Category: Rotor

Safran and AECC Strengthen Industrial Cooperation on WZ16 Engine

Safran and Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) have signed a memorandum of agreement to strengthen their industrial cooperation on the WZ16 French-Chinese helicopter engine. This agreement was signed in Beijing by Alexandre Ziegler, Safran senior executive vice president, International and Public Affairs, and AECC Chairman Cao Jianguo, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s State Visit to China.

The WZ16 is jointly developed and built by Safran Helicopter Engines and AECC. Certification by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) was announced on 10 October 2019. The engine is installed in the AVIC AC352 helicopter.

Through this memorandum of agreement, Safran Helicopter Engines and AECC agree to:

  •   Study opportunity for a joint venture in China to support and maintain in-service WZ16.
  •   Prepare and launch production ramp-up of WZ16 to deliver a first order of 120 engines and discuss opportunity for 100 additional units.
  •   Discuss new applications for WZ16, including turboprop variant for fixed-wing aircraft.Alexandre Ziegler says that “the WZ16 partnership between Safran and AECC is already a success as the first jointly-developed aero-engine to be entirely certified by Chinese authorities. This new agreement is an opportunity to enlarge our partnership, especially as we prepare for certification and entry-into-service”

Also known as the Ardiden 3C, the WZ16 is a new-generation turboshaft in the 1,700-2,000 shp range. The Ardiden 3C was certified by EASA in April 2018. The AC352’s maiden flight took place on December 2016 and certification is planned for 2021.

GPMS Secures 5th Patent Related to its Foresight Prognostic Health Monitoring System

GPMS has secured a patent related to its Foresight prognostic health management system for helicopters and rotating industrial equipment, making it the fifth patent related to the GPMS system, and the thirtieth patent by GPMS founder and inventor, Dr. Eric Bechhoefer. This most recent patent is focused on the system and method for generation of a tachometer signal and reduction of jitter to improve the quality of data related to gear fault analysis. Previous related patents include integrated hanger bearing design, a method for determining blade track height, and a method for generating a tach signal from vibration.

To date, most research published on gear fault analysis techniques has been based on the time synchronous average (TSA), which is based on tachometer zero cross times for a key phasor. As a result, the analyses are dependent on the quality of the tachometer data. As a leader in the fields of prognostic health management, HUMS, and condition monitoring, Dr. Bechhoefer recognized that, because the tachometer signal has a constant jitter due to electrical noise, magnetic noise, or manufacturing spacing error of the tachometer target, the data quality of the TSA was not optimally concise and ultimately did not accurately reflect the performance of gear condition indicators, impacting performance and maintenance of equipment.

The GPMS Foresight system includes a novel zero-phase filter that reduces tachometer jitter, thereby producing large improvements in fault detection and enabling the delivery of concise, actionable information about current mechanical and operational issues, as well as predictive information on timeframes for upcoming required maintenance to minimize unplanned downtime.

“Our exclusive approach to gear fault analysis and detection is a critical component in the safety, ROI and lifespan of equipment,” says Dr. Bechhoefer. “GPMS’s dedication to the modernization and precision of HUMS drives our innovation and ability to deliver game-changing solutions for the aviation industry. We are proud to have five patents and counting, underscoring the technical depth behind our Foresight system.”

The company says their Foresight MX offers a full scope of functionality including mechanical diagnostics and prognostics, engine performance monitoring, exceedance monitoring, flight regime recognition, automated data acquisition, and automated, optimized solutions for rotor, track and balance. The system reduces operational costs through advanced notification of impending maintenance requirements while adhering to budget, space and weight constraints of operators. On a typical light helicopter, Foresight MX weighs in at less than nine pounds including all hardware, cable, and mounting components, and provides automatic alerting through email and SMS and an intuitive, simple user interface accessible through a standard web browser on a laptop, desktop, tablet or cell phone.

OmniScan X3 Flaw Detector Aims to Redefine the Standard for Phased Array

OmniScan instruments are recognized globally as the benchmark for portable phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) thanks to their power, reliability and ease of use. The new OmniScan X3 flaw detector elevates the standard with innovations that improve the entire inspection workflow. Setting up for a job is faster and more efficient while total focusing method (TFM) images collected through full matrix capture (FMC) give users more confidence in their decision making. When an inspection is complete, leading-edge software tools make analysis and reporting easier.

