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All posts for the month April, 2021

Leonardo – The doors of the new Training Academy in Philadelphia are opening.

Posted by dgualdo on 30/04/2021
Posted in: Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – 29 April 2021

Officially opened through a virtual event on April 29, 2021, the new academy opened on schedule, despite the challenges of Covid-19. 

The new facility is located on the Philadelphia campus where Leonardo assembles the AW139, AW119Kx and AW609, and where it provides customer support across North and South America. It allows for ground, in-flight and virtual training to student pilots, making available digital courses, flight activities, simulation and mission training to meet any mission profile.

The US Academy also provides training for maintenance personnel, with on sight maintenance trainers and tools.

The main features of this new training location are: 

  • 10 multi-media classrooms, sized for both intimate and large group training, equipped with the latest technology, designed to provide interactive 2D/3D graphic content 
  • Three maintenance simulators, one AW139, one AW119 and soon one AW609
  • Two full-flight motion simulators, one AW139 and one AW169/AW609 with roll-on/roll-off capability. Jointly developed by Leonardo and CAE and operated by their Rotorsim JV, the simulators provide realistic training for specific missions, including off-shore, law enforcement, EMS and passenger transport. Additionally, an empty bay exists to allow the addition of a third full flight simulator to be added in the future to be based on demand
  • Special amenities for students to either take a break and mentally recharge through meditation and thoughtful reflection in a quiet, dedicated room – or ramp up their endorphins utilizing exercise equipment in gym that includes locker rooms and showers for customer convenience.

Join us in the virtual tour to experience our new Training Academy.

Leonardo announced today a further major reinforcement of its presence and customer service and technologies in US with the official opening of their brand new, state of the art Helicopter Training Academy, located on their existing campus in northeast Philadelphia that also includes production, support and administrative functions for the United States. The new Academy was first announced at the 2019 Heli-Expo in Atlanta and, despite the challenges of Covid-19, was able to open two years later, on schedule.

The new Academy in Philadelphia is part of an $80 million investment in United States operations that will provide training services for a growing demand and need for pilots, cabin crews and maintenance technicians across North and South America. The Training Academy in the US will mirror the services provided by its sister facility in Sesto-Calende (Italy) offering ground, air and virtual training and leverages also simulator capabilities jointly developed by Leonardo and CAE and operated by their Rotorsim JV. The Academy, which is already up and running for customers, features training services for the AW119, AW169, AW139 models and will also be home to the training services for global customers of the world’s first tiltrotor set to receive civil certification, the AW609. This one of a kind Academy strengthens the role of Leonardo as the only helicopter OEM that has an own capability of designing, developing, delivering, qualifying, supporting and operating the fullest range of Training Systems, with certified OEM-data into the simulated environment. 

Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo CEO, said: “In our sector, only organizations with a clear vision, strategy and consistency in execution can aim for a sustainable long-term business and become strategic assets for their countries. We want to be regarded as a partner, not just a supplier, by continuing to ensure an outstanding service and training experience. And we integrate these capabilities into our unique helicopter offer with the ambition of becoming the world leader in the sector. Advanced simulation, augmented reality, artificial intelligence – all embedded today in our US Academy – are examples of this vision. It can leverage on game-changing technologies we are deploying and on investments in the deep digitalization of our offer and processes.”   
Gian Piero Cutillo, Leonardo Helicopters MD, added: “Our new US Training Academy will help to serve the largest market for helicopters in the global industry, and will be part of a continued process to guarantee customer proximity and expand our range of offer. We are committed to devoting every possible effort to continue to build a training culture as part of our value proposition, a true benefit of all our stakeholders, customers, end-users.”  

“We purposely co-located the Academy next to our main production, support, and administrative offices because we wanted to not only provide cutting-edge training with modern technology to our customers, but also give them an inside view of our organization, our culture, and how our product is made and maintained with a constant emphasis on quality and safety” said Bill Hunt, CEO of AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation and Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters US. 

“I want to congratulate Leonardo Helicopters on completing their new Training Academy in the US at their existing production and support campus at Northeast Philadelphia Airport. I am proud of the role this Philadelphia-based team has played in bringing this Academy online, together with their teammates in Italy”, said Jim Kenney, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.

