February 26, 2008

NVG for all night helo ops, says FAA

By Matt Thurber

The FAA’s David Downey recommends that all night helicopter operations be flown by pilots wearing night-vision goggles (NVGs). “NVGs should be the norm, not the exception,” said Downey, manager of the FAA’s rotorcraft directorate in Fort Worth, Texas. Thus far, 500 helicopters have been modified for NVG operations, including pilot equipment and internal lighting, and the trend continues to grow, h more

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Operators are seeing the benefits of night vision

By Thierry Dubois and Mark Huber

Growing interest from helicopter operators wanting to use night-vision goggles (NVGs) is spurring demand for better training as well. Feedback from long-time NVG users demonstrated that they improve safety, but lessons from the field also highlight the need to use the technology with caution.

Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) of Boise, Idaho, was the first company to train civil EMS more

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High wires and low fliers: new technology targets old conflict

By Thierry Dubois

Safety device manufacturers are striving to offer better obstacle detection equipment to confront the dangers of collisions with obstacles and especially wires. Options range from expensive systems that provide greatly enhanced situational awareness to lower-cost systems with more limited functionality.

Germany-based EADS Defence and Security offers helicopter laser radar (Hellas), a s more

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For Agusta, ‘Versace’ is Italian for ‘exclusive’

By Jennifer Harrington

AgustaWestland (Booth No. 3039) unveiled its exclusive AW139 Versace interior Sunday, but the Italian OEM was quick to point out that it did not expand its line of exclusive interiors and layouts for money or profit.

According to Renzo Lunardi, senior v-p of the company’s commercial business unit, AgustaWestland wanted to offer its customers a product that would inspire and create emoti more

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Soloy gets 100th LTS101 for its AS 350 re-engining program

Soloy has received the 100th LTS101 turboshaft from Honeywell for the Olympia, Wash. company’s Eurocopter AS 350 engine conversion program. Soloy Aviation Solutions and Honeywell inked a pact for AStar AS 350BA and AS 350B2 re-
engining in 2004.

Honeywell has been delivering the 650-shp LTS101-600A-3A for the AS 350BA retrofit, and the -700D-2 for the AS 350B2. The latter, Honeywe more

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Changing of the Guard at Turbomeca

While observing its 70th anniversary on the eve of Heli-Expo 2008, Turbomeca opened a Saturday afternoon press conference with outgoing chairman and chief executive officer Emeric d’Arcimoles introducing his soon-to-be successor, current Turbomeca executive vice president Pierre Fabre. The latter will assume leadership of the French helicopter engine manufacturer on March 31.

The engine more

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GKN Flotation System Saves Weight, Volume

GKN Aerospace (Booth No. 4123) has a better idea, and it floats. The UK-based company has created a new helicopter emergency flotation system that it says offers a 50-percent saving in volume and a 25-percent weight reduction. It is an adaptation of technology applied in European Space Agency programs and uses cool gas generator (CGG) technology. The usual large gas pressure vessels have been repl more

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Honeywell Sentinel Nav Debuts in UK

UK helicopter service company Sterling Aviation took delivery of Honeywell’s Sentinel navigation system for its Eurocopter BK 117 fleet, and the initial response from operational crews is “very encouraging,” according to Sterling Aviation managing director Gerry Hermer. Sterling Aviation operates the East Anglian Air Ambulance service. “Before Sentinel, no navigation systems provided a cost-effect more

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ISF Moving to Fort Worth Rotor Hub

Ranger Aerospace & Aeronautics subsidiary Integrated Flight Systems (IFS) is moving from Reno, Nev., to Hangar 4 North at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas. The move brings IFS closer to Ranger Aerospace facilities at Meacham and nearby Irving, Texas. IFS designs and
manufactures civil and military helicopter air-conditioning and camera systems. The new facility will add space for produ more

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FDC/aerofilter helps AStars breathe easier

Inlet-barrier filtration (IBF) supplier FDC/aerofilter (Booth No. 537) yesterday announced that its filtration system for the dual-hydraulic Eurocopter AS 350B3 has been granted FAA STC approval. Eurocopter adapted the cowling from the EC 130B4 for the dual-hydraulic AS 350B3, so FDC likewise adapted the company’s approved EC 130 filtration system and cowling interface to the aircraft.

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