India to acquire MH-60 Sikorsky Romeo helicopters from US

VOL 20 ISSUE 1 NEWS LETTER 31 MARCH 2020

Yearnd

22

Stimulus Required for the Industry to cope with CDS-19 4

RWSI writes to MOCA on Industry Bottlenecks 5

Special Report on Heli Expo 2020 25

RWSI in IFHA Meeting at Anaheim 54

India to acquire MH-60 Sikorsky Romeo helicopters from US

DEF EXPO 2020 WINGS 2020 NAVY TO GET MH 60 ROMEO

Pub Focus 4 visages 2018 - 210 x 297 mm A4_Mise en page 1 30/01/18 19:46 Page1

1256

Editorial .....................................................................................2

Letters to the Editor...................................................................3

About RWSI Activities..............................................................60

FOCUS ON CIVIL & MILITARY MATTERS

RWSI Requests MoCA for Stimulus Package for

the Industry ..............................................................................4

Recommendations of Stakeholders sent to MoCA .................. 5

Def Expo 2020, an unprecedented success ..............................8

Winds India 2020......................................................................11

Who is Operating What Helicopters in India ...................12-14

HELI NEWS MILITARY

IAF ............................................................................................15

Army Aviation .........................................................................16

Naval Aviation .........................................................................19

ALL ABOUT DRONES.............................................................22

SPECIAL REPORT .................................................................25

PRODUCTS UPDATE

Airbus Helicopter .....................................................................40

Bell Helicopter ..........................................................................41

Boeing Aircraft ........................................................................43

HAL ..........................................................................................46

Leonardo ..................................................................................48

Russian Helicopters .................................................................53

RWSI PARTICIPATES IN IFHA MEETING ..........................54

People .......................................................................................64

Volume 20 Issue 1

ROTOR INDIA - QE 31 MARCH - 2020

Congratulations to all the Members of the

22nd Anniversary of RWSI on 18 June 2020

Congratulations to all the Members of the

22nd Anniversary of RWSI on 18 June 2020

Quarter Ending 31 March 2020for

The Rotary Wing Society of India

54

53

26

11

9

VOL 20 ISSUE 1 NEWS LETTER 31 MARCH 2020

Year

2 ROTOR INDIA - QE 31 MARCH - 2020

Our Deep Gratitude toCORPORATEMEMBERS

<<EDITORIAL>>

Aerotech Aviation India (P) Ltd.Alliance Insurance Brokers (P) Ltd.

Aman Aviation & Aerospace Solutions (P) Ltd.Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation

Air Works India Engg. (P) Ltd.Airbus Helicopters

Arki Aviation (P) Ltd.Arrow Aircraft Sales & Charters Pvt. LtdAON Global Insurance Brokers (P) Ltd.

AVI-Oil India Ltd.Bell Helicopter India Inc.

BG Shirke Construction Technology (P) Ltd.Bharat Forge Limited

Bharat Stars Services (Delhi) (P) Ltd.Boeing International Corporation

Cairn India Ltd.Chemplast Sanmar LtdDeccan Charters Ltd.

Delhi Institute of Aeronautical SciencesDG Civil Aviation Govt of U.P.

Dhillon Aviation (P) Ltd.Directorate of Civil Avn Govt of Maharashtra

Directorate of Aviation Govt of GujaratDirectorate of Aviation Govt of Chhattisgarh

Donaldson Filters IndiaDynamatic Technologies Ltd

Elbit SystemsEON Aviation (P) Ltd.

Essar Power Ltd.Executive Airways (P) Ltd.Epsilon Aerospace Pvt Ltd

Fishtail Air (P) Ltd. (Nepal)Garuda Aerospace (P) LtdGlobal Vectra Helicorp Ltd.

Globe AviationGarware-Wall Ropes Ltd.

Ghodawat Enterprises (P) Ltd.Govt. of Aviation Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh

Grandslam Developers (P) Ltd.HATSOFF

Heligo Charters (P) Ltd.Heritage Aviation (P) Ltd.

Himalayan Heli Services (P) Ltd.Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd.Hiranandani Aviation (P) Ltd.Honeywell International Inc.

Indocopters (P) Ltd.India Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd.

India Flysafe Aviation Ltd.Indra Air (P) Ltd.

ITC The Royal Gardenia, BengaluruJaiprakash Group

JK Risk Managers and Insurance Brokers Ltd.JMD Consultant (P) Ltd.

An appeal to the MOCA toResolve Pending Issuesrelated to the Industry

Dear Reader,Greetings.In the previous publication, I had highlighted the reasons as to Why Indian

Civil Helicopter Industry is not growing? The civil helicopter fleet is likely todecline to 244 at the end of FY 2019-20 (from 297 in 2011-12). It is unfortunatethat the steps set forth in the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 (NCAP-2016)for the growth of Civil Helicopter Industry are still to be fully implemented.

The Stake holders of the Industry had hoped that the Government wouldhelp in creating the right environment by creating necessary infrastructure andby easing out the regulatory constraints. It would have helped in reducing thecost of operations for the rapid growth of helicopter Industry. RWSI has thereforewritten to Smt. Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation recently,highlighting the following issues affecting the growth of the Industry: -

(a) High Cost of ATF which is not uniform across the entire country.(b) While the Airlines can import the aircraft duty free, there is a customs

duty of 2.5% + Octroi imposed on import of helicopters for NSOP. This disparityhas no justification. Why should we not allow the private Helicopter Industry toflourish by removing the Import duty? When civil helicopters are not producedin the country, why should there be a customs duty on their import?

(c) Exorbitantly high handling charges. At most of the airports operatedby AAI, engagement of handling service is made compulsory. When thehelicopter is flying from airport to airport, it is very easy for the helicopter crewand back office to do the necessary onward flight planning, pay airport charge,refueling etc. If handling of flights is permitted to be undertaken by the helicopteroperators, it will result in reducing the cost of operations by INR 15000/- to25,000/- per flight.

(d) Recently at Juhu airport, AAI raised the rent of the hangar/ license fee/porta cabin charges multi-fold. All operators had requested AAI to reconsiderthe 500% increase in the rentals, especially in absence of the requisite facilities.Besides the increase in rents, the AAI has started levying charges under variousheads like utility charges, raft space etc. without any corresponding benefits tothe operators. This needs to be reconsidered for roll back by the authorities tomake the helicopter operations viable.

(e) Major issues such as obtaining various clearances and permissionsfor operating from temporary helipads leading to Underutilization of theHelicopters, Regulatory challenges, Issues of age of the helicopter in PSUtenders and safety issues related to wire strike accidents have been givendetailed coverage at page 2.

We at RWSI have appealed to the MOCA to address the issues outlined onpriority.

With warm regards,

AVM K Sridharan VM (G)Editor-in-Chief

3ROTOR INDIA - QE 31 MARCH - 2020

Our Deep Gratitude toCORPORATEMEMBERS

Jubilant Enpro India Ltd.Jupiter Aviations (P) Ltd.

Travian Flight Services (P) Ltd.Kestrel Aviation (P) Ltd.Kiaan Airways (P) Ltd

Leonardo-FinmeccanicaLord India Pvt Ltd

L-3HarrisMak Airways (P) Ltd.

Martin ConsultingMahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Merlinhawk Associates (P) Ltd.Mesco Airlines

Navayuga Engineering Co Ltd.Navnit Aviation (P) Ltd.

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.OSS Aviation (P) Ltd.

OSS Air Management (P) Ltd.Orient Flight School

Orbit Aviation (P) Ltd.Oxford Enterprises (P) Ltd.

Offshore Aviation Consultants India (P)Ltd.Pawan Hans Ltd.

Prabhatam Aviation (P) Ltd.Ramco Systems Ltd.

Raymond Aviation Ltd.Reliance Commercial Dealers Ltd.Reliance Transport & Travels Ltd.

RITES Ltd.Right Choice Aviation Pvt. Ltd

Rolls-Royce India Ltd.Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services Ltd.(Bhutan)

Russian Helicopters, Joint Stock CompanySandriver Technologies Pvt. LtdSAR Aviation Services (P) Ltd.

Sakhanpur FarmShree Airlines (P) Ltd. (Nepal)

Sikorsky-United Technologies Ltd.Simm Samm Airways (P) Ltd.

Skyone Airways (P) Ltd.Span Air (P) Ltd.

SRK Aviacom (I) (P) Ltd.Survival Systems India (P) Ltd.

Silver Jubilee Traveller Ltd.Statkraft India Private LtdTata Power Company Ltd.

Thakur Institute of Aviation TechnologyTrans Bharat Aviation (P) Ltd.

Turbomeca India Engines (P) Ltd.United Helicharters (P) Ltd.

Unique Aviation Services (P)Ltd.UTair India (P) Ltd.

UTC Aerospace Systems (P) Ltd.Varman Aviation (P) Ltd.

VELTech Dr.RR & Dr.SR Technical UniversityWoodstock Helicopters Pvt Ltd.

<<LETTERS TO THE EDITOR>>

UNDER BIDDING BYSOMEOPERATORS

One of the weakest and dangerouslinks in the growth-chain of IndianHelicopter Industry, is one of theOperators has been repeatedly quotinglow rates in its Commercial bid for YatraShuttle Flying in order to become L1 inthe Tenders for Shri Amarnath ShrineBoard, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board,Machel UCADA, ManimaheshPilgrimage etc.

After the L1 is declared, thisOperator inducts just one or twohelicopters. As the requirement for thenumber of helicopters for undertakingshuttle flying during the season is more,the respective Shrine Boards inviteother operators to meet the deficiencyat L1 rates. Thus, with very low tariffrates and high Royalty charges leviedby the Shrine Boards, the Operatorsreluctantly join the group to keep theirmachines Airworthy and the Aircrew &Ground Crew on their rolls. It is aworldwide known dangerousphenomena responsible for “Cuttingthe Corners”, and compromising theFlight Safety by :-(i) Squeezing in morenumber of shuttles per hour, (ii)Ignoring unfavorable weather / poorvisibility conditions, (iii) Overloadingthe helicopter to accommodate extra paxor baggage,(iv) Postponing/skippingvital maintenance activities to meet thecommitment under “Pressure” and (v)Deviate from MEL conditions.

Suggestions:The Operators be advised to

declare the Operating Cost per Flt hourof their helicopters to fix up optimumcharges below which they should notbe permitted to quote. This willdiscourage the practice of underbiddingand ensure the safety of the Pilgrimsand the valuable National Assets.

Gp Capt MK LabrooI invite other operators to share

their views on the subject before thematter could be taken up by RWSI .

EditorCOMMENTS ON FDL/FDTL

SCHEME FORMULATED IN CARSECTION 7, SERIES–J, PART II,EFFECTIVE FROM 01 AUG 2019

This has increased the rest periodto 50 %. The scheme works fine forAirlines but poses a big problem forhelicopter operators with PilgrimageOperations their main source ofrevenue. Eg, an Operator with 3helicopters and six Pilots flying within

the limited period of pilgrimage seasonin Uttarakhand (42 days) or J&K (40days), needs to send the pilots to theirdeclared places of residence for 15days of rest after working for 30 days.Thus, there is no pilot left to fly theaircraft for the rest of the season. Asthere are no pilots for Cross-Utilizationto meet the pending flyingcommitments, the hiring of foreignpilots on FATA becomes inevitable.Besides, as the engagement period isjust three months, the planning for suchan arrangement needs to be done manymonths in advance. The Pilgrimageseason is over by last week ofSeptember, after which there is hardlyany commitment till the next seasonwhich commences in the 1st week ofMay each year ( about 06 months rest).At times, the cut throat competitionleads to an unhealthy practice ofpoaching of the pilots. This exercise,however, is highly unhealthy and avery costly proposition for theoperators. It is therefore, strongly feltthat the FDTL for helicopter should bereduced to 30% from the current 50%without any changes in FTL and totalprescribed monthly/yearly limit onflying hours. This will enable thehelicopter Operators to survive andhelp the Industry grow.

Gp Capt MK LabrooI invite other operators to share

their views on the subject before thematter could be taken up by RWSI .

Editor

APPROVAL FOR OPERATINGFROM TEMPORARY HELIPADS

Operators find it difficult to utilizetheir helicopters effectively when theyhave to fly to destinations which haveonly temporary helipads. DespiteDGCA CAR 4-B-11 para 3.6 explicitlymentioning district authorities beNOTIFIED only. We understand that aletter was sent from MOCA to all ChiefSecretaries of the states to smoothenthe process for helicopter operationsfrom temporary helipads. However, verylittle has changed on the ground. Onbeing presented with this letter, manyDist. authorities do not adhere to thespirit of the letter and insist onfollowing the old procedure ofobtaining various clearances andpermissions.

Capt Thomas MathewThe matter has been taken up by

RWSI with MOCA recently.Editor


RWSI Requests MOCA for Stimulus Package for HelicopterIndustry to cope with the Economic Impact of Coronavirus

In a letter to Smt Usha Padhee on 20 Mar 20, AVM K.Sridharan VM(G) President RWSI shared the concernsof industry which is going through difficult times due tothe pandemic of Corona Virus COVID 19.

He said in the letter,” The turmoil of Indian AviationIndustry deepens every day with reduction of passengerloads, leading to cancellation and drastic cut in domesticand foreign flights following the disaster of the Coronavirus. Consequently, this has also substantially reducedthe usage of helicopters in the country.

It has direct repercussion on Indian HelicopterIndustry which is headed for a major recession and islikely to have a huge hit. It was already reeling and nowhas to weather Coronavirus threat as well.

These are extraordinary circumstances, andadditional support is necessary to protect the industryand jobs and to ensure that the Aviation industrycontinues to rely on the domestic Helicopter industrynow and after the crisis ends.

Supply chains are also disrupted. The problem isnot liquidity alone, but survival as well.

We plead on behalf of Helicopter indusrty for acoordinated action in respect of the following :

1. Moratorium in payment of GST, Income Tax andTDS Dues

2. Moratorium in deposit of contribution under ESIand PF dues

3. Waiver of Electricity Duties

4. Provision of operative funds by way of sanction ofcredit line through nationalised Bank fordisbursement of funds against bills for HelicopterServices raised on PSU’s/state Govt undertakings/large private companies like Tata /Reliance etc, tobe refinanced out of direct collection from suchend users.

5. Rationalisation of DGCA fee structure forHelicopter Industry.

6. Relief in Lease Rent, landing and parking charges,RNFC etc, by Airport Authorities of India.

7. Waiver of Airport Royalty.

8. Provision for financing Working Capital of thecompany through an interest free loan by the Banktill the situation comes under control.

In the concluding remarks, he assured that theIndian Helicopter industry on its part, pledges toremain focused and extend whole hearted supportto the various initiatives taken by the governmentin trying to establish a robust mechanism to boostthe economy in these trying times.

<<NEWS NEW>>


1. Fiscal Constraints & Suggestionsa. Across the entire country the taxes on ATF are very

high and are not uniform. ATF for helicopter must bebrought in the category of declared goods. This meansacross the country the VAT should not exceed 4%. Thismeasure should be considered in GST regime and mustfind a place in the forthcoming budget.

b. While the Airliners can import the aircraft duty free,there is a customs duty of 2.5% + Octroi imposed on importof helicopters for NSOP. This disparity has no justification.Why should we not allow the private Helicopter Industryto flourish by removing the Import duty? When civilhelicopters are not produced in the country, why shouldthere be a customs duty on their import? All helicoptersimported for NSOP or Private use or under RCS schememust be free of import duty and Octroi duty. This exemptionmust find place in the forthcoming budget.

c. Exorbitantly high handling charges. At most of theairports operated by AAI, engagement of handling serviceis made compulsory. When the helicopter is flying fromairport to airport, it is very easy for the helicopter crew andback office to do the necessary onward flight planning,pay airport charge, refueling etc. If handling of flights ispermitted to be undertaken by the helicopter operators, itwill result in reducing the cost of operations by INR 15000/- to 25,000/- per flight.

d. Recently at Juhu airport, AAI raised the rent of thehangar/ license fee/porta cabin charges multi-fold. Alloperators had requested AAI to reconsider the 500%increase in the rentals, especially in absence of the requisitefacilities. Besides the increase in rents, the AAI has startedlevying charges under various heads like utility charges,raft space etc. without any correspondingbenefits to theoperators. This needs to be reconsidered for roll back bythe authorities to make the helicopter operations viable.

2.Underutilization of the Helicopters.a.Operators find it difficult to utilize their helicopters

effectively when they have to fly to destinations whichhave only temporary helipads. Despite DGCA CAR 4-B-11para 3.6 explicitly mentioning district authorities beNOTIFIED only and a letter from Ministry of Civil Aviationto all Chief Secretaries of the states to smoothen the processfor helicopter operations from temporary helipads, very littlehas changed on the ground. On being presented with thisletter, many Dist authorities do not adhere to the spirit ofthe letter and insist on following the old procedure ofobtaining various clearances and permissions. They

contend that till the State Chief Secy does not pass oninstructions to them, they will not permit us to operatebased on information only. This results in additional timeand costs for the operators at times leading to cancelationof important/critical operations. Hence it is suggested thatthe MOCA may write a follow up letter to chief Secretariesof States, highlighting the need to pass on the necessaryinstructions to the concerned Distt authorities.

3. Regulations & Suggestionsa. Another constraint highlighted by most operators is

regulations which are very stringent and have variations inlanguage and application. Flying safely, while still fulfillingcommercial commitments, is always a challenge foroperators working in difficult environment. Many helicopteroperations are still guided by rules and regulations asapplicable to fixed wings. An exercise needs to be conductedto weed out such rules & regulations of 1937 vintage. DGCAmay consider inviting suggestions/comments from theoperators and set up a dedicated panel to undertake thisexercise.

Regulation, which should always be helpful, sometimesitself becomes a challenge.

b. The time taken to import a helicopter and to endorseit on the NSOP is between 10-12 weeks in-spite of constantfollow up. In case of leased helicopter, the lease rental startsfrom the date of delivery. In UAE & Australia it takes just 5/7 days for endorsing the helicopter on the Operating Permit.The time taken for endorsement on the NSOP should bereduced to less than 10-15 days.

c. Firstly, the time taken for the permission to get thetype course approval outside India is a herculean task, andonce it is somehow organized the oral cum practical examfor the AME takes inordinate time. This rule must beamended to remove the requirement of oral cum practicalexam. Nowhere in the world is this practice followed. Likefor pilots rating, any EASA or FAA approved Part 147 facilitymust be automatically acceptable to DGCA.

d. In-spite of FOIs being posted in Western Region,the files are sent to DGCA headquarters for all approvals,including One Time Approval for prof check/route check/Sp VFR/ Emergency Checks etc., causing inordinate delaysin obtaining the approvals. We request DGCA HeadQuarters to authorize the regional FOIs to grant one-timeapprovals in such cases. These authorizations are withinthe statutory powers of the DDG.

e. Flower dropping: Most of the flights are cancelled

<<FOCUS ON CIVIL HELICOPTER OPS>>

Summary of Recommendations received by RWSIfrom the Industry Stakeholders


<<FOCUS ON CIVIL HELICOPTER OPS>>

since the DGCA circular requires the Instructor/examinerto do the work, even when there is a PIC available with over3000 hours of helicopter experience. This should besimplified and any PIC with over 1000 hours helicopterexperience and with over 100 Hours on type experience beallowed with formulation of SOP.

f. Heliports must be set up in the four regions in thecountry (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata & Chennai/Bengaluru).The responsibility of developing heliports must primarilyrest with the AAI & state governments. The State Govtsneed to be instructed to set up a dedicated helipad withbasic safety facilities in every Dist. HQ if not in every town.This would obviate the need to obtain ‘Permissions’ as perPara 2 above. This would also go a long way in facilitatingDisaster management and HEMS operation on a Nationallevel.

g. The AAI must periodically review the need forhelicopter corridors and update them as per changing needsof the industry.

h. Age of the helicopter has become a contentious issue.All the major tenders including the government and PSUtenders have conveniently started specifying the limit ofage of helicopter. The condition is such that if an operator’shelicopter is more than 08 -10 years of age, it is very difficultfor him to bid for most of the tenders. Thus, either thecostly assets have to be replaced with newer ones whichmeans higher operating cost, or the assets remains onground finally to be either sold out of country or to becomea financial liability. We urge the MOCA and the DGCA tocome out with circular for all the state government and thePSU’s clarifying that age of the machine has no relevanceto its operating abilities and airworthiness. When airlinescan fly planes, which are over 20 years old then why notpermit helicopters of similar vintage to be considered fit foroperations?

i. To facilitate growth of helicopter operations in Indiaa separate wing for helicopters must be created in theDGCA, MOCA and AAI.

J.Commercial Helicopter Operations (Offshore). Forfacilitating offshore night MedEvac operations on theEastern coast, DGCA may consider a night MedEvac hubat Dhirubhai Ambani Heliport at Gadimoga (as RIL is readyto facilitate up gradation of their Heliport for nightoperations) and may formulate various procedures like ATS,terminal approach for offshore night MedEvac operations.

k. Wire Strike Hazards to Helicopters. There havebeen three civil aircraft accidents in India owing to wirestrike between 21st to 27th Aug 19 RWSI record ofhelicopter accident data shows that since the year 1991,there have been a total of 08 reported aviation accidents/collisions involving wires/power lines in India. Of the 8accidents, 5 accidents resulted in fatalities. Most of these

accidents have occurred in mountainous terrain states ofJ&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and ArunachalPradesh. The past civil helicopter accidents due to wirestrike have not prompted the Regulator to formulate normsfor state governments and power-supply companies, aimedat cutting down the number of wire-strike crashes. Ourrecords clearly show that when the matter was taken upwith the Regulator, we were informed that all the StateGovts had been informed about the need for marking tallobstacles around the helipads to prevent safety hazards.Unfortunately, many state Govts have not initiated anyaction till date to mark static obstacles in the vicinity ofTake-off & Approach path of regularly used Helipads intheir States. Our records indicate that Chief Ministers ofArunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra survived inhelicopter accidents caused due to wire strike. Byprovidence, they did not result in major catastrophe as thewire strike took place after take-off when the helicopterwas at a lower speed. Many Air Force and Army helicoptershave also had wire strike- accidents (many resulting in fatalinjuries) while operating in our hilly States. No lessonswere leant in this regard. MOCA must write to State Govtsto see that action is taken to mark static obstacles in thevicinity of Take-off & Approach path of at least regularlyused Helipads in the States.

l. Cost of “One Time base Approval” for carrying outminor maintenance inspection at Amarnath. Shuttle Flyingfrom Pahalgam & Neelgath Helipads to Panchtarni duringYatra period requires one or two 150 hrs ScheduledMaintenance Inspections to be carried out on Airbus H-125. The helicopters cannot be ferried back to base for thisMaint as the Shrine Board Contract needs a Stand byhelicopter at site. As the Operators / Shrine Board were notallowed to construct hangars in Amrnath area, the 100 hrsand 150 hr maintenance inspections are completed at thehelipad. Thus a onetime Base Approval is sought fromDGCA for carrying out this Minor inspection (taks just 4-5 hrs and no special tools or facilities are required) at anexorbitant fee of INR 400,000/- per season as against INR50k previously. The cost of mandatory Audit by theOperator’s QM, followed by the visit of DAW’s AuditInspection team for granting the One Time Approval worksout to be another INR 3-4 lakhs. This is over and above theexpenditure incurred towards the visit of Flt Ops team ofDGCA ( about 4-5 members) to certify that the Helipad &Operators Infrastructure is fit for Yatra flying before itscommencement.

