twins, too,” he said, including the Bell 429light twin.

Two new models unvei led here by Bell Helicopter, illustrate its intention toupgrade its commercial product line nowthat its military business is contributingstrongly to profits once again.

“The V-22 Osprey [tiltrotor] and UH-1programs are doing well,” says Bell Heli-copter president & CEO John Garrison.And Bell’s aftermarket business, whichGarrison has streamlined and consolidated,is proving to be a strong third leg of Bell’sstrategy for the future.

“In commercial we have a whole new

team to lead the effortto drive changes forthe future,” he toldShowNews. “We’veinvested in teams forsales, marketing and product development,increased spending on R&D for the future,and on becoming more cost competitive inengineering and manufacturing. We’repushing hard to execute on all of that.”

Bell has at last begun deliveries of its long-awaited 429 large-cabin light twin, and willreap the benefits of ramping up production.

Twenty-two were delivered last year, andoutput will double to around 40 in 2011. “Itreally gives us a differentiating capability inthat light twin space that our previous prod-uct offering just didn’t meet,” says Garrison.

The 429 joins the 407 light single, ofwhich Bell has now delivered more than1,000, and a Bell 412 medium twin that hasbeen upgraded with more power and a glasscockpit (“it’s received incredible productreviews from customers,” said Garrison.

“Expect more product extensions andupgrades,” he added. The latest are two iter-ations of the Bell 407, unveiled here onSunday. Both are described by Garrison as“significant, and very exciting.”

Bell Morphs Its Models

407AHAdds Fire Power

Garmin 1000 now on the 407GX.

John Garrison.

www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011 9

Collins Installs First Helicopter ProLine 21The first helicopter installation of a Rockwell Collins ProLine 21 IntegratedDisplay System, has been made in an S-61, by the avionics company and Vector Aerospace of Toronto. The glasscockpit features two 10 x 8 in liquid crys-tal primary flight displays, solid-stateTWR-850 weather radar system with tur-bulence detection, AHS-3000A AttitudeHeading Reference System (AHARS),and TDR-94D Mode S Transponderwith ADS-B out capability. Options include Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS)with electronic charting, XM graphical weather, and enhanced maps. Booth 4306.

Which Wire? Laselec Marks with UV LaserToulouse-based Laselec is promoting its MRO 200 series UV laser wire markers formaintenance, repair and overhaul operations, noting that existing customers can takeadvantage of new features by upgrading their basic MRO 200-A machines up to theMRO 200-B, MRO 200-S and MRO 200-XS models. The MRO 200 machines are

equipped with an exclusive “auto-calibration”function allowing automatic control and ad-justment of marking energy level, customiz-able per wire type. The compact MT 200allows cable samples to be marked using anaccurate UV laser. Recent installations includeDelta Tech Ops and Hawker Beechcraft.Booth 3962.

AW139 Gets Night Vision With STC by ASUThe first Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for night vision for the AgustaWest-land AW139, was announced here by Aviation Specialties Unlimited. This is the thirdmodification that ASU has done for Era Helicopters (it previously completed twoBK 117s), and it will modify another AW139 later this year. ASU’s focus is on providingturnkey solutions for night vision cockpit lighting, initial and recurrent training for flightcrews on the use of night vision, and assistance in establishing night vision programs.To date, ASU has sold over 2,500 aviator systems within the U.S. Booth 3033.

World-Leading AW139 Gets Even BetterThe AgustaWestland AW139 is the world leader in its class, with more than 500 of themedium twins sold in more than 50 countries, the manufacturer says. More than onethird of those sales are for offshore oiland gas transportation – and now itwill become even better at that mis-sion with two new certifications.These will allow it to operate fromhelipads less than the length of thehelicopter, and to operate in sea statesix conditions with a special emer-gency float system. Booth 3811.

Kaman Opens Mexico Plant,Targeting Commercial Market,

OEMs and Their Suppliers

Kaman Aerospace, seeking to reduceits 70% dependence on military busi-ness, has opened a plant in Chihuahua,Mexico to help reduce the cost of com-mercial products. Aluminum extrusionsfor both OEM helicopter manufacturers

and their suppliers is thefirst product.

“We’re working veryhard in expanding our foot-print in the commercialside,” says Greg Steiner,

president of Kaman Aerospace Group. “We see a lot of value in having a more

balanced portfolio.” “We’re bidding a lot of packages right

now for commercial firms everywhere,”he told ShowNews.

Kaman (Booth 2521) already makes rotorblades for Bell, Steiner says.

Other Kaman military products withcommercial potential include erosion-protective coatings for blades (the1,000th was delivered for a U.S. ArmyBlackhawk last year), more aero-structures (Kaman builds cockpits forSikorsky) and composite parts.

Why Mexico? “To do business in thecommercial area today, you have to havelow-cost manufacturing.”

As for the K-Max, Kaman’s distinctivecounter-rotating heavy-lifter, 35 of theHoneywell T53-17-powered aircraft werebuilt and 21 are still flying, Steiner says.

Two are being developed with Lock-heed Martin as unmanned aerial vehiclesfor the Marine Corps. —Rich Piellisch

Kaman may increase employment to 500 at the 60,000-sq-ft maquiladora plant itopened this past November in Chihuahua.

Greg Steiner.

10 www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011

AgustaWestland delivered 111 commer-cial helicopters in 2010, and increased itscommercial order book 56% from 2009.This performance illustrates how the Italian manufacturer is taking a larger shareof a global civil helicopter market that,while in a long-term growth trend, was flatlast year, CEO Giuseppe Orsi disclosed atHeli-Expo.

In fact AgustaWestland has been grow-ing at more than three times the rate of themarket since 2004, he noted. The nextgrowth in the global civil market will comenext year, led by demand from the offshoreand parapublic sectors, followed by corpo-rate/VIP as the world’s economies recover.

