Heli-Expo Archives - FLYING Magazine https://cms.flyingmag.com/tag/heli-expo/ The world's most widely read aviation magazine Mon, 20 May 2024 14:02:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 Rotor Roundup: What’s on the Horizon for Helicopters and eVTOLs? https://www.flyingmag.com/rotorcraft/rotor-roundup-whats-on-the-horizon-for-helicopters-and-evtols/ Fri, 17 May 2024 17:46:21 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=202847 FLYING looks at the near future of both categories.

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The rotorcraft marker has always set itself apart within the general aviation industry, not only because of the different production requirements to develop and manufacture a helicopter versus a fixed-wing aircraft, but also because the category takes a different kind of training and operational environment to attain a commensurate level of safety.

FLYING took the opportunity to see what’s on the horizon in terms of both traditional helicopters and the red-hot powered-lift and eVTOL categories ahead of the Helicopter Association International’s HeliExpo in February at Anaheim, California.

Bell 525

The Bell 525 (at right) proposes to bring the first fully digital, fly-by-wire rotorcraft to the civil market, and Bell Helicopter has been hard at work getting the program to the finish line down at its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

So what does that mean? The FBW design logic on the 525 is different from an aftermarket add-on autoflight system such as the GFC 600H. In this case, Bell’s partnership with Garmin has translated to the G5000H flight deck.

Tim Evans, business development manager on the 525 program, gave FLYING a special update ahead of Heli-Expo.

“Broadly speaking, flight testing is continuing very nicely, with the good relationship we have with the FAA,” said Evans. “Last year, we were able to complete nine TIAs towards certification, and by the end of February, we should have only five events left. Two of them we’re already into, and the other two [should be complete] by midyear.”

At that point, all of the delegated activities that Bell is responsible for will be finished—and the team will turn things over to the FAA. From there, functional and reliability testing is the last milestone to cross, with 150 hours of flying with the FAA, putting the 525 through its operational paces.

As with similar Textron Aviation aircraft programs, Bell engaged its Customer Advisory Board, which gave a clear message.

“The overwhelming response?” said Evans. “It’s automation that will bring a level of safety seen commensurately on the fixed wing side—the redundancy will be game-changing to how the civil market functions.”

According to Bell, the 525 will deliver what the customer feedback told it was needed: “When you pull it into a hover and get to 20 to 30 feet—with no pedals—it will hold that attitude, essentially hands off.”

Pilots can also turn into an angle of bank, with no pedal inputs, and the 525 will do a full 360 at the input bank angle.

“The control laws are able to anticipate and calculate the pilots’ inputs,” said Evans, noting that the 525 also benefits from a level of redundancy not seen before in this class of rotorcraft. “We’re shaping some of the requirements in Part 29, so the FAA required a triple redundancy—three computers, three hydraulic [systems]—so [it’s] a safer aircraft at a foundational level.”

Several markets that Bell shaped the 525 for include offshore, VIP/head of state, and SAR/parapublic/Coast Guard—so Bell built certain provisioning into the airframe itself, though kitting will take care of the details. Bell has multiple launch customers and is in active negotiations, though it can’t say yet who those first deliveries will go to.

In closing our briefing, Evans also wanted to highlight the green side of the design.

“If you compare the 525 to others in the medium space, it’s going to be 30 percent more efficient than a [Sikorsky] S-92. That’s one we’re pretty proud of. We’ve also flown it on SAF fuel, a 30 percent blend, but capable of up to 100 percent.”

Leonardo’s modern-yet-standard AW09 helicopter. [Courtesy: Leonardo Helicopters]

Leonardo AW09 and AW609

Two projects from Leonardo Helicopters have also been winding their way through the certification process along the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) track—the modern-yet-standard AW09 helicopter and the AW609 tiltrotor design.

The single-engine AW09 was originally developed by Kopter Group, a company acquired by Leonardo in 2020. Proposed as a multimission solution for VIP transport, emergency medical services, utility operations, and security teams, the AW09 will carry up to eight passengers.

A five-blade, all-composite rotor system will translate into smooth flight characteristics and a high degree of maneuverability. Up front, the Garmin G3000H flight deck offers pilots next-generation glass. The Safran Arriel 2K powerplant has dual channel FADEC with an auxiliary backup system. Projected retail pricing begins at $3.9 million.

