Features Career Development Safety & Training
American Helicopter Society events

Activities on the AHS horizon:

Aviation Week Helicopter Safety & Operations
AHS Federal City Chapter Meeting
Royal Aeronautical Society Lecture
AIAA V/STOL Short Course
AHS International 65th Annual Forum & Technology Display
2nd International Forum on Rotorcraft Multidisciplinary Technology
2nd International Meeting on Vertical Lift Aircraft Research, Development, Test & Evaluation
National Technical Specialists’ Meeting on Rotorcraft Structures and Survivability
AHS Specialists’ Conference on Aeromechanics
The 3rd International Basic Research Conference on Rotorcraft Technology

Aviation Week Helicopter Safety & Operations

AHS Executive Director Rhett Flater will moderate Aviation Week’s forum on “Helicopter Safety & Operations” on April 14-15, 2009 at the Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island, San Diego, California. The meeting will address proven tactics, best practices and safety management initiatives, to optimize safety management and operational efficiencies. Speakers will focus on special safety challenges faced in conducting flight operations at night and poor weather and at low altitudes near busy airports and cities where air traffic is dense and there is a potential for collisions with trees, towers, tall buildings and wires. Discussion will also be conducted on the impact of recent NTSB hearing relating to helicopter EMS operations and proposed FAA regulations; technology enablers, such as HTAWS, NVGs, FDRs; simulation training; ADS-B impact on helicopter operations; and recent human factors research relating to safety performance and risk data. Additional speakers include the FAA’s Mark Liptak, IHST program director, and Fred Brisbois, Sikorsky’s director of aviation and product safety. For more information on the conference, registration and housing, visit www.aviationweek.com/events or call (800) 240-7645.

AHS Federal City Chapter Meeting

For any of you in the metropolitan Washington, DC area on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 we have two events taking place. Philip V. Hunt, DARPA Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office will offer a presentation to the AHS Federal City Chapter on “The A-160 Humming bird Program – Crossing the Threshold.” This interesting discussion on a cutting edge program will take place at the Army/Navy Country Club located at 1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. A reception begins at 6:00 p.m. and dinner is offered at 6:45 p.m. and the speaker begins at 7:30 p.m. If you would like to make a reservation for this meeting (the fee is $35 which you can pay at the door) please contact Liz Malleck at AHS Headquarters at Liz@vtol.org or by phoning (703) 684-6777.

Royal Aeronautical Society Lecture

Across town the well-renowned Dr. J. Gordon Leishman, PhD, DSc, FRAeS will provide a lecture titled, “The Helicopter – Thinking Forward, Looking Back” on April 15th, 2009 at the Rotunda, Kim Engineering Building, The University of Maryland, College Park, MD. A reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the lecture will follow at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Washington Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society, this lecture will focus on the design and development of the helicopter over the years and the challenges faced in the future to realize increased levels of capabilities. The event is free for Royal Aeronautical Society members and for nonmember students the cost is a modes $5.00 and $15.00 for all other members. Please register by emailing Secretary Alan Hickling at hickling3903@aol.com or by calling (703) 693-1564 with any questions. Free parking is available behind the University of Maryland Engineering Building #089.

AIAA V/STOL Short Course

Underlining our cooperation with other professional organizations, we also want to have you mark your calendars to attend the AIAA V/STOL Short Course at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas from April 27 – May 1, 2009. Experts from American and British industry, government and universities will speak on V/STOL aircraft design, performance, and systems at this week long course. This course is supported by the AIAA/V/STOL Technical Committee and the AHS Advanced Vertical Flight Committee. Speakers will discuss fundamental concepts, engineering practice, and important subsystems, with examples from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as well as helicopter and tilt rotor programs. Both successful and unsuccessful aircraft programs will be reviewed and important “Lessons Learned.” Presentations will also include requirements for new civil and military V/STOL aircraft with emphasis on future transports and UAVs.

For additional information please contact the Office of Extended Education at Texas Christian University at 817-257-7130/800-828-7134. For a full program and to register online just visit www.lifelong.tcu.edu and click the V/STOL link.

AHS International 65th Annual Forum & Technology Display

Of course the most important event on your business calendar is the not-to-be-missed AHS International 65th Annual Forum and Technology Display scheduled for prime time from May 26 – 29, 2009 at the luxurious and cavernous Gaylord Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. This meeting will feature a state-of-the-art exhibit hall; more than 30 technical sessions; “Straight Talk from the CEOs” with the executives from the leading rotorcraft manufacturers; briefings on current Army and Navy/UMSC vertical flight programs; a historical film festival, a distinguished history panel on acoustics; prize drawings; Dr. Bennett’s ever popular “Rotorcraft Technology Lecture;” the Nikolsky Honorary Lecture by Professor Fredric Schmitz on “The Challenges and Possibilities of a Truly Quiet Helicopter;” receptions; a Grand Awards Banquet and much, much, more.