The AW139 medium twin is largelyresponsible for AgustaWestland’s success,with more than 500 ordered or deliveredand taking a one third share of the world’soffshore/oil and gas sector, Orsi noted. Thehelicopter represented 46% of the com-pany’s civil deliveries in 2010, with lighttwins accounting for 41%, and singleengine helicopters 13%. Orders for theAW139 increased 42% last year, he added.

Including military hel-icopters, AgustaWestlandwon orders for 230 helicop-ters, worth EUR 3.2 billion($4.47 billion), last year,bringing its backlog tothree years’ worth of pro-duction.

With AgustaWestlandcontributing 19% of rev-enues and 26% of pre-taxprofits (EBITA) of itsparent Finmeccanica,there is strong corporatesupport for developmentof new products and technologies for ver-tical flight, Orsi said.

These efforts are focused on three mainareas: “Friendly” all-weather helicoptersthat can go anywhere at any time with minimum impact on the environment ortheir surroundings; unmanned flight (itplans to fly a rotorcraft UAV based on thePZL SW-4 by the end of 2012); and devel-opment and commercialization of the BA609and tiltrotor technology. —John Morris

AgustaWestland Outpaces Market Growth

AW169 Seen as Another WinnerAgustaWestland is accepting orders for its new AW169 light-medium twin engined heli-copter following its commercial launch here at Heli-Expo, and will announce the order bookat the Paris Air Show in June.

“No options. These will be firm orders or we don’t take them,” AgustaWestland CEOGiuseppe Orsi said at Heli-Expo. The company expects to deliver 900 of the new model inthe next 20 years, he added.

First flight is planned for next year, with certification at the end of 2014. Kits of equip-ment for numerous missions will be ready andavailable when the helicopter is certified.

The AW169 is a 10-passenger, 4.5 ton light-medium twin powered by two 1,000 shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210 engines. It willfeature an advanced technology main rotor sys-tem and advanced avionics. And it will have thelargest cabin (an unobstructed 222.48 sq ft) as well as the largest cabin doors in its class,AgustaWestland says.

Outstanding visibility and latestavionics mark the AW169 cockpit.

EMS is just onerole for the AW169.

www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011 11

The AW169 claims the largest cabin in its class.

Asia-Pacific’s most sophisticated helicopter training and simulation center is about todouble its capacity, with the arrival of a CAE simulator for the Indian Dhruv helicopter.

The Hatsoff center (it stands for Helicopter Academyto Train by Simulation of Flying) in Bengaluru, India,is a $65 million joint venture between HindustanAeronautics Ltd. and Canada’s CAE (Booth 1253), andis one of the few in the world to feature the highestlevel, full motion, full mission Level D simulators fora range of helicopters.

It opened for business last July with a Bell 412EPsimulator, and has since trained 55 students. Thesimulator for the civil Dhruv will come on stream inMay, followed by a Dauphin 365N3, and a militaryDhruv early next year.

“We now have long term contacts with more than80% of India’s Bell 412 operators,” Hatsoff CEO WingCommander (Retd.) C. D. Upadhyay told ShowNews.Marketing efforts will focus next on operators of theDauphin and Dhruv, including the Indian military, forwhom training in simulators has not been part oftheir culture.

The variety of simulators has been made possible byCAE’s unique roll on/roll off concept, where inter-changeable cockpit units can be docked into a fullmotion “mothership” in just two hours. This allowsthem to share the same computers, visuals and chassis;when a cockpit isn’t inside the “mothership” it will beused as an FTD (fixed training device).

Plans call for more cockpits (for the Light Combatand Light Utility helicopters) and a second “mother-ship” as the center takes on full mission training for themilitary. “It will also be a tool for the Test Pilot School,”said Upadhyay, who was himself chief test pilot on theDhruv program.

Business will eventually be 65-70% military and therest civil, he said, with a goal of drawing customers fromneighboring countries.

The economics behind the center are interesting.CAE and HAL contributed 30% of the $65 millioninvestment, with the rest coming from a loan. Aimed ata market of 55 Bell 412s and 35 Dauphins in India, thisrepresents spending of almost $750,000 per helicopter!

Faith in the future is based on the Dhruv, of whichthe military has already ordered 159, and future growthin the helicopter market, said Upadhyay.

“We must use the motherships 16 hours a day to repaythe loan as planned in nine years.” —John Morris

The simulators’ “Mothership.”

It’s HATSOFF to the Vision For HelicopterSimulator Center in Southern India

“We now have long term contracts with more than 80% of India’s Bell 412 operators.”

—Hatsoff CEO, Wing Commander (Retd.) C.D. Upadhyay

12 www.aviationweek.com/shownews March 7, 2011

BCA: Essential “how-to” intelligence for over 50 years

March Issue Special Report:BCA editors examine circumstancessurrounding the loss of tail rotoreffectiveness.

AviationWeek.comThe business aviation channel detailshow pilots can counter or avoid dangerous situations that include uncontrolled ground impact.

Multimedia Online-Only Features: • Photo and video galleries • Interactive Q&A with experts • Links to deeper information and data resources • Blogs and forums

SEPTEMBER 2010 $10.00

www.AviationWeek.com/bca

Statistics Point the Way to SafetyHarder Than It LooksMatter of PerspectiveEmergency Evacuation From Foreign Countries

Also in This Issue:

Heavy Lift: Large Helicopters in Corporate Service

BCA’s March Issue PresentsRotorcraft:

An Ops & Safety Feature

The fi rst special Ops & Safety Reportof 2011 delivers multichannel “how-to”content for helicopter owners, operators and infl uencers.

An integrated print-digital experience