A year ago, on March 16 and 17, Leonardo began familiarization flight testing with EASA on the tiltrotor AW609, following on to FAA testing in February. The company plans dual certification, so it is moving through the process with both agencies concurrently. Leonardo pursues this strategy in hopes of making up for some lost time, as the AW609 began life in the 1990s as a joint project between Bell and Agusta, called the BA609.

That’s probably why it bears some resemblance to the more commonly known Bell V-22 Osprey. The AW609 similarly enters the powered-lift category with its ability to take off vertically and fly at high cruise speeds with props tilted forward—up to twice the speed of normal helicopters, according to the company. The expected service ceiling will be 25,000 feet msl.

Its projected certification timeline remains in the distance, with a proposed retail price beginning at roughly $24 million.

Tail of a Robinson R44. [Courtesy: Robinson Helicopter]

Up Next for Robinson?

Robinson continues to set the pace on the light GA end of the market with its line of piston-powered R22s and R44s, and turbine R66 helicopters.

While the Lycoming O-320-powered R22 is well known in training, the R44—with its O-360 engine—crosses over into the recreational and light transportation markets with the Raven and Raven II variants. The R66 fulfills a variety of roles, with added cruise speed—up to 110 knots—extra passenger capacity, and turbine reliability from its Rolls-Royce RR300 engine.

As of press time, the company indicated news on the horizon that it would be sharing at Heli-Expo—including the updated empennage for the R44—so stay tuned into FLYING’s reporting from the event.

Archer Aviation’s Midnight has recently passed its Phase 1 flight testing program. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

eVTOLs Next?

As we gear up for Heli-Expo, we know that the show floor will host an entire flight line of eVOTLs in various stages toward initial FAA certification. While we covered Joby Aviation’s prospects in detail in our “First Look: Joby’s eVTOL Future” piece in this issue, it is far from the only player in town.

Archer Aviation’s Midnight has recently passed its Phase 1 flight testing program, hot on Joby’s heels. The company announced in late January that it would be ready for the beginning of for-credit flight testing with the FAA later in 2024. The Midnight cuts a similar profile to the Joby aircraft—carrying one pilot plus four passengers—but with six fixed rotors in a forward flight position and six fixed for vertical flight. The test unit has yet to make the transition from vertical to forward flight as of press time, but we expect this to come soon.

Beta Technologies launched its program with a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft

called the Alia to test its electric propulsion system in a more traditional airframe before moving forward into the powered-lift space. As of late January, Beta had conducted multiple flights with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Department of Defense in both on-base and cross-country ops as part of the Agility Prime program. While it tests the applicability and cost reduction

possible—using electric aircraft in missions including casualty evacuation to go operational in 2025—Beta hopes to take what it learns and produce an eVTOL version by 2026.

Overair’s Butterfly eVTOL is also coming up quickly, as the Southern California-based company signs on several new customers in South Korea as well as Houston-based Bristow Group. Overair is now working through its G-1 Stage III means of compliance documentation with the FAA, with testing of the full-scale, six-seat prototype to begin later this year.

Meanwhile, south of the equator, Eve Air Mobility recently saw Brazilian aviation authority ANAC release the proposed airworthiness criteria for its design, along with bringing a list of key suppliers on board. Eve broke ground on its manufacturing facility in Taubaté, Brazil, earlier this year as well.

Many other players, including Volocopter, Lilium, and Jump Aero continue to chug along—and the race is really heating up as to who will make it to certification first. Oh, wait—that honor already belongs to EHang, which obtained CAAC’s blessing for its EH216-S in China in late 2023—and made the first commercial demonstration flights with it by December.


This feature first appeared in the March 2024/Issue 946 of FLYING’s print edition.

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Rotor Unveils First Production Uncrewed Aircraft Built on Robinson Platform https://www.flyingmag.com/robinson-unveils-first-production-uncrewed-aircraft-the-r550x/ https://www.flyingmag.com/robinson-unveils-first-production-uncrewed-aircraft-the-r550x/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2024 21:32:13 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=198825 The aircraft, on display last month at Heli-Expo in Anaheim, California, will continue its North American tour with appearances in San Diego and Montréal.

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Correction: Rotor selected Robinson as its platform of choice, but the latter is not involved in the development of the R550X, as a previous version of this story stated.