Suggestions: The fee for One Time Base Approval atPahalgam/Neelgrath be kindly reduced to INR 50K andvalidity of the Approval be kept as 24 months instead of40-45 days.


Uttarakhand: UDAN heli services to connect Dehradunwith Badrinath, Gangotri

On 08 Feb 20 Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)operationalized the first-ever helicopter services fromDehradun’s Sahastradhara helipad to Gauchar andChinyalisaur under the Regional Connectivity Scheme -Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) of Government ofIndia. Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttrakhandand Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, MoCA were present.

The inauguration of the helicopter routes in theUttrakhand region is in line with the objective of the Ministryof Civil Aviation to enhance the aerial connectivity of thehilly areas in the country.

MoCA awarded the Sahastradhara-Gauchar-Chinyalisaur route to Heritage Aviation under the UDAN 2bidding process. Heritage Aviation will operate helicopterservices from Sahastradhara to Gauchar and Chinyalisaurtwice daily.

For these services, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) isprovided under UDAN to keep the fares affordable for thecommon people. The State Government of Uttrakhand isalso providing additional incentives to make the schememore attractive.

The helicopter services from the Sahastradhara helipadto Gauchar and Chinyalisaur had been the long pendingdemand of the people residing in the hilly areas. Theservices on this route will boost the tourism sector in theUttrakhand region and will also assist the Chaar DhaamYatra pilgrims as Gauchar is en route to Badrinath andChinyalisaur is en route to Gangotri in the Uttarkashi district.

Kerala Govt approves Rs 1.76 crore for hiring

helicopter26 Feb 20 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Overlooking

allegations of tender irregularities and the austeritymeasures adopted by the state, the government hasallocated Rs 1.76 crore in advance to hire a helicopter fromPawan Hans for various operational purpose of the police.

The decision of the government to hire the chopperfrom Pawan Hans had run into a controversy after rivalcompanies alleged that their tender bids were overruleddespite quoting lower amounts. The amount nowsanctioned will cover the fixed monthly charge of Rs 1.44crore plus the GST rate of 18 per cent.

The hiring will be on a wet-lease basis and in case offlying beyond 20 hours per month, an hourly charge of Rs67,926 will be charged. The police had proposed hiring the‘AS 365 Dauphin N Helicopter’. Three types of chopperswere suggested by Pawan Hans, of which Dauphin wasselected on account of its technical superiority.

Helicopter services under UDAN are currently beingoperationalised between Chandigarh to Shimla, Shimla toDharamshala and Shimla to Kullu.

With the commencement of the Sahastradhara-Gauchar-Chinyalisaur route, the Ministry of Civil Aviation hasoperationalized 260 routes under UDAN.

Furthermore, Pawan Hans Limited (PHL) is also goingto commence the operations under UDAN from Jolly GrantAirport, Dehradun to New Tehri, Srinagar (Chamoli,Uttarakhand) and Gauchar. With an aim to efficientlyconnect high priority regions, like the North EastRegion, J&K, Ladakh, hilly states, and islands, for themasses, MoCA recently invited the fourth round of biddingunder UDAN which is under progress.

Senior officials of MoCA and State Government werealso present at the inauguration of the route.

<<CIVIL HELICOPTER OPERATIOS>>

The Govt which has so far made two unsuccessfulattempts for the sell of Pawan Hans Ltd is likely to invitefresh expression of interest this month for the state-ownedhelicopter service company.

According to the Pawan Hans website, the companyis south Asia’s largest in terms of maintaining and operatinga fleet of more than 50 helicopters. The government holds51% stake in the company, while Oil and Natural Gas CorpLtd owns the remaining 49%.

In April 2018 the Govt issued an informationmemorandum for 51% strategic stake sale in Pawan Hansand in August 2018 Govt invited fresh expression-of-interest, saying bidders will also have the option of buyingONGC’s 49% stake in the company, along with its 51%,which failed to invoke any interest from the bidders.

Govt source says freshbids for Pawan Hans sale

likely by month-end


DefExpo 2020, an unprecedented success

<<DEFEXPO 2020>>

Def Expo 2020 which was held at Lucknow during 5-9Feb 20 was described by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singhas an unprecedented success which not only witnessedparticipation of a large number of exhibitors but also forgednew partnerships and attracted more than 12 lakh visitors.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath saidthe event laid a strong foundation for the development ofstate Defence Corridor Participation of highest number ofexhibitors and adoption of Lucknow Declaration historicIndian Armed forces win hearts of people with their daredevil live demonstrations

Speaking at the valedictory ceremony on 08 Feb 20, thefourth day of DefExpo 2020 at Lucknow , Shri Rajnath Singhsaid UP stands for Unlimited Potential and DefExpo hassucceeded in projecting a new identity of the state indefence sector and the Defence corridor received a hugeboost for attracting new investments with the signing of 23MoUs. He said DefExpo would also establish India as aDefence manufacturing hub of the world and exporter. Hethanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for inauguratingthe DefExpo and adopting policies that improved image ofIndia on world stage.

Lucknow Declaration adopted by the first ever India-Africa Defence Ministers conclave is another landmarkachievement of this DefExpo, He added. Raksha Mantriexpressed gratitude to Uttar Pradesh Government headedby Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath for the successfulorganisation of the event.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanathsaid the successful organisation of DefExpo enhanced theimage and prestige of Uttar Pradesh.

In his opening remarks, Defence Secretary Dr AjayKumar described DefExpo as a “job well done” as variousevents concluded smoothly. The event was successful inraising awareness and interest of investors in UP Defcorridor he added.

In this Defexpo, 1024 exhibitors participated, 172 of thembeing foreign companies. 40 Defence Ministers were partof total 70 foreign delegations that visited Lucknow. It alsoshowed that India is not behind any other country in termsof digital technology prowess, Dr Ajay Kumar added.

At the Valedictory ceremony Shri Satish Mahana,Minister for Industrial Development Uttar PradeshGovernment, Shri Barun Mitra, Special SecretaryDepartment of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence,Shri Awanish Kumar Awasti, CEO UPEIDA, Shri MadhavanR, CMD HAL were also present during the occasion.

As the DefExpo was thrown open for the public, hugecrowds thronged the venue. Thousands of young and old,men, women and children were seen visiting variouspavilions and trying to acquaint themselves with theDefence Equipment on display.

The biggest ever such DefExpo to be organised in Indiawas inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi onFeb 5th where he had set a target of USD$5 Billion fordefence exports to be achieved in the next few years. Indiawith its huge population, democracy cannot remain longdependent on defence imports, he ascertained. The

DefExpo is part of Government efforts to make India a netexporter of Defence equipment.

More than 22 seminars held during the eventhighlighted the technological changes, digitaltransformation of Defence and the positive policiesimplemented by the Government - such as relaxation in FDIinvestment, encouraging innovation in Defence start-ups,opening up of testing facilities to Private sector and sharingof technology innovations of DRDO at no cost amongothers– to make India a defence manufacturing hub.

DefExpo 2020 has covered a lot of ground in creatingan environment where Indian industry forged partnershipsthrough MoUs, ToT agreements for innovation andmanufacturing.

Bandhan ceremony on February 7th witnessed launchof 13 products including Light Utility Helicopter by HAL,Sharang 155 mm Arty gun by OFB among others. Morethan 120 MoUs between DPSUs, private and global defencemanufacturing companies were signed (71 MoUs weresigned on Feb 6th), making it the most successful suchevent to be held in India. Among those MoUs signed, 23of them were by Uttar Pradesh Government. These MoUsenvisage Rs 50,000 crores investment in the defencecorridor setup in the state and generate 3 lakh jobopportunities.

Among the Defexpo highlights was India Pavilion whichoffered a peep into the futuristic technologies such asArtificial Intelligence (AR), Augmented Virtual Reality(AVR), Autonomous Systems, Internet of Military Things(IoMT) and Industry 4.0.

Another attraction for people of Uttar Pradesh was Livedemonstrations by Indian armed forces at two locations inLucknow. Demonstrations by Indian Army and Airforceenthralled the audiences at DefExpo site, the Indian Navyand Indian Coast guard demonstrated live performances atthe Gomti River front. The acts included Indian Armydaredevils performing on their bikes, fly past by Suryakiranjets, slithering action performed by commandos, horseriding etc captured the attention of spectators.

A major announcement during DefExpo 2020 was theissuing of Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) certificate ofLight Utility Helicopter (LUH) which was issued toHindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). LUH was designedand developed as a replacement for Cheetah & Chetakhelicopters which are being operated by Indian Armedforces. LUH is a new generation helicopter in the 3-Tonclass incorporating the state-of-the-art technology featureswhich will meet the emerging needs in this class ofhelicopters in the coming decades.

Also, OFB launched “Sharang” the 155mm artillery gunwith 36 km range and handed over a model to Chief of ArmyStaff Gen M M Naravane.

BDL launched Amogha-3 the anti-Tank Guided Missile.It is a man portable, fire and forget missile.

BDL also launched Varunastra – the anti-submarinetorpedo, manufactured under the technological guidanceof DRDO.

The DefExpo 2020 came to a close on 9th Feb 2020.


<<CIVIL HELICOPTER OPERATIOS>>

India, US sign contract for additionalApache attack choppers

25 Feb 20. India and US have signed thecontract for six Apache helicopters for theIndian Army which follows a contract for 22helicopters ordered by the Indian Air Force in2015. While 17 of 22 Apaches have beendelivered to India, the remaining five will bedelivered to the Indian Air Force by the end ofMarch 2020.Notably, the deliveries for theIndian Army Apaches are planned to begin in2023.

The Apache sale is a hybrid procurement- Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) between Boeingand MoD and Foreign Military Sale (FMS)between the GoI and USG. The FMS contractfor the Apache includes munitions, training,aircraft certification, and components includesengines, EO sensors and the radar. The directcommercial sale portion of the contract primarily consistsof the aircraft (less engines/sensors), logistic support,spares and services.

Indian Army will get the AH-64E Apache configuration

India signs deal to acquire MH-60 Sikorsky Romeohelicopters from US

India and the US have signed a deal for theprocurement of MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicoptersfor the Indian Navy.

Under the $2.12bn deal, 24 MH-60R Seahawkhelicopters will be purchased to replace Sea Kinghelicopters.

The signing comes after the Indian Cabinet Committeeon Security (CCS) approved the procurement last week.

Out of the 24 choppers, the delivery of the first six isexpected to take place early next year. These vehicles arecurrently produced by Lockheed Martin company, Sikorsky.

The remaining units are expected to be delivered overthe next two years. A $930m deal has also been signed forthe procurement of six Apache armed choppers for theIndian Army. These choppers will be manufactured byBoeing.

US President Donald Trump was quoted by local mediaas saying: “Earlier today, we expanded our defence co-operation with agreements for India to purchase more than$3bn of advanced American military equipment, including

Apache and MH-60R helicopters, the finest in the world.These will enhance our joint defence capabilities as ourmilitaries continue to train and operate side by side.”

The MH-60 aircraft is expected fill the Indian Navy’srequirement gaps. The navy currently owns a few ageingSea King and Kamov choppers.

-the latest attack helicopter version that the US Army firsttook delivery of in November 2011

In terms of capabilities, the AH-64E Apache helicoptersfor the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army will be identical.


<<DEFENCE EXPO 2020>>

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inauguratesnew Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar

at HAL Complex in BengaluruGovernment has adopted

Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi’s mantra of “Make inIndia’, for India and the world”to build strong defence andsecurity infrastructure in thecountry. This was stated byRaksha Mantri Shri RajnathSingh after inaugurating the newLight Combat HelicopterProduction Hangar at HelicopterDivision in HindustanAeronautics Limited (HAL)Complex at Bengaluru,Karnataka. He said, in the lastfive years, India has madesignificant progress towardsmanufacturing militaryequipment indigenously underthe 'Make in India' initiative.

Stressing that defenceindustry plays a major role in theeconomic development of the country, Raksha Mantrilauded the significant contribution of organisations likeHAL - a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) thathas helped India leapfrog six places to become the fifthlargest economy in the world. He added that there has beenincrease in defence exports that have crossed Rs 17,000crore in the last two years. Highlighting the Rs 35,000 croreexports target set for the coming years, Raksha Mantriexpressed confidence that HAL, through its variousplatforms, will contribute significantly in achieving thismilestone.

Shri Rajnath Singh commended HAL for being thebackbone of the Indian Air Force and meeting therequirements of the Armed Forces. “The HAL has excelledboth in operations and finance in the last five years. It hasachieved operational clearance on seven platforms,including Light Combat Aircraft and Light CombatHelicopter, and overhauled platforms like Hawk and SU 30MKI,” he said. Shri Rajnath Singh also appreciated thatHAL had a turnover of Rs 19,705 crore till March 2019 andit gave shareholders a healthy dividend of 198 per cent.

Noting that HAL is now facing stiff competition fromprivate defence industries, Raksha Mantri urged the DPSUto take this changing environment as a challenge and grabthe opportunities to increase their competitiveness in the

international market. He conveyed best wishes to HAL forits future projects in the field of fixed wing and rotary aircraft,hoping that the DPSU will lead India in civil aircraft businesstoo.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman and ManagingDirector Shri R. Madhavan said, LCH is completely readyfor operational induction and the Helicopter Complex isfully geared up for its production. He added that the newproduction hangar will augment the LCH productioncapacity to reach a peak production of 30 helicopters peryear.

HAL also apprised Raksha Mantri on the progress ofnew design and development programme of indigenousIndian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH). The full-scale mock-up was showcased to Shri Rajnath Singh. The IMRH isproposed as replacement to the existing medium lifthelicopters such as Mi17’s, Kamovs and Seakings whichwill phase out in the next eight to ten years.

LCH is a 5.5-tonne class combat helicopter designedand developed by HAL. It is powered by two Shakti enginesand inherits many technical features of the Advanced LightHelicopter. LCH has the distinction of being the first attachhelicopter to land in Forward Bases at Siachen, 4,700 mtsabove sea level with 500kg load.


<<WINGS INDIA 2020>>

Wings India 2020 takes off in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Owing to the rapid spread ofCoronavirus, many foreign delegates have to call off theirparticipation in the Wings India 2020 expo which began atHyderabad on 12 Mar 20.It was reported that Just 500foreign delegates attended the event. Usha Padhee, jointsecretary, Civil Aviation Ministry, said that in this year’sedition, there was nearly 1/3rd reduction in terms ofparticipation by both national and international participants.The event was enriched by a spectacular air show displayby Global Stars, a British aerobatics team,Team Sarang, thehelicopter display team of Indian Airforce at the WingsIndia 2020 event at Begumpet airport, Hyderabad. Despitethe poor attendance, several states held B2B discussionswith clients at the mega biennial show.

Amongst helicopter OEM’s Bell put up static disply ofthe latest state of the Art shortlight single Bell 505 Jet RangerX. Excellent Hot and High performance, 505 is suitable forvariety of roles like Corporate, Urban air taxi, pilgrimagetourism and other utility roles. The Airbus helicopter had ascaled model of the H145 twine engine best in classhelicopter that serves a range of purposes, including VIPtransport EMS and utility work missions.

Visitors look at the small model of an Airbus H145 helicopter,also known as Eurocopter EC145, at an exhibition stall

Crew members sit inside the cockpit of an Embraer's E195-E2Prot Hunter aircraft on display

The static display of the aircraft on the rst day of 'Wings India 2020

Crew members stand next to a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopterdisplayed at the exhibition

Sarang Helicopter Display Team performing on the ÀÛ}Ürst dayof the ‘Wings India 2020’ at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad


1. Air Charter Services (P) Ltd Augusta 109S 1 VT-IKR 07/2008 2. Aerotech Aviation India A109C 1 VT-ATA 07/1994 (New Delhi) Bell 407 1 VT-PNA 06/2009

3. Aryan Aviation (P) Ltd AS355N 1 VT-SIL 05/2007 (Mumbai) Bell 407 1 VT-SVK 06/2007 AS365N2 1 VT-SIM 05/1997 Bell 407 1 VT-RPN 06/

4. Arrow Aircrafts Sales & Bell 407 1 VT-JPH 06/ Charters Pvt. Ltd 5. Bajaj Aviation Pvt Ltd, Noida Bell-407 1 VT-BKA 06/

6. Belgaum Sugars Pvt. Ltd Bell 407 1 VT-MHN 06 Karnataka

7. B.G Shirke Construction Technologigy Pvt. Ltd, Pune Augusta 109S 1 VT-LJH 06

8. Chipsan Aviation Pvt Ltd Bell 407 1 VT-JIB 05/ EC135P2+ 1 VT-IBA 06/

9. Crescent EPC Projects & Augusta 109 E 1 VT-VSR 05 Technical Services Ltd.

10. Davangere Sugar Co. Ltd. AS 350B3 1 VT-DVG 06/2012

11. Deccan Charters Ltd. Bell 206 L4 1 VT-RBG 06/ (Bangalore) Bell 206 B3 1 VT-NTV 04/1995 AS 355 F-1 1 VT-DAX 05/ AS-350 B3 1 VT-DCB 06/2004 AS-350 B3 1 VT-AHA 06/ 12. Dhillon Aviation Bell 206 L4 1 VT-ZIN 06/1998 (New Delhi) Bell 206 L4 1 VT-IQB 06/ Bell 206 L4 1 VT-NJH 06/

13. DLF Ltd. (New Delhi) AW139 1 VT-TWO 08/2008

14. Fiducia Aviation Pvt. Ltd S76C++ 1 VT-KNH 06/

15. Govt of Rajasthan Augusta 109E 1 CT-RAJ 05/

16. Global Vectra Helicorp Bell 412 EP 14 VT-AZP 13/2006 (Mumbai) VT-AZQ 13/2006 VT-AZS 13/2006 VT-AZT 13/2006 VT-AZW 13/1994 VT-GVA 13/ VT-GVB 13/ VT-GVL 13/ VT-GVK 13/ VT-GVM 13/ VT-GVT 13/ VT-GVW 13/ VT-GVX 13/ VT-GVY 13/ AS 350 B3 2 VT-GVE 06/ VT-GVF 06/ AW 139 4 VT-GVI 15/ VT-GVP 15/ VT-GVQ 15/ VT-GVR 15/ EC-135 P2+ 1 VT-AZY 06/2008 EC-130 T2 2 VT-GVO 07/ VT-GVV 07/ AS 350 B3E 2 VT-RRA 06/ AS350B3e 2 VT-RRB 06/ VT-RRA 06/ AW169 2 VT-GVZ 08/ VT-RRC 08/

Sl. No Company(Location)

AircraftType No Reg. No.

Capacity /Year


AircraftType

Capacity /YearNo Reg. No.

Bell412 EP 1 VT-RRD 13/ AW139 1 VT-RRE 08/

17. Ghodawat Enterprises EC-135 1 VT-GSD 05/ Pvt. Ltd (Maharashtra) EC-130 T2 1 VT-ISG 06/ EC-120B 1 VT-SDG 04/

18. GMR Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Bell 412 EP 1 VT-MRV 13/2010 (New Delhi)

19. Himalayan Heli Services AS 350 B3 6 VT-JMD 06/2001 Pvt. Ltd. (New Delhi) Ecureuil VT-BSG 06/2013 VT -IOS 06/ VT-GIO 06/ VT-BKJ 06/ VT-HHM 06/

20. Heligo Charters Augusta AW139 3 VT-HLC 15/2007 (Mumbai) VT-HLD 15/2009 VT-HLH 15/ Bell 412 EP 3 VT-HLG 13/2007 VT-HLK 13/1999 VT-HLL 13/ AS 365 N3 4 VT-HLI 11/ VT-HLJ 11/ VT-HLM 11/ VT-HLN 11/ H145 1 VT-HLP 8/

21. Heritage Aviation (P) Ltd Augusta 109E 1 VT-HAX 07/ (New Delhi) AS 350B3 2 VT-HCX 06/ VT-HDX 06/ A109S 1 VT-HGX 07/ EC 130 T2 2 VT-HEX 07/ VT-HFX 07/ 22. Himalayaputra Aviation Augusta 109E 2 VT-JIT 06/ New Delhi VT-JPS 06/

23. India Fly Safe Aviation AW 139 1 VT-JSA 12/2010 (New Delhi) GrandAgusta 109S 1 VT-JSF 06/ 2011

24. Indo Pacific Aviation Ltd Augusta A109E 1 VT-FOR 08/

25. Indocopters (P) Ltd AS350B3 1 VT-VAD 06/2006

26. King Rotors & Air Charter Bell 407 1 VT-KSA 06/2008 (Trivandrum ) 27. Kestrel Aviation Agusta A 119 1 VT-CLN 07/2006 (Mumbai) Koala 1 VT-CLR 07/2006 Agusta A 119 1 VT-RNK 07/ MK II

28. Kelachandra Logistics Bell 429 1 VT-HKB 05/ Pvt Ltd 29. LMCS Infra Holdings EC 135 P2+ 1 VT-PEC 05/ Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi

30. Mandke & Mandke Robinson R-66 1 VT-MAN 04/ Infrastructure (P) Ltd (Pune)

31. Maharaja Aviation (P) Ltd. Robinson R-66 2 VT-MAL 04 VT-BAM 04

32. OSS Air Management Augusta A109E 1 VT-OSC 07/2008 (New Delhi) Augusta A109C 3 VT-OSE 07/1995 VT-ICU 05/1991 VT-OSF 07/1992 Augusta 109SP 1 VT-OSH 06/

33. Oxford Enterprises Bell 407 1 VT-OXF 05/2008 Pvt. Ltd. (Pune)

Non Members

Who is Operating What Type of Turbine Helicopter

12

34. Pawan Hans Helicopters Dauphin 2 15 VT-ELB 13/ New Delhi /Mumbai VT-ELD 13/1986 VT-ELE 13/1987 VT-ELI 13/1986 VT-ELK 13/1986 VT-ELL 13/1987 VT-ELM 13/1987 VT-ELN 13/1986 VT-ELP 13/1987 VT-ELQ 13/1987 VT-ELR 13/1986 VT-ELS 13/1986 VT-ELT 13/1986 VT-ENW 13/1987 VT-ENZ 13/1986 Bell 206 L4 3 VT-PHA 07/1993 VT-PHD 07/1995 VT-PHE 07/1996 Bell 407 3 VT-PHI 07/ VT-PHN 07/ VT-PHQ 07/ Dauphin 15 VT-PHJ 13 A 365 N3 S VT-PHL 13 VT-PHM 13 VT-PHO 13 VT-PHR 11/2007 VT-PHS 11 VT-PHW 12/ VT-ENX 11/ VT-PHX 12/ VT-PHY 12/ VT-PHZ 12/ VT-PWB 12/ VT-PWC 12/ VT/PWD 12/ VT/PWE 12/ AS 350 B3 2 VT-PHV 05/ VT-PHU 05 MI 172 3 VT-PHG 26/ VT-PWG 26/1996 VT-PWH 26/ Dhruv 1 VT-HAQ 14/

35. Pinnacle Air (P) Ltd. Bell 407 2 VT-PSA 06/2008 (New Delhi) VT-GNK 06/

36. Poonawalla Aviation H145 1 VT-NAP 07/ Pvt. Ltd. 37. Raymond Ltd. AS355N 1 VT-MML 05/1993 (Mumbai) Agusta A109S 1 VT-GHS 06/

38. Reliance Transport & Bell 407 1 VT-RPO 06/ Travels Pvt. Ltd. (Mumbai)

39. Reliance Commercial Sikorsky S76C++ 2 VT-NMA 05/2008 Dealers Ltd. VT-NIT 08/2009 AS 365 N3 1 VT-JIO 05/

40. Simm Samm Airways MD 900 1 VT-SSE 07/ Pvt. Ltd (Mumbai)

41. Spectrum Aero Pvt. Ltd. AW 139 1 VT-AUG 06/

42. Suhan Aviation Pvt Ltd S-76 C++ 1 VT-DBH 06/ Mumbai

43. Skyone Airways (P) Ltd MI-172 4 VT-JJA 26/2006 (New Delhi) VT-SKB 26/ VT-MAE 26/ VT-SKC 26/

44. Span Air Bell 429 2 VT-NKL 06/2010 (New Delhi) VT-JSH 06/ Bell 407 GX 1 VT-NAL 06/2013 45. Simm Samm Airways MD900 1 VT-SSE 07/ Pvt. Ltd (Mumbai)

46. Thumby Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Bell 412 EP 2 VT-ASL 13/ VT-KNG 13/



Capacity /Year



Capacity /Year

47. Trans Bharat Aviation Bell 407 2 VT-TBC 06/1996 (New Delhi) VT-TBF 06/2007

48. United Heli Charters Bell 212 1 VT-HGC 13/1980 Bell 412EP 1 VT-HGF 13/2007

49. Universal Airways Pvt Ltd. (New Delhi) Agusta A109E 1 VT-JPA 06/ 50. UT Air India (P) Ltd AS 350B3 2 VT-UTA 06/2010 New Delhi VT-UTB 06/2012

* De-registered HelicoptersNSOP =176

Total NSOP =181

Total Piston Engine Helicopter =5


1. Aman Aviation & Aerospace Robinson R-44 1 VT-CNJ 03/

2. Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd. R-44 Raven II 3 VT-ZJM 03/ VT-OJS 03/ VT-HNC 03/

3. Maharaja Aviation (P) Ltd. Robinson R-44 1 VT-SDD 03

Piston Engine Helicopter

F Exclusive Membership of the only Rotary Wing Aviation Society in the country.

