Aviation Week Heli-Expo Show News Briefing - February 24-26, 2008 - (Page 20) Kaman, as an OEM, Offers HeliworX To the Other OEMs Connecticut’s Kaman builds helicopters, and as an OEM sees itself uniquely positioned to support bigger OEMs facing capacity and supply chain issues. “We’re looking to transfer the capability we have for our own helicopters to outside work,” says Sal Bordonaro, president of Kaman’s helicopters division. “We’re a subcontractor with the OEM advantage,” seconds business development director John Murphy. Kaman’s HeliworX arm promises a “full complement of composite and metal capabilities [including] design/ analysis, manufacturing, flight test, and flight solutions for an over-stressed aerospace industry stretching its resources to meet unprecedented demand.” The major OEMs, says Bordonaro, “are dealing with capacity issues.” The 300-employee Kaman helicopters division can handle the quick turnarounds they need while still providing OEM experience. “We’re aligning our selves with those big guys to grow our subcontracting business,” he says. Subcontracting accounts for 25% to 30% of Kaman’s helicopter business. Bordonaro told Show News he’d like to see it grow to about 50% in three to five years. AW139 for Honeywell, Today Honeywell (Booth 2137), which supplies the Primus Epic cockpit for the AW139 medium twin, will be taking delivery of one with deluxe VIP interior and avionics for its own executive use in the New York area at 4:00pm today at AgustaWestland’s Booth 3039. It is one of two of the type being shown at Heli-Expo by AgustaWestland, which has brought an AW119 Koala and a Grand as well. Details of AgustaWestland’s new second line for AW139 assembly in Philadelphia on Page 24. OAS Gets H7SO Certificate for Hueys Lakeside, Ariz.-based Overseas Aircraft Support (Booth 37) reports receipt of H7SO type certificates allowing for operation of military surplus UH-1E, UH-1L. TH-1L, UH-1B and UH-1H model helicopters. Acquisition of the certificates “introduces an incredible opportunity for both our customers and employees,” said John Boucher. Overseas Aircraft Support specializes in Bell medium series helicopters and components as FAA repair station O4UR346Y. JETNET/AvData Helicopter Database “It is the largest and most complete civil helicopter database available,” claims JETNET/AvData (Booth 4136), “encompassing piston and turbine-powered helicopters worldwide, nearly 29,000 airframes highly detailed owner/operator information, base location, interior/exterior photos, as well as comprehensive airframe and power plant specifications. This database contains the most complete and current listing of helicopters available for sale, trade or lease as well as transaction histories on individual airframes.” Better Batteries for Bell 430, EC130 California’s Rotorcraft Support (Booth 2937) has an STC allowing replacement of OEM-supplied nickel cadmium batteries in Bell 430 and Eurocopter EC130 helicopters with “state-of-the-art” Concorde lead acid sealed cells, which are said to require no maintenance. Rotorcraft Support holds STCs for the Concorde batteries for Bell 407 and Agusta 109A aircraft too. An EC130 is shown here. Guardian Shows Slim Flight Tracker Guardian Mobility’s Skytrax unit is unveiling its SkytraxSL slim line portable flight tracking device at Booth 1343. The new SkytraxSL offers advanced design features while continuing to incorporate radio and antenna components in a single compact device. Skytrax offers optimal airtime packages including Maptracs. Guardian Skytrax and message processing service is AFF-compatible and approved. BBA’s ERO Units Are Here in Force BBA Aviation’s engine repair and overhaul (ERO) companies Dallas Airmotive, Premier Turbines and H+S Aviation are exhibiting their wide ranging helicopter engine repair, overhaul and support capabilities at Booth 913. Dallas Airmotive specializes in Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T Twin Pacs, while Premier Turbines and H+S Aviation are Rolls-Royce specialists, handling the Model 250. UK-based H+S also supports turboprop and turboshaft variants of the General Electric CT7. February 24, 2008 HeliworX technician Paul Bonneau shows off the Kaman unit’s composites expertise. 20 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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