Rotor Technologies has unveiled the first production uncrewed aircraft built on the Robinson Helicopter Company platform.

The manufacturer of autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft on Wednesday revealed the R550X helicopter to the public for the first time. The uncrewed aircraft, which is based on the design of Robinson’s R44 Raven II, was on display at Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) Heli-Expo in Anaheim, California, from February 27-29.

In December, Rotor said it expects the aircraft to fly commercially in the U.S. this year, followed by an international expansion. The partners claim that greater automation will drive safety, scalability, and expanded mission profiles for helicopters.

The R550X is the first production uncrewed aircraft to be built on the Robinson platform. Rotor first announced the design in December with plans to build two models, intended to be delivered to agricultural aircraft operators for crop spraying.

However, the helicopter is also designed for utility, maritime, and cargo operations—specifically, in situations where the pilot might be exposed to a hazardous environment or which are too difficult for lighter aircraft.

The experimental category aircraft has a 1,200-pound payload with no pilot, capable of flying for three hours at a top speed of 130 ktas. Its range extends beyond the vast majority of drones and eVTOL air taxis, the partners claim.

The R550X’s lidar system provides 360-degree situational awareness, which enables flights at night or in low visibility. Onboard software, meanwhile, helps avoid accidents such as inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions, loss of control, mast bumping, and controlled flight into terrain.

A static prototype of the design called the Spirit of New Hampshire—which completed its first live test flight in January before guest of honor Chris Sununu, the governor of New Hampshire—was on display at Heli-Expo alongside a Robinson police helicopter, implying at least one potential use case. Visitors could interact with the aircraft’s lidar systems, camera, and synthetic vision.

The R550X will continue its North American tour next month with a planned display at Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International’s (AUVSI) Xponential in San Diego, which begins April 22. The following month, the partners intend to take it to Vertical Flight Society’s (VFS) Forum 80 in Montréal, starting May 7.

Rotor CEO Hector Xu added that he and newly minted Robinson CEO David Smith are developing plans to begin low-rate manufacturing for the aircraft.

“David and I share a common product vision,” said Xu. “Our collaboration will combine Rotor’s technology with Robinson’s dynamic and scalable supply chain to deliver the world’s most capable commercial uncrewed VTOL.”

Heli-Expo marked a major leadership transition for Robinson, which has had just three chief executives across its 50-year history. Smith replaced Kurt Robinson, the son of Robinson founder and aviation pioneer Frank Robinson, as CEO in February. The company positioned Smith as a fresh face, emphasizing his commitment to innovation, expanded manufacturing capabilities, and the development of new product initiatives.

“I look forward to working with the more than 400 service centers and dealers and the more than 1,100 employees of [Robinson] as we pursue new products, markets, partnerships, and technologies,” said Smith.

Rotor is not the only company exploring automation with Robinson rotorcraft.

In 2022, an R66 single-engine helicopter completed the first Guinness World Records-certified automated autorotation procedure for an emergency landing. Skyryse, whose technology was installed on the aircraft, will sell a retrofit R66 called Skyryse One for about $2 million. But the model will not be capable of fully uncrewed flight.

Robinson competitor Sikorsky, owned by Lockheed Martin, is also exploring uncrewed prototypes. The manufacturer last year unveiled an autonomous, hybrid-electric VTOL concept called HEX, which it said will be the first in a family of self-flying VTOL models. Last month, it revealed that the aircraft will feature a unique tilt-wing design.

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HAI Heli-Expo Sees Record-Breaking Attendance https://www.flyingmag.com/hai-heli-expo-sees-record-breaking-attendance/ Fri, 01 Mar 2024 21:08:00 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=196855 According to organizers, 15,000 professionals from 87 countries came to the 35th annual show in Anaheim, California.

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The last HAI Heli-Expo, which the organization will rename VERTICON next year, is in the books, and according to show organizers, attendance records were set at the 35th annual event in Anaheim, California.

This year’s event from February 26-29 included the announcement that the show’s producer, Helicopter Association International (HAI), was rebranding as Vertical Aviation International (VAI).

VAI is the world’s leading membership association dedicated to the vertical aviation industry, which encompasses all aircraft capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing.

According to James Viola, VAI president and CEO, during the four-day event you could feel the excitement and optimism.