F Opportunities for professional development.

F Opportunities to network with top professionals in the field during all Seminars.

F Co-partner in building the future of the industry.

F Empanelment as a consultant & free employment services through Rotor India.

F Get opportunities to interact with top professionals in the field.

F Recognition of excellence.

F Receive ‘‘Rotor India’’ qtly newsletter for life.

F Receive invitation for RWSI Seminars.

F Many other Benefits as the Society grows.

13

Sl. Company Aircraft No AUWNo (Location) Type Kgs

1. ACE Air Service Ltd EC 130 B4 1 2427

2. Arki Aviation (Pune) Agusta 119A 1 Koala Bell 427 1

3. Bajaj Auto A109S 1

4. BG Shirke (Pune) Bell 206 L4 2 2018

5. Bharat Forge (Pune) Bell 206 L4 1 2018

6. Essar Power (Mumbai) Bell 430 1 4218

7. Chemplast Sanmar Ltd. Bell 429 1 3402 (Chennai)

8. Garware Wall Ropes (Pune) Bell 206 L4 1 2018

9. Garware Bestrich Bell 505 1

10. HAL Dhruv 3 5500

11. Hindustan Construction Bell 407 1 2268 (Mumbai) Bell 427 1

12. Kalyan Jewellers Bell 429 1 3402

13 . Kiaan Airways Bell 230 1 Bell 206L 1 2018 Robinson44 1

14. Indian Metals & Ferro Robinson R44 1 Alloys (Bhubaneshwar) VT-ILA R-66 1 15. Navyuga Engineering Co Ltd. Bell 412 EP 1 4398

16. Orissa Stevedore Ltd. (BBN) Enstrom 480B 1 1900

17. Poonawala Aviation EC-145 1

18. Pushpaka Aviation Bell 47G5 1 1293 (Mumbai) Bell 47G2 1 1111 Bell 47G3 B2 1

19. Reliance (Mumbai) Bell 412 EP 2 5398 20. Tata Power Co. Ltd. MD902 1 2954 (Mumbai) MD520N 1 1523

21. Tata Iron & Steel Co. Bell 429 VT-TSJ 1 3402 (Jamshedpur) Bell 429 VT-TSL 1 3402

22. Vedanta Aluminimum Ltd EC 130B4 1 2427 (Bhuvaneswar

23. Vshad & Co. (Mining) Bell 407 1 2268 Bangalore

24. Varva Aviation Agusta 109 1 3000 New Grand

Sl. Company Aircraft No AUW No (Location) Type Kgs

1. Govt. of Bihar AS 365 N 1 4000 (Patna)

2. Govt, of Gujarat AS 365 N 1 4000 (Ahmedabad)

3. Govt. of Haryana EC 145 1 3585

4. Govt, of J&K A 109 E 1 3000 (Srinagar) Bell 407 1 2268

5. Govt of Chhattisgarh A109E Power 1 3000 (Raipur)

6. Govt, of Madhya Pradesh Bell 430 1 4082 (Bhopal) Bell407 1 2268 EC155P2 1 4920

7. Govt of Punjab Bell 429 1 1925

8. Govt. of Tamil Nadu Bell 412 EP 1 5398 (Chennai)

9. Govt. of Uttar Pradesh Bell 412 EP 2 A 109S 1

10. Govt. of Uttarakhand EC 135 1 2835 (Dehradun)

11. Govt. of Jharkhand (Ranchi) Dhruv 1 5500

12. Geological Survey of India Dhruv 1 5500

13. HAL Scweizer 330 2 1025

1. BSF Dhruv (New Delhi) VT-BSJ/VT BSK 6 5500 VT-BSS/VT BSP VT-BSM/VT-HAA Cheetah VT-EBA 1 2200

Total Govt/PSUs = 19

Total Private = 37

Total Para Military = 7

Membership will be based on your professional contribution to helicopter.Professional who have achieved distinction in the field of helicopter aviation and have held a position of responsibility for a minimum period of 5yrs are welcome to join RWSI.Professionals (Life) Rs. 6050 Incl. GSTInstitution / Corporate (Annual) Rs. 8850 Incl. GST or 3 yrs Rs. 23600 Incl. GST



<<INDIAN AIR FORCE>>

IAF Rescues More than 107 Individuals from theFrozen Zanskar River in the UT of Ladakh

50 trekkers including nine foreign nationals andapproximately equal number of local guides and porters,who were a part of the ongoing ‘Chadar Trek’, got strandedwhen some portions of the frozen Zanskar River melted.The melting caused the flow of the water to become toostrong, for the trekkers to continue across the river on foot.The stranded trekkers managed to move to Niraq, a smallcamp site upstream and were awaiting to be rescued. Tocarry out a rescue by helicopters, a makeshift helipad wasprepared along the river bank. ALH helicopters wereimmediately pressed into action from AF Stn Leh.

IAF’s helicopters have rescued 107 individuals duringthe last two days.The rescued trekkers include one maleand one female from France and four male and three femalesfrom People’s Republic of China, who as per the informationwere rescued from Padum. IAF will continue the ongoingrescue operation till all the stranded trekkers, guides andporters are evacuated and brought to safety. Additionally,in order to provide medical facilities to the stranded trekkersa medical officer and a medical assistant were also flownfrom AF Stn Leh to Niraq. The team has setup a medicalassistance camp at Niraq and are providing basic medicalassistance to the stranded trekkers.

The operations were undertaken by IAF in closecoordination with Ladakh’s newly formed CivilAdministration, nearby Indian Army units and local DisasterRelief Teams.


IntroductionThe Army’s long pending demand for requirement of

state-of-art American Apache Attack Helicopters for itsStrike Corps for operations across the western borders isfinally likely to see the light of day. The contract for sixApache AH 64E Guardian helicopters was signed duringthe visit of the American President Donald Trump lastmonth. . Other than the Apaches this will also includeweapons, radars and electronic warfare suites whichconstitutes the most important components of an attackhelicopter.

This is a very significant development for the Army forit will change the very concept of fighting mechanisedwarfare in the Indian context. Earlier the Defence AcquisitionCouncil (DAC) gave the approval for acquisition of sixApache Attack Helicopters (AH) by the Army in August2018 though initially 11 Apache’s had been cleared. Whilea unit of six Apaches is not an ideal combat organisationfrom the tactical employment point of view, a beginninghas been made and Army no doubt will subsequentlypursue its case for greater numbers, based on its operationalrequirements. This case was processed as a ‘follow oncontract’ of the earlier deal inked for 22 Apaches for the AirForce, eight of which have already been inducted.

The case for inclusion of attack helicopters to be partand parcel of army dates back to 1963 when Gen JNChaudhary, the then COAS, stressed the requirement for aseparate air wing for the Army. He emphasized that effortsat increasing the fire power and mobility of the Army wouldnot be complete without an integral aviation elementcomprising light, medium, heavy as well as armed/attackhelicopters. Finally, after vacillating for decades, it was on12th Oct 2012 that the then UPA Government took the callon the crucial issue of the ownership and operations ofAH.

The Government order clearly stipulated that the entireAH fleet will be owned, operated and maintained by theArmy. Though late in coming, the decision was a welcomestep as it was expected to have a major impact on warfighting in the Tactical Battle Area (TBA), for a start withthe mechanised forces. This lethal weapon system as partof Army’s inventory is expected to greatly enhance itscapability, making it a battle winning factor in any futureconflict.

As a consequence of this decision it was assumed thatthe 22 Apache AH-64D Longbow AH being procured fromthe US by the Air Force, were to be part of Army AviationCorps inventory. This assumption was based on the basicpremise that the two units of MI-25/MI-35 AH presentlyheld with the Air Force and being replaced with Apaches,are army assets and are also operationally controlled bythe Army- infact a few Army Aviation Corps pilots are also

Army to Get Its Own Apache Attack Helicopters

<<INDIAN ARMY>>

posted to these units. It therefore came as a completesurprise to the Army when the previous Governmentreneged on its earlier order defying operational logic andstated that the 22 Apaches being acquired would remainwith the Air Force due to the acquisition process havingbeen already set into motion– the Army’s suggestion andrecommendation to the Government to share these assets50:50 did not make any headway due to objections by AirForce. It is with this background that the current approvalfor the army to acquire Apache helicopters needs to beviewed. Infact DAC has initially cleared the acquisition of11 Apache AH under the repeat order option clause, whichwas subsequently reduced to six numbers probably due tofinancial constraints.

Why Attack Helicopters for ArmyThe primary mission of Army Aviation is to fight the

land battle and support ground operations, operating inthe TBA as a combined arms team expanding the groundcommander’s battlefield in space and time. Its battlefieldleverage is achieved through a combination ofreconnaissance, mobility and fire power that isunprecedented in land warfare. Its greatest contribution tobattlefield success is the ability it gives the commander toapply decisive combat power at critical times virtuallyanywhere on the battlefield, in the form of direct fire fromaviation manoeuvre units (attack/armed helicopters) orinsertion of overwhelming ground forces at the point ofdecision (utility/lift helicopters) facilitating ‘Effects BasedOperations’.

The assets required for the above manoeuvre, the attackand assault helicopters must be at the beck and call of thefield force commander and also piloted by men in olivegreen who fully understand the ground situation. This willensure the optimum utilization of the battle winning resource.This has been the basic rationale on which the Army’s casefor ownership of these assets rests.

Unlike the Air Force, the Army Aviation units andhelicopters are located closer to their operational areas and


<<INDIAN ARMY>>

along with the formations they are affiliated to, especiallyat the Corps level. During war these units will require tooperate from forward composite aviation bases, cateringfor security, maintenance, fuelling and arming facilities. Theemployment philosophy dictates the need to developorganizations that enhance aviation capabilities to supportthe concept of operations of field commanders and betailored to meet the evolving operational requirements-hence the concept of Aviation Brigade with each Corpsand not Bases as in the case of Air Force.

With the Indian Army’s Doctrine of ‘cold start’ or the‘proactive strategy’ as the Government would like to call it,which is Pak centric, restructuring has been done of theHolding/Pivot Corps as ‘first responder’ to enable quickand immediate action within 48-72 hours by using theintegral assets at the Corps level. For this the resourcesrequired (including attack helicopters) must be at the beckand call of the field force commander- the presentarrangement of these assets ownership with the Air Forceand operational control with Army is not satisfactoryoperationally sound.

Army AH Inventory Present & FutureThe Army is already in the process of inducting the

armed version of the ALH called ‘Rudra’ developed by theHAL with a unit already operational and another underraising. Though not a typical attack helicopter, it has anarray of comparable weapon systems to include gun,rockets, air-to-air, and air-to-ground missiles (ATGM). TheRudra units are to form part of the Holding/Pivot Corpsconstituting a formidable offensive punch to the field forcecommander. Further the LCH developed by the HAL isexpected to be a mile stone achievement. The LCH aims togate crash the exclusive club of the state of art light attack

helicopters, which includes Eurocopters Tiger, Bells AH1Z Super Cobra and China’s Zhisheng 10 (Z-10).

The LCH is a derivative of the ALH and the Rudra andis being designed to fit into an anti – infantry and anti –armour role with capability to operate at high altitudes(16000 feet), a distinct advantage over other attackhelicopters-the helicopter is expected to enter service thisyear. The LCH units will be the main punch of themanoeuvre force commander and will be inducted into theArmy Aviation Corps and operate in support of groundforces both in the plains and mountains – during the Kargilwar the only AH held (MI-25/MI-35) could not operate athigh altitudes, where most of the conflict was concentrated.As per reports initial clearance for five LCH for the Armyhas already been given by the Government while the overallrequirement is much larger.

ConclusionIn the near future the Army’s air arm, the Army Aviation

Corps, will boast of formidable AH inventory from the Rudraarmed helicopter to the state of art AH like the Apache andthe LCH. The LCH with its high Altitude capability will beforce multiplier and a weapon of decision in any futureconflict in the mountains. The Apache AH is a game changerand will be a powerful and decisive tool with the StrikeCorp Commander – there is no doubt that in case of a futureconflict the 22 Apaches with the Air Force would also beavailable to support the land forces operations, for this isthe primary role of these AH. With the induction of suchmodern and technology driven weapon systems the Armywill need to plan and work out appropriate employmentphilosophies, training and maintenance procedures suitableto the Indian environment to exploit the full potential ofthese battle winning machines in the future.

An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College and National Defence Academy,Lt Gen B.S Pawar was commissioned into Artillery in June 1968 and fought the 1971war in the Uri sector of J&K.

During a career spanning four decades the officer has held a number of prestigiouscommand and staff appointments. He has been the Brigade Major of an Infantry andMountain Brigade respectively and has held the appointment of a Director in thePerspective Planning Directorate. He has the distinction of commanding the largestArtillery Brigade in J&K in a counter insurgency environment. He was Maj Gen Artillery,Western Command during Operation Parakram and oversaw the large scale deploymentof UAVs for operational tasks. He also headed the Army Aviation Corps and wasinstrumental in the operationalisation of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) duringhis tenure. The General Officer was Commandant School of Artillery in his lastassignment

The officer has attended professional courses like the Defence Services Staff College, Long Defence ManagementCourse and the National Defence College. A diehard aviator and a flying instructor he has over 4000 hours of flying tohis credit and has flown five different types of aircraft. Gen Pawar is presently the President of the Northern Region ofthe Helicopter Society of India.

A defence analyst, he writes for a number of defence journals & publications and is also on the editorial board ofsome of them.


Armed Forces in the Fight against COVID-19Its Quarantine centres shelter 1095 evacuees

Since the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan, China Air Force, Army and Navy Ministry of Defence haveproactively worked to evacuate Indian people from the Covid-19 affected countries China, Iran, Italy and Japan andquarantined them at their facilities to release after mandatory isolation. From 1st February, 2020 till 20 March2020 the Air Force has evacuated 1059 people (including 05 foreigners) and quarantined them at their facilities/bases in Manesar(Haryana), Hindan (Ghaziabad), Ghatkopar, Mumbai and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan). Details asfollows:

Members of RWSI profusely thank all Armed Forces personnelinvolved in the Fight against COVID-19.Our special thanks to theIndian Air Force for evacuating large number of Indian people fromthe Covid-19 affected countries China, Iran, Italy and Japan

<<THANKS TO COVID -19 WARRIORS>>

1 Manesar 248 01 Feb 2020 18 Feb 2020 Evacuees from Wuhan, China Quarantine over, all released

2. Manesar 124 27 Feb 2020 12 Mar 2020 Evacuees from Japan Cruise Ship Quarantine over. All released

3. Hindan 18 27 Feb 2020 12 Mar 2020 Medical team and Air Crew who flew to Wuhan Quarantine over. All released.

4. Hindan 58 10 Mar 2020 23 Mar 2020 Evacuees from Iran 01 pt (viral pneumonia, 67yr/F) refd to Safdarjung Hosp. Tested negative

5. Manesar 83 11 Mar 2020 24 Mar 2020 Evacuees from Italy One personrefd to Safdarjung Hosp. Tested positive

6. Ghatkopar 44 13 Mar 2020 26 Mar 2020 Evacuees from Iran 06 pts symptomatic refd to Kasturba Hosp. Mumbai, all tested negative and brought back to quarantine camp

7. Jaisalmer 236 15 Mar 2020 28 Mar 2020 Evacuees from Iran 03 pts at isolation wd in 15 AFH

8. Jaisalmer 53 16 Mar 2020 29 Mar 2020 Evacuees from Iran

9. Jaisalmer 195 18 Mar 2020 31 Mar 2020 Evacuees from Iran

Sl No. Location Number Date of Commencement Date of Release Remarks

Besides the Indian Navy has set up a quarantine camp at INS Vishwakarma at Vishakhapatnam which is fullyequipped to accommodate nearly 200 personnel. Navy has also set up isolation facilities at its premier hospital INHSAsvini at Mumbai. The Naval base, Kochi under Southern Naval Command (SNC), is gearing up to providequarantine facilities for Indian nationals. The SNC is also actively coordinating with the Kerala state health officialsand Ernakulam district administration to explore the feasibility of provisioning civil hotels/resorts forquarantining.Besides all Army Hospitals have been kept on alert to meet any eventuality.

In an event of releasing the Draft Defence Procurement Procedure 2020 here today, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singhsaid the current Covid-19 situation will not have much impact on their long gestation project.


Indian Navy Ship Airavat, whilst mission deployed inthe Southern Indian Ocean has been diverted toAntsiranana based on request recieved from Madagascar.The ship will undertake Humanitarian Assistance andDisaster Relief mission as part of 'Operation Vanilla' whichhas been launched to provide assistance to the affectedpopulation of Madagascar post devastation caused byCyclone Diane.

Indian Navy Launches 'Operation Vanilla' to ProvideHumanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief at Madagascar

During the port call, the ship, in coordination withEmbassy of India and Government of Madagascar isplanned to undertake relief operations to provide succourto the flood affected populace. The Indian Navy Ship isgeared to set up medical camp and provide food, water andother necessary relief material.

The situation is being monitored and the Indian Navyis prepared to render all necessary assistance to the localpopulation in Madagascar.

<<INDIAN NAVY>>

23 January 2020.Confronting an unfavorable fiscalpicture unlikely to change in the short term, the IndianNavy is shrinking its procurement plans to meet the Navy’sfuture goals.According to senior officials, the Navy’s planto have 200 warships in service by 2027 is no longer tenablein light of the service’s shrinking portion of the overalldefense budget.

Navy Chief Adm. Karambir Singh recently stated that

Budgetary Pressures Induce Indian Navy to reduce itsfleet of warships from 200 to 175

the share of the defense budget allocated to the Navy hassteadily declined from 18 percent in 2012 to the currentlevel of 13 percent. This, in turn, has had anadverse impacton effect for naval capitalization.

The Navy’s long-standing fleet goal of 200 warships isnow being pruned to 175 in an effort to optimize availableresources. The current inventory amounts to 130 ships,with 50 more in various stages of planning and production.


Independant Consultant to Department of defenceproduction (DDP), MOD is against inducting a foreign

helicopter as naval utility helicopters (NUH)Vice Admiral Raman Puri (retired) former integrated defence staff chief, , who was appointed as a consultant to the

department of defence production (DDP) is against inducting a foreign helicopter as NUH, when defence public sectorunit Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is in a position to supply a naval version of its indigenous Dhruv advanced lighthelicopter (ALH).

The Admiral has recommended the indigenous Dhruv chopper over a foreign design, citing Para 23 of Chapter II of theDefence Procurement Policy of 2016 (DPP-2016), which states: “Preference will be given to indigenous design, developmentand manufacture of defence equipment. Therefore, whenever the required arms, ammunition and equipment are possible tobe made by Indian industry, within the timelines required by the services, the procurement will be made from Indiansources.” On November 19, the MoD asked HAL for its comments. HAL has replied that it is “generally in agreement withthe viewpoints provided by the consultant.” Puri also pointed out that Para 23 states: “Accordingly the [MoD’s]categorization committee, while considering categorization under the DPP will follow a preferred order of categorization,”in which “Buy (Indian – IDDM)” is top priority.

<<INDIAN NAVY>>

Indian Navy Deploys Warship in Gulf Region FollowingSpiralling Tension Between US, Iran

07 Jan 20.The Indian Navysaid warships and aircraft weredeployed to establishpresence, provide a sense ofreassurance to the Indianmerchant men, monitor theongoing situation and respondto any emergent crises.

The Indian Navy hasdeployed warships in the Gulfregion to ensure security ofIndia's sea-borne trade andeffectively respond to anyemergent situation in the wakeof fast escalating tensionbetween the US and Iran.

Iran launched missilestrikes against two Americanmilitary bases in Iraq on 08 Jan20 in retaliation to the killingof its top commander GeneralQassem Soleimani by the US in a drone strike.

The Indian Navy said warships and aircraft weredeployed to establish presence, provide a sense ofreassurance to the Indian merchant men, monitor theongoing situation and respond to any emergent crises.

"Indian Navy continues to monitor the situation in theGulf region and is maintaining presence in the region toensure security of our sea-borne trade and the safety ofIndian Flag Merchant Vessels transiting through theregion."The Indian Navy stands committed to protectionof the nation's maritime interests," the Navy said.


Indian Navy To Berth New Aircraft Carrier At PrivateShipyard

As there is a decline in the defence budget share for itsprojects, the Indian Navy is planning to deploy theIndigenous Aircraft Carrier at a private shipyard in Kattupallinear Chennai.