The first Leonardo Helicopter Training Academy opened in Sesto-Calende (Italy) in 2006 and in its inaugural year provided training to 600 students; by the 2018-2020 period, that number grew to an average of 10,000 annually across the growing global training network also including similar facilities in the United Kingdom, Poland and Malaysia as well as authorized training centres. The latest step in US confirms Leonardo’s commitment to a continued enhancement of the level of customer service. 

Since 1980, the helicopter business of Leonardo has been proud to call Philadelphia, Pennsylvania its home in the United States. Located at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE) just minutes outside the Central Business District, the facility has grown over the last 40 years from a basic service center to the Leonardo’s US Industrial Center of Excellence for helicopters.  

Leonardo is committed to providing leading, comprehensive support and training services to deliver unprecedented benefits to customers in terms of safety, quality, effectiveness, cost, and sustainability as a cornerstone of Leonardo’s Be Tomorrow 2030 Strategic Plan.

Leonardo welcomes Kopter’s SH09 into its helicopter portfolio as the AW09.

Posted by dgualdo on 21/04/2021
Posted in: Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , , .
  • The new designation fully identifies the product as a Leonardo helicopter model while preserving its modern and distinguished features
  • The P3 prototype has now logged over 40 flight hours in its new configuration, with the PS4 expected to fly this year, followed by the PS5
  • Kopter is set to become a Centre of Competence for light helicopters and new rotorcraft technologies

PRESS RELEASE – Rome, 21 April 2021

One year after completing the acquisition of the Swiss Company KopterGroup AG (Kopter), Leonardo welcomes the SH09 single-engine helicopter as a full member of its product range by rebranding it as the AW09.

This step synergizes the two identities of Leonardo and Kopter. The AW09 perfectly complements the existing product range of Leonardo, allowing the Company to increase its share in the strategic single-engine market, which is one of the largest and most dynamic segments worldwide.

Furthermore, the AW09, brings next generation performance, demonstrates Leonardo’s innovation leadership within industry as the helicopter features the latest safety standards and most advanced technologies and this will pave the path for further advancements in vertical flight. Gian Piero Cutillo, Leonardo Helicopters MD, said: “The product with the people and their skills were all important reasons for the acquisition of Kopter. As we make the Kopter team part of our family through the ongoing integration, we now have the latest addition to our product range fully identified with Leonardo, while preserving its invaluable distinguished features. With the AW09, we’re more than ever fully committed to pursuing a revolution in the single-engine market and setting an all-new standard.”

The AW09 will continue to be developed by Kopter in Switzerland. The programme progresses further with the contribution of joint Leonardo-Kopter teams. The third prototype (P3) has now logged in excess of 40 flight hours in Switzerland since mid-January in its new configuration. This includes enhancements in the main rotor head, gearbox, an extended rotor mast and a new design of the flight controls, combined with the modern Garmin G3000H cockpit. All of this brings even better flight characteristics, performance and ease of maintenance. The AW09 next prototype, PS4, is expected to fly this year, followed by the PS5.

Kopter is set to become a Centre of Competence for new light helicopters and an incubator of new technologies for vertical flight. As such, it will contribute to the development of new hybrid and electrical propulsion systems and will play an important role in the framework of Leonardo’s Be Tomorrow 2030 strategic plan, which aims to be in the leading position on the civil rotorcraft market and modern air mobility. The single-engine, turbine-powered AW09 offers increased modularity, modern electronic systems, high digitalization and the largest cabin and cargo hold in its category. Outstanding characteristics – including fast cruise speeds and excellent hot-andhigh capabilities – are combined with a low noise signature resulting from the newly-developed dynamic assembly and shrouded tail-rotor.

Airbus – H125 performance increase certified by EASA.

Posted by dgualdo on 20/04/2021
Posted in: Airbus Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – Marignane, 16 April 2021.

Airbus Helicopters has received EASA certification for the power upgrade of its single-engine H125 helicopter.

Announced at Heli-Expo last year, this major evolution increases the aircraft’s power by up to 10% by making full use of the available power of the existing Safran Helicopter Engines’ Arriel 2D.

While the maximum take-off weight of the aircraft remains unchanged, its external and internal load lifting capabilities are increased for a large part of the flight domain (by up to +140 kg), while the hover ceiling OGE at maximum take-off weight is increased by more than 1,500 ft (up to 12,600 ft).

“It is our ambition to continuously improve our products and bring further competitive advantages to our customers”, said Axel Aloccio, Head of Light Helicopters Programme. “The extra power offered by this major upgrade represents a 10% to 20% payload increase for a typical aerial work mission versus the aircraft’s current lifting capabilities and confirms the superiority of the H125 in terms of payload and value for money”.

This extra power will be included as a standard feature, at no additional cost, on all new-built H125s delivered from September 2021 onwards. A retrofit solution consisting of a VEMD software upgrade, available from Thales via an in-shop retrofit or standard exchange, will also be available for all H125s already in service within the EASA region by the end of April 2021. Additional international certifications are expected to be obtained in the coming months.

With more than 4,000 helicopters in service with about 1,500 global customers and 28.5 million accumulated flight hours, the H125 continues to lead the single engine helicopter market in all mission segments thanks to its high performance and multi-mission capacity. In the last 10 years 1,420 H125s have been delivered, resulting in a 52% market share.

Airbus – Derazona to be Asia’s first H160 operator for oil and gas.

Posted by dgualdo on 20/04/2021
Posted in: Airbus Helicopters NEWS, Offshore. Tagged: , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – Jakarta, 12 April 2021

Airbus Helicopters has secured an H160 order from Derazona Helicopters in Indonesia, launching this new rotorcraft in the country’s oil and gas sector.

The multi-mission H160 will play an important role in the expansion plans of the Indonesian operator for oil and gas, off-shore, utility and commercial passenger transportation.

“This new order is a timely welcome as our company embarks on a transformation journey to grow our business. We are very impressed by the performance of the H160, and excited at the opportunities that this state-of-the-art helicopter will bring to our operations,” said Ramadi Widyardiono, Business Development Manager of Derazona Helicopters.

“We are greatly honoured by Derazona’s vote of confidence, becoming not just the country’s first H160 operator, but our oil and gas launch customer in the Asia Pacific region,” said Vincent Dubrule, Head of Asia Pacific of Airbus Helicopters. “The H160 is a game-changer, setting new standards for safety, performance, comfort and design. We trust that it will be a valuable asset to our customer as they bolster their operations with this versatile workhorse,” he added.

With 68 patents, the innovative H160 is the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter designed with passenger’s safety and comfort in mind. The design features an unprecedented suite of pilot aids delivered through its Helionix avionics which substantially reduces crew workload and decreases the risk of pilot error.

The aircraft has been designed from the very beginning to comply with the demanding conditions of oil and gas operations. The aircraft’s compact size will be an added advantage to landing on oil platforms. Powered by Safran Helicopter Engines’ latest Arrano engines, the H160 enjoys a 15% reduction in fuel burn, contributing immediately to reducing emissions. The Blue Edge blades and the largest shrouded Fenestron tail rotor ensure low sounds levels and deliver high end performance at the same time.

Designed as a multi-mission helicopter capable of addressing key missions from offshore transportation, private and business aviation, aeromedical services, search and rescue, as well as other public service missions, the inherent flexibility of the H160 will suit all kinds of operations around the world.

ASN NEWS – Helicopter hard landed near Bisaccia (AV).

Posted by dgualdo on 02/04/2021
Posted in: Incidents / Accidents, Italian Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , .

Aviation Safety Network NEWS – 31 March 2021

During day 31 March 2021 an Airbus Helicopter H125 registered I-MIAT suffered an apparent hard landing near Bisaccia (AV), Italy, causing serious damage to the tail boom and main rotor blades (no injuries reported for the flying crew). The helicopter was engaged in transporting a basket of concrete for the construction of a wind turbine pylon. Further investigation about the accident is in progress by Italian Agency ANSV.

For further info and details please visit the following link: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/249291