“Both our attendees and exhibitors reported experiencing an outstanding show in Anaheim,” Viola said. “Every exhibiting company I spoke with reported high-quality traffic, and our attendees took advantage of the hundred-plus networking and education opportunities.”

The rebranding of the event plays into the growth in the industry, according to Nicole Battjes, chair of the VAI board of directors.

“We chose to announce our rebranding at the show because each year it becomes the center of the vertical aviation universe,” Battjes said. “Our theme for the 2024 show, ‘Building Tomorrow,’ perfectly aligned with our reasons for rebranding.”

Expo by the Numbers

Part trade show, part conference, Heli-Expo brought in 15,000 professionals from 87 countries. For four days, they had the opportunity to visit with some 625 exhibitors and get a close look at 63 aircraft.

The show also represents an opportunity to network and see and learn about the latest in technology and services for vertical aviation businesses.

Issues and Advancements in the Industry

Traditionally, Heli-Expo has been a good place to job hunt, and this year was no exception. VAI offered numerous opportunities for industry professionals, such as pilots, mechanics, and engineers, to network and connect with employers through its Industry Career Fair. In addition, there was a well-attended Mil2Civ Workshop, a program designed to assist military members transitioning into civil aviation.

In all there were 125 educational and training courses offered, ranging from the use of automation to aerial firefighting, that attracted more than 4,180 attendees. Plus, the annual Rotor Safety Zone featured presentations, demonstrations, and access to the regulators overseeing aviation safety. 

VAI Getting Cleaner

During the conference VAI promoted greater use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by providing it to all aircraft flying into this year’s show.

“Vertical aviation must do our part to reduce our carbon footprint by incorporating SAF,” Viola said. “We want to thank Hangar 21, HeliStream Inc., Fullerton Municipal Airport [KFUL], World Energy, and Titan Aviation Fuels, who were instrumental in bringing SAF to HAI Heli-Expo.” 

Next year’s show, which will be called VERTICON 2025, will be in Dallas from March 10-13, with exhibits open March 11-13.

More information about VAI can be found here.

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Rainbow Helicopters Receives Humanitarian Award https://www.flyingmag.com/rainbow-helicopters-receives-humanitarian-award/ Thu, 11 Jan 2024 02:27:25 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=192637 The island-based company came to the aid of Maui fire victims.

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Rainbow Helicopters has been providing aerial tours of Hawaii for more than 10 years, and usually it’s people it transports. That changed after the devastation of the 2023 fires in Lahaina, Maui, where for several weeks the Rainbow Airbus AS350s and Robinson R44s were used to bring in diapers, baby formula, bottled water, food, and medical supplies. For this, the company has been recognized as the 2024 recipient of Helicopter Association International’s Humanitarian Service Salute to Excellence Award. 

The award, sponsored by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, honors the person or persons who best demonstrate the value of rotorcraft to the communities in which they operate by providing aid to those in need.

The award will be presented on February 26 at HAI Heli-Expo 2024 in Anaheim, California.

The Fire, the Response

The week of August 7 much of Hawaii was under a red flag warning for fire risk because of dangerous high-wind conditions caused by Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm that was moving across the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles south of the Hawaiian Islands. Power lines downed by strong winds were blamed for starting several fires, including the roaring inferno that moved so fast that people were trapped in their cars when flames overtook them on the road, and others ran from their homes with nothing. At least 100 people were killed. Some are still missing and presumed dead. The town was destroyed.

When the employees of Oahu, Hawaii-based Rainbow Helicopters learned of the situation, they stepped up to help the residents of Lahaina, particularly the mothers and babies who didn’t have formula or diapers.

Nicole Battjes, Rainbow Helicopters’ owner and director of operations, had a 6-week-old child at home and knew other mothers and babies needed help. She sent her father-in-law and a Rainbow team member on a Costco run to buy as much formula, diapers, baby wipes, and other supplies that could fit in an AS350.

The Rainbow team volunteered its time to create an airlift that took $4,000 of supplies to Kapalua Airport (PHJH), as close to Lahaina as the helicopter could safely land.

Ground-tour company volunteers met the helicopter with vans to unload and transport the supplies to families in need.