In their briefing to the Standing Committee on Defence,the Indian Navy intimated that they are leasing a 260-metreberth in a private shipyard for eight years as an interimmeasure. The total financial implications for leasing theberth along with ‘ready to use’ infrastructure will be Rs.30.48 crores per year

“The case for leasing of the 260 m berth at L&Tshipyard, Kattupalli, for a period of eight years (2022-2030)for interim berthing of IAC 1 on the East Coast has beentaken up with Defence Ministry.

The total financial implications for leasing the berthalong with ‘ready to use’ infrastructure are Rs. 30.48 crores/ year + Rs. 48 crores refundable deposit. The case is beingprogressed for early approval of the Defence Ministry,”

the Navy told the Standing Committee on Defence headedby Jual Oram.

40,000-tonne warship will be deployed in Chennai

The Navy sources informed that over 40,000-tonnewarship will be deployed in Chennai as the planned base inVishakhapatnam is not ready yet.India is also planning tohave at least two aircraft carriers at any point of time lookingafter the eastern and western seaboards to look after thevast exclusive economic zone and maritimeboundaries.‘Capital Budget for Navy has the sharpestdecline’, Standing Committee

The Standing Committee also discussed the decliningshare of the Indian Navy in the defence budget andobserved that the Navy’s fighting capabilities depend onthe high-value platforms like aircraft carrier, submarines,destroyers and frigates but the allocation of Capital Budgetfor Navy (percentage) wise has the sharpest decline.

<<INDIAN NAVY>>


Roles in which Drones are being Used todayThe fact that there are over six lac operators of drones in India ( including unregistered drones ), is proof enough that this aerial

platform is being perceived to be used for varieties of roles both in military and civil..

Military

India’s armed forces have been operating UAVs forover 18 years. The Indian Army were the pioneers( by usingIsraeli Searcher Mark 1 in 1998) followed by the Indian AirForce (IAF) and subsequently the Indian Navy. At theoutset, Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) was tasked to produce a Catapult launched UAVwhich was developed by Aeronautical DevelopmentalEstablishment (ADE) Bengaluru and improved to meet userrequirements. Most of the UAVs of the Indian armed forceswere procured from IAI Malat, whose UAVs were in servicewith numerous countries.

Currently, the Indian armed forces have some 200+Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Searcher andHeron UAVs of Israeli origin and a few HAROP UAVsrecently inducted by the IAF. These drones have electro-optical sensors to loiter over high-value military targetslike surveillance bases and radar stations before attackingthem.Harop can be used in high density conflict and counterinsurgency with 1000 km range and six hours endurance. Itcan be launched against land-based and sea-based targets.It is possible to launch the Harop from ground, sea andair.The UAV, known as a quadcopter has been used in liveoperations along the Line of Control between India andPakistan and counter-terrorist operations in Jammu andKashmir.

Q u a d c o p t e rproduced by Indian ArmyJawans displayed at theArmy TechnologySeminar in 2019

In an Indian ArmyTechnology Seminar2019,a QuadcopterUnmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV) capable ofsurveillance and

dropping grenades on targets was unveiled. The UAV hasbeen created by a team of two army soldiers. Originallydeveloped in 2015, the UAV was initially used forsurveillance, and was later modified to include the weaponsystem. The UAV has been used in live operations alongthe Line of Control between India and Pakistan and counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. “TheQuadcopter can lift three grenades or two kg of payloadsuch as ammunition, IEDs and first aid. It is manuallycontrolled through a remote control. It can also be usedautomatically, wherein the coordinates of the target are fedon the laptop and the UAV navigates to the areas and dropsthe grenade after unpinning it. It also has day and nightsurveillance.

The current Chief of Naval Staff considers UAVs arethe future. While MALE UAVs have served the Navy well,they are going in for a kind of an upgrade.

Drone technology has been used by the Indian ArmedForces as outlined in the earlier paragraphs.As the benefitsof this technology extends well beyond Defence,let us seethe Roles in which Drones are being Used in other sectors.

Many of the drones are being designed exclusively forsurveillance, but others for offensive operations. In additionto the use of new aerial technologies, unmanned groundvehicles (UGVs) are likely to play a major role in military tolead tactical initiatives. These will be the land-basedcounterpart to unmanned aerial vehicles and unmannedunderwater vehicles to perform a variety of dull, dirty, anddangerous activities..

<<DRONES>>


CivilLet us see now how a large number of companies across

the world are developing drones for commercial purposes

Emergency Medical Services.UAVs designed tofunction in confined areas with limited lines of sight -environments can be extremly helpful to emergencyresponse teams.Drones provide "unmatched capability" toquickly target the needy for providing relief.For example,during the Nepal earth quake in 2015 ,the drones equippedwith thermal cameras were used to find survivors bydetecting body heat, as well as a high-powered zoom lensthat can show faces as well as on-the-ground-detail fromup to 1,000 feet away.

Additionally, there are ambulance drones that coulddeliver defibrillators on demand.

Agriculture

Aerial Survey

Use of dronescan provide livedata from a range ofsensors (includingmultispectral, NIRand LIDAR) to

perform in-depth analysis of crop health and more.The datacollected can help a farmer in managing his farm ( in handlingseeding ,when to apply fertilizers/chemicals and harvesting)for better productivity.

Aerial Spraying

Disease ControlTracking animals also allows Authorities to track

disease. Drones with thermal imaging cameras have beenused for this purpose to track diseased animal movements.The ability to follow these animals provided further insightinto the possible movement of infectious disease and its

jumps fromanimals tohumans. In asimilar vein,Microsoft isl everagingd r o n etechnologyto captureand testmosquitoesf o r

Drones are used to spray pesticides .It helps spraymore land in short time which can help improve theefficiency and productivity of agriculture .

MappingDrones are ideal mapping platforms for quick and

accurate data collection that will enable user agencies totake informed decisions.

Wild Life MonitoringDrones provide a cost effective solution for aerial

surveys of wildlife.This application includes animal habitatmapping ,population counting, tracking, photography ofwild animals in their habitat etc

<<DRONES>>


Personal transportation

While our definition of drones is typically limited tounmanned vehicles, certain emerging forms of autonomoustransportation function similarly to drones.Forexample,German aviation start-up Volocopter conductedurban air taxi test flight above Singapore's Marina Bay on21 Oct 19.The air taxi’s maiden flight above Singapore'sMarina Bay lasted about two minutes - a minute short ofthe advertised three-minute test run - perhaps because thethunder had begun to rumble. It was manned by a pilot,although future flights are expected to be fully autonomous.

AirlinesTo meet with stringent regulatory standards,airlines are

expected to conduct their own routine inspections of theirairlines before every flight.In an attempt to improve thisprocess, Intel partnered with Airbus to conduct exterioraircraft inspections with UAVs. Intel supplied dronesoutfitted with cameras that allow them to collect imagesand data that can be used to create detailed, 3D-models ofthe Airbus fleet.Airbus has also launched its own dronesubsidiary called Airbus Aerial, which looks to provideinspection services across a variety of industries.

There are other numerous areas in which the Dronesare being used today such as Telecommunications,Tourism, Live Entertainment, security, education, newscoverage, fire fighting, foodservices, exploration in space,Law Enforcement etc These roles will be covered in thenext issue.

Waste ManagementUsing drones for waste management can help

governments and waste management organizations inmonitoring landfills, calculating airspace, and deterringlittering. Drones can simplify many operations in wastemanagement such as garbage collection and landfillmonitoring.

Construction PlanningOne of

the mostc o m m o ncommercialuse cases fordrones isconstructionplanning andmanagement.S o f t w a r edevelopershave createds o l u t i o n sthat analyzeconstructionp r o g r e s s

with regularly captured data. While ground surveying isstill a critical part of construction planning and monitoring,the use of drone data has become increasinglyimportant.With the use of drones, urban planners are ableto better understand their environments and implementdata-driven improvements.

infectious disease. Ideally, this intelligence could be usedto protect local residents, and in the future could helpprevent epidemics before they begin.

Water-borne diseases appear to be a quintessentialproblem in India. A simple solution lies in cleaning largewater bodies, which are breeding grounds of mosquitoes.Using AI, IoT and drones, Marut Drones is tacklingmosquito menace in a smart way.Marut Drones claims tohave built India’s first drone to eradicate mosquitoes larvaeand water hyacinth on lakes.

<<DRONES>>


SPECIAL REPORT

AIRBUS HELICOPTER- PAGES 27 -29

BELL HELICOPTER PAGE 30

LEONARDO PAGE 31

HONEYWELL FORECAST PAGES 32-33

SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PAGES 34-40


Helicopter Association International wraps upsuccessful Heli-Expo 2020

Helicopter Association International(HAI) has drawn the curtains on HAI Heli-Expo 2020 in Anaheim, and this year’s showwas packed with business deals, newtechnology, and safety and professionaltraining. The four-day event broughttogether thousands of attendees fromaround the globe, focusing their attentionon every aspect of the rotorcraft industry.Spread across the breadth of the AnaheimConvention Center, attendees andexhibitors got close-up looks at the nearly60 aircraft on the show floor, including suchadvanced aircraft as Airbus’s Vahanaproof-of-concept testing vehicle. NASA/JPL also conducted a presentation on theMars Helicopter before a packed room.

This year’s show covered 313,000 netsquare feet, with 657 exhibiting companieson the show floor. There were also 62 helicopters on display,ranging from small to large and from older aircraft to mock-ups of models approaching certification. Other displayaircraft included several remotely piloted vehicles.

“HAI Heli-Expo is the one show for the commercialhelicopter industry,” says Jim Viola, president and CEO ofHAI. “People come from around the world to find somethingfor their vertical lift business, and they find it here. If theywanted to buy a helicopter, receive safety training, meetvendors or suppliers of parts and services, or obtainprofessional education, they found it in Anaheim this year.”

Training was indeed a very popular event at this year’sshow, with attendees choosing from over 150 education

courses, technical briefings, workshops, forums, meetings,and seminars. Nearly 4,000 attendees participated in freeRotor Safety Challenge sessions that focus on improvingsafety in every aspect of the vertical lift industry.Additionally, approximately 500 attendees participated infor-fee professional education courses, and over 1,300attended technical briefings provided by aircraft and enginemanufacturers.

“We’re already looking forward to next year’s show,”added Viola. “Work is actually well under way for HAI Heli-Expo 2021 in New Orleans, where we expect our attendeesto have an extraordinary time!”

The show dates in 2021 are March 22-25, with the exhibitfloor open March 23-25.

<<HELI-EXPO 2020>>


<<HELI-EXPO 2020>>

Airbus Helicopters announces 38 orders atHeli-Expo 2020

Anaheim, 30 Jan 2020 – AirbusHelicopters concluded Heli-Expo2020 with 38 orders, as well as 20retrofits for the new five-bladedH145. German air rescue andambulance provider

DRF Luftrettung placed anorder for 15 H145s, making them thelargest operator of the H145. Showhighlights included the increasedpower of the H125 that will enableoperators to lift up to an additional190 kg (419 lbs), Shell Aircraftconfirming their interest in using theH160 for offshore transportationmissions, and Metro Aviationordering an additional 12 newEC145e helicopters.

Customs and Border Protectionwill add 16 new H125 helicopters to their fleet, with deliveriesbeginning later this year from Airbus’ production facility inColumbus, Miss. Another H125 order was signed withAscent Helicopters in Western Canada.“At AirbusHelicopters, we are constantly focused on finding ways tohelp our customers better execute their missions,” saidBruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “We are honouredby the trust that our first-time and returning customersplace in our aircraft and support solutions, which has beenconfirmed once again at this year’s Heli-Expo.”

Airbus received an order for three new H135s fromNASA, marking the first-time partnership between the U.S.space program and Airbus Helicopters. The agency willuse the aircraft for a variety of missions, including missilelaunch security at Kennedy Space Center in Florida,emergency medical services and qualifiedpersonnel transport. Reinforcing theircommitment to ensuring the highest level ofsafety available, tourism operator MaverickHelicopters announced it will retrofit its entirefleet of 34 EC130 B4 helicopters with the AirbusCrash Resistant Fuel System.

On the support and services side, Airbussecured numerous global supportcontracts,including Papillon, Heliportugal, andDRF Luftrettung who extended its HCare Smartcontract for another eight years. These plansenable customers to increase availability and

mission success, optimize their costs, lower the maintenanceburden, enhance safety and sustain the value of their assets.Airbus also unveiled its new collaborative AirbusWorldcustomer portal and an online Marketplace making e-commerce practices from the consumer world available toAirbus customers. Additionally, the company has nearlydoubled the number of helicopters now sharing flight andmaintenance data with the company in just one year.Alsoannounced at the show, Airbus’ global helicopter fleetreached 100 million flight hours.

To all the pilots, operators, engineers, technicians,mechanics, ground crew, and passengers who helped makethis milestone possible, #thanks100million


<<HELI-EXPO 2020>>

More power and enhanced aerial work capabilities

for the H125Up to +190kg of additional payload coming from engine power release

Anaheim, 28 January 2020 - Airbus Helicopters hasannounced a major performance increase on the H125 bymaking full use of the available power of Safran HelicopterEngines’ Arriel 2D.

The aircraft’s external and internal load liftingcapabilities will increase by up to +140 kg, with a large partof it already available at low altitude and low externaltemperatures, while the hover ceiling OGE will be improvedby more than 1,500 ft (up to 12,600 ft). These figures will befurther increased when the H125 is equipped with the BLRFast Fin® tail rotor enhancement and stability system,resulting in a total additional gain of up to +190 kg of externaland internal load lifting capabilities and the hover ceilingOGE being improved by +2,300 ft (up to 13,400 ft) comparedto the current H125 performance.

This extra power is expected to be certified this summerand will be included as a standard feature on all new-builtH125s at no price increase. A retrofit solution will beavailable for all VEMD- equipped H125s (AS350 B3e) bythe end of this year and will only consist of a simple VEMDsoftware upgrade.

The H125 will also provide increased operationalsimplicity thanks to new options aiming to improve visibilityand pilot awareness. All of them are to be showcased onthe H125 at Airbus Helicopter’s booth: a more compact andsimplified instrument panel that reduces its surface area by40% and incorporates a Garmin G500H TXI touch screen; aremote FLI solution developed by California-based AKV

Inc. which will allow to display the main VEMD engineparameters on a smartphone or a tablet via a Bluetoothconnection, while keeping external loads in sight, and twoadditional upper windows greatly improving upwardvisibility. Show-goers will also see how the Maximum PilotView Kit, provided by Swiss Rotors Services, boosts theprecision and safety of aerial work operations byconsiderably increasing the field of view of pilots.

“I am very happy to be presenting these new H125features, which are the result of a continuous dialogue withour customers” declared Axel Aloccio, Head of theIntermediate Single Programme. “The extra power offeredby the H125 raises the bar within the single engine helicoptermarket to reach levels never attained up to now by suchplatforms and confirms the superiority of the H125 in termsof payload and value for money. And our new options forthe aerial work market segment will not only simplify ourcustomer’s daily missions, but more importantly, will furtherincrease the safety of these very demanding operations”.

With more than 4,000 helicopters in service with about1,500 global customers, the H125 keeps leading the singleengine helicopter market thanks to its high performanceand multi-mission capacity. In the last 10 years 630 H125shave been delivered for aerial work, resulting in 74% marketshare. There are currently about 1,600 H125/AS350helicopters dedicated to aerial work operations, havingaccumulated more than 10,6 Million flight hours.


Airbus Helicopters continues the militarisation of theH160 and its support framework

Marignane, 6 February 2020 – Airbus Helicopters andthe French Armament General Directorate (DGA) arepursuing a new set of studies to further the militarisation ofthe H160 and to define its associated support ecosystem inthe frame of the Joint Light Helicopter program (HélicoptèreInterarmées Léger: HIL) This contract launches pre-development activities for the military version of the H160,also called the Guépard by the French armed forces, in orderto meet the delivery schedule that was brought forward inMay 2019 by the French Minister of Armed Forces, FlorenceParly.

The new set of studies will also focus on defining theoptimal set-up for supporting the tri-service H160M fleet.Airbus Helicopters, Safran Helicopter Engines, and the DGAwill work closely together in order to maximize the availabilityrate of the helicopters, as well as optimizing the cost ofsupporting the fleet.

The H160 was designed to be a modular helicopter,enabling its military version, with a single platform, to perform

C135 Reduced mandatory maintenance and flightchecks

Mar, 20, Source: Airbus Helicopters.In the frame of itsmaintenance improvement programme for the light twinengine helicopters, Airbus Helicopters has developed asolution to reduce inspection times and provide moreflexibility to carry out checks on the H135 (EC135 P2/P2+and T2/T2+), while reducing maintenance costs and aircraftground time.

Through the rework of the “Ground Check Run” and“Functional Check Flight” intermediate and periodicinspection procedures (at 1,000 FH / 3 years), customersnow benefit from:

• 50% more time in average to perform the checks atthe time limit, providing more flexibility ð from +100 FH/+3months to +150 FH/+4 months

• A simplified procedure for checks that can beperformed in less stringent flight conditions, while reducingpilot workload

These improved procedures will be accessible with thenext release of O.R.I.O.N. (digital TechData), version 010.

They will be extended to all other EC135 and H135versions

missions ranging from commando infiltration to air intercept,fire support, and anti-ship warfare in order to meet the needsof the army, the navy and the air force through the HILprogramme. Bringing the launch of the HIL programmeforward to 2021 will enable first deliveries to the Frencharmed forces in 2026.

within the coming months and will be made accessibleas “preprints” with the O.R.I.O.N. version 011.

<<HELI-EXPO 2020>>


Bell 525 Flight Test Program in Final Stages

<<HELI-EXPO 2020>>

Bell’s production-conforming super-medium 525Relentless is making its Heli-Expo debut this week inAnaheim, California. Registered as N525TY, the helicoptermade its way from Bell’s Fort Worth, Texas headquarters inabout seven hours and with four stops—a longer distancethan usual because of the restrictions on experimentalaircraft flying over densely populated areas.

The Bell 525 at Heli-Expo is S/N 15, the fifth flyingRelentless, but now one of four flight-test vehicles as thefirst was lost in a flight-test accident. FAA flight testingwill conclude after about 2,000 hours of flying, and the fourhelicopters are at about the three-quarter mark, accordingto Josh O’Neil, Bell’s manager of technology and evaluationand chief engineer for the 525 program.

Bell isn’t providing a predicted timeline for FAAcertification, but “we’re firmly in the certification phase,”he said. “Flight testing is generating certification data withall four aircraft. It’s a matter of getting all the documentationand reports in hand and sending them to the FAA.” Oncethat is done, the final steps are up to the FAA, and Bell haselected not to predict how quickly the FAA will completeits work.

When the 525 is certified, 37 kits will also be approved,including items such as air-conditioning, floats, weatherradar, dual radar altimeters, and other features needed foroil-and-gas industry customers, said Bell.

The full ice-protection system (FIPS) will come later,probably two years after FAA certification, according toprogram director Byron Ward, primarily due to the need tofind suitable icing conditions for flight testing. The FIPSwas designed as an integral part of the 525 from thebeginning, as were all the kits.

Bell is targeting FAA production certification shortlyafter type certification, Ward said. EASA certification isalso planned fairly soon after the FAA nod, he added.

While Bell isn’t identifying the number of orders forthe 525, some customers have flown the helicopter. Bellhas been collaborating with German oil and gas operatorWintershall Dea on testing of the 525, but the companyhasn’t been identified as a 525 buyer.

According to O’Neill, the 525 meets or exceeds all ofBell’s original design goals. With a fly-by-wire flight controlsystem and Garmin G5000 avionics suite, “this design isgoing to be contemporary for the next 25 to 30 years,” hesaid.

The 525 Relentless, which is powered by two 1,714-shp GE CT7-2F1 turboshafts, has a 160-knot cruise speedand no-reserve range of 580 nm. Hover ceiling IGE is 10,700feet and OGE is 8,100 feet. Max gross weight is 20,500pounds, and in the oil-and-gas configuration shown onN525TY, there are 16 passenger seats with close access toemergency exits


The AW139: simply no rivals

The AW139 is a phenomenon: Thisdefinitive product remains as innovativeas ever, 15 years after entering intooperation, evolving to keep up with newstandards and demands. It is now active ina variety of segments and markets,supporting diverse customers on a widerange of missions. A success in its ownright, the AW139 has also been responsiblefor the AWFamily of new-generationhelicopters and has been instrumental inthe development of our world-leadingcustomer support and services offering.

The development of the AW139 wasnot only a definitive moment for our owncompany, it was a turning point for theglobal helicopter industry. This aircraft wasa true game changer, and its own successis testament to the fact that its winningformula has remained current and relevant in the almosttwo decades since its first flight. The AW139 of today offersoperators more safety, higher performance and better cost-effectiveness than ever.

The AW139 has been chosen by almost every majorinternational operator. It has seen its 1,000th delivery. Ithas accrued over 2.6 million flight hours. It is as relevantand innovative today as it was when it entered service in2004.

Although its success is now self-evident, launchingthis program in the late 1990s was a brave choice. We wantedto fundamentally redefine how people thought abouthelicopter operations. The AW139 is the product of skill,knowledge, sacrifice, trust, collaboration, learning andadaptation. It remains the subject of continuousimprovement; honed and developed in the light of feedbackfrom the market, from our customers, and from our ownexpert teams.

In just 15 years, this product’s operators have grownto span the globe, thanks in part to the efforts of our nationaland international partners and suppliers. With the AW139we have been able to enter markets and geographical areaswhere we previously had no presence. As we have grown,we have learned; striving to remain sensitive to the market’srequirements and needs.

With customer satisfaction a key priority, we arecommitted to delivering the highest quality of CustomerSupport, advanced service solutions and a comprehensiverange of training programs. A global network of over 90Service Centers, 10 Logistic Support Centers, five Domestic

Training Academies, eight Authorized Training Locationsand a team of over 1,800 support and training professionalsare dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction 24/7. Weare investing in performance and infrastructure tostrengthen network collaborations and expanding ourportfolio of digital flight and support service solutions.

The AW139’s journey reflects our own approach withinthe industry. It has included the development of solutionsin the field of services and a complete and customizabletraining syllabus for pilots, crews and technicians. It hasdemonstrated technologically advanced elements thanksto our focus on performance, operational versatility, safetyand systems integration. Not only have we met the moststringent standards, we have exceeded them.

And last, but by no means least, the lessons learnedwith the maturity of the AW139 program have led to theintroduction to the market of the first ever family of newgeneration helicopters; the AW139 and its siblings theAW189 and AW169. The innovative concept of theAWFamily delivers a real advantage in competitivenessand adaptability, whatever the changing conditions of theinternational market.

With this success comes great responsibility; theAW139 is a program with a long-lasting life cycle andextensive market presence and we must strive to continueto meet the high expectations for constant improvementfrom operators, institutions and national communities.

No longer the baby of the family, the AW139 remainsour child. We have helped it grow. We know its strengthsand where it can do better. We know that its future is bright

<<HELI-EXPO 2020>>


<<HELI-EXPO 2020>>

Honeywell forecasts 4,100 civil helicopter deliveries through 2024

More than 4,000 civil helicopter deliveries are expectedin the next five years starting in 2020, a slight increase overthe previous civil helicopter market outlook preparedannually by Honeywell, though purchase plans for the nextfive years are slightly down

Data collected in 2019 show increased deliveries despiteslightly lower purchase plans than the previous year,according to the “Turbine-Powered Civil HelicopterPurchase Outlook.” Honeywell forecasts 4,100 civilhelicopters delivered through 2024.