We urge you to sign up now for Dr. Richard L. Bennett’s workshop on rotorcraft technology (Tuesday, May 26, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) which is designed to present the fundamental technology concepts associated with helicopters to professional personnel who have not had a formal introduction to rotorcraft. Upon completion of the one-day course, the attendees will have a better appreciation of the helicopter’s complexities, a working knowledge of helicopter terminology/vocabulary and design practices. The lecture will focus on practical applications of the distinct classical engineering disciplines: aerodynamics, dynamics, mechanics of materials and how these disciplines are interrelated in the modern helicopter. The lecture will be supplemented with actual helicopter hardware and video clips illustrating the lecture topics. Class handouts will include all PowerPoint files, video clips, and a copy of the text “Introduction to Helicopter Analysis” as a pdf file.

We encourage you to visit the Forum 65 web page for full information on this year’s Forum, including hotel, travel, programs and online registration. You will also find exhibitor and sponsorship information, as well as the preliminary technical session schedule and preliminary registration kit. PLEASE NOTE THAT A NEW TECHNICAL SESSION SCHEDULE WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEB SITE AT www.vtol.org WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THAT YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED BY US IN THE MAIL. WE ENCOURAGE ANY POTENTIAL FORUM 65 ATTENDEES, PARTICULARLY SPEAKERS, TO REVIEW THIS NEW SCHEDULE.

2nd International Forum on Rotorcraft Multidisciplinary Technology, Seoul, Korea

We have a large number of specialists’ meetings in our 2009 and early 2010 Society calendar. The 2nd International Forum on Rotorcraft Multidisciplinary Technology will be held October 19 – 20, 2009 in Seoul, Korea. The AHS Korean Chapter is sponsoring this important follow-up to its highly successful first conference and it will be held in conjunction with the Seoul Air Show 2009 and will include an official visit to the Air Show. The conference organizers are looking for abstracts in the following areas: Rotorcraft Technology – aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, dynamics, flight controls, composites, smart structures, propulsion, green technology, and IT related technology; Systems and Design – rotorcraft design, e-Design, autonomous systems, system integration, avionics, subsystems, communications, sensors, and digital displays; Mission and Operation – UAVs, transformation of manned rotorcraft to RUAV, reliability, affordability, HUMS, life saving and disaster relief, EMS and MEP; Market Forecast and Development Programs – domestic helicopter market forecast (commercial/military), Korean Helicopter Programs, and other rotorcraft programs. Abstracts should be submitted to http://www.rotorkorea.org by May 30, 2009. Authors will be notified June 30, 2009. To view this Call for Papers visit the AHS web site at www.vtol.org and click on Calendar of Events, October 2009.

2nd International Meeting on Vertical Lift Aircraft Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, NAS, Patuxent River, Maryland

Another due date for a Call for Papers is scheduled for May 31, 2009. If you have any interest in US Navy/Marine Corps programs you will not want to miss The 2nd International Specialists’ Meeting on Vertical Lift Aircraft Research, Development, Test & Evaluation scheduled to take place August 26 – 27, 2009, Patuxent River, MD. The organizers are soliciting abstracts for this important two-day conference and the specific topics sought focus on: Program Overviews and Updates, Flight Test Programs, Flight Test Techniques, Flight Test Safety, Vertical Science and Technology, Project/Program Management Tools and Techniques, Commercial Program Challenges, Military Program Challenges, Unique Challenges of Unmanned Vehicle Programs, Military-specific Testing, Rotary Wing Weapons, Unusual Vertical Lift Missions, and VTOL and V/STOL Fixed Wing Aircraft. Authors should submit 500-word abstracts in electronic format to Mr. Mike Mosher at mike.mosher@navy.mil or to Dr. John Brennan at john.brennan1@navy.mil Authors will be notified by June 20, 2009. You will want to make sure to attend this meeting to share ideas, concepts, information and techniques regarding Vertical Lift RDT&E. Presentations concerning all aspects of commercial and military RDT&E are welcome.