In addition to delivering much-needed supplies, Rainbow Helicopters established a GoFundMe account with the intention of raising $1,000 to purchase supplies for the Lahaina-area residents. The account raised more than $76,000, which was used to purchase supplies that Rainbow transported to the fire-ravaged area. Many of Rainbow’s employees volunteered their time, coming in off shift to help with the relief mission.

“It took on a life of its own, and I was overwhelmed with pride in our team, our community, and those making donations,” Battjes said. “At one point, through our partnerships, we were receiving photographs of specific supplies individual families needed, and our team members were volunteering their time to run to stores to get them and put them on the next flight. It took extra effort to drive around Oahu to find everything. It was really incredible to see people making this effort, and it was a feeling of hope during such a tragic time.”

Relief by the Numbers

Rainbow Helicopters flew 13 missions to Maui, carrying more than 5,500 pounds of supplies, including 275 containers of formula, 175 boxes of diapers and baby wipes, and more than 19 gallons of breast milk.

Castle & Cooke Aviation donated all the jet fuel, and Rainbow covered the avgas and aircraft for all the flights flown in both R44s and AS350s.

To help with distribution, Rainbow partnered with multiple organizations, including Northwest Mothers Milk Bank in Tigard, Oregon, and local nonprofits Keiki O Ka ‘Aina and Na ‘Aikane o Maui, which provided Rainbow with specific requests from families.

Rainbow continued its efforts into the holiday season, working with Keiki O Ka ‘Aina to provide food, gifts, and other necessities to families and arranging for an aircraft to fly Santa Claus to Maui to spread Christmas cheer and deliver food and gifts to children.

More information on HAI Heli-Expo 2024 can be found here.

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HAI Celebrates 75 Years https://www.flyingmag.com/hai-celebrates-75-years/ Wed, 13 Dec 2023 20:59:14 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=190549 The organization represents operators, pilots, maintenance technicians, manufacturers, and suppliers in the vertical aviation industry.

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Helicopter Association International (HAI), a professional trade association for the global helicopter industry, is marking its 75th anniversary on Wednesday.

Founded by 16 individuals on December 13, 1948, HAI now represents more than 1,100 companies and more than 16,000 people. The organization’s mission is “to provide opportunities for current and future forms of vertical aviation to flourish through advocacy, connection, and collaboration while elevating safety throughout the global industry.” 

According to HAI, its members, which include operators, pilots, maintenance technicians, manufacturers, and suppliers in at least 65 countries, log approximately 2.9 million hours in more than 3,700 helicopters and remotely piloted aircraft annually.

“Seventy-five years ago, a small group of visionaries had the foresight to establish an organization that would become the beacon for the vertical aviation industry,” said HAI president and CEO James Viola. “Today, HAI stands as a testament to their vision and the collective efforts of our members, volunteers, and staff. We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to promote vertical aviation worldwide.”

Alongside its advocacy work, HAI offers educational programs and content, provides scholarship opportunities, and leads safety programs such as the Vertical Aviation Safety Team and U.S. Helicopter Safety Team. It also runs working groups to “facilitate collaboration and the exchange of ideas.”

In addition, HAI hosts an annual trade show, Heli-Expo, which it calls “the world’s largest trade show, conference, and education event for vertical aviation.” The 2023 event welcomed more than 12,400 industry professionals from 97 countries, featuring 639 exhibitors and 49 aircraft. Heli-Expo 2024 is scheduled for February 26-29 in Anaheim, California.

“Looking to the future, HAI remains committed to the industry while embracing the expansion and development of new aircraft, infrastructure, and uses for vertical flight,” said Viola. “Our core mission is and will remain: to support our members and promote vertical aviation’s critical role in creating safe, prosperous, and connected communities around the world.”

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Enstrom Shows Off New Team, Latest Models at Heli-Expo https://www.flyingmag.com/enstrom-shows-off-new-team-latest-models-at-heli-expo/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:37:09 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=168224 The legacy OEM has bounced back from bankruptcy and the recent change of ownership.

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A number of companies debuted at the 2023 Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo last week in Atlanta, Georgia—and a handful of familiar brands returned after a hiatus.

One of the more conspicuous was Enstrom Helicopter Corporation. The legacy marque has bounced back following a bankruptcy in early 2022 and a change of ownership mid-year. The signs are clear that they are heading in the right direction with the announcement of sales during the conference—12, to be exact.