That number is about 14 percent higher than the 3,500civil aircraft delivered between 2014 and 2018. Annualgrowth rate of deliveries over the next five years is 2.7percent, or about 800 new helicopters per year, which trackswith global economic growth outlook.

“Comparing this year to last year, I see fairly flatresults,” Gaetan Handfield, Honeywell’s senior manager ofmarketing analysis, told Vertical in a recent interview.“When you start looking at reasons, then you start seeingvariations, which are in some cases significant.”

Orders increased in Europe and Latin America — ahuge 20-point jump — while slightly lower in North America.

Despite the dip in purchase plans, reported utilizationrates are up, meaning operators plan to put more hours ontheir aircraft over the next year. Growth also is supportedby the entry to service and production ramp up for severalnew models, including the Airbus H160, Kopter SH09 andBell 525, Handfield told Vertical.

“I think it is the main driver of the increase from theprevious five years to the next five,” Handfield said. “Eventhe [Leonardo AW]169, the 189, these helos that wereintroduced a few years ago, and now they are on the more‘cruise control’. . . . New-model introduction is a keycomponent of the growth.”

In the longer term, more favorable exchange rates andan expected increase, if modest, in oil prices should alsohelp, he said.

A greater proportion of planned new helicopterpurchases is for light twin-engine models, 22 percent of allmentions in this year’s survey compared with 2019 andlower for light single-engine models. Overall, 56 percent ofplanned purchases are for twin-engine models, eightpercentage points higher than last year.

As for usage plans, corporate/VIP transport leads thepack at 25 percent of all planned usage followed by EMS

and search-and-rescue with 24 percent, both of whichincreased from the previous survey. Law enforcement at 14percent and oil-and-gas at four percent of planned usageboth fell from previous years.

With an outlook of five years, the forecast does notyet reflect the impact electric vertical take-off and landing(eVTOL) and urban air mobility (UAM) expanding willhaveon the civil rotorcraft market.“The sector that will bemost impacted with the introduction of urban air mobilitydown the road is really the light singles, and the short-cabin ones,” Handfield said. “The long cabin ones shouldbe OK. There are some missions that urban air mobility willnot be able to do because of range or a lack of payload,maybe. The Bell 505, the Robinson [R]44, these segmentsI’m worried about.”

The forecast report compiles data from about 1,000operators surveyed between mid-October and mid-December. Respondents collectively operate about 3,600turbine-powered and 282 piston-powered helicopters,which is just over 14 percent of the world fleet. Surveyswere distributed according to the percentage of globalinstall base.

“We had to make sure that, even by country, everyoneis represented in the survey based on the install base,”Handfield said.

Regional overview

North America: Purchase plans have declined by sixpercentage points over a year ago, with 12 percent ofrespondents saying they would either replace or expandtheir fleet with a new helicopter over the next five years.North America is home to more than 40 percent of the world’shelicopter fleet.


Nearly half of planned North American purchases wereidentified as light single-engine models, while roughly 32percent of new planned purchases were for intermediateand medium-twin product classes.

About 38 percent of planned purchases will be usedfor emergency medical services (EMS) purposes, followedby 20 percent for law enforcement and 17 percent forcorporate/VIP usage.

Europe: Compared with 2019 results, purchase plansare higher in this year’s survey. More than 18 percent ofrespondents said they would either replace or expand theirfleet with a new helicopter over the next five years. Thefigure was 15 percent a year ago.

Intermediate and medium twin-engine classes capturedroughly 41 percent of total purchase plans for newhelicopters. Meanwhile, 37 percent of respondentsindicated plans to purchase light single-engine helicopters,up five percentage points from last year.

About 26 percent of planned purchases will be usedfor utility/aerial work, followed by 23 percent for corporate/VIP and 16 percent for EMS/search-and-rescue (SAR) usage.

Advertisement

Latin America: Results for 2020 show significantlyhigher fleet replacement and growth expectations comparedwith 2019. Purchase plans are well above the global averageof 14 percent, and the region’s purchase plans increasedby 20 percentage points from last year.

Latin America had the highest rate of new aircraftpurchase plans globally, with close to 29 percent ofrespondents saying they would either replace or expandtheir fleet with a new helicopter over the next five years.

Purchase plans in Brazil increased to 26 percent, a jumpof 21 percentage points over last year’s survey results.

Latin American respondents favored light single-enginemodels, which represent about 50 percent of their plannedpurchases. Light twin-engine models are second with 28percent of all planned purchases, an increase of 23percentage points compared with 2019 survey results.

Middle East and Africa: This region has the lowestnew purchase rate globally, with only five percent ofrespondents’ fleets expected to get a new helicopterreplacement or addition. Purchase plans are 10 percentagepoints lower compared with 2019 survey results.

Close to 62 percent of planned new helicopterpurchases are for light twin-engine models.

Medium twin-engine models are the second-highestmentioned product class in the survey at 23 percent, adecline of 46 percentage points compared with 2019 surveyresults.

Asia Pacific: Overall buying plans are down sixpercentage points compared with 2019. Close to sevenpercent of respondents said they would either replace orexpand their fleet with a new helicopter over the next fiveyears.

Intermediate/medium twin-engine and light single-engine helicopters were the most popular classes,capturing 38 percent and 35 percent of all mentions fornew helicopters, respectively.

Despite limited inputs, new helicopter purchase plansare lower in China, showing that about 14 percent of thefleet would be replaced or expanded by a new helicopterover the next five years. Purchase plans are down by aboutseven percentage points compared with 2019 results.

<<HELI-EXPO 2020>>


ATSB puts focus on sling load safety after accident

<<SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS>>

The ATSB is highlighting the precautions necessaryfor sling load operations after a load unexpectedly fell froma Bell 205 helicopter, striking and seriously injuring aworker on the ground.

The helicopter, registration VH-HUE, was being usedfor external sling loading operations to move equipmentfrom a staging area near Tantangara Dam to a drilling siteabout three kilometers away, south-east of Talbingo, NewSouth Wales, on Jan. 10, 2019. As the helicopter approachedthe drop-off site, the load, comprising drill rod racksweighing about 1,200 kilograms, unexpectedly disconnectedfrom the cargo hook. The falling load struck and seriouslyinjured a loadmaster assisting on the ground.

In the course of investigating the incident, the ATSBexamined the slings, shackle and hook, but could notdetermine the reason for the load being released from thehook. However, the ATSB found that the ground personnelhad not been maintaining a safe distance from the load.

This incident highlights the dangers associated withexternal sling load operations.

“This incident highlights the dangers associated withexternal sling load operations,” ATSB director transportsafety Stuart Macleod said. “Unexpected events can occur,and ground personnel should take care to ensure theymaintain their separation from external slung loads that are

H135 Improved sealing of the engine fire detectors

4 Mar, 20, Source: Airbus Helicopters

In the frame of product improvement programme for itslight twin helicopters, Airbus Helicopters is proposing anew solution which is preventing false fire detection andinadvertent activation of the fire extinguishing bottles, whileimproving reliability and reducing the maintenance costs.

This solution, available for H135/EC135 versions/typesequipped with Pratt & Whitney engines, consists in theinstallation of the following new parts:

• Boot sleeve which is heat shrinkable,

• Electrical insulating tape,

• Insulating grease to prevent any water ingress intothe engine fire detectors.

Customers will benefit from a better insulation of thedetectors preventing from potential water ingress.

Easy to install through the Pratt & Whitney’ ServiceBulletin n°28394, it can be performed by customers and itrequires 1,5 hours workload.

above head height.”

In this accident, the positioning of the groundpersonnel, in combination with the significant movementof the load as it contacted the ground, meant that theywere exposed to higher risk.“Each sling load operation canbe unique, with different locations, different load shape,and different environmental conditions combining to createdifferent safety considerations,” Macleod said. “As aconsequence, clear written procedures and detaileddiscussions prior to commencement of each operation areessential to ensure that all participants are aware of theunique dangers of the operation.”



What led to Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Crash?A day before the Heli-Expo 2020 trade show began on

27 Jan 20 in Anaheim, California, there was major fatalhelicopter accident in which the basketball star KobeBryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven otherpeople were killed in a Sikorsky S-76B crash. The helicopterhad taken off from John Wayne Airport and crashed at alocation about 40nm (75km) north in Calabasas on theSouthern California hillside. He was on the way to a youthbasketball tournament. The helicopter was reported flyingin thick fog at the time of the accident, though investigatorshave yet to conclude what caused the crash.

About Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Route

The helicopter took off from John Wayne Airport inOrange County. Its destination was another airport nearthe sports academy, which Bryant owned. The first half ofthe flight was uneventful. The terrain, in the Los Angelesbasin is flat which makes it relatively easy to navigate,even in overcast weather. Bryant, himself, made the triproutinely. On the day of the crash, the weather in this areawas fine. The visibility was reported as 4 miles. Within 13minutes, the helicopter passes by downtown Los Angeles,passes Dodger Stadium and begins to enter the SanFernando Valley. The terrain begins to rise. That day, aircontrollers told Bryant’s pilot to stay in a holding patternover the city of Glendale. They circled for more than 10minutes before other air traffic was cleared. The pilotreceived special clearance to continue on in the low-visibility weather … … and flies into the San FernandoValley, following the freeway system along the edge of thefoothills. Roughly three minutes before the crash, thehelicopter begins flying along Highway 101. It’s a commonroute. The highway is a distinct landmark that’s easy tofollow, and it runs through a low point in the foothills,making it easier for pilots to stay below cloud cover.Bryant’s pilot had requested “flight following,” wherecontrollers track an aircraft to help the pilot during roughconditions. Just before the crash, the ground controllertells the pilot he’s too low for tracking. The pilot radios thathe’s climbing to avoid the cloud layer. The helicopterquickly gains altitude. At about 2,300 feet, it turns awayfrom Highway 101, and crashes into the side of a hill. Wedon’t know why the pilot took this final turn. The debrisfield is around 500 feet long. Investigators said that thehelicopter may have missed clearing the top of the hill by20 to 30 feet. They still haven’t determined a cause for thecrash.

The day before the accident, the pilot had flown fromOrange County John Wayne airport to Camarillo along a“more direct” flightpath. Investigators at the crash site havebeen able to verify the presence of particular criticalsystems, such as actuators and gearboxes, and – whilethere was no flight recorder – the search has turned uppersonal electronic devices including a phone and tablet,although the inquiry has yet to confirm whether it belongs

to the pilot. The pilot’s tablet had a flight informationapplication known as ‘Foreflight’ installed. Documentsincluding weight-and-balance sheets and airworthinesscertificates have also been retrieved, while the inquiry teamhas used drones to replicate the S-76’s flightpath usingADS-B data.

Witnesses said the helicopter flew through clouds andfog. In his last message before the crash, the pilot told airtraffic control he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer.Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the helicopterflying through a layer of clouds and fog seconds before itcrashed. Although the flight took off in clear skies in OrangeCounty, it eventually encountered a fog so thick that itnearly blinded drivers on the freeway. Visibility was so poorthat the Los Angeles Police Department had grounded itsfleet of helicopters. The helicopter fell at a rate of about 23miles per hour and slammed into the hill in a “high-energyimpact crash,” according to the N.T.S.B. It was also travelingforward at about 152 miles per hour just before it crashed,according to radar data.

Investigators said the helicopter lacked a key warningsystem.

Officials have said that the helicopter was not outfittedwith a system to warn pilots if they are getting too close tothe ground, technology that is voluntary but has beenrecommended by the National Transportation Safety Boardfor more than a decade.

It is too early to know whether the lack of a warningsystem played a role in the crash. The helicopter was notcarrying a cockpit voice recorder, but an iPad and cellphonewere discovered in the wreckage.

The pilot who flew the Sikorsky S-76B which crashedat Calabasas was 30 years old. His total flying experiencewas 8,200h including 1,250h on type.


VFS looks back on safety in the helicopter industryThe following is an opinion

piece by Mike Hirschberg,executive director of the VerticalFlight Society.

In September 2005, the VerticalFlight Society (VFS, then AHSInternational) held the first

International Helicopter Safety Symposium (IHSS). Withinternational alarm at a spate of high-profile fatal helicoptercrashes, VFS seized the initiative to create a call for action.

Then-AHS executive director Rhett Flater laid out thefacts in his commentary, “Improving Helicopter Safety: InPursuit of a Global Vision,” in the Winter 2005 Vertiflite:“Within the United States, the civil helicopter accident rateaverage as measured during the 1999-2003 period is anunacceptable 8.3 per 100,000 flight hours and shows notrend toward improvement.”

The Commercial Aircraft Safety Team (CAST) was asource of inspiration. CAST had been founded in 1998 withthe goal of reducing airline accidents by 80 percent withina decade and was then well on its way. Today, largely as aresult of voluntary actions, airline travel is the safest meansof transportation ever known: since 2007, there has onlybeen one fatal airline crash (Colgan Air in 2009) of a U.S.part 121 scheduled air carrier.

But the helicopter industry is much more diverse thanthe airlines and the focus of IHSS was on all types ofhelicopter operations, not just part 135 commercialoperators.

The first IHSS was organized by Somen Chowdhury,international vice president on the Society’s board ofdirectors and Bell Helicopter Canada certification expert,and the VFS Montreal-Ottawa Chapter. At IHSS, 265attendees from industry, commercial operators andgovernment regulators from around the world came togetherand resolved that “something dramatic must occur tochange the unworkable dynamics of the past,” Flaterrecounted.

The attendees, which included helicopter and enginechief executives, operator representatives such asHelicopter Association International (HAI), the Associationof Air Medical Services (AAMS), and the Tour OperatorsProgram of Safety (TOPS); government agencies such asthe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), EuropeanAviation Safety Agency (EASA), Transport Canada (TC),the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and theTransport Canada Transportation Board (TCTB), amongothers, agreed to adopt a goal of reducing helicopteraccidents by 80 percent within 10 years — by the end of2016.

Thus, theI n t e r n a t i o n a lHelicopter SafetyTeam (IHST) wasborn — with AHSas the Secretariat— and the globalcivil helicoptercommunity was

mobilized. An important decision was made to move awayfrom the conventional approach to safety methods and riskanalysis, and instead adopt a completely data-drivenapproach to analyze the causal factors of past accidents,and develop mitigation and implementation strategies.

At the time, the founders of IHST decided to avoid themore controversial and time-consuming methods to addressrotary-wing safety, such as changes to regulation, andlooked for voluntary measures. They focused on areaswhere consensus was more readily achieved between thevast array of stakeholders — operators, manufacturers,regulators and consumers. With that, the IHST quicklygained momentum, and many volunteers joined the efforts.

Heading checkOver the next five years, the industry met regularly and

more working groups were established around the world,with more than 500 volunteers (the proceedings of IHSSmeetings are available to the public at no charge in theVertical Flight Library). IHST published “toolkits” foraddressing the key recommendations as its implementationstrategy, including helicopter training, flight data monitoring(FDM), maintenance and safety management systems.Most important in avoiding accidents, it was found, was asafety mindset.

Operators with an SMS in place were dramatically lesslikely to have an accident. IHST also recommendedimplementation of systems and equipment like health andusage monitoring systems (HUMS), night vision goggles,wire-strike protection, terrain avoidance and warningsystems (TAWS) and traffic collision avoidance systems(TCAS).

In November 2011, VFS hosted the fifth IHSS in Ft.Worth, Texas. Halfway through the 10-year period, it was aheading check on the progress (see “Mid-CourseCorrection,” Vertiflite, Winter 2011). Data showed thebaseline years of 2001-2005 had a global civil helicopteraccident rate of 9.4 accidents per 100,000 hours.

By 2011, analysis showed that rate was down to about6.5, a decrease of 35 percent. Improvements were greatestin the U.S., Canada and Europe, where there were excellentpartnerships between industry and the regulators. However,

<<SAFETY>>


continuing the same slope of improvement, it was predictedthat those regions were on track for about a 50 percentreduction overall by 2016 — an incredible improvement,though short of the 80 percent goal within 10 years, it wasnoted.

End of the decadeUnfortunately, progress over the next five years slowed.

Although the evidence is clear that the IHSF’s keyrecommendations could achieve the 80 percent goal, fartoo many helicopter operators are not following thoserecommendations. While the IHSF’s annual global safetysurveys have shown steadily increasing adoption of thoserecommendations, some industry sectors, especially thepersonal/private sector, have not adopted thoserecommendations to any great extent. IHST kicked off anumber of initiatives to try to reach these smaller operators,but statistically, voluntary actions that require conservativeaeronautical decision-making do not seem to be workingfor smaller operators without a strong safety culture. Inaddition, unexplained increases in accidents wouldoccasionally occur, most notably a spike in 2013.

In 2016, IHST rededicated itself with the goal of zeroaccidents, and last year legally incorporated as theInternational Helicopter Safety Foundation (IHSF).

Unfortunately, the past few years have not seensignificant further reductions in accidents or fatalities. Overthe past five years (fiscal 2015-2019), helicopter accidentsin the U.S. have plateaued around 120 per year with anaverage of 20 fatal accidents per year.

Current statusAs the graph of U.S. accidents indicates, helicopters

are safer than they have ever been, but not as safe asanyone would like. IHSF has been very successful overthe past 15 years, with the U.S. accident rate in fiscal 2019down to 3.35 per 100,000 flight hours. However, the recentplateau indicates that the methods employed to date areinadequate to achieve further reductions by themselves.All of the low hanging fruit appear to have been harvestedand more pervasive approaches are required.

So far this fiscal year, there have been several high-profile fatal helicopter accidents. Seven people were killedin Hawaii on Dec. 26, but a total of 23 accidents — includingthree fatal accidents — resulted in a total of 10 fatalitiesbetween October and December.

On Jan. 26, Los Angeles sports superstar Kobe Bryant,his daughter, and seven others were killed — the day beforeHeli-Expo opened just a few miles away. While every fatalaccident is a tragedy and one accident is not a statistic, theoutpouring of grief and sense of loss from the communityspurred action by local politicians Congressman BradSherman and Senator Diane Feinstein.

Four days after the Bryant accident, Shermansponsored the “Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant HelicopterSafety Act” to direct the FAA to adopt new helicopter safetystandards in coordination with the NTSB, “which mustinclude a requirement that helicopters be equipped with aTerrain Awareness and Warning System.” Sherman notedthat in 2004, the NTSB recommended to the FAA that allhelicopters be equipped with TAWS. Although expertshave debated whether TAWS would have helped flying soclose to the ground and whether spatial disorientation wasa more likely cause, Sherman postulated that, “had thissystem been on the helicopter, it is likely the tragic crashcould have been avoided.” The legislation would alsoestablish a commission on helicopter safety and require areport to Congress on best practices for helicopters in casesof low visibility.

On Feb. 4, Feinstein sent a letter to the FAAAdministrator Steve Dickson saying, “In order to ensuresuch a tragedy never happens again, I ask that the FAAcommence a rulemaking process to require all commercialhelicopters operating in the U.S. to have terrain awarenessand warning systems. While I understand these systemscan cost $35,000 per helicopter, I believe reducing the riskto passengers and those on the ground is more than worththis cost.”

PerspectiveHigh-profile accidents can spur politicians to look for

easy answers that might or might not have had an impacton that accident or significant reductions in futureaccidents. Regulation may indeed be needed to achievethe high level of safety desired, but solutions to the still-unacceptably high risk of helicopter accidents must be data-driven. In any event, new approaches must be taken if furthersafety improvements are to be seriously undertaken.

Current efforts do not appear likely to ever achieve theoriginal goal of reducing accidents by 80 percent, muchless the vision of zero accidents. Now 15 years since theestablishment of IHST, it is time for a serious reassessment.The goal, need and enthusiasm to greatly improve safetyremain. The methods to achieve the goal must be expanded.Before another decade passes by, it is time to reinvigorateand expand how we approach safety improvements in ourindustry.

VFS calls on IHSF, industry, regulators and theoperational community to have a serious dialogue andreexamine our approach. Though avoided originally, it mayindeed be time for a more regulatory-oriented approach toimproving rotorcraft safety. Meanwhile, manufacturerscould voluntary include safety equipment as standard onall new production helicopters despite some increase incost.

As the old saying goes, “If you think safety isexpensive, try an accident.”

<<SAFETY>>


Questions You Should Ask Before Flying in a Helicopter

It is bad enough that people who use helicoptersroutinely often don’t know enough about them to choosewisely among helicopter operators. For people who don’troutinely use helicopters, it is far worse. The most commonand, sadly, most tragic assumption made is that all operatorswith an operator’s certificate from their country’s aviationauthority are equally safe. Too often, buyers of helicopterservices choose on the basis of price, without enoughconsideration for safety.

I have recently been challenged to think carefully abouthow to enable a helicopter novice to make wise choiceswhen hiring helicopter services. A good friend asked meearlier this year for advice about helicopters as he waspreparing for a vacation in Zimbabwe where he wasscheduled for a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls.

Figure 1: Copyright adventureholidays.tours

Last year, I was asked for advice by a crew for a majorEuropean television network that was planning to film froma helicopter in the French Alps.

Figure 2: Copyright topofeuropeorganisation.com

Based on those requests for advice, I have developedthe following set of questions for helicopter operators thatanyone can use, along with some guidance on how to judgethe responses you get.

1. Do you have a safety management system(SMS)? Could I see a copy of the SMSdocumentation? What are the greatest hazards youidentified in that SMS and what measures do you take tomanage those hazards? When at the helicopter operator’sbase, ask one of the maintenance technicians to tell youwhat (s)he knows about the company’s SMS. Ask the pilotwho’s going to fly your helicopter the same. If themaintenance people and the pilot can’t tell you about theSMS, it is not yet effective.

This first question should get a very quick “yes”response and the helicopter operator should be able toproduce a document that includes a register of the tophazards and how they are managed. If you get negativeresponses to these questions, you should start looking foranother operator.

2. Do you have a structured, systematic program forrecurrent training of your experienced pilots? Does thattraining include annual simulator training with scenariosbased on your type of operations in your operating locale?

All pilots should get recurrent training annually,including practice of emergency procedures, preferably infit-for-purpose flight training devices or simulators. Thehelicopter operator may not do scenario-based training,using their actual operating areas in the simulator, but ifthey don’t do recurrent training at all, you should look foralternative operators. The best operators provide pilotswith annual simulator training. If you will be flying in atwin-engine helicopter certified for instrument flight, youshould insure that your pilot has an instrument flight ratingand recent experience in instrument flight. Most light,single-engine helicopters are not certified for instrumentflight – usually because they lack the stabilizationnecessary for the pilot to maintain control under instrumentflying conditions. With single-engine helicopters that areto be flown under visual flight rules (VFR), your pilot shouldnevertheless have annual training on what to do whenweather conditions turn bad and how to recover frominadvertent entry into instrument flying conditions (flightinto clouds).

3. Do your helicopters have health & usage monitoringsystems (HUMS)? If so, how frequently is the HUMS datadownloaded and analyzed. Do you require the HUMS tobe functioning in order for the helicopter to be consideredairworthy?

