Pilot September 2017

18 | Pilot September 2017 http://www.pilotweb.aero

Rotorheads

UK, Norwegian Super Pumas to fly again

Airbus H145 gross weight increase

Chinese order American takeaway

The UK and Norwegian Civil

Aviation Authorities have

outlined plans to lift the

operating restrictions for

Eurocopter/Airbus AS332L

and H225LP (Super Puma)

helicopters, which were imposed

on commercial operations

following the April 2016 fatal

accident to an H225 near Turøy,

Norway. EASA released the

helicopters back into service in

October 2016, but the

restrictions will remain in place in

the UK and Norway until these

changes and modifications have

been made to the helicopter and its

maintenance by Airbus Helicopters.

• Change in the design by removal of
  the components that were susceptible
  to premature deterioration


• Earlier replacement of components


• Design change to introduce an
  improved maintenance inspection
  method to detect any deterioration at
  an early stage


• More frequent inspections


• Reduction in the thresholds for

rejecting components based upon

early signs of any deterioration.

The UK CAA says that the helicopters will

not begin flying until a plan of checks,

modifications and inspections have taken

place and individual operators and their

customers will decide whether they wish

to re-introduce the helicopters to service.

In order to resume operations individual

operators will need to supply safety

cases to ensure they have all the

necessary measures, procedures,

processes, tooling and training in

place for a return to service.

“This is not a decision we have

taken lightly,” notes John McColl,

CAA Head of Airworthiness. “It

has only been made after

receiving extensive information

from the Norwegian accident

investigators and being satisfied

with the subsequent changes

introduced by Airbus Helicopters

through detailed assessment and

analysis. The safety of those who

travel on offshore helicopter

flights is a key priority for both

the UK and Norwegian aviation

authorities. We would not have made this

decision unless we were convinced that

the changes to the helicopters and their

maintenance restore the required

airworthiness standards.

“We continue to work with the

helicopter operators, the offshore

industries, international regulators,

unions and pilot representatives to

enhance offshore safety standards still

further, and all these parties are actively

involved in ongoing discussions.”

Airbus Helicopters has introduced an optional 3,800kg
Alternate Gross Weight (AGW) for the H145 which
enables operators to take off with up to 100kg more
useful load. The increase is linked to a temporary
restricted flight envelope until 100kg of fuel has been
consumed, approximately twenty minutes after takeoff,
and requires logging of AGW times ‘with a slight impact
on direct maintenance costs,’ the manufacturer says.
Axel Humpert, Airbus Helicopters’ Head of H
Programme said, “The new AGW is a significant
increase for a light-twin helicopter... offering the
possibility to carry, for example, more fuel, mission
equipment or passengers.”

China’s Shaanxi Helicopter Co Ltd

has ordered 100 Bell 407GXPs.

Deliveries will start this year.

“The 407GXP is one of the most

in-demand helicopters in China,”

said Mitch Snyder, Bell’s President

and Chief Executive Officer. “We

have been developing its support

and presence in China for several

years... Previously delivered

407GXPs are in widespread use

with Chinese operators in EMS,

parapublic [sic], tourism and

firefighting roles.”

The GXP offers a fifty-pound

payload increase over the Model

407, new Rolls-Royce M

engines that improve performance,

fuel efficiency and hot-and high

capability, and a 500-hour

increase in transmission time

between overhauls.

100 Bell 407GXPs on order

With a hike in AGW to 3.8 tonnes, the H145’s useful goes up by 100kg