“We came into the show with some very high sales expectations, and we are thrilled with the results,” said Dennis Martin, vice president of sales and marketing for Enstrom.

The company credits the sales in part to new features incorporated into the tested designs, such as an integrated flight deck adding glass panels on both the 480B and 280FX models. The new 480B first flew again in January this year.

“Enstrom helicopters will also be equipped with a brand-new interior as well as having a signature paint scheme by the renowned artist Dean Loucks,” said the company in a statement.

”I’ve meet with many people this week who have come to our booth expressing interest in our aircraft and even more who have said how happy they are to see that Enstrom’s back and how excited they are that we’re manufacturing helicopters again,” said Chuck Surack, now owner of Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, based in Menominee, Michigan. Surack Enterprises purchased the company in May 2022.

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CMC Electronics Partners with Sikorsky on FMS for Black Hawks https://www.flyingmag.com/cmc-electronics-partners-with-sikorsky-on-fms-for-black-hawks/ Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:40:21 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=167859 The flight management system with radio integrated will deliver to a variety of special missions customers.

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A new flight management system lies in store for a list of Sikorsky helicopters used in military applications. At the 2023 Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo in Atlanta on Tuesday, CMC Electronics and Sikorsky announced their contract to provide CMC’s CMA-2028MC FMS to several Sikorsky models, including the UH-60M, HH-60M, HH-60W, S-70i, and the S-70M.

Both U.S. military and international operators will take delivery of the updated helicopters, including the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, to perform missions such as search and rescue, troop and personnel transport, medevac, disaster relief, aerial firefighting, and border patrol.

The CMA-2028MC integrates radio management along with the FMS functionality. Its reduced weight, low cost, and small size make it a flexible choice for the range of Black Hawks it is intended to serve.

Brad Nolen, vice president, sales and marketing, said in a statement, “Sikorsky and CMC have been collaborating for more than 25 years to ensure that the Black Hawk flight management system provides a highly reliable navigation solution with the capabilities needed to enable war fighters to complete crucial missions and save lives. CMC is excited to partner with Sikorsky on this latest program.”

CMC Electronics is based in Montreal, Quebec, while Sikorsky—now a Lockheed Martin company—is based in Stratford, Connecticut.

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Enstrom Announces First Flight of New 480B Helicopter https://www.flyingmag.com/enstrom-announces-first-flight-of-new-480b-helicopter/ Wed, 01 Feb 2023 23:18:25 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=166040 The flight marks the first since production resumed following Surack Enterprises' purchase of the company after its bankruptcy filing last year.

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Enstrom said it completed the first flight of a new 480B turbine helicopter since resuming operations eight months ago following bankruptcy proceedings.

The 480B is the 1317th helicopter Enstrom has built and the 255th of its 480 series, the company said, noting that the recently flown aircraft was not a “left-over airframe” from the pre-bankruptcy assembly line but was built with components newly made and assembled onsite.

Cody Parkovich, Enstrom’s production test pilot, flew the first new 480B and reported, “No issues. We were able to complete all our flight test steps on schedule. The team did a great job putting this helicopter together.”

Enstrom, based in Menominee, Michigan, received a production certificate from the FAA in December, allowing it to resume building helicopters. After 65 years in business, the company had shut down in January 2022, after declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Last May, Chuck Surack, the founder of Indiana-based Surack Enterprises, purchased Enstrom with plans to rebuild the brand.

“This was a critical milestone in our plan to not just bring back Enstrom, but to start to reinvent ourselves and the way we operate. It took all functions to focus on the objective. New supplier relationships, new machinists and fabricators and luckily many from prior years, better print definitions, a high standard of workmanship, and everyone onsite helping each other cross-functionally to bring us back online,” said Enstrom chief operating officer Adam Richardson.

Enstrom said it will display the new helicopter at next month’s Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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HAI to Bring First Flights, Broad Range of Rotorcraft to Heli-Expo 2022 https://www.flyingmag.com/hai-to-bring-first-flights-broad-range-of-rotorcraft-to-heli-expo-2022/ https://www.flyingmag.com/hai-to-bring-first-flights-broad-range-of-rotorcraft-to-heli-expo-2022/#comments Thu, 03 Mar 2022 14:31:08 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=121679 The annual convention takes place in Dallas, Texas, from March 7 to 10.