The best operators will have HUMS on their helicoptersand download the data at least once a day, grounding thehelicopter if the HUMS system becomesinoperative. Depending on the helicopter type the operatorplans to use, HUMS may not be available. In that case, the

<<SAFETY>>


mechanical aspects of helicopter safety can still be assuredby question 6 below, about maintenance practices. Forexample, a robust maintenance program will include systemsfor identifying hot starts and transmission over-torque,monitoring engine power trends, and checking oil samplesfor signs of abnormal wear.

4. Does your company have a flight data monitoring(FDM) program? If so, do pilots get confidential feedbackon their performance versus norms? What are the generaltrends observed in the FDM program?

Flight Data Monitoring(FDM) uses recorded flight data,such as speed, heading, altitudeand helicopter attitude (i.e., pitchand bank), to identify andaddress deviations fromstandard operating proceduresbefore they can lead to incidentsand accidents. The insightsprovided by FDM can also beused to reduce operational costand significantly enhancetraining effectiveness andoperational and maintenance

procedures. Low cost devices are available for all helicoptertypes. Support groups are available to help small operatorsor individual pilots manage an FDM program.

Pilots should get confidential feedback on their FDMresults at least monthly. If the company is managing itsFDM program well, the trends will be positive with mostflights being carried out without any deviations from desiredflight parameters. Small operators may not have FDM, sothis question is not necessarily a go/no-go item, but shouldbe if the answers to many of the other questions arenegative.

5. Does your company use any other mission-specificequipment (e.g., wire strike protection system, night visiongoggles, terrain awareness and warning system) to reducerisks?

Your flight may not require any positive answers tothese questions, but the operator should at least haveconsidered the need for any mission-specific equipment.

6. Does your company use a structured maintenanceprogram that fully complies with the manufacturers'recommendations for all of your helicopters? Could I see

copy of the documentation for your maintenancemanagement system. Can you please briefly describe howyou manage your maintenance program? What can youshow me to demonstrate that your maintenance technicianscomply with your maintenance system documentation?

To evaluate the operator's answers to this question,you might be well served to hire an aviation safetyprofessional with maintenance experience to check theoperator's maintenance management system. On your own,you should look for evidence of a documented qualitymanagement system, with an organizational structure andwork processes for independent assessment of compliancewith the operator's own documented standards andguidelines, as well as manufacturer recommendations.

7. What type of helicopter are we going to fly? Howmany total flying hours does that specific helicopter have?How many flying hours since its last major inspection?When is the next major inspection due? What kind ofequipment is on that helicopter (e.g., avionics, weatherradar, autopilot, etc.)?

There are no wrong answers to these questionsprovided the helicopter is being maintained according tomanufacturer recommendations. Aside from assuring thatthe helicopter is not overdue any required maintenance,the main point of the questions about flying hours is toassure that the operator can readily answer them, which ismore evidence of an effective maintenance managementprogram.

Be vigilant if the operator is proposing a single-enginehelicopter and a single pilot suited only for flights undervisual flight rules (VFR). In that case, you should makesure that the operator has controls in place for mandatorymanagement review of marginal weather conditions.

If, as the film crew to whom I gave advice was, you’llbe flying at high altitude, make sure the helicopter has theperformance required to fly safely, especially if the weatheris hot. Some single-engine helicopters have betterperformance at high altitude than some light twin-enginehelicopters and visual flying conditions will likely be anecessity, so a single-engine helicopter may be right foryour flight.

Helicopters can safely complete a vast array of missions,saving lives and enabling work that is difficult or impossibleby other means. These questions will enable you todetermine whether the helicopters you might be flying arebeing operated as safely as they could and should beoperated. They are based on the accident causes and fixesdetermined by analysis of over 1,000 helicopter accidentsby regional partners of the International Helicopter SafetyTeam (www.ihst.org). Don’t be afraid to ask them. You’ll bepaying a lot of money for your flight, even if you choosethe low-cost operator, so you deserve the answers beforeyou buy.

Thank you in advance for using these questions tochoose your operator. If enough people ask these questionsbefore choosing a helicopter operator, we’ll raise the barfor helicopter safety.Figure 3: Copyright Airbus Helicopters

<<SAFETY>>


<<AIRBUS HELICOPTERS>>

Coast Guard and Indian Navy Requirements likely to bemet by Airbus Helicopters

It is reported that Airbus Helicopters is looking fororders from the Ministry of defense which, if turns outsuccessful, could see multiple new production linesestablished in the country. Presently, the Govt is lookingfor three separate procurement proposals totaling almost250 helicopters.

Our sources indicate that H225M is being pitched formeeting two separate Indian Requirements. Onerequirement is in meeting 14 helicopter requirements of theIndian coastguard for search and rescue role for whichSikorsky’s S-92 is also a likely contender. If the Super Pumas(H225M) of Airbus Helicopters gets the approval, it wouldbe built at its Marignane site in the south of France.

Two other Indian Navy requirements are 111helicopters for meeting the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH)role and 123 helicopters for meeting the Naval Multi-RoleHelicopter (NMRH) requirements. Both these requirementsneed establishment of final assembly lines in partnershipwith indigenous partners such as Adani Defense, BharatForge, Mahindra Aerospace, and Tata Group. In view, themost valuable bid is in meeting the Naval Multi-RoleHelicopter requirements. For the NUH effort, AirbusHelicopters is offering a choice of the H145M light-twin orthe older medium-class AS565 MBe Panther.


Bell Announces New Technological EnhancementsAvailable for Full Commercial Aircraft Portfolio

<<BELL HELICOPTER>>

Anaheim, CA (January 28, 2020) – Bell Textron Inc., aTextron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company announced duringHelicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo inAnaheim, California. ,new equipment enhancements acrossits current in-production commercial aircraft

“Bell is committed to incorporating the latesttechnologies into our products to further improve theperformance, cost of operations and support the lifecycleof aircraft,” said Susan Griffin, executive vice president,Commercial Business. “Ensuring we have the newestdevelopments on board is core to our business and we areproud to offer newly certified solutions this year acrossour current product line. As we continue to invest in newtechnologies, Bell is growing our aftermarket serviceofferings and global presence.”

The following enhancements are available for newcommercial aircraft and retrofittable across legacycommercial aircraft:-

Bell 505 Jet Ranger X: The Bell 505 delivers unmatchedcost of operation and is the most mission adaptable aircraftin the short light single market. As a testament to the Bell505’s mission versatility, the aircraft is currently performingcorporate, helicopter emergency services, public safety,tourism and electronic news gathering across 50 countriesworldwide. The Garmin G1000H NXi Flight Deck is nowstandard equipment for 2020 production aircraft, deliveringenhanced situational awareness and reduced pilot workload.

Bell 407GXi: Following FAA certification for single-pilot Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Bell Autopilot - 3rdAxis, the Bell 407GXi's new IFR capability allows all-weatheroperations while continuing to provide multi-missioncapabilities reliably and effectively. The Bell 407GXi offersthe lowest direct operating costs of any IFR-capablehelicopter on the market today.

As innovators and a leader in smart, digital vertical-liftaircraft, Bell is the first OEM to certify a Health and UsageMonitoring System (HUMS) for a light single-engine aircraft.HUMS monitoring covers drive system, engine, rotors, andit provides estimates of remaining useful life to help bring

predictability to maintenance needs.Additionally, the Precise Flight Pulselite® system will

now be included as standard equipment on all new Bell407GXi aircraft. When enabled, the Pulselite® systemalternately pulses the landing and taxi lights to enhancethe visibility of the aircraft to traffic and birds. ThePulselite® system has a direct impact on reducing thenumber of bird strikes and is available by Bell as anaftermarket installation.

Bell 429 and Bell SUBARU 412EPX: All Bell SubaruBell 412EPX and Bell 429 aircraft now feature the second-generation BasilXPro avionic suites produced byAstronautics. The new Avionics come with severalenhancements, most notably being nearly three poundslighter per display unit, lower power consumption, expandedroute mapping with five levels of declutter and a two-second power-up time.

A new executive interior option is also available for theBell 429 and will be displayed at Bell’s booth during Heli-Expo. Bell’s executive interior options offers a newcontemporary color scheme, including leather and carpetedcabin space options.

This is also the first time the Bell Subaru 412EPX willbe on display in North America since the aircraft wasunveiled at Farnborough Air Show in 2018. The Bell Subaru412 EPX benefits from a more robust main rotor gearboxdry run capability, increased internal Maximum GrossWeight to 12,200 lbs. and mast torque output of +11% atspeeds below 60 knots.

Bell 525 Relentless: The first production-representative Bell 525, fitted with an oil-and-gas interiorwill make its first Heli-Expo debut. The Bell 525 has madesignificant strides in flight test activity, completing majordevelopment testing requirements. The program istransitioning to certification flight testing. The Bell 525delivers a generational leap forward with fly-by-wire whichgreatly increases safety through reduced pilot workloadand enhanced situational awareness. The Bell 525 ispowered by two 1,800-shp GE Aviation GE CT7-2F1 engineswhich received FAA type certification in Fall 2019.

Bell 525 HelicopterBell 505 Jet Ranger X:


<<BELL HELICOPTER>>

Around the Chinese New Year Festival, Shanghai-basedhelicopter operator, New Sky Helicopter would normally bein peak busy season chartering guests to different festivities.However, Cao Xintian, the founder and captain of New SkyHelicopter, found himself loading boxes of medical suppliesinto their Bell 429 instead of passengers. At the beginningof 2020, an unexpected epidemic broke out in China, causingthe country to declare a state of emergency. Facing thisongoing global dilemma, Cao decided to “charter” his ownhelicopter to transport valuable medical supplies to Hubeiand other regions where the epidemic was most severe.

“We’re always told that everyone has sharedresponsibility for the fate of their country. Now, it’s my timeto contribute to my nation.” Cao said. Shortly after makingthis decision, his squad was ready to transport medicalsupplies to the ground zero locations, save lives and stopthe disease. This team of selfless volunteers labeledthemselves the “Helicopter Epidemic PreventionVolunteers.”

The main operation base of New Sky Helicopter islocated in Shanghai, about 500 miles from Wuhan, theprovincial capital city of Hubei. It takes 13 hours to travelby ground transportation, but only 3.5 hours by helicopter.“We removed some passenger seats to carry more medicalsupplies,” Cao said. “Compared with commercial airliners,we carry less, but we have the most critical supplies

New Sky Helicopter Brings Hope in Fight Against Epidemiconboard.” The reagent used to detect COVID-19, the novelcoronavirus, is one of these supplies. “The Bell 429’s cabinallows us to carry what we need. We are also able to deliversupplies directly to hospitals and patients without havingto go through the airport first.”

To support New Sky’s important efforts, ShanghaiPudong International Airport set up special approach andlanding zones for helicopters. The China Civil AviationAdministration, Air Force, epidemic preventionorganizations, activists, entrepreneurs and more have alsoaided the Helicopter Epidemic Prevention Volunteers duringtheir remarkable act of kindness.

February 13, 2020 Singapore. Bell sees bright spotsin what an otherwise flat helicopter sales marketthroughout the Asia Pacific is. The company is continuingits focus on its tradition of military sales throughout theAPAC region, including its marinized UH-1Z, UH-1Y, andV-22 Osprey tiltrotor, as well as the 412 EPX that wasdeveloped in collaboration with Subaru.

David Sale, Bell managing director for Asia-Pacific,said the UH and V-22 aircraft are “perfect platforms” forthe region and that the modernized 412 EPX will appeal toan already strong installed regional customer base forthat series aircraft. The EPX features a new, 30-minuterun-dry transmission, internal maximum gross weight of12,200 lbs., and additional mast torque output at speedsless than 60 knots. By collaborating with Subaru on theEPX, Sale said Bell guarantees support for the 412 in theregion for 50 years “and beyond.” After the show theEPX will embark on a regional demonstration tour.

Bell’s new 525 super-medium twin has drawn strong

interest throughout the region, Sale said, but he notedthat likely customers are awaiting that aircraft’scertification approval prior to taking a more serious lookat it.

Bell’s other platforms are doing well in the region,Sale noted, with recent deliveries of 429 light twins intoThailand and continuing popularity of the 505 light singleregion-wide. Bell certified that aircraft to a service ceilingof 22,500 feet last year, facilitating two deliveries into Nepalwith Simrik Air for use in mountaineering support andlocal clergy transport.

Bell maintains customer support reps in Thailand,Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and India and manyof them are multilingual. At Singapore, the countrymaintains $20 million to $30 million in spares at any giventime, and that, plus some “fine-tuning” has encouragedmore customers in the region to enroll in Bell’s CustomerAdvantage Plans (CAP) parts by the hour program.

Bell Sees Bright Spots in Asia-Pacific Market


<<BOEING AIRCRAFT>>

Boeing Affirms Commitment to India DefenseModernization

Lucknow, India. On 06 February 2020 - Boeinghighlighted advanced defence capabilities for the armedforces, partnerships to develop India’s aerospaceecosystem and reiterated its commitment to invest in Indiato maximize the company’s footprint.“An important part ofour India strategy is ensuring our defence customers havethe most advanced platforms and capabilities, supportedby a services model that optimizes mission readiness, highperformance and safety,” said Salil Gupte, president, BoeingIndia. “Another element of our strategy is to harness talent,innovation, engineering and productivity advantages thatIndia offers to build a globally competitive aerospace anddefence ecosystem that creates jobs and industrial capacitywith Make in India.”

At DefExpo, Boeing highlighted future investments toaccelerate its “Make in India” efforts and the capabilitiesbeing proposed for the Indian armed forces, specificallythe next generation F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet fighterthat brings transformative capability and contemporarywarfighter technologies to India.

In line with DefExpo 2020’s theme of digitaltransformation in defence, Boeing also affirmed itscommitment to provide its defense customers with data-based information for empowered decision support andoptimization of operations and missions.

Boeing outlined five pillars that will drive its growthin India:

Support the modernization effort of the Indian armedforces with cutting-edge platforms such as F/A-18 SuperHornet, KC-46 tanker, P-8I, AH-64E Apache and CH-47(I)Chinook.

Increase existing sustainment and training capabilitiesto deliver high level of mission availability for platformssuch as the AH-64E Apache, CH-47(I) Chinook, C-17 andP-8I, and future opportunities such as ‘By India-For IndiaSustainment Program’ for the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Accelerate efforts through Boeing Defence India tolocalize services capabilities to ensure last-mile reach andmaximum readiness for customers.

Leverage existing Boeing capabilities in data analyticsand digital solutions to provide predictive maintenance todefence customers

Increase the manufacturing and engineering footprintin India, and a commitment to future investments insupport of “Make in India”.

Surendra Ahuja, managing director, Boeing DefenceIndia said that with the recent induction of the CH-47F(I)Chinook heavy-lift and AH-64E Apache attack helicoptersby the Indian Air Force, the focus is on establishing localrotorcraft training and support facilities “We are committedto working with our customers to provide holistic solutions

for their defence aircraft and services with the rightcapability, advanced technologies and cost structure. Wehave accelerated our efforts to set up a local sustainmentsupport footprint in India to be more responsive to ourcustomers’ needs,” said Ahuja. “Boeing’s existing platformsin India, the P-8I and C-17 are operated by the Indian Navyand Indian Air Force and are experiencing high missionreadiness rates as a result of Boeing’s commitment toservices and support.”

Over the last five years, Boeing has quadrupled itsgrowth in India and sourcing up to $1 billion of productsand services from the country. With its over 200 suppliersemploying 7,000 employees, complex components andsubassemblies for some of Boeing’s most advanced defenceplatforms, including the F/A-18, F-15, P-8I, CH-47 Chinookand AH-64 Apache, are made in India. The Tata BoeingAerospace Limited joint venture has increased productionof fuselages and aero structures for the AH-64 Apache.

The Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center(BIETC) in Bengaluru and Chennai undertakes advancedaerospace work and supports Boeing’s global engineeringgrowth. Boeing has made strategic investments in anupcoming wholly owned engineering and technologycampus with future avionics manufacturing and assemblycapability in Bengaluru. Engineers at BIETC are helpingcreate analytics tools for defence customers to make criticaland informed decisions.


<<BOEING AIRCRAFT>>

Bell Boeing Delivers First V-22 for U.S. Navy’s AircraftCarriers

AMARILLO, Texas, Feb. 10, 2020 — Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)company, delivered the first CMV-22B Osprey, which is theV-22 variant the U.S. Navy will use for transportingpersonnel and cargo to aircraft carriers at sea.

“The CMV-22B brings expanded capabilities not onlyto the carrier onboard delivery mission, but to the high-endfight,” said U.S. Navy Captain Dewon Chaney, Commodore,Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing. “We are anxious toget it to the fleet and show off its immense capabilities andagile flexibility.”

The Navy selected the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey toreplace the C-2A Greyhound fleet. Bell Boeing will deliver48 of the tiltrotor aircraft.

The CMV-22B, which first flew in December, carries upto 6,000 pounds for more than 1,150 nautical miles. It’s theonly aircraft that can transport major components of the F-35C engine directly to a carrier flight deck, a critical capabilityfor Navy logistics and support.

“The Osprey will transform carrier fleet operations,”said Kristin Houston, vice president, Boeing Tiltrotor

Boeing delivered more new Apaches than 737s

in 2019 Q416 Jan, 20, Based on the production numbers Boeing

has released for the fourth quarter of 2019, and the full year2019,the company delivered 10 new helicopters – allApaches and no Chinooks. That takes the annual total to37 Apaches and 13 Chinooks.

Included in the annual numbers are the first eight AH-64E Apaches for India, who inducted them into their AirForce inventory in a ceremony at the Pathankot Air ForceStation in Punjab in early September. The 125 HelicopterSquadron, known as the ‘Gladiators’, will have 22 Boeing-built Apaches at both this base close to the Pakistan border,and at Jorhat Air Force Station near the border with China.India is the 16th country to receive the Apache.

Boeing also announces how many “remanufacturered”helicopters it delivers in its quarterly press release. Q4included 18 Apaches and 6 Chinooks which had arrived forupgrading, taking the totals for the year to 74 Apaches and22 Chinooks.

By comparison to the 10 Apaches produced in thefourth quarter, Boeing delivered just 9 737s. None of these

Programs and director, Bell Boeing V-22 Program. “We’vebrought together the best teams for aircraft design, training,and sustainment to ensure the Navy is ready for anymission from day one.”

Navy aircrews and maintainers trained with the U.S.Marine Corps, which has employed the V-22 since 2007, toaccelerate the transition. The CMV-22B will be based atNaval Air Station North Island in San Diego and Naval AirStation Norfolk.

would be 737 Max aircraft, which continue to be groundedfor some while yet. The story with this airliner model justgets worse by the week. In a recent report, Boeingdocuments supplied to House and Senate committees(under their investigation of the design) include oneemployee describing the 737 Max as “designed by clowns,who in turn are supervised by monkeys.”. Gonna needsome PR to turn that one around…


CAUSATIVE FACTORS OF CIVIL HELICOPTER ACCIDENTS -2006-19

Loss of Control Maintenance Loss of VisualReference

Ground Accidents Misc Under Investigation

TOTAL ACCIDENTS -47 IN 14 YEARS

NON-FATAL-26FATAL-21

LAND & LIVE43% OF THE TOTAL ACCIDENTS TO CIVIL

HELICOPTERS IN INDIA ARE OWING TO LACKOF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS .

----------------------

LAND & LIVE-ONLY YOU CAN

DECIDE TO STAY ALIVE

------------------------

IT’s ALL ABOUT SAVING LIVES


First batch of Made-in-India Kamov choppers to berolled out from Tumkur in the next 5 years

Lucknow: It is repoted that the first batch of Kamovmilitary helicopters, to be manufactured in India under anIndo-Russia joint venture, is expected to be rolled out by2025.

In October 2016, India and Russia finalised a broadagreement for the joint venture between HindustanAeronautics LtdNSE 1.01 % (HAL) and two Russiandefence majors for production of the helicopters inIndia.“The first batch of helicopters will come out of ourproduction facility at Tumkur in Karnataka by 2025 ifeverything goes as per plan,” Indo-Russian HelicoptersLtd CEO N M Srinath said.

Under the joint venture, 200 Kamov 226T helicopterswill be produced. Of these, 60 will be supplied to India infly-away condition while 140 choppers will be manufacturedin India under a USD 1 billion deal.

India is procuring the Kamov choppers to replace itsageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.The Kamov Ka-226T helicopter has 72 per cent Russian components and28 per cent from various western countries.Srinath said thehelicopters to be produced in India will have around 70 percent Indian-origin components out of the 72 per centRussian indigenisation.

Overall, he said, the percentage of the Indian-origincomponent in the chopper will be around 40 per cent.Thejoint venture has already sent a detailed proposal to thegovernment on the production of the helicopters, includingproposed percentage of the indigenous component. A final

decision on the order will have to be cleared by the DefenceAcquisition Council, the highest decision-making body ofthe Defence ministry on procurement.

The government approved the technical configurationfor the twin-engine multi-role helicopter, which is knownfor its superior manoeuvring capabilities in mountainousareas.

The Kamov helicopters will be supplied to the IndianAir Force and the Army. Both the forces have been pressingfor early conclusion of the deal so they can replace theirageing fleet within the next three to four years

The joint venture has already finalised an agreementspecifying work-schedule and techno-commercial issues.

Hindustan Aeronautics is all set to produce a 10 to 12tonne attack helicopter

NEW DELHI: In an ambitious project with strategicsignificance, aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd(HAL) has started ground work to produce a 10 to 12 tonneattack helicopter by 2027 which will be comparable withsome of the best medium-lift military choppers globally likethe Apache of the Boeing.

Chairman and Managing Director of HindustanAeronautics Ltd R Madhavan said the aim of the megaproject is to stop import of more than Rs 4 lakh crore worthof military helicopters for the three services in the comingyears. In an interview, Madhavan said the HAL hascompleted the preliminary design of the helicopter and thatinitial plan is to produce at least 500 units with the firstprototype set to be ready by 2023 if the government gives

the go ahead to the project this year.

One major project we are focusing on is to produce ahelicopter in 10 to 12 tonnes category to replace the Mi-17fleet. It will be an indigenous platform with the potential tomanufacture around 500 helicopters. It will stop import ofmore than Rs 4 lakh crore worth of platforms from foreigncountries,” he said. Madhavan said an amount of Rs 9,600crore will be required for design as well as to produce theprototype of the helicopter.

“If we get the approval in 2020, we will be able tomanufacture the first chopper by 2027. We are looking atproducing at least 500 helicopters of the variant. It will be amajor project we are working on,” he said.

<<HAL>>


HAL planning to set up bases in four countriesto push exports

It is learnt that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) isplanning to set up logistics bases in Malaysia, Vietnam,Indonesia and Sri Lanka as part of its initiatives to woo thecountries to buy India's light combat aircraft Tejas andmilitary helicopters.

Mr. R Madhavan Chairman and Managing DirectorHAL had indicated to the media that HAL is consideringto build logistics bases in the four countries as they use anumber of Russia -origin military aircraft and chopperswhose serviceability is "very poor".

