Features Commercial Oil & Gas
On the Fly: January/February 2008

Quebec Company Acquires UAV 

The UAV can photograph an object the size of a pencil tip.

VISIONAir-UAV located in La Baie, Que., has become one of the few civilian companies in North America to own an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Their new SR 200 arrived after a waiting period of close to a year.In Canada, there are only two other SR 200s and the Canadian Forces owns both. The VISIONAir UAV will be used for multispectral imaging, thermal imaging, and for forestry, agricultural, engineering, electrical and structural inspections.     Michel Audet, general manager of VISIONAir-UAV, who founded the company in September 2006, noted that the UAV would also be capable of helping in the search for lost persons in the forest except for one thing: Transport Canada requires that a request for approval to fly the UAV must be forwarded at least 20 working days prior to the flight. In the case of an emergency, this would obviously not be an option. The unmanned helicopter was built in the US and bought for the $80,000. With specialized equipment, the UAV, weighing 55 pounds, represents a total investment of $250,000. VISIONAir-UAