Bell officially unveiled its electrically distributed anti-torque (EDAT) system via its Facebook page February 20, but has been operating it on a Bell 429 flying testbed aircraft since May 2019 and applied for a related patent in 2017. EDAT significantly reduces helicopter noise, augments power to the main rotor, and simplifies maintenance by replacing the tailrotor with a series of four ducted fans embedded in the vertical stabilizer.
Each fan is powered by its own electric motor and inputs to the system are controlled via fly-by-wire. EDAT eliminates the need for tailrotor mechanical systems, including driveshafts and gearboxes.
Bell, which has been flight testing EDAT at its Mirabel, Quebec facility, teased it was working on an electrically-powered anti-torque system back in 2017 when it unveiled a mock-up of FCX concept helicopter. That design used electrically-driven vectored thrust in the tailboom to provide anti-torque.
On EDAT, Bell worked with Safran, one of its announced partners on its Nexus 4EX eVTOL urban air taxi program. That aircraft uses a series of four ducted fans to provide thrust. Using electric power to provide tailrotor thrust has long been a topic of investigation for helicopters. In 2017, researchers at Italy’s L’Aquila University evaluated it for an Airbus EC130.
Delegation Perceptions Remain Key Industry Concern
Industry leaders remain concerned about perceptions surrounding the use of delegation authority and are stressing the need to impress upon Congress that sweeping changes would hamper safety. At GAMA's State of the Industry gathering on Wednesday, GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce highlighted the many new traditional and non-traditional aircraft in the pipeline. “We have all of these companies working on new types of vehicles; it is literally going to change our world and it’s going to happen faster than people realize,” Bunce said, adding this is what makes the certification process so important.
However, he has become concerned about the misunderstandings that have arisen in the aftermath of the Boeing Max crashes. “When people start talking about self-certification, they have no idea about how intricately and integrally involved the FAA is in each step of the process. If we don’t delegate to experts...we are not able to refresh our products and make them safe."
Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper added, “Without that level of cooperation [through delegation], product development would grind to a halt in the industry...There’s not enough manpower.” Hoping to dispel the myth that the use of delegation represents lax FAA oversight, he stressed, “The entire process is managed and controlled by the FAA.” Any movement to throw out the process “would be a mistake,” he said.
Spirit Aeronautics has completed the first aftermarket retrofit of a Bongiovi speakerless audio system on a business aircraft. Installed in a Dassault Falcon 7X at Spirit’s Columbus, Ohio facility, the audio system incorporates vibrating transducers fitted to the back of interior panels that generate sounds waves, turning the entire cabin into a speaker and creating an immersive, high-fidelity audio experience, according to Bongiovi.
The technology was developed by Bongiovi Acoustic Labs, founded by record producer Tony Bongiovi, who began developing onboard hi-fi audio in the 1980s, seeking an improved listening experience as a Twin Comanche owner and pilot.
“This cabin entertainment system surpasses any business-class aircraft cabin system flying today for ease of use, while it provides audiophile-level sound quality of the highest order,” said Spirit CEO Rick Ochs. Besides improved audio quality, the Bongiovi system eliminates the space required for speakers and the need to accommodate their grilles within interior designs.
In conjunction with the audio upgrade, the Falcon 7X was outfitted with a new IFE system, satcom and window shade systems, Wi-Fi router, and video monitors.
NTSB Calls for Comprehensive Approach to Alaska Safety
The NTSB is calling on the FAA to assemble a government-industry industry working group that will take a comprehensive approach to tackle Alaska’s aviation safety record, which remains among the worst in the U.S. In a recommendation issued late last week, the Safety Board said the working group should prioritize Alaska’s safety needs and integrate them into the FAA’s safety processes.
That recommendation stems from concerns that the aviation accident rate in Alaska was 2.35 times higher than that for the rest of the U.S. from 2008 to 2017 and the fatal accident rate was 1.34 times higher during the same period, the NTSB said.
Concerning to the NTSB is that the FAA has a number of efforts underway in various stages of implementation, but these efforts are being conducted in a “silo-like” approach rather than as a comprehensive, coordinated approach. “We need to marshal the resources of the FAA to tackle aviation safety in Alaska in a comprehensive way,” said NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt. “The status quo is, frankly, unacceptable.”
Safran Helicopter Engines opened a $54 million, 355,000-sq-ft industrial campus in the city of Tarnos in southwest France on Friday. The new campus, “CAP 2020,” represents a significant modernization of the existing facility there and will mainly be dedicated to product support and MRO activities, including the hub for Safran Helicopter Engines' global support network.