He said the HAL is now seriously focusing on boostingexports in sync with the government's priority and identifiedSouth East Asia, West Asia and North Africa to sell keyplatforms like Tejas, attack helicopter Rudra and advancedlight helicopter Dhruv.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set anambitious defence export target of USD 5 billion dollars inthe next five years and asked all the key militarymanufacturers to work hard to achieve the target.

"We are looking at setting up maintenance facilities inMalaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka. We can give thema lot of support to as these countries use lot of platformswhich are common to India, and their serviceability is verypoor," he told .He further mentioned that the company islooking at setting up maintenance facilities in these fourcountries as having logistics bases is key to sell theproducts and ensure after-sales services.It is also reportedthat a number of countries in West Asia are also in touchwith the HAL for possible procurement of its keyproducts.Specifically, he said that Tejas has a "very good"export potential as it is a four-and-half generation fighterjet which can compete with some of the famous military jetsin its class.The Tejas has been Developed by Aeronautical

Development Agency and the HAL. The lifespan of the jetwould be a minimum of 30 years just like any other frontlinecombat aircraft.

India is one of the largest importers of arms and militaryplatforms globally. The government has been focusingsignificantly on promoting defence indigenisation by takinga slew of reform initiatives including liberalising FDI indefence sector.

Amitabh Bhatt is the New CEO (Bangalore Complex)at HAL

Bengaluru, February 3, 2020:Mr Amitabh Bhatt has taken overas Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of HAL’s Bangalore Complex.Earlier, he was heading the LUHproject in HAL as ExecutiveDirector.

Mr Bhatt is a Post Graduatein Management and earlierserved in SKF India Limited for15 years before joining HAL.

With his 32 years of professional experience in HAL, he

spear-headed marketing, planning and projects. He led theteam as Chief of Projects(LUH), played a key role in setting-up an integrated new Helicopter Factory, a 3000 Cr greenfieldproject. He is a Director on Board of HAL’s Joint Venture,‘Indo Russian Helicopters Limited’, formed to build KamovKA-226T Helicopters for Defence Services.

During his stint at Helicopter Division, helicopters weredelivered to ONGC, Geological Survey of India andGovernment of Jharkhand and exported to Nepal, Surinam,Mauritius and Ecuador.

<<HAL>>


Leonardo: the AW189K helicopter achieves first marketsuccess with Gulf Helicopters as launch customer

Leonardo is strengthening its leading position in thesuper medium helicopter market by announcing the launchcustomer for the all new AW189K variant. Gulf Helicoptersof Qatar, a major force in the offshore transport sector andan established AW139 and AW189 operator, will introducethe AW189K into service in the second half of 2020. TheAW189 has already demonstrated it is one of the Company’smost successful models through its sales, deliveries andflight hours.

Powered by a pair of latest generation Safran HelicopterEngines’ Aneto-1K 2,500 shp class turboshafts, theAW189K offers the market a further option for efficientlong range, high endurance and large capacity operationswith lower operating costs compared to larger, heavier types.The AW189K delivers a high level of performance,particularly in hot & high conditions, and is ideally suitedto meet customer requirements across a range ofgeographies, including the Middle East where Leonardoplays a leading role for various missions with its modernproduct portfolio. Applications which will benefit from theAW189K’s outstanding performance include offshore, SAR,parapublic and fire-fighting, and VIP transport.

The selection of the AW189K by Gulf Helicopters, thelaunch customer of the AW189 in the offshore market back

in 2014, once more provides clear evidence of the customer’strust with Leonardo’s products to meet its stringentoperational requirements. The new model, currently underdevelopment with over 350 flight hours logged to date, hasshown excellent capabilities in a wide range of demandingweight, altitude and temperature conditions.

Approximately 70 AW189s are in service worldwidetoday carrying out long range offshore, search and rescue,VIP transport, MEDEVAC, disaster relief and fire-fightingoperations and have logged over 74,000 flight hours.

Leonardo to acquire Kopter with the aim of extendingits helicopter market leadership

Leonardo has signed a contract with Lynwood(Schweiz) AG to acquire 100% of Kopter Group AG (Kopter).This move allows Leonardo to further strengthen itsworldwide leadership and position in the rotorcraft sector;leveraging innovation, new capabilities and engineeringskills which have been developed by the young, agile SwissCompany. Kopter’s SH09, a new single engine helicopter,is a perfect fit for Leonardo’s state of the art product rangeoffering opportunities for future technologicaldevelopments. The Swiss company’s competencies willboost future developments towards more disruptivetechnologies, mission capabilities and performances,including innovative hybrid/electrical propulsionsolutions. This acquisition will replace the plannedinvestment aimed at the development of a new single enginehelicopter. Within the Helicopter Division of Leonardo,Kopter will act as an autonomous legal entity andcompetence centre working in coordination with us.

The purchase price, on a cash and debt free basis,consists of a $185 million fixed component plus an earn-outmechanism linked to certain milestones over the life of theprogramme, starting from 2022. The closing of thetransaction is subject to certain conditions and is expectedto take place during the first quarter of 2020.

<<LEONARDO>>


Chance to see British-made Navy helicopters and ra-dio tech from Leonardo on-board the UK’s new HMS

Prince of Wales aircraft carrier in Liverpool

Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, which are built byLeonardo in Somerset and help protect the Royal Navy’s65,000-tonne carriers, will be proudly on display when theship docks in Liverpool

Leonardo is one of the UK’s top defence and securitycompanies, with around 7,000 employees in-country. It isthe main electronics supplier for the UK’s military aircraftand a core member of Team Tempest, the project to makeBritain’s next-gen combat jet

The UK’s carrier strike capability is backed byLeonardo technology including secure communicationsand thermal imaging sensors for flight approach monitoringand high fidelity situational awareness

Liverpool, 26th February 2020 – Visitors to the aircraftcarrier HMS Prince of Wales, which will dock in Liverpoolto welcome members of the public from February 29 toMarch 1, will be able to see advanced military helicoptersand other UK-manufactured technology from defence andsecurity company Leonardo on-board. In pride of placewill be Leonardo’s AW159 Wildcat and AW101 Merlinhelicopters, which keep watch over the carrier and thesurrounding seas, ensuring the ship and its crew are wellprotected from enemy submarines, surface ships, aircraftand missiles.

Proudly made in Britain and exported worldwide, theWildcat and Merlin helicopters are manufactured in Yeovilat the UK’s only factory capable of producing a completehelicopter, from its early design to its testing andmanufacture. Leonardo also equips the HMS Prince ofWales with a secure and resilient communications network

which connects crewmembers stationed throughout the65,000-tonne warship. Keeping the HMS Prince of Walesin touch with the rest of the fleet, Leonardo also providessecure messaging equipment for the Royal Navy’s shipsand the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Tide-class tankers, whichprovide essential support to the carriers, all from its factoryin Southampton.

Leonardo has around 7,000 employees based acrossthe UK, including hundreds of highly skilled engineers andscientists designing and building some of the nation’s mostadvanced security technology. The firm is one of the fourBritish companies working on the UK’s next generation‘Tempest’ combat jet and its Northern-most factory inEdinburgh is developing the new radar for the Royal AirForce’s Typhoon aircraft. With many of the company’sprojects having a military focus, this visit by HMS Princeof Wales will be the first opportunity for many members ofthe public to engage with Leonardo’s cutting-edgetechnology face-to-face.

Leonardo, which is a member of the UK NavalEngineering, Science & Technology (UKNEST) forum, alsoprovides capabilities for the carrier in partnership with othercompanies. The company’s thermal imaging detectors fromits Southampton site, which have been used to film nighttimesegments in BBC nature documentaries such asSpringwatch, Autumnwatch and Seven Worlds, One Planet,form part of the carrier’s Electro-Optical Systems from UltraElectronics. Leonardo’s engineers have also integrated newIdentification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems from BAESystems.

<<LEONARDO>>


Mi-171A2 reaches record speed at the Baikal Mile festival

28 Feb 20.The U-UAZ crew set the record during threecompetition flights. Prior to that, a series of training flightswere made to assess the behavior of the helicopter andhow the measuring equipment works, and to adjustphotography and video equipment for taking pictures andfilming.

"Mi-171A2 has the best features of the world-famousMi-8 type rotorcraft. The rotorcraft was tested in extremeenvironmental conditions: these helicopters can beoperated in temperatures from -50 to +50 degrees Celsius.At the Baikal Mile festival the rotorcraft demonstrated itsbest features once again: speed, control, maneuverability,and stability. The record set at the short distance and at thelimited altitude confirmed the great performance of thehelicopter," said Executive Director of Rostec StateCorporation Oleg Yevtushenko.

Mi-171A2 helicopter has the best features of the world-famous Mi-8/17 type rotorcraft. The helicopter is equippedwith VK-2500PS-03 engines (the civilian version of themilitary helicopter Mi-28 engines) with a digital controlsystem. The helicopter can be used for a wider range ofpurposes due to upgraded piloting and navigationequipment and avionics. Mi-171?2 may be effectivelyoperated in high mountains, at low and high temperatures,high humidity, and overwater. The piloting and navigationequipment allows using the helicopter around the clock, innormal and difficult weather conditions.

"Participation of the helicopter in the festival and flightsover the ice of Lake Baikal are additional opportunities toshow the potential of Mi-171A2. The flights to set the recordstarted with hovering. A mobile GPS station installed on

Rostec ready to commence Ansat supplies to China

the helicopter recorded the result," said U-UAZ ManagingDirector Leonid Belykh. "I am convinced that our equipmentis reliable, and that pilots are highly skilled. The certificateissued by the representatives of the Russian Book ofRecords confirms that."

The helicopter was certified according to Category A,which provides for meeting the most stringent requirementsto flight safety specified for civilian helicopters. Dependingon what the operator needs, Mi-171A2 helicopter canperform search and rescue missions, medical transportation,cargo operations, fight fires or carry passengers day andnight, at temperatures from -50°C to + 50°C, in highmountains, in a desert, in tropical and Arctic climate. Thehelicopter can make long non-stop flights. Mi-171A2helicopter was certified in India and Colombia. It is plannedto validate the Mi-171A2 type certificate in China, SouthKorea, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and other countries.

19.02.2020.At Airshow China 2018 Russian Helicopterssigned a contract for supplying 20 Ansat helicopters tothe Chinese Emergency and Disaster Relief Association.We understand that the Chinese market is much larger thatthe Russian market, even taking into account the EAEU.Thus, China is an important potential market forRussia.Validation of Ansat certificate in China was a resultof cooperation of specialists from Rostec, RussianHelicopters, the Kazan Helicopters and the aviationauthorities of Russia and China. Rostec is ready tocommence the supplies this year.

In November–December 2018 Ansat took part in theRussian Helicopters demonstration tour in Southeast Asia.The helicopter flew over five thousand kilometers on itsown, having made demonstration flights in China, Vietnam,Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The light multipurpose Ansat helicopter was designedby the Kazan Helicopters design office. The rotorcraft has

two engines, and can be used for passenger and VIPtransport, cargo delivery, environmental monitoring, andas an air medical helicopter. High-altitude tests of Ansathave been successfully completed, which confirmed thepossibility of its operation in mountainous terrain ataltitudes up to 3,500 meters. The helicopter can be operatedin a temperature range between -45 and +50 degrees Celsius.

<<RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS>>



Helicopters to be used as Air Ambulances inMaoist-Affected Areas

02 Mar 20.A specialisedtraining module for helicopter-based air ambulance services,for the force’s doctors andparamedical staff, waslaunched at a CRPF camp inJagdalpur in Chhattisgarh,officials said.

It is reported that over adozen helicopters operating inthe country’s anti-Naxaloperations grid are beingretrofitted by the CentralReserve Police Force with airambulance-like facilities as partof a maiden initiative to reducecasualties of its troops andother personnel.A specialisedtraining module for helicopter-based air ambulance services,for the force’s doctors andparamedical staff, waslaunched on 02 Mar 20 at aCRPF camp in Jagdalpur inChhattisgarh.

The officials said as the in-service choppers only havebasic medicines and doctors on-board when on a ‘’missionsortie’’ to evacuate a seriously wounded or ill personnel,administering quick specialised medical care in the air isnot possible.The time taken in the entire process of liftinginjured personnel and getting them admitted to a hospitalleads to instances of excessive blood loss and also losingthe ‘’golden hour’’ to save a person hit in operation.

It isreported that the new CRPF chief, AP Maheshwari,has now directed that over a dozen choppers, drawn fromthe Indian Air Force and the Border Security Force, willbe “retro-fitted” with air ambulance-like facilities so thatas soon as they lift an injured or ill personnel the doctorson-board can give them “vital life saving treatment” withthe help of dedicated medical equipment.

“When a trooper injured in an anti-Maoist operationor someone seriously ill in a similar remote location is to beevacuated, a fixed-wing air ambulance is sent in. But theycan only go upto major locations where there is a landingstrip and cannot land in a jungle or makeshift helipad like achopper does”.“This is where it was felt necessary thatchoppers need to double up as air ambulances so that

essential life saving procedures are administered to theinjured or sick as soon as they are brought on-board,” theofficial said.Air ambulance helicopters will help save the‘’golden hour’’ and also in case of injuries reduce casualtiesoccurring from excessive blood loss, he explained.

The medical equipments are also being fitted on thechoppers that are deployed in the anti-Naxal operations orthe Left Wing Extremism (LWE) grid as part of the ‘’airsupport’’ system for the central paramilitary forces or statepolice units operating in these areas.These choppers arebased in Jagdalpur and Raipur in Chhattisgarh and Ranchiin Jharkhand.

CRPF Director General (DG) Maheshwari, in a messagesent to his troops recently, said this “innovative life savingmedical facility will soon be operational”.

The force, tasked as the lead combat unit for conductingoperations against Maoists in the country, is also mullingto ink a deal with some fixed-wing air ambulance services inthe country so that serious and critical cases of injured orsick personnel can be specifically catered to and they canbe promptly airlifted to specialist medical facilities like theAIIMS in Delhi or other such premier medical institutionsin metropolitan cities.


As on 31 December2019

RWSI TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED SINCE SEPT 2004

Sl No. Course Name DGCA Approval No Course ValidityNo of Courses

ConductedNo of

participants

1 Special VFR Ground Training AV 22031/29/2012-FSD Once in a Year 67 1168

2 Recurrent Training JDG (PKC)/Misc//2007 Once in Two Years 49 1269

3 Safety Management System AD15029/MISC/2011-AS 27 447

4 Accident Prevention AD15029/MISC/2011-AS 07 33

5 Accident Investigation AD15029/MISC/2011-AS 06 32

6 Adverse Weather – Monsoon Operation Ops Circular 9 of 2010 Once in a Year 62 798

7 Human Factors Training DAW/Misc/2014 07 94

8 Crew Resource Management AV 22031/28(MISC)/2012-FSD Once in a Year 69 563

9 Dangerous Goods Regulations No 8/28/2012-IR Once in Two Years 47 358

10 Procedures Training AV-22036/26/Heli/2014-FSD(Vol III) Once in a Year 28 269

11 Safety & Emergency Procedure Training 6 51

TOTAL375

Courses5052

Participants

Sl No. Course Name DGCA Approval No Course ValidityNo of Courses

ConductedNo of

participants

1 Special VFR Ground Training AV 22031/29/2012-FSD Once in a Year 69 1170

2 Recurrent Training JDG (PKC)/Misc//2007 Once in Two Years 49 1269

3 Safety Management System AD15029/MISC/2011-AS 40 492

4 Accident Prevention AD15029/MISC/2011-AS 10 36

5 Accident Investigation AD15029/MISC/2011-AS 08 35

6 Adverse Weather – Monsoon Operation Ops Circular 9 of 2010 Once in a Year 139 1011

7 Human Factors Training DAW/Misc/2014 12 154

8 Crew Resource Management AV 22031/28(MISC)/2012-FSD Once in a Year 127 670

9 Dangerous Goods Regulations No 8/28/2012-IR Once in Two Years 57 377

10 Procedures Training AV-22036/26/Heli/2014-FSD(Vol III) Once in a Year 28 269

11 Safety & Emergency Procedure Training 7 52

12 CAMO Function & Internal Audit Training 8 20

TOTAL555

Courses5556

Participants

RWSI Instructors Receive Excellent FeedbackRWSI is pleased to share with its Members that RWSI Instructors whohandled 72 Ground Training courses such as CRM, SGT and SMS for

Industry professionals in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru during the year2019 received excellent grading from the participants.

This trend continues, among the 200 participants who underwent GroundTraining courses such as CRM, SGT, Adverse Weather, SEP, SMS and

CAMO Function during Jan to March 2020, 195 participants graded ourinstructors as “excellent” and 5 participants graded them “good”. Since

RWSI is a Not for Profit organization establishedfor Safety throughEducation and run by professionals, we appeal to the Helicopter Operatorsto consider availing the services of RWS for conducting SMS,CRM & SGT

courses for their professionals.

RWSI SAFETY INITIATIVEPRIMARY FOCUS OF RWSI HAS BEEN TO ACHIEVE SAFETYTHROUGH EDUCATION.SINCE SEPTEMBER 2004,RWSI HAS

CONDUCTED GROUND TRAINING COURSES ON AERONAUTICALSUBJECTS WHICH HAS BENEFITTED OVER 5556 PROFESSIONALS.


<<RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS>>

Rostec delivers the first serial produced Mi-38 to aclient

26.02.20 .The deliveryceremony for the first serial Mi-38was held at the Kazan Helicoptersfacility. The ceremony wasattended by the President of theRepublic of Tatarstan RustamMinnikhanov, Director General ofthe Russian Helicopters AndreiBoginsky, as well as DirectorGeneral of Kazan Helicopters YuriPustovgarov.

“The newest Mi-38 is a multi-purpose helicopter that will fill theempty niche between medium Mi-8 and heavy Mi-26 models. It canbe used for transportation ofcargo and passengers, search andrescue operations, and as a flyinghospital or an offshore helicopterfor delivering specialists to oilproduction platforms at sea. Thefirst serial produced machine will be used for business classtransportation. We have already demonstrated thishelicopter with highly comfortable cabin to the leaders ofRussia and foreign countries. The superior flightperformance characteristics and competitive price willguarantee that Mi-38 will find its place in the helicopterfleet of Russia, our partners in the Middle East, SoutheastAsia, Latin America and other regions,” said the IndustrialDirector of Rostec Aviation Cluster Anatoly Serdyukov.

The Director General of Kazan Helicopters YuriPustovgarov handed a symbolic key to the new Mi-38helicopter to the CEO of RHS Mikhail Kazachkov. Thehelicopter with a highly comfortable cabin is designed tocarry up to 10 people.

The first serial Mi-38 helicopter was introduced to thegeneral public at MAKS-2019 Moscow Air Show, where itwas demonstrated to the President of Russia Vladimir Putinand the President of Turkey Tayyip Recep Erdogan. Mi-38’s foreign debut took place during the Dubai Airshow2019, where the head of the Russian Ministry of Industryand Trade Denis Manturov showed it to the Crown Princeof the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin ZayedAl Nahyan.

During the ceremony, employees of Kazan Helicopterswere awarded for their active participation in the productionof Mi-38 and a significant contribution to the development

of domestic helicopter construction. Employees of theenterprise were awarded the title of Honored MechanicalEngineers of the Republic of Tatarstan, and also receivedhonorary diplomas of the Ministry of Industry and Tradeof the Russian Federation, Rostec State Corporation andRussian Helicopters Holding Company.

The design of Mi-38 consists of a single-rotor schemeand a twin-engine power plant with high power andeconomic performance. The main structural elements of thefuselage are made of aluminum alloys, individualcomponents and parts are made of steel, titanium andcomposite materials. The helicopter uses two Russian-madeTV7-117V engines, equipped with dust protection deviceswith a high degree of air purification. An advanced six-blade rotor provides high thrust and low vibration levels.The blades are equipped with an anti-icing system, and theX-shaped tail rotor gives the helicopter excellent handlingwith low noise level.

Mi-38 is equipped with a modern navigation systemand satellite navigation system. The cockpit of thehelicopter is equipped with five versatile LCD color screensto ensure the effective display of information. The flightrange of the new helicopter is up to 1,200 kilometers (withadditional fuel tanks). With its maximum takeoff weight of15.6 tonnes, the helicopter can carry 5 tonnes of payloadon board or on an external sling.


RWSI Participates in InternationalFederation of Helicopter Associations

(IFHA) Meeting at Anaheim1200 NoonA meeting of the IFHA Affiliates was held

at the Anaheim Convention Center and called to order bythe IFHA-nominated representative to the InternationalCivil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Matt Callan. Thefollowing is an alphabetical list of IFHA Affiliates: Asociacion Chilenade Helicopteros (ACHHEL) Association for Promotion of Helicopter Industry Japan

(AHIJ) Australian Helicopter Industry Association(AHIA) Brazilian Helicopter Pilots Association(ABRAPHE) British Helicopter Association (BHA) Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa(HASA) European Helicopter Association (EHA) Helicopter Association International (HAI) HelicopterAssociation of Canada (HAC) New ZealandHelicopter Association (NZHA) Rotary Wing Societyof India (RWSI)

Emergency evacuation procedures were covered,and theHAI Anti-Trust Statement was reviewed.

The gathering was opened by welcoming members andguests andtaking roll call of IFHA Affiliate Presidents,CEOs, Chairs and their representatives.A total of eight IFHAAffiliates were represented at the meeting, and listed asfollows:

Ms. Loreto Moraga, Chair ACHHEL Mr.Yoshi Arakawa, President AHIJ Mr. Paul Tyrrell, CEOAHIA Mr. Peter Moeler, Chair EHA Ms. Elisabetta DallaBenetta, Executive Director EHA Mr. Ed DiCampli, COOHAI Mr. Fred Jones, President HAC Mr. ScottMcKenzie, Chair NZHA Mr. R.N. Johri, CEO AmanAviation; representing AVM K. Sridharan, President RWSI

The following IFHA Affiliates were unable to attend,but sent their regards:

Mr. Thales Pereira, President ABRAPHE Mr.Tim Fauchon, CEO BHA Mr. Tinus Van Jaarsveld,President HASA

Also, in attendance were the following representatives: Ms. Jan Becker, Chair, HAI Board of Directors

Mr. Myles Tompkins, AHIA Mr. R.N. Johri,

attending with Mr. Aman Johri Mr. Andy Pierce, FAA Mr. Nolan Crawford, FAA Mr. Cade

Clark, HAI Government AffairsAn ICAO update was provided on actions during the

previous year (see Attachment A, IFHA Luncheon and ICAOUpdate)

Ed DiCampli, COO HAI, began the meeting byhighlighting HAI’s commitment to safety, and initiated anIFHA Affiliate open-floor discussionthat followed themeeting agenda (see Attachment B). Discussion wasfocused on IFHA Affiliate safety and regulatory issues andconcerns, and their impact on the current state of thehelicopter industry (Attachment C provides a list of IFHAAffiliate concerns).

The IFHA Affiliates discussed various possibilities forfuture meetings, to include:

Extend the time period for annual IFHA meetingsat Heli-Expo (perhaps 3-4 hours) so that every affiliate willhave an equal amount of time to present their issues andconcerns; Hold meeting(s)during the year (in-person or via teleconference) in addition to the annual forumheld at Heli-Expo.

