Aviation Week Heli-Expo Show News Briefing - February 24-26, 2008 - (Page 16) Milestones Are Fine, But It’s the Increments That Key the Business Milestones like the 30,000th engine of its type (the RR250) and new certifications (the RR300) get the glory, but it’s the incremental advances that key the business, says Ken Roberts, acting president for helicopter engines at RollsRoyce (Booth 1917). Better finishes on gears for durability, forged components instead of castings, and 3-D analysis to apply aerodynamics to interKen Roberts. nal parts are relatively minor changes that cumulatively make for a better product, he says. Yet the milestones help make the incremental advances possible. The RR250 has logged a staggering 190 million flight hours. Thus, “we have vast reservoirs of information on which to draw,” Roberts says. The venerable 250 has grown far beyond the 250-shp its name implies. “We’ve got versions of the Model 250 today that The RR300–It’s run up over 700 horsenew. It’s RollsRoyce blue.’ power,” he says. The 250-C47S variant, for example, is being offered on a Bell 407-type platform for an army requirement in India. To build the 23 model variants of the RR250 and new RR300, the company is commissioning SEAL, its multi-million dollar small engine assembly line in Indianapolis. SEAL has some 13,000 sq ft of assembly space, and 15,000 sq ft for parts supply, set up according to RollsRoyce Production System (RRPS) and Demand Flow Technology principles, It will be where Rolls-Royce develops even more engine derivatives. “You have to have the ability to make derivatives,” Roberts says. “The economics of this industry are such that that’s virtually a requirement.” 16 Mecaer Enjoys Strong Sales Growth Mecaer America says it enjoyed “the highest sales figures of its young history in fiscal year 2007.” Revenues grew to $19 million (Canadian) from $11 million, said president & CEO Armando Sassoli. “It’s not only about the sales: we transformed this company from the machine shop-floor it was into a center of excellence for landing systems for helicopters and very light jets,” he said. Italy- and Montreal-based Mecaer specializes in hydraulic and mechanical integrated components for landing gear systems, flight controls, dampers, valves and power modules. AgustaWestland, Bell, Eclipse Aviation and Goodrich are customers. Mecaer America is at Booth 2731. Keeping Out the Sand Grand Canyon tour specialist Maverick Helicopters is outfitting its fleet of Eurocopter EC 130B4 Eco Star helicopters with a new-generation air particle separator from CGTM, a subsidiary of Turbomeca (Booth 1031). An initial order for 19 air particle separators was placed last year. “Ultimately, the entire fleet (50 helicopters) will be fitted with these sand filters, ordered through American Eurocopter,” Turbomeca says, noting that Maverick logs an average of about 1,100 flying hours per year, per aircraft. Come Fly with FlyIt FlyIt Simulators, at Heli-Expo for its eighth straight year, is giving demonstration rides in two Professional Helicopter Simulators at Space 19, between Eurocopter and Sikorsky. The California company is also offering training scholarships with each unit ordered at the show: five students will each receive ten free hours of training, with time applicable toward the private pilot license or instrument rating. And, all FlyIt sims ordered at Heli-Expo will be shipped free of charge within the continental United States. Air Methods Gets EC 145 Single Pilot STC Air Methods (Booth 1043) says it has received STC SR00650DE-D for a single-pilot IFR avionics package for the EC 145. The installation features a new instrument panel and glareshield, providing “an efficient, highly functional instrumentation configuration with excellent access to controls and displays as well as maximizing visibility outside the aircraft.” A broad array of avionics and special mission systems are included in the package from suppliers including Garmin, Honeywell, Bendix King, Technisonic and Artex. Edwards Has New Plant, and New Boss “We needed a new facility to accommodate the growth we have seen over the past few years,” says Greg Williams, the new president of Tennessee’s Edwards & Associates (Booth 4141). The 560-employee Textron unit says its new 140,000 sq ft facility “clearly positions the company as the world leader in helicopter services and maintenance.” Edwards says it’s the largest helicopter completion center in the U.S., and the foremost Bell helicopter completions and maintenance provider in the world. The new facility includes an avionics test center, expanded paint shop, and modern training room. Affiliate Aeronautical Accessories operates from a 100,000 sq ft adjacent facility. “We are one stop shopping for all of our customers’ needs,” Williams says. February 24, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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