The OmniScan X3 flaw detector combines the essential tools needed for PAUT inspections, such as TOFD, two UT channels, eight groups and 16:64PR, 16:128PR and 32:128PR configurations, with powerful innovations, including:
– TFM/FMC with 64-element aperture support
– Improved phased array imaging, including an innovative live TFM envelope feature
– Acoustic influence map (AIM) simulator for TFM mode
– 25 GB file size
– Up to 1,024 × 1,024-pixel TFM reconstruction and four simultaneous, live TFM propagation modes
– Simplified user interface with onboard scan plan
– Wireless connectivity to the Olympus Scientific Cloud (OSC) for software updates

The comprehensive onboard scan plan tool enables users to visualize the inspection, helping reduce the risk of errors. The entire scan plan, including the TFM zone, can be created in one simple workflow. Creating a setup is also faster with improved calibration tools and support for simultaneous probe and beam set configuration, onboard dual linear, matrix and dual matrix array creation and automatic wedge verification.

Olympus says the Certified IP65 is dustproof and water-resistant. “The instrument has the reliability and ease of use that OmniScan flaw detectors are known for combined with high-quality images that help make interpreting flaws more obvious,” a company press release says. With the total focusing method, users can produce geometrically correct images to confirm the characterization of flaws identified through conventional phased array techniques and obtain better images throughout the volume of a part. Additional features that enable outstanding images include a 16-bit A-scan, interpolation and smoothing and a vivid 10.6-inch WXGA display that provides clarity and visibility in any light.

The OmniScan X3 flaw detector makes analysis and reporting faster, both onboard the instrument and on a PC. The instrument also comes with a variety of data interpretation tools:

– Circumferential outside diameter (COD) TFM image reconstruction to facilitate interpretation and sizing of long seam weld indications
– Merged B-scan to facilitate the screening of phased array weld indications while keeping the workflow simple

The OmniScan X3 flaw detector works well for inspecting pipes, welds, pressure vessels or composites and enables users to complete their work efficiently and interpret flaws with ease, the company says.

Rolls-Royce RR300 Engine Tops One Million Flight Hours in Robinson R66

The Rolls-Royce RR300 engine has moved past the one million flight hour milestone in a Robinson R66 helicopter.

The R66 and the RR300 engine were jointly announced in 2007 by the iconic Frank Robinson and Rolls-Royce, and the helicopter was certified into service in 2010. Since that time, Robinson’s first gas-turbine powered helicopter has proven itself in dependable service around the world, with a growing fleet of nearly 1,000 helicopters delivered.

“We congratulate Robinson Helicopter for this outstanding record of service – one million flight hours is a significant milestone and reflects the exceptional design and reliability of the R66,” Paul Matthews, Rolls-Royce, senior vice president – Sales, says. “Rolls-Royce is proud to have partnered with Frank Robinson, and now, his son, Kurt, on the R66 helicopter for more than a decade.”

Kurt Robinson, president of Robinson Helicopter, said, “We believe this milestone is a testament to the R66’s outstanding performance and confirms its place as a leader in the helicopter industry.”

The Rolls-Royce RR300 was developed as a derivative of the M250 turboshaft engine – that already had decades of service. The RR300 is a compact, powerful and fuel efficient engine, which has proven to be reliable in service – around the world in circumnavigation flights, and to the North Pole.

R66 operators are supported by the Rolls-Royce RR300 FIRST network, a global, authorized system providing outstanding service. The Rolls-Royce FIRST (Fully Integrated Rolls-Royce Support Team) network provides affordable, reliable support solutions. The FIRST network includes more than 30 approved, licensed service centers and Aviall locations around the world, and its competitive structure means operators can find affordable and reliable service anywhere for Rolls-Royce M250 or RR300 engines. Aviall Inc. is a key part of the FIRST network and is the global authorized distributor for Rolls-Royce M250/RR300 engines, parts, modules and tooling.

The RR300 is manufactured in Indianapolis, Indiana, where a $600 million Rolls-Royce investment in modernization and technology programs is nearing completion, including state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing.

Avotek Brings Back the Out of Print Textbook Helicopter Maintenance

Avotek has decided to bring back the out-of-print textbook, Helicopter Maintenance. This industry book has been used by many professionals and schools throughout the years and is a solid resource in the helicopter maintenance training field. Joseph Schafer, the author, wrote it for those who want to explore maintaining rotary wing aircraft. If you have any interest in learning or teaching about the principles of flight, helicopter fundamentals, the importance of finding the proper technical information, details on all major helicopter systems—what they do, how they work, and how to maintain them—this is a good resource.

Schafer wrote Helicopter Maintenance and its student workbook so he would have resources to use in teaching. He wrote them on a notepad, and his wife typed them on a typewriter. All of this hard work paid off when they were published in 1980; the books are still used in helicopter maintenance training as schools today.

