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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 1057.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION HEALTH MONITORING DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON Smiths to take HUMS to next level UK CAA awards R&D contract intended to bring significant improvements in health and usage monitoring systems Smiths Aerospace has won a re search and development contract from the UK Civil Aviation Authority for the advancement of helicopter health and usage moni toring systems (HUMS). Smiths principal applications consultant Brian Larder says the programme will result in "the most significant advance in vibration health moni toring [VHM] technology for sev eral years" for helicopter fleets (Flight International, 6-12 April). VHM equipment is to be devel oped from Smiths' "data mining" tool used on fixed-wing aircraft engines. The CAA says the new VHM will be an "artificial intelli gence" system that automatically analyses data, whereas existing HUMS can generate real-time alerts, but data is downloaded for analysis by ground-based systems. Trials of the process for adapting the data-mining system into an in- service device specifically for heli copters will be carried out with Bristow Helicopters, says Smiths. The CAA says it has completed the consultation process for its pro posal to make VHM compulsory in all UK-registered helicopters flying offshore oil-support operations, and all others above 5,700kg (12,5501b) maximum total weight engaged in public transport flying. KITPLANE LH-10 Ellipse nears launch France's LH Aviation unveiled last week its LH-10 Ellipse two- seat kitplane. The composite, high-performance aircraft is powered by a 100hp (75kW) Masschi engine that will run on aviation or automotive fuels. The Ellipse is available with a fixed or retractable landing gear, the company says, and has a useful load of 240kg (530Ib) and a range of 1,095km (590nm). HELICOPTERS EMMA KELLY / PERTH Australia to study standbys for NVFR The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has recommended that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) assesses the ben efits of helicopters operating under night visual flight rules (NVFR) being equipped with a standby atti tude indicator and an autopilot or stability augmentation system. This is a result of the ATSB's ongo ing investigation into the October 2003 crash of a CHC Helicopters' Bell 407 operating a medical rescue mission at night. The helicopter crashed into the sea off Mackay, Queensland, killing all three new. Following the accident, CASA is reviewing its NVFRs, while the Helicopter Association of Australasia has initiated a safety campaign (FlightInternational, 4-10 May). The ATSB says there are no regu latory requirements for a non- instrument flight rules (IFR)-equip- ped helicopter operating under NVFR to have a standby attitude indicator with an independent power source. As a result, single- pilot VFR helicopters do not have the same level of system redun dancy as IFR machines, and there is no autopilot or stability augmenta- REGULATIONS tion system requirement, which would help pilots cope with high workloads during an NVFR flight. The ATSB says the CHC heli copter hit the water at substantial speed in a nose-down attitude, with the engine operating. Weather had been forecast as isolated thunder storms, scattered showers and areas of smoke, with visibility in some areas at 2,000m (6,560ft). The crew was appropriately licensed, trained and qualified. The ATSB is investigating actual weather limitations, organisational issues, requirements for flight under NVFR, equipment and pilot licence requirements. CASA calls for agricultural initiative Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has suggested that the country's aerial agriculture industry come up with a proposal to self-administer safety regula tion for the sector. The move would allow the authority to concentrate on passenger-carrying aviation, says CASA chief executive Bruce Byron. Byron put the proposal to the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia (AAAA) at its annual conference this month. AAAA chief executive Phil Hurst says that his members have welcomed the idea, but discussions have yet to take place and issues such as who the association regulates, funding and resources need to be resolved. The AAAA has also encouraged CASA to establish a dedicated agricultural unit to deal with safety issues, which has been on trial for the past year and is set to become per manent. Its efforts have helped improve safety: the seven to eight fatalities a year of 10-15 years ago has been cut to two a year and to none in the past three years, says Hurst. 22 22-28 JUNE 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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