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For the Helicopter Association International, 2022 is shaping up to start off on a much better footing than 2021—with the anticipation of its annual Heli-Expo scheduled to move forward next week, March 7 through 10, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.

The agenda includes a full lineup of education sessions, keynote speakers, and product announcements over the course of four days.

First Flight Events Start Early

The action begins on Friday, March 4, with a “First Flight” event to be held at the landing area for the show, on the east side of the convention center. A series of VIPs will arrive in style aboard a range of rotorcraft, including plans for the following leaders to participate:

  • Craig Davis, president and CEO, Visit Dallas
  • James Viola, president and CEO,  Helicopter Association International
  • Romain Trapp, head of North America, Airbus Helicopters
  • Ben Bridge, EVP Global Business, Airbus Helicopters       
  • Rod Tinney, founder, president and CEO Air Center Helicopters, Inc.

The First Flight event is expected to kick off after the Airbus H225—owned by Air Center Helicopters—carrying them lands around 10:30 a.m. Each VIP will make a few remarks. The H225 will be configured for firefighting missions once it’s on display at the expo.

Rotor Safety Challenge

The main event—from a safety standpoint—is the return of the Rotor Safety Challenge, which is designed to assist those attending in learning new skills and improve on-the-job safety. The conference features nearly 50 sessions under the RSC this year, and all are free to those registered for the expo. 

Topics include:

  • Identifying and Mitigating Heliport Risk
  • Crew Resource Management in Air Medical
  • Inadvertent IMC
  • Helicopter Wake Turbulence
  • Fly Neighborly
  • UAS Integration

Professional education sessions take place throughout the event as well, including a Part 135 boot camp and a helicopter-focused flight instructor refresher course. Technical briefings led by various OEMs deep dive into new and current product offerings. HAI also offers a path for technicians to renew their inspection authorization at the event.

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Heli Expo Cancels and AERO Friedrichshafen Reschedules https://www.flyingmag.com/heli-expo-aero-friedrichshafen-event-plans/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 16:10:10 +0000 http://137.184.62.55/~flyingma/heli-expo-cancels-and-aero-friedrichshafen-reschedules/ The post Heli Expo Cancels and AERO Friedrichshafen Reschedules appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

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The evolving state of trade shows globally can’t seem to find a point of rest. Aerospace events aren’t immune, as key conferences such as Heli-Expo and AERO Friedrichshafen change plans while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge large-scale gatherings.

Helicopter Assocation Internation (HAI) announced during the week of January 18 that its marquee event, Heli-Expo, scheduled for March 22 to 25 in New Orleans, would be cancelled. An abiding sense of unease pervades the marketplace, as the association noted on its site: “While some in our industry have urged us to carry on with the show, the majority have recently expressed discomfort with the logistics involved in business travel at this time. HAI appreciates hearing from our diverse VTOL community, and we are grateful for the honest feedback that we’ve received from our members, exhibitors, attendees, and other stakeholders.”

The association offers several ways for companies and attendees to move forward: “Exhibitors have multiple options for their booth payments, including pushing participation and payment to the 2022 show in Dallas, repurposing dollars to other HAI advertising and sponsorship opportunities to support their business objectives in 2021, or issue of a full refund. Current exhibitors will be contacted with additional details in the next 5–7 business days, and more information on exhibitor options, including helpful contacts, can be found at heliexpo.com/faq.

Across the Atlantic, the organizers of AERO Friedrichshafen, Messe Friedrichshafen GmbH, announced on January 21 that it would postpone its conference planned for late April in Germany to the summer—in light of increased numbers of COVID-19 cases in Europe this winter. “Following the cancellation of the event last year, the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic coupled with the renewed lockdown extension unfortunately mean that AERO Friedrichshafen will have to be postponed,” said Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann. “With the aim of creating clear parameters for all our customers and partners, we have now decided at this relatively early stage to hold our upcoming AERO as a summer edition from July 14 to July 17, 2021, in Friedrichshafen.” The large number of reservations that the organization had already received gave them hope that the summer event would be well received. “AERO Friedrichshafen provides the global general aviation industry the opportunity to showcase its latest innovations,” said Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). “It has also become a premier setting for discussions about the current affairs and future of the industry in Europe. GAMA looks forward to our continued participation in this valuable general aviation expo – also at the upcoming summer edition from [the] 14th to 17th of July 2021.”

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