Sikorsky launched two new variants of its S-92 heavy twin this morning at Heli-Expo 2019—the S-92A+, an upgrade package for in-service S-92s, and new-production S-92B. Both promise better operating costs and greater reliability and mission flexibility, the Lockheed Martin subsidiary said.
These updates will include new flight computing technology and main gearbox, as well as an interior common to search and rescue (SAR) and offshore operations; and an optional engine upgrade that improves hot-and-high performance. The only differences between the variants will be found on the S-92B, which will have larger cabin windows, a common cabin door for offshore and SAR missions, and titanium side frames for a stronger airframe.
Both types will share Sikorsky’s phase one Matrix advanced flight computing hardware and software, which enables Rig Approach 2.0 and SuperSearch. Also included with the new variants is a Phase IV gearbox constructed of aluminum, which is stronger and more resistant to corrosion than the magnesium gearbox found on the original S-92. Meanwhile, the optional GE Aviation CT7-8A6 for the A+ and B variants will produce more power at high altitudes and hotter temperatures than the standard CT7-8A.
Sikorsky isn’t disclosing a price for the A+ upgrades or the new-production B model, though it said the latter is expected to be below historical S-92 prices. The company currently plans initial availability of the variants for 2022.
Universal Avionics is continuing its research partnership with the FAA to further develop and mature new regulations to support the use of enhanced flight vision systems/enhanced helicopter vision systems (EFVS/EHVS) for rotorcraft. The FAA is also evaluating the use of the company’s Heli-ClearVision as a representative EHVS to improve helicopter safety and provide operational benefit in day, night, and low-visibility conditions.
The Heli-ClearVision lineup includes the SkyLens head-wearable display (HWD) and the SkyVis helmet-mounted display (HMD), which are capable of presenting primary flight display flight symbology, conformal information, synthetic vision system (SVS), enhanced vision system (EVS) with an EVS-4000 multispectral camera, and combined vision system (CVS).
Universal Avionics hardware was fully integrated into the FAA's Sikorsky S-76 flying testbed helicopter at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center at Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey. Once the integration was completed, training and familiarization flights were conducted with FAA test pilots, followed by the start of data collection flights for the FAA's planned research and development.
The next phase of testing is planned for early this year and includes additional day, night, and twilight flights with the SkyLens HWD and SkyVis HMD. Later this year, experimental trials are scheduled to include the SkyVis night-vision goggle HMD.
Metro Aviation has purchased Ottawa, Ontario-based Guardian Mobility, a provider of global tracking, voice and data communications, flight data monitoring (FDM), and analytics services. This is the second acquisition of this type by Metro—it previously purchased Outerlink Global Solutions in 2014 and has continued to develop its technology under the Iris brand, offering near real-time tracking, push-to-talk communication, FDM with voice and video, immediate alerts and warnings, and analytics.
Guardian’s G4 product provides global, real-time user tracking and two-way messaging in a single device equipped with automatic flight following (AFF) and additional telemetry unit (ATU). Metro said buying Guardian will give it access to portable products that fill gaps in its current Outerlink product line, as well as the benefits associated with Guardian’s status as an Iridium value-added reseller.
Metro CEO Mike Stanberry told AIN that the acquisition “was very complementary for us. Guardian has a huge Canadian and overseas presence, which we do not have. It has a lot of fixed-wing clients while our efforts are primarily in rotorcraft. And it is on a strong upward trajectory for acquiring new business. Our Outerlink lacked a good carry-on device and Guardian has really hung their hat on that.” Stanberry said he saw Guardian customers as eventual potential step-up clientele for Outerlink systems services and equipment.
Visit the AIN team at Booth B2218 for a chance to win a Bose Soundlink Revolve speaker or Bose Frames. Raffle sponsored by Bose Aviation.
Fatal Helicopter Accident Rate Climbing
The fatal helicopter accident rate has progressively increased over the last three years—from 0.54 per 100,000 flight hours in 2016 to 0.6 in 2017 to 0.72 in 2018—according to data released by U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) yesterday at Heli-Expo 2019. To achieve the safety organization's goal of reducing the overall helicopter fatal accident rate by 20 percent by 2020, the cumulative average rate would need to measure 0.61.
Likewise, fatalities per 100,000 hours jumped from 1.02 in 2017 to 1.64 in 2018. However, the overall accident rate has held fairly steady over the last three years, declining slightly from 3.67 per 100,000 flight hours in 2016 to 3.62 in 2018.
USHST attributed the rise in fatal accidents over the past three years in large part to accidents associated with non-essential low-altitude operations in which helicopters encountered obstacles. A causation comparison of fatal accidents between the baseline period 2009 and 2013 and then in 2018 showed that loss of control accounted for 18 percent in the baseline and 13 percent in 2018; inadvertent IMC encounters, 17 percent (baseline) and 4 percent (2018); and elective low-altitude operations at altitudes not dictated by the mission, 15 percent (baseline) and 33 percent (2018). The “other causes” category held steady at 50 percent for both the baseline and 2018 periods.
Kopter expects its flight-test team to be ensconced this month at the southern tip of Sicily in Pozzalo, Italy, for the push to finalize the design of its new SH09 single-engine, large-cabin helicopter. It is targeted for the aeromedical, rescue, law enforcement, utility, and passenger transport market segments. According to Kopter CEO Andreas Löwenstein, “Pozzalo is probably the spot in Europe where they have the best and most stable weather conditions,” for flight testing.
At the end of last month, Kopter’s third prototype (P3) completed more than 50 hours of flight testing, including achieving a speed of 126 knots—the eventual cruise target is 140—and an altitude of more than 5,000 feet. “We feel that the aircraft is behaving very well, so it’s a good confirmation of the expected performance,” Löwenstein told AIN.
“We are quite confident that most of the configurations will stay stable now so we are already starting to build the long-lead components for [pre-series] PS4,” he added. By year-end, PS5, a clone of PS4, will be produced for the extreme weather portion of certification testing, including cold-weather regions. Kopter is working with both EASA and FAA toward early 2020 aircraft certification, which Löwenstein acknowledged is “not so easy to predict.” He promised initial customer deliveries in late 2020 against a “committed order book” of 65 aircraft and nearly 100 letters of intent.
Sikorsky is launching two new variants of its heavy twin – an S-92A+ upgrade package for in-service helicopters, and the new-production S-92B. Both new models include new flight computing technology and main gearbox, as well as an interior common to search and rescue and offshore operations. The new Phase IV gearbox is constructed of aluminum, replacing the original magnesium, and has a new lubrication system, improving reliability. A GE Aviation CT7-8A6 engine, which improves hot-and-high performance, is also available as an option. New production S-92B variants will offer a few differences from the A+ with larger cabin windows, updated cabin entry door, and titanium side frames to strengthen the airframe.
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