This textbook covers a wide variety of topics in the helicopter maintenance field. It does this over 10 highly detailed and imaged chapters that are designed to be as informative and explanatory as possible. The 10 chapters are as follows: Helicopters in Use Today; Principles of Flight; Documentation, Publications, and Historical Records; Helicopter Fundamentals; Main Rotor System; Mast and Flight Controls; Main Rotor Transmissions; Powerplants; Tail Rotors; and Airframe and Related Systems.

Helicopter Maintenance can be purchased on the Avotek website for just $49.95. The textbook is available in three different formats: a downloadable eBook PDF, a web-based interactive eBook, and a physical copy (paperback).

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JSSI Acquires Aviation MRO Software Specialist Tracware to Enhance Technology-Enabled Services

Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) has acquired maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) software specialist Tracware. JSSI says the move will enhance its growing suite of technology-enabled services. This is the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions for JSSI, which includes Conklin & de Decker and S3 Aero Specialists.

Tracware provides affordable, high-quality aviation process control software designed to manage workflows for third-party MRO providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and those managing their own aircraft fleet.

“We’re responsible for maintaining in excess of 2,000 business and regional jets and helicopters around the world.  As a result, we manage close to 10,000 maintenance events per year, working with a wide cross section of MROs,” said Neil W. Book, president and CEO of JSSI. “Tracware’s comprehensive understanding of the specific processes and requirements these businesses need to thrive operationally, combined with JSSI’s capabilities, presents many opportunities to better serve our customers at every stage of aircraft ownership, and to deliver technology enhancements to industry partners.”

Tracware will be recognized as a JSSI company and will continue to develop software to address the complex needs of the aviation MRO industry. All of Tracware’s employees and operations will be integrated with JSSI, providing a clear path for the business to accelerate growth.

“We are proud to be joining this global and innovative company and look forward to pairing the exceptional customer service, stability, and technical expertise Tracware is known for with the maintenance industry expertise, buying power, and global reach of JSSI,” said Andrew Maley, founder and managing director of Tracware. “This business combination will allow us to further enhance our current products and service offerings, leveraging decades of JSSI maintenance data to better meet the requirements of MROs globally.” Tracware was formed in the UK in 1999 by a team of aviation professionals, project managers, business analysts and engineering consultants with extensive practical experience in aviation MRO and manufacturing. The company is headquartered on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England.

The Angelus Corporation Breaks Ground On New Global Headquarters

The Angelus Corporation, a provider of aerospace and defense solutions, celebrated the groundbreaking of its new global headquarters in Pewaukee, Wisc., during a ceremony on September 17.

The Angelus Corporation is expanding its facilities to support market growth and foster new business opportunities. With plans to expand product and service offerings in the future, additional space is required to support these initiatives. The new facility, developed by Briohn Building Corporation, will be 50,000 square feet, double the size of the current facility, and will feature expanded engineering and manufacturing areas.

After almost 50 years in Southeastern Wisconsin, The Angelus Corporation is looking forward to continuing its presence in the area and joining the City of Pewaukee. “We are committed to our new home in Pewaukee, and we hope to enhance the community through growth with professional/technical jobs and by continuing to reflect our strong character-based culture,” said Angelus COO Paul Dieck.

The Angelus Corporation expects to complete construction and move into the new building in summer 2020.

Aviation Blade Services, Inc. Joins First Aviation Services Inc. Family

Aviation Blade Services, Inc., a provider of helicopter rotor blade repair, overhaul and modification, announced that it has been acquired by First Aviation Services Inc., a component maintenance, repair and overhaul for military, corporate and regional aircraft.

Aviation Blade Services (ABS), based in Kissimmee, Florida, is best known for its expertise in the UH-60 Blackhawk rotor blade, as well as the Sikorsky, S-55, S-58, S-61, S-62, S-64, S-70, H-3, H-34, and CH-54 rotor blades, and Westland Sea King rotor blades. ABS says it has an extensive library of Sikorsky rotor blade maintenance and manufacturing technical calls their repair facility for Sikorsky rotor blades one of the best. The company says their experience, knowledge and support for these rotor blades is “unmatched.”

“We are pleased to join the First Aviation Services group of companies with their extensive engineering and certification expertise and we are excited about our growth together,” Leonard Peterson, president of ABS says.

Aaron Hollander, chairman and CEO of First Aviation adds, “Len has built a wonderful business with a leadership position in the Sikorsky product line, and the Blackhawk, in particular. We look forward to his continued involvement with ABS and the future growth of the company.”

This is the second investment First Aviation has made in the helicopter market in recent months. In April, First Aviation announced that the company had acquired DART Aerospace in partnership with Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P. First Aviation continues to look for additional investments in the helicopter market.

AI-Startup Aiir Secures Funding to Develop Inspection Software for Aircraft Engines

Smart software will become available for the inspection of aircraft engines. The Dutch start-up Aiir Innovations has developed a new system for this that uses artificial intelligence. The company announced that it has secured an investment of 500,000 euros from Mainport Innovation Fund II.

