z Conklin & de Decker Offers Heli-Expo Savings Conklin & de Decker (Booth No. 920) is offering a special HeliExpo 2011 show discount of 15 percent on its family of products, providing performance and cost data for aircraft, as well as aircraft-related tax guides. The limited-time product discounts apply to the: Aircraft Cost Evaluator; Aircraft Performance Comparator; Life Cycle Cost Volume I; and the 2011 State Tax Guide. Visitors to the Conklin & de Decker exhibit can also register to win a new netbook mini laptop computer loaded with helicopter databases, including the Cost Evaluator, Performance Comparator and the 2011 Life Cycle Cost, Volume I. The winner will be drawn at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 8, and he or she must be present to win.
z Vector Hails 2010 as Banner Year Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services-North America (Booth No. 2137), a subsidiary of Vector Aerospace, came into Heli-Expo 2011 on the heels of “another banner year.” The Canadian MRO specialist saw the 2010 opening of new facilities in Huntsville, Ala.; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Lanseria, South Africa. Vector also expanded its service and product portfolio through the addition of repair and overhaul for the Turbomeca Arriel 2 and Honeywell ALF502 and LF507 engines and received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for development and integration for glass cockpits on the Bell 205 and Eurocopter AS355.
z Onboard Systems Is Hooked On Cargo Onboard Systems (Booth No. 1832) is at Heli-Expo 2011 with a complete array of cargo hooks and related equipment. The Vancouver, Wash.-based manufacturer has an extensive range of external load equipment, including electric swivels to improve external-load performance and prevent damage to electrical cables. Onboard Systems also offers an improved and lighter suspension system for the AgustaWestland AW109 and AW119 that has a keeperless hydraulic hook, improved ground clearance, built-in travel limits and optional onboard weighing system. Also at the Onboard Systems booth, visitors can register to win a 64 GB iPad package that includes a $50 iTunes card and iPad case.
z Spectrum Creates Med Stand for LAFD Helos The Los Angeles Fire Department’s air operations section has contracted with Spectrum Aeromed (Booth No. 1659) to design, engineer and install a custom carry-on medical device stand for its AgustaWestland AW139 multi-mission helicopters.The Spectrum design and engineering team collaborated with the LAFD’s special missions staff to create the quick-release, modular floor-to-ceiling stand. “We expect our multi-mission aircraft to perform in any situation and in any environment,” said LAFD chief Joseph Foley. “This means our advanced medical equipment needs to be versatile, meet the aircraft mission requirements and be functional for the pilots and aeromedical crew. Spectrum Aeromed communicated with us step-by-step through the design concept, purchase order, prototype development, critical design review, project updates, certification and final delivery. We needed a custom product to fit our needs and now we have it.”
z Aviall To Provide Lift for Rotorcraft Leasing Aviall (Booth No. 2228) will supply helicopter parts to Broussard, La.-based Rotorcraft Leasing’s 12 bases in Louisiana, Texas, Florida and California. Founded in 1990, Rotorcraft Leasing lays claim to being the largest privately held Part 135 operator in the Gulf of Mexico. Dallas-based Aviall, owned by Boeing, has 40 locations worldwide and distributes parts for 235 manufacturers. The agreement gives Rotorcraft Leasing access to Aviall’s Lift (logistics and inventory flight team) program. Among the features of Lift are forecasting the need for special long-lead-time parts, local stocking and 24/7 access to technical publications.
Honeywell sees better times ahead for industry by Nigel Moll It’s Heli-Expo, and that means it’s also Honeywell forecast time. The 13th edition of the diversified aerospace manufacturer’s best estimate on what the rotorcraft industry can expect in the next five years predicts that global deliveries of new civilianuse turbine-powered helicopters will lie somewhere between 4,200 and 4,400 through 2015, and that represents a 5-percent gain over the delivery tally from 2006 to 2010. “Improved economic growth prospects in key markets, combined with new models offering increased customer value, are key variables driving purchase expectations,” say the report’s authors. “In the short term, lingering tight credit conditions combined with high inventories of used current production models for sale continue to dampen order intake.” In another echo of the outlook for turbine-powered airplanes, Honeywell says, “the China market could be a strong contributor to broader demand for rotorcraft as the country opens its airspace to civil helicopter operation and begins production of indigenously designed civil turbine helicopters.” Helicopters are already playing a prominent role in the first signs of the country loosening its airspace access restrictions below 3,000 feet. The formal name of the
70% Fleet Replacement & Expansion Plans
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10aaHAI Convention News • March 6, 2011 • www.ainonline.com
Honeywell crystal-ball session is the “Turbine-powered Civilian Helicopter Purchase Outlook Report,” and in that specific vein the company notes that global five-year replacement and expansion plans climbed to 25.4 percent this year, up from 24.9 percent last year. “Although modest, the increase concludes a two-year period of declining demand, indicating the beginnings of a market recovery. Substantially higher
Helicopter Market Deliveries and Demand by Segment 2.9% 2.9% 3.3%
2.7% 5.1%
purchase mentions in Europe drove the increase in total survey expectations. Purchase plans in major U.S. and Asian centers of demand remained steady during the same period.” Other regions declined modestly compared with 2010, though their purchase plans remain above the world average rate. “Although specific purchase plans for 2011 remain subdued, expectations for new aircraft ordering in 2012 and 2013 increased 40 percent over 2011 levels, suggesting the recovery will gain momentum starting next year.” Global five-year demand for new turbine-powered helicopters is split almost 50-50 between the Americas and Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. “Latin America has the highest fleet replacement and expansion expectations of all world regions. In terms of demand for new helicopters, this region is the world’s third largest, following North America and Europe.” Reasons for Replacement
27.5%
27.2% 27.5%
21.9%
23.5% 23.5%
45.3%
43.2%
2006-2011
2011-2015
Misc Heavy Int/Med Light twins Light singles
As in past surveys, the key motivators for replacing a currently owned helicopter are its age or “normal planned replacement cycle,” followed by a desire for higher speed, newer technology and bigger cabins. Greater useful load, lower maintenance costs and improved reliability/ durability also warranted frequent mention. Light singles continue to be numerically the most popular class, accounting for 45 percent of helicopter make/model mentions in this year’s survey versus 49 percent last year. Singles mentioned most frequently
New Helicopter Purchase Plans by Region
60%
50%
2008 2009 2010 2011
40% 30% 20% 10% 0
North America
Europe
Latin America
Asia
Middle East/Africa