National Technical Specialists’ Meeting on Rotorcraft Structures and Survivability, Williamsburg, Virginia

The venerable AHS Hampton Roads Chapter is holding its annual AHS Southeast Region/Hampton Roads Chapter Specialists’ Meeting and this year’s offering is on Rotorcraft Structures and Survivability and it will take place October 27 – 29, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia. The theme of the three-day conference is “Structures Solutions for Tomorrow’s Warfighter.” This unrestricted, unclassified meeting will highlight research and development efforts, both current and planned, related to manned and unmanned rotorcraft structures, crash safety, and vulnerability reduction.

Papers are invited in a myriad of cutting edge topics including: structural design analysis and manufacturing technologies applicable to both development and/or legacy aircraft including advanced metallic and composite structures, design and analysis tools, and structural design criteria. In general topics on affordability, weight reduction, multi-functionality, non-linear analysis and, high strain-rate analysis and testing are desirable. Topics on the use of design tools for structural optimization or rapid synthesis and analysis, such as knowledge-based systems and simulations, are also encouraged.

In terms of Durability and Sustainability presentations are sought on durability and damage tolerance, fatigue and fracture mechanics, prognostics and diagnostics, and operations and sustainment technologies. Other topics of interest include high strain capable structures, durable and damage tolerant concepts, load and damage sensors, repair technologies, and damage tolerance design and life management methodologies.

Presentations are also invited for technologies that reduce aircraft vulnerability to include all aspects of crashworthiness and aviation safety relating to rotorcraft and other V/STOL aircraft. Topics may include crash criteria for multi-category; minimizing occupant post-crash injuries and fatalities; threat and structural response modeling, advanced structural concepts for ballistic tolerance, integrating ballistic protection, and design criteria and concepts for optimizing crash and ballistic protection while minimizing cost and weight.

Abstracts should be submitted by June 20, 2009 and sent to Mr. Jon Schuck at jon.c.schuck@us.army.mil Authors will be notified by July 15, 2009.

AHS Specialists’ Conference on Aeromechanics, San Francisco, California

Returning once again to the City-by-the-BAY, the AHS San Francisco Bay Area Chapter is sponsoring an Aeromechanics Conference January 20 – 22, 2010 at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, California. This three-day conference will encompass the integrated technical disciplines of aerodynamics, acoustics, dynamics and handling qualities. In particular, the application of aeromechanics analysis and test methodologies to heavy-lift and high-speed configurations is welcome. The synergy of rotorcraft sizing codes, aeromechanics analyses and optimization methods are also of interest. The conference will cover the interdisciplinary technologies required for accurate analysis and design of rotorcraft performance, loads, vibration, noise, stability and control. The reported work will include analytical developments, new experimental studies, and correlation/validation efforts. Analytical papers may range from basic aerodynamic flow prediction of rotors to results from comprehensive analysis programs (both with and without coupling to computational fluid dynamics.) Experimental papers will span model-to-full-scale wind tunnel and flight test programs as well as ground-based or in-flight simulation. Test and evaluation studies enabling insight, improvement and an improved means to design rotorcraft are also desired. Finally, revolutionary new rotorcraft concepts or application of emerging aeromechanics technologies to new rotorcraft missions will be addressed.

Abstracts are due June 30, 2009 and should be submitted directly to the Technical Chairperson: Dr. Gloria Yamauchi, NASA Ames Research Center at Gloria.k.yamauchi@nasa.gov . Authors will be notified of their final selection by August 7, 2009.

The 3rd International Basic Research Conference on Rotorcraft Technology, Nanjing, China

Travel to Nanjing, China for this three-day event sponsored by AHS International, The Pennsylvania State University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The meeting will take place October 14 – 16, 2009 in Nanjing and it is the third such conference that has been held in China. Abstracts are sought in Rotary Wing Unmanned Air Vehicles, Micro Air Vehicles and in the areas of rotorcraft aerodynamics, dynamics, vibration, acoustics, flight controls, HUMS, structures, propulsion, drive systems, icing protection and avionics. The reported work should include analytical capabilities, new experimental studies, new vehicle design concepts, and correlation/validation efforts. Analytical papers may range from basic aerodynamics, including low Reynolds numbers, to results of comprehensive analysis programs. Experimental papers will span model-to-full-scale wind tunnel and flight test programs. Revolutionary new rotorcraft concepts or applications of emerging technologies to new rotorcraft missions will also be addressed.

Abstracts should be sent by June 30, 2009 to either Professor Ed Smith, The Pennsylvania State University at ecs5@psu.edu or Professor Xia Pinqi, Executive Dean for Graduate Studies & Research, NUAA at xiapq@nuaa.edu.cn .

A