The next IFHA Affiliate meeting is scheduled to occurin March 2021, during Heli-Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana,USA. Exact date and time at TBD.

Historical Information: RWSI, a Founding Member of IFHARWSI became a Founding Member of International Federation of Helicopter Association on 26 April 2001. The object

of IFHA is to Revitalize Internationalize Guidelines related to helicopter operations. Since its formation, its representativesin ICAO Helicopter Study Group have made major contributions in undertaking changes/modifications to ICAO guidelines.IFHA has an observer status in ICAO.

The members of RWSI participated in the first and second International Helicopter Study Group Meeting at Orland on14 February 2002 and at Dallas on 09 February 2003. During 2002 to 2019, Wg Cdr BS Singh Deo MD Bell Helicopter (India)/Capt Uday Gelli CEO United Heli charters Pvt Ltd have represented RWSI in all the IFHA Meetings held during HAI’s HeliExpo in US. Owing to financial constraints, RWSI could not send its representatives to participate in HSG SubgroupMeetings except for the HSG Meeting held during 25-28 September 2017 at ICAO Montreal. The excellent contributionmade by Mr. Somen Chowdhury a Life Member RWSI and NRI rep. at the meeting was published by RWSI in its mouthpieceRotor India Qtly (QE 30 September 2017). RWSI has always endeavored to publish the outcome of the HSG SubgroupMeetings in its Rotor India Qtly for the information of the Rotary Wing Aviation community in India. The issues raised byRWSI for the consideration of IFHA will be covered in Rotor India Qtly (QE 31 Mar 20).


Single-engine helicopter operations andacceptability

1. Aviation business is capital intensive. Thecommercial viability of many charter operators depends onlow cost of acquisition and low direct operating costs ofhelicopters. Single-engine helicopters are thereforepreferred by most of the entry-level operators. ICAO SARPsin Annex 6 restrict the use of single-engine helicopters todaytime flights “over the plains, and only in good weather.3”This inhibits the growth of the industry, especially a fledglingone like in India. This initiative is aimed at making single-engine helicopters more acceptable with increasedreliability of turbine engines.

Applicability ICAO Annex 6, Part III2. ICAO Annex 6, Part III is applicable to “International

Commercial Air Transport Operations” and as such shouldnot be adopted in India for domestic general aviation. TheUSA, where more than half of the world’s helicoptersoperate, has not adopted these rules in the present form.

Performance classification and applicability inthe Himalayas

3. ICAO has categorized helicopters into performanceclasses based on the number of engines and engineperformance. Whereas Performance Class (PC) 1 helicopterscan operate with a guarantee of safe continued flight orsafe landing should one of the engines fail, PC2 and PC3helicopters have been estimated solely based on the numberof engines. There are many critical components in ahelicopter and the engine is only of them. Adept riskmanagement dictates that reliability of the helicopter, as awhole, should be considered when calculating risk.Technological improvements over the decades have putthe reliability of turbine engines at par with other criticalcomponents and this point needs to be considered. Layingundue importance on the number of engines is notwarranted because it will have an adverse effect on theindustry’s freedom to use helicopters effectively. Thelowering of annual fleet utilization with no reduction in thenumber of accidents will, in fact, amount to an increase inthe accident rate. In India, there are large inaccessible areasat medium to high altitudes where no helicopter candemonstrate PC1, or even PC2 ability. Most of the knownhelicopters in India are Cat “A,” certified up to 8,000 feetdensity altitude (i.e., between 5,000 to 6,000 feet pressurealtitude under Indian conditions). Above a certain altitudeall helicopters are in PC3 category. So, if the ICAO SARPsare adopted by India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, helicopter

The Issues raised by the Rotary Wing Society of India(RWSI) at the meeting are outlined below:-

operations in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, UP hills, northBengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Parts of Nagaland,Mizoram and Meghalaya will not be permissible (helipadswith density attitude 6000ft and above).

Risk factors4. Provisions of ICAO Annex 6, Part III also aim to

prevent performance Class 3 helicopter from flying at night.There have been only 0.5 accidents per 100,000 flight hourson single turbine helicopters, whereas twin turbinehelicopter accident rate was twice that figure. The RWAIfeels that single-engine, piston helicopters have acomparatively higher accident rate and perhaps should notbe allowed to operate by night.

Encourage the training of helicopter pilots5. Fallout from restrictions on night flying by single-

engine helicopters will impact training flights, and henceimpact long-term availability of trained manpower. So far inIndia, the civil helicopter industry has been fortunate inobtaining highly experienced former Defense pilots to filltheir cockpit vacancies. India’s helicopter fleet has nearlydoubled in the last five years and the trickle of ex-militarypilots coming out of the Defense forces is inadequate tomeet the growing demand. Since the commercial helicopterpilot’s license (CHPL) syllabus requires 10 hours of pilot-in-command (PIC) night flying, a student would require afair amount of twin-engine flying to earn a CHPL. With thecost of operation of a twin-engine helicopter at about Rs.55,000/- per hour as against Rs. 14,000/- for a single-enginepiston helicopter4, the total cost of training for CHPL willbe prohibitive. This will indirectly inhibit the growth of theindustry with no apparent improvement in safety as shownin the safety statistics.

IFR operations on a 24-hour basis6. Nearly half of the helicopter fleet in India consists of

VFR machines. As of now, due to the non-availability ofnight landing facilities in most of the areas where helicoptersoperate, the utilization of the commercial fleet is restrictedto daylight hours only. This brings down the monthlyutilization rate, and hence the cost of overhead per flighthour. ICAO Annex 6, Part III restricts single enginehelicopters from flying under IMC. One can only imaginethe plight of charter operators who have to wait for hoursfor the visibility to improve before they can be cleared fortakeoff. RWAI proposes that, like in the US, Special VFRclearance criteria for helicopters be implementedconsidering the ability of helicopters to slow down to any


desired speed in order to avoid getting dangerously closeto other traffic and to terrain. Industry should be free towork the IFR-capable turbine engine helicopters three shiftsa day by removing night flying restrictions.

IFR capability7. It is noteworthy that in the accident statistics of

single versus twin engine helicopters, most of the singleengine helicopters happen to be VFR-equipped as opposedto most of the twins which were IFR-equipped. A studybrings out the fact that accidents under VFR are severaltimes higher than those while flown under IFR. The [US]FAA is encouraging single engine helicopter owners andoperators to equip their machines with IFR equipment.Arguments in favor of IFR operations include:

(a) An IFR helicopter is better equipped withinstruments and communication equipment;

(b) An IFR pilot is better trained; and,

(c) The IFR flying environment is better controlled withbetter surveillance facilities.

India is one of the first countries in the world to haveradar coverage in all the major air routes, so RWAI asks thequestion: Why deny their advanced facilities to singleengine helicopters?

IFR fuel reserves8. A final point on IFR operations, with improved

navigational and communication equipment, why are wecontinuing with the antiquated IFR fuel reserverequirements? Helicopters, due to their short range, oftenoperate within a single “weather system” and there is verylittle possibility of encountering unexpected adverseweather at the destination. How does one justify a two-hour fuel reserve should an alternate airfield not be available– much like in extended offshore operation. What aboutthe ability of a helicopter to land in a small clearing? Thisissue certainly calls for more research and deliberationsbetween rule makers and industry. A rule for a more practicaland equally safe IFR fuel requirement can certainly befound.

City center heliports and heli routes – Currentrequirements

9. Let us study the case of single-engine helicopters toelevated heliports/helidecks. Helicopter AssociationInternational of USA made an analysis of the risk of anengine failure during take-off or landing to elevatedhelidecks/ports to evaluate the potential of a deck edgestrike during this maneuver. Using an accepted exposuretarget of 5 x 10-8 of this event occurring, it was found thatone could operate up to 20+ seconds in the so-called “riskzone” and not exceed this target exposure limit. This isextremely close to the number used by the FAA [and ICAO]for evaluating risk during Extended Diversion Time

Operations for a large twin-engine transport, such as theBoeing 767 or 777. The possibility of failure of the secondengine, during diversion on one engine over water wascomparable to the risk involved in helideck operations.Another study based on available accident data arrived atan interesting finding. Assuming current accident rates, ifthere were five departures and arrivals at a heliport everyday, the likelihood of an accident occurring was one inevery 475 years. The FAA, having studied such researchdata, have allowed single engine helicopters to operatewithout restrictions to elevated heliports. The famousheliport at Dallas Convention Centre is an example. Weagree on the desirability of having PC1 helicopters operateto city center elevated heliports. But when the risk factor ofsingle engine turbine helicopter operation is not higherthan the twin-engine machines, why restrict the singles?

ICAO Annex 6 Part III and Annex 14 (Heliports)

Future development10. [RWAI] now looks forward to adoption of rules and

regulations related to heli routes in India. We do hope thatfollowing the deliberations during this seminar, helicopteroperators will find new usages for helicopters like EMS,powerline construction and inspection, and airborne lawenforcement. To enable orderly traffic of helicopters withdue separation from fixed-wing air routes, it is desirable tolay down heli routes and publish charts and procedures fornavigating between destination cities. In several westerncountries, helicopters fly unhindered within the cities andthere is no reason why we should not be able to do so.Intercity flights between Mumbai and Pune, Chennai andBangalore, Ahmedabad and Baroda, etc. are just waitingfor the right ambience to make it happen. Same is the casewith satellite cities like NOIDA, Gurgaon and Faridabadthat deserve commercial heliports for shuttle helicopterflights to Delhi. Two years from now the tilt rotor will changemedium-range air transportation, and we need to gear up toderive maximum benefit from this latest form of vertical lifttechnology.

Lowering the VFR visibility from 5kms to 3kms in India

11. Considering the tropical/equatorial type of weather,coupled with the Himalayas in the Indian sub-continent,we need to redefine visibility limits for flying VFR in India.Due to smog in winter months and general high pollutionlevels during other months, visibility in big metros is usuallyless than 3000 meters. Therefore, we have the special VFRfacility wherein helicopters can be permitted to fly whenthe visibility is less than 5 kms. However, the localauthorities in certain metros, more specifically in Mumbairegion, do not permit helicopters to take off for eithermaintenance flights or training flights under special VFR.We need to lower the VFR vis to 3 kms so that regularhelicopter flying can be carried out routinely.


DGCA Alleviations to COVID-19

Based on the request and justification of thedomestic Industry, DGCA-India has given certainextension/relaxation /deferment in various part ofregulations as follows:-

Extension of Airworthiness Renewal Certificate- isnow allowed to be done by the organisation for nextthree months upto 3rd July 2020 as one time measure.

Extension granted for the recurrent trainings andchecks lapsed or lapsing in respect of Pilots, FlightEngineers, Cabin crew, Flight Dispatcher, Instructors(Simulator/ Ground), Load & Trim personnel andFSTD upto 20TH JUNE 2020.

Expiring AME licence under part 66 areautomatically extended until 23rd Sept 2020

Validity of the continuation training under CAR145 for extension of company authorisation has beenextended for three months up to 3rd July 2020.

All expiring company approvals for Indian andOverseas companies is extended for six months upto30th Sept 2020.

Some more are in pipeline, will share next week asit come


Helicopter Association International (HAI) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Matthew S. Zuccaro, the immediate past president and CEO of the association.

“Matt was one of a kind in our industry,” says current HAI President and CEO James Viola. “Helicopters were part of his life, beginning with his US Army service in Vietnam. Throughout his career, he made safe helicopter operations his priority, and we are a better, stronger, and safer industry today because of his efforts on behalf of rotorcraft. Speaking on behalf of our industry, we have lost a good friend who will be missed. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Doreen, and his family.”

An HAI member since the early 1980s, Matt was elected to the HAI Board of Directors in 1987 and served as chairman in 1991. He was named president of HAI in 2005 and retired in January of this year. During HAI HELI-EXPO 2020 in Anaheim in January, Matt was honored with the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing his 50 years of professionalism and skill as a pilot.

Among his many accomplishments, Matt may be best remembered for a column he wrote for ROTOR magazine in 2013, encouraging pilots to “land the damn helicopter” in situations where proceeding would endanger themselves and passengers. From that column, HAI’s ‘LAND & LIVE’ program was born, saving countless lives around the world—a fitting legacy for a man who was passionate about safety in the industry he loved so much.

For more information on Matt’s life and career, please see this article from the Winter 2020 issue of ROTOR.

HAI announces the passing of Matthew Zuccaro

Dear friends,It is indeed a very sad moment to learn about the sudden

demise of Matthew S. Zuccaro, a great friend of President RWSI. Matt had relinquished his Office recently. He whole heartedly appreciated the efforts put in by RWSI in promoting helicopter safety in India. We all cherish the memorable occasion of his visit to RWSI Office during his trip to attend HP India 2018 and preside over the IHST Conference. The world will miss a pioneer, a great advocate of Safety in Helicopter Industry. Indeed a great loss to the International Helicopter Fraternity. While we mourn his death, and express our condolences to the bereaved family of Matthew Zuccaro, let us pray for the peace of the departed soul. RIP.

Gp Capt MK Labroo (V)Secretary General, RWSI

President RWSI Condoles the passing of Matthew Zuccaro

In a letter to Mr. James A. Viola President & CEO HAI, the President RWSI, AVM KSridharan said , I and Members of the Rotary Wing Society of India are deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Mr. Matthew S. Zuccaro, the immediate past president and CEO of HAI.

Our prayers are there with his family and friends to give them strength to bear the loss.

We at RWSI had known Mr. Matthew Zuccaro since he became President HAI in 2005. Matt had been a very respected professional known to the entire worlds helicopter community.

He was such a wonderful person to work with in strengthening the cooperation between RWSI, an affiliate member of HAI in promoting Safety of helicopter operations. As President IHST, he worked with regional teams to develop complimentary products for use worldwide, address unique regional needs locally, and implement a plan to share these products worldwide. Social Media strategies were also developed to reach more individuals and operators across the world.

We at IHST (India) will remember him for his great contribution to bringing the world civil Helicopter accident rate down to single digit. In his keynote address at IHST Regional Conference organized by RWSI (IHST-India) held on 7 Sep18 at New Delhi, Matt Zucorov had made a statement , “HAI's desires are what we want for the Helicopter industry and for our members around the world, is safety as priority”. His visits to India in June 2006 and September 2018 to participate in the IHST Regional Conference will be remembered for a long time. We at RWSI deeply condole and will surely miss a close friend and supporter. May his Soul Rest in Peace”..

Friends,Matt had been a very respected professional known to the

entire worlds helicopter community. He made a marked difference in the way all stake holders treated helicopter operations, with emphasis on safety. His campaign on “Shut up and Listen” struck a note on all fledgling professionals who were always ready to act out of enthusiasm before understanding the situation.

May his soul rest in peace.Wg Cdr BS Singh DeoVice President

Friends,President RWSI condolences message is published on HAI’s website. Yes, we truly miss him. Regards Capt Uday GelliPresident RWSI (Western Region)

6

<< >>HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL

<< >>HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL



Ground Training Efforts By RWSI during January to March 2020

RWSI steps up its Ground Training Efforts during Janto March 2020. A total of 200 candidates went thru Safetyrelated Training Courses at RWSI during the period.

a) CRM – 6 Pilots at Noida and 3 Pilots at New Delhi byWg Cdr VP Mathur, 9 Pilots at Bangalore by Air Cmde MMAli and 12 Pilots at Jamshedpur, 10 Pilots at Mumbai and 3Pilots at Ranchi by Gp Capt RN Joshi.

b) SGT – 6 Pilots at Noida by Wg Cdr VP Mathur, 12Pilots at Bangalore by Air Cmde MM Ali and 51 Pilots atMumbai, 5 Pilots at Jamshedpur and 2 Pilots at Ranchi byGp Capt RN Joshi.

c) AWO – 1 Pilot at Noida, 8 pilots at Jamshedpur and6 Pilots at New Delhi by Wg Cdr VP Mathur.

d) SEP – 8 Pilots at Jamshedpur by Gp Capt MK Labroo.e) SMS – 12 candidates at New Delhi by Gp Capt MK

Labroo, 7 candidates at Chennai by AVM K Sridharan andGp Capt RN Joshi and 3 candidates at Noida and 17candidates at New Delhi by Wg Cdr VP Mathur.

f) CAMO Function & Internal Audit Training – 19candidates at New Delhi by Gp Capt MK Labroo.

RWSI Instructors ReceiveExcellent Feedback fromthe Course ParticipantsRWSI is pleased to share with its Members that RWSI

Instructors who handled 72 Ground Training courses suchas CRM, SGT and SMS for Industry professionals in Delhi,Mumbai, and Bengaluru during the year 2019 receivedexcellent grading from the participants.

This trend continues, among the 200 participants whounderwent Ground Training courses such as CRM, SGT,Adverse Weather, SEP, SMS and CAMO Function duringJan to March 2020, 195 participants graded our instructorsas “excellent” and 5 participants graded them “good”.

Since RWSI is a Not for Profit organization establishedfor Safety through Education and run by professionals, weappeal to the Helicopter Operators to consider availing theservices of RWS for conducting SMS,CRM & SGT coursesfor their professionals.

SEP training conducted on 01 Feb 2020 at Tata Steel Jamshedpur

SMS conducted on 18 Feb 2020 at TVS Motors, Chennai

SMS training conducted on 06 March 2020 at Club one Air,Palam

<<RWSI ACTIVITIES>>

International Seminar

Participate in Heli Power India-2020!Event Combines Conference, Exhibitions and

Networking OpportunitiesMilitary-DAY-1

(MAIN AUDITORIUM)Ÿ Provides an understanding about the

Next Gen verti lift machines (manned

and unmanned) and their performance

capabilities that will enhance combat

power.

Ÿ Provides an understanding on new

innovative systems & safety devices

available in the market that can

enhance efficiency and safety in the

usage of verti lift machines (manned

and unmanned) as an airborne platform

in air, land and sea warfare.

(BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM) Ÿ Usage & Challenges in Use of VTOL

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Military & Civil Usage in India

Civil-DAY-2 (MAIN AUDITORIUM)

Ÿ Provides an understanding as to how the new verti lift machines (manned and unmanned) can enhance usage of these machines for public good with safety and efficiency in important roles.

Ÿ Challenges faced by Civil Helicopter Operators on various issues including Op, Fiscal, Regulatory & Infrastructural in meeting the Safety Standards. 3.MROs and sui table Train ing Infrastructure to meet the Industry requirements.

(BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM)Ÿ IHST Regional Conference

4-5 November 2020, Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park, New Delhi - 110010

RWSI, 609, 6th Floor, I-thum Tower A, A-40, Sector-62, NOIDA-201 309Tele: 0120-4252346, 4252347

Email: [email protected], Website: www.rwsi.org

th9 Heli Power India 2020

to secure exhibition stallin Prime Location

15

1

2

1 xx x x

1 1 1 1

10 5 5 5

9 Heli Power India -2020

RWSI, 609, 6th Floor, I-thum Tower A, A-40, Sector-62, NOIDA-201 309Tele: 0120-4252346, 4252347

Email: [email protected], Website: www.rwsi.org

Speakers slot at Basement Conference Hall

Fee Rupees US $ Fee Rupees US $

3,00,000+18%GST1,00,000+18%GST

1,00,000+18%GST

1,00,000+18%GST

$4300 inclusive tax $1500 inclusive tax

$1500 inclusive tax

$1500 inclusive tax$2900 inclusive tax2,00,000+18%GST

Air Marshal Vibhas Pande VSM assumes charge as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance

64

: ` 39000 FPFC US$ 625: ` 33000 FPFC US$ 535: ` 26500 FPFC US$ 430: ` 26500 FPFC US$ 430: ` 26500 FPFC US$ 430

: ` 20000 FPFC US$ 320: ` 50000 FPFC US$ 780


COVER PAGEBACK OUTER COVERFRONT INNER COVERBACK INNER COVEROPPOSITE BACK INNER(LAST PAGE)OTHER PAGES (Inside)CENTRE SPREAD

Rebate of 10% on advance payment of four issues.

Rotary Wing Society of India 609, 6th Floor, I-thum Tower A

A-40, Sector 62, NOIDA 201 309 Tele: 0120-4252 346, 4252 347

Tel : 0120-6870876, 6870877, 6870878Email - [email protected]@rwsi.org,

Website - www.rwsi.org

COVER PAGEBACK OUTER COVERFRONT INNER COVERBACK INNER COVEROPPOSITE BACK INNER(LAST PAGE)OTHER PAGES (Inside)CENTRE SPREAD

Rebate of 10% on advance payment of four issues.

Rotary Wing Society of India 609, 6th Floor, I-thum Tower A, A-40, Sector 62, NOIDA 201 309

Tele: 0120-4252 346, 4252 347, 6870876, 6870878Email - [email protected]@rwsi.org,


Rebate of 10% on advance payment of four issues.Rotary Wing Society of India

609, 6th Floor, I-thum Tower A, A-40, Sector 62, NOIDA 201 309 Tele: 0120-4252 346, 4252 347, 6870876, 6870878Email - [email protected]@rwsi.org,


Air Marshal Vibhas Pande VSM has taken over as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance of Indian Air Force with effect from 01 Jan 2020.The Air Off icer was commissioned as Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) in IAF on 29 Aug 1984. He started his career as Engineering Officer in IAF with fighter aircraft and later also gained experience in maintenance operations on transport aircraft and

helicopters. He has flown nearly 1200 hrs on helicopters as Flight Engineer and has also been Air Force Examiner for Rotary Wing aircraft.

Air Officer is a Post Graduate in Reliability Engineering from IIT Powai, Mumbai. He is also an alumnus of College of Air Warfare and National Defence College.

Air Officer has held the appointments of Senior Production Engineer at 11 Base Repair Depot, Commanding Officer of Air Armament Inspection Wing, Khamaria, Directing Staff at College of Air Warfare and Command Engineering Officer at HQ WAC. Some of the key appointments held by him include command of a premier Base Repair Depot, Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at HQ EAC and ACAS Eng (T&H) at Air HQ. Prior to assuming his present appointment, he was holding the appointment of Director General (Aircraft)

Air Marshal MSG Menon VSM assumes charge as Air Officer-in-Charge Administration

Air Marshal MSG Menon VSM takes over as Air Officer-in-Charge Administration of Indian Air Force with effect from 01 Jan 2020.The Air Marshal was commissioned in Administrative branch of IAF in Dec 1982. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Calicut University.

He has undergone Higher Air Command Course from College of Air Warfare. He is an alumnus of

Defence Services Staff College Wellington and the prestigious National Defence College.

The Air Marshal is a Cat ‘AYE’ Air Traffic Controller and has commanded an operational radar unit at a major flying station. He was a member of the first UN Mission to Sudan. He has served as the Commandant of the prestigious Air Force Administrative College, Coimbatore and Principal Director Ops (Air Traffic Services),Assistant Chief Of Air Staff (Org & Ceremonial) and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (AF Works).

Prior to taking over as Air Officer-in-Charge Administration, he was the Director General (Works & Ceremonials) at Air HQ.For his distinguished service, he was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) by the Hon’ble President of India in the year 2016.

India to acquire MH-60 Sikorsky Romeo helicopters from US

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Transcript of India to acquire MH-60 Sikorsky Romeo helicopters from US