58 Vol. 10 / No. 5 / May 2018 Global Aviator
Industry news
Florence Parly, French
Minister of the Armed
Forces, officially
launched the "Man-
Machine-Teaming"
preliminary advanced
study programme
awarded by the DGA to
Dassault Aviation and
Thales to develop the
necessary Artificial
Intelligence technologies
for combat aviation of
the future.
Eric Trappier, Chairman
& CEO of Dassault Aviation,
and Patrice Caine, Chairman
& CEO of Thales, received
French Minister of the
Armed Forces Florence Parly,
and Joël Barre, Delegate
General for Armament, at
Dassault Aviation’s headquar-
ters in Saint-Cloud.
Florence Parly was shown
some of the concepts on which
the “Man-Machine-Teaming”
advanced study programme
(PEA MMT) is based. This
design plan, awarded to
Dassault Aviation (lead) and
Thales (co-contractor) by the
French defense procurement
agency DGA, aims to develop
the necessary ArtificialLeft to right: Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO Thales Group, Joël Barre,
Head of French Defence Procurement Agency and Eric Trappier,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation.
© Dassault Aviation - A. BoissayeIntelligence technologies for
combat aviation of the future.
During her visit, the
Minister of the Armed Forces
was particularly able to see
the “cognitive air system”
concept, which is based on
more autonomous functions
onboard aircraft and on a
Man/Machine relationship
in which the human element
is constantly maintained
in the decision loop.
Florence Parly also met
representatives of around a
hundred French start-ups,
SMEs, laboratories and
research centers specialized
in Artificial Intelligence,
robotics and new Man/
Machine interfaces. This
ecosystem will be involved
in the PEA, in partnership
with Dassault Aviation and
Thales, to develop cutting-
edge algorithms and propose
disruptive solutions.
Dassault Aviation and
Thales thank the Ministry of
the Armed Forces for its trust
in such a highly strategic
field. They are delighted
to federate France’s world-
class Artificial Intelligence
ecosystem around military
aviation challenges.•“Everett has operated the AW139 before for international
oil companies in both the crew change and full search
& rescue roles,” said Simon Everett, CEO. “Ensuring
that we have this popular oil & gas type available is
of paramount importance to us and so we have taken
the proactive step of mobilising this AW139 to ensure
that we remain the first choice for IOGP compliant
operations in the region.” Everett continued.
The company previously operated the AW139 for crew
transport and search and rescue for international
oil companies.
Everett’s AW139 has entered immediate service,
operating for Statoil from Everett’s private oil & gas
terminal at Dar es Salaam international airport. •Leonardo announced that two additional civil
helicopters will be delivered to Chilean private
operators by early 2019, adding to a fleet of
more than 20 aircraft currently in service.The deliveries will mark the entry of the new AW109
Trekker light twin, in a utility configuration, into the Chilean
market in 1Q2019 as well as an AW119Kx single engine for
VIP transport in 4Q2018. The AW109 Trekker maintains the
AW109 Grand airframe, large cabin and top class performance
while offering greater payload at a competitive cost, thus
proving perfectly suited to meet the stringent requirements of
Chilean operators in terms of capabilities, cost/effectiveness
and environment, particularly in high altitude conditions.
Types in service in Chile include the AW119, AW109, AW139
and W-3A Sokol models performing VIP transport, firefighting,
law enforcement and utility tasks. Over 400 military and civil
helicopters are operated in Latin America, making Leonardo a
major force in the regional helicopter sector covering the widest
range of applications including naval roles, law enforcement
and homeland security, EMS/SAR, firefighting and disaster
relief, utility, VVIP-VIP/corporate and offshore transport.
An AW119Kx VIP and an AW109 Trekker utility will
be delivered in 4Q2018 and 1Q2019 respectively; •Everett Aviation announces the
re-introduction of the AW139
helicopter to its fleetChilean helicopter fleet grows
stronger with first AW109 Trekker
sale in the country