Maintaining aircraft engines is largely dependent on manpower. The mechanic inspects each component, records any damage manually and provides a recommendation. Aiir Innovations is developing software that mechanics can use in so-called borescope inspections to detect anomalies, like cracks and dents. “Think of it as an assistant with an extra pair of digital eyes analyzing videos and images at lightning speed,” says co-founder Bart Vredebregt. “And all information is immediately processed into a digital report.”

This way, the software increases the productivity of the inspection, which enables the mechanic to focus on assessing the damage. The software will get a indicating function and is self-learning. This saves a lot of time for maintenance crews. “We can already reduce the full borescope inspection time from 16 hours to about 12 hours. But that’s only the beginning. In four to six years’ time, we expect to be able to perform the inspection in just 20% of the time it currently takes.”

The founders of Aiir Innovations know each other from their time studying Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the University of Amsterdam. As part of a research project, KLM invited them three years ago to come up with artificial intelligence solutions for carrying out borescope inspections.

Aiir says KLM played an important role in the development of the new software. For instance, the Aiir Innovations team was able to work closely with engineers and mechanics on the KLM work floor during the past three years. Earlier this year, KLM Engineering & Maintenance signed a five-year contract. The launching customer also helps the startup with data and connections from their own network.

“Our engineers perceive working with the software as enjoyable,” says Paul Chün, vice president KLM Engine Services. “Thanks to the digital report, they spend less time on administrative tasks. This not only improves the way they record, it also increases job satisfaction.”

Erik Swelheim, managing director and chief financial officer KLM says: “KLM sets the highest possible standards for aircraft maintenance. This software helps to further improve quality and thus contributes to air safety.”

In addition to KLM, Aiir Innovations also has a number of pilots with maintenance parties in Europe. Many more will be launched in the coming years. “We are therefore using the investment of half a million euros to continue our expansion abroad. To achieve this, we need to set up a professional sales organization,” says Vredebregt. The company say sit also wants to use the financing to further improve the product in the coming years, allowing inspections to be carried out even better and faster.

“Another challenge in the coming years will be to obtain the certification we need for the next version of our product. The laws and regulations in aviation are rightly very strict. If we want to use our artificial intelligence on a large scale, we will have to meet all the requirements.”

Mainport Innovation Fund II is an initiative of Schiphol, KLM, TU Delft, NS and the Port of Amsterdam, in collaboration with fund manager NBI Investors. The fund focuses on accelerating innovations in logistics, aviation and transport. “This is a perfect example of how a large corporate like KLM can work together with a startup to enable innovation. In addition, the team consists of five intelligent and very ambitious entrepreneurs who have the potential to turn this into a success. This combination makes this startup a perfect fit for our fund,” says Thijs Gitmans, manager of MIF II.

Baron Launches New API Website for Aviation

Baron, a provider of weather intelligence, announced the launch of the new Baron Weather API for Aviation website, now optimized for development. Baron Weather API for Aviation makes it easy to integrate quality-controlled, industry-leading weather data into a range of devices and services, including location-based smart phone and tablet apps, websites, desktop applications, multi-function displays, chartplotters, and electronic flight bags.

The new Baron Weather API for Aviation website offers customers a customizable user experience, including a renovated documentation area with improved organization and faster access. With more customer dashboard features and convenient key display, customers can easily leverage Baron Weather API using any coding language, whether to track current conditions, view forecast conditions, or access historical data. Plus, new and improved use case ideas and descriptions for over 200 meteorological data products, including over 60 Baron exclusives, empower customers to develop creative solutions for their application.

Baron Weather API for Aviation provides a host of global data products compiled from an array of public and private sources, then quality controlled for timeliness and accuracy. Customers can integrate satellite imagery, Baron-exclusive satellite derived radar (which provides weather data when no ground-based radar is available), significant weather, winds and temperatures aloft, and a lightning map which can display individual strikes or as a heat map showing where lightning activity is most intense.

Other weather data products and features integrated by Baron Weather API include:
• METAR Reports
• Volcanic Eruption
• Graphical flight conditions and echo tops
• CID and SLP icing data
• NOTAMs
• Turbulence

The cloud-powered Baron Weather API scales with customer demand to deliver secure and reliable data on time, every time. For efficient integration into any application or platform, Baron Weather API features a streamlined on-boarding process and includes numerous data formats, including JSON and TMS. It also features RESTful architecture to ensure a familiar development environment. All data in the Baron Weather API for Aviation is provided in a variety of different formats with the developer able to determine how to present the information. Additionally, data packages are fully customized, making integration easy and quick, says the company.