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18 | Flight International | 8-14 March 2016 flightglobal.com

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HELI-EXPO 2016

SHOW REPORT

A

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

might seem out of place at a

commercial helicopter conven-

tion, but several companies were

present at this year’s Heli-Expo

touting modifications and mis-

sion kits for retired US Army A-

models, as they eye a potentially

huge supply of feeder aircraft.

Robertson Fuel Systems debut-

ed its new conformal auxiliary fuel

system on a BHI²-owned H-60. The

modification pushes the commer-

cially designated S-70’s range out

by 124nm (230km), or adds 75min

of endurance.

Arista Aviation – a maintenance,

repair and overhaul company in

Enterprise, Alabama – restores for-

mer US government-owned Bell

UH-1 Hueys for commercial cus-

tomers, and is now pushing Black

Hawks as the army sheds hun-

dreds of A-models in favour of the

latest UH-60M.

Arista vice-president of sales

Rob Lee says acquiring new

Black Hawks would be too ex-

pensive for many military and

commercial customers. A more

cost-effective means is to buy A-

M

aking its Heli-Expo debut

this year was the Airbus

Helicopters H215, which landed

in Louisville ahead of a month-

long US demonstration tour.

Originally the 8.6t AS322 C1e/

L1e, the helicopter was re-desig-

nated and relaunched last Novem-

ber. It will be produced at a new

site in Brasov, Romania from 2017.

It features a simplified options

list and shorter lead time, as well as

lower cost, while retaining a four-

axis autopilot taken from the H225.

The H215 is being pitched at the

utility and aerial work markets as a

replacement for the ubiquitous Mil

Mi-8/17 and Sikorsky S-61.

T

urboshaft manufacturer Pratt

& Whitney Canada (P&WC) is

working on a series of near-term

upgrades for its current engine

range, even as it develops a future

replacement for its ubiquitous

PT6 powerplant due to arrive in

around five years’ time.

Irene Makris, vice-president

sales and marketing, helicopter

engines at the Longueuil-based

company, says that given the de-

pressed state of the rotorcraft

market, “nobody has the money

for a clean-sheet” engine.

Instead, it is proposing the

“evolution of its existing product

line”, adding new high-tempera-

ture materials to the hot section

and improving the aerodynamics

of the compressor and turbine in

order to boost fuel efficiency.

These could be incorporated into

products in around 18-

months, she says, but declines to

identify which engines could re-

ceive the upgrades.

Further ahead, P&WC contin-

ues its development of a succes-

sor to the 50-year-old PT6, a pro-

gramme given added impetus by

rival GE Aviation’s plans for its

forthcoming advanced turboprop

family of engines.

P&WC’s PT6 replacement will

be in the 1,500-2,000shp (1,120-

1,490kW) range and will power

helicopters with a maximum

take-off weight of around 10t.

Discussions with the helicopter

OEMs on potential applications

for the new powerplant are ongo-

ing, she says. However, beyond

the Airbus Helicopters X6 – an 11t

aircraft currently in its early con-

cept phase – no new develop-

ments in the weight class have

been publicly revealed. ■

POWERPLANTS

P&WC ditches

clean-sheets for

engine upgrades

SALES

Black Hawks live another day

Maintenance providers present modified UH-60A as viable choice for commercial customers

Airbus eyes utility market for H

PROGRAMME

The Finnish Border Guard has received its first two new aircraft

Robertson Fuel Systems displayed modified BHI²-owned example

James Drew/Flightglobal

Anthony Pecchi/Airbus Helicopters

“Nobody has the

money for a ‘clean

sheet’ engine”

IRENE MAKRIS

Vice-president sales & marketing, P&WC

However, another key market

is being addressed on its US tour

as, during stops in Los Angeles

and Sacramento, it will be put

through its paces by the Califor-

nia Department of Forestry and

Fire Protection (Cal Fire) as an

aerial firefighting asset.

“We are already engaged in an

important campaign in the USA,”

says head of business develop-

ment Fabrice Arfi, with the win-

ner due to be announced shortly.

Cal Fire is running a tender for

the acquisition of 15 helicopters.

Deliveries are to commence 360

days after the contract award.

The H215 is also being pitched to

the US military. The manufacturer

recently delivered two examples to

the Finnish Border Guard. ■

models at auction and have third-

party maintenance providers like

his bring them up to flight-wor-

thy status, simultaneously add-

ing modifications like auxiliary

fuel tanks, sensors and hoists.

“We feel that a UH-60A is a vi-

able alternative or replacement

for a UH-1 in service with foreign

militaries,” Lee says.

Timberline Helicopters offers

similar services, but primarily for

the commercial utility market. Its

upgrade received US Federal Avia-

tion Administration certification

last week, including conversion to

the latest GE Aviation T700-701D

engines that power the army’s M-

variant, says Stephen Johnson,

business development director at

the Sandpoint, Idaho firm.

It acquired its two Black

Hawks in 2014, with one dis-

played at the show. Timberline

removed about 408kg (900lb)

from its H-60s and installed new

avionics panels as part of the up-

grade work. ■

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