Its Tarnos campus currently employs 1,550 and is the company’s second-largest facility behind the main plant at Bordes. The new campus is spread over three buildings dedicated to office space to manage global support, a repair shop for in-service engines, and a parts and components repair shop dedicated to the MRO of Safran engines from its worldwide support sites.
CAP 2020 is expected to assist Safran in achieving its previously stated goal of reducing MRO cycles by 30 percent. “This new industrial campus complex enables us to welcome our customers to a modern site and offer them the very highest quality of service. CAP 2020 also provides our teams with a rejuvenated working environment that will help them realize their full potential,” said CEO Franck Saudo. The new campus also is expected to be the hub for Safran’s contract with France’s armed forces and parapublic services that covers 1,600 engines.
Russian Group Preps for Superconductor Motor Testing
The Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects (RFARP) expects to be ready to start flight testing an aircraft powered by an electric motor using superconductor materials by 2021. According to deputy director general Vitaly Davydov, the state-backed defense research agency is working jointly with superconductor developer SuperOx to develop an all-electric eVTOL aircraft.
The partners said the aircraft’s 500-kW motor will use high-temperature superconductors (HTSC), which significantly reduce electrical resistance to deliver power more efficiently. It will use as-yet-unspecified materials that are cooled by liquid nitrogen. According to RFARP, the agency and SuperOx expect to develop an HTSC-electric that would be more suitable for all-electric or hybrid-electric powerplants for a variety of existing fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as for new generation eVTOL designs.
In any case, the outcome of the joint RFARP/SuperOx testing of the superconductor motor technology could prompt Russia’s domestic aerospace industry to invest in electric aircraft development. The state-backed United Aircraft Corp. would likely play a prominent role in any such moves.
Meanwhile, the European Union-funded advanced superconducting motor experimental demonstrator program is advancing plans for a motor with a power-to-weight ratio of 20 kW/kg and a 99 percent efficiency rating for conducting electricity.
This story comes from the FutureFlight.aero resource developed by AIN.
Russian Helicopters has received certification approval from Rosaviatsiya for its new “Aurus” executive cabin in its light twin Ansat helicopter, clearing the way for deliveries. The light multi-purpose Ansat helicopter was designed by the Kazan Helicopter Plant's design bureau for missions including passenger and VIP transport, cargo delivery, environmental monitoring, and air medical ambulance.
Testing of the new interior included those for cabin electromagnetics. The VIP layout includes two single seats and a facing three-place bench.
Concurrent with this approval, Russian Helicopters also said the Ansat has received certification validation from the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC). In 2018, Russian Helicopters signed a contract to supply 20 Ansats to the Chinese Emergency and Disaster Relief Association. Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov said Russian Helicopters is currently in the process of “ensuring after-sales service” in China and the country’s market had the potential to absorb “several hundred” Ansats.
The helicopter received initial Russian certification in 2013 and an EMS variant was certified in 2015. In 2018, Rosaviatsiya approved a service life extension for a variety of Ansat components. Approximately 100 Ansats are currently in service in Russia.
Aviation Safety Question of the Week
Provided by
Regarding supersonic aerodynamics, which changes occur to the airflow when passing through a normal shock wave?
A. Humidity increases, sonic boom speed decreases, and the Mach number decreases.
B. Dynamic pressure increases, heat transmission decreases, and the boundary layer attaches more firmly.
C. Temperature decreases, pressure decreases, density remains unchanged, and the Mach number remains unchanged.
D. Static pressure increases, density increases, and the Mach number decreases to subsonic.
Wichita Airport Lawsuit Alleges Fraud, Conspiracy
Midwest Corporate Aviation (MCA), the long-time FBO at Wichita Col. James Jabara Airport (AAO) filed a lawsuit last week alleging fraud and conspiracy by the city, Wichita Airport Authority (WAA) and director of airports Victor White over the relocation of a Part 135 operator and aircraft management firm whose original plans included opening a second FBO there. The lawsuit was filed on February 18, the same day the Wichita city council approved by a 5-2 vote a lease and use agreement for Clemens Aviation to operate at AAO, an executive/general aviation airport.
According to city documents, Clemens Aviation plans to invest about $4 million to build 36,000 sq ft of hangars, offices, and a customer service area.
MCA alleges in the lawsuit that it learned of a “secret agenda” by Clemens Aviation and White to create a second FBO on land that was not part of a request for proposal (RFP) to expand at AAO. MCA further alleges it was the only company to respond to the RFP, which was approved by WAA. Additionally, MCA alleges the second FBO was to be on land that wasn’t part of the RFP and in a location that was contrary to the airport master plan. The lawsuit alleges the plans by Clemens “would profoundly decrease the value of the MCA leasehold at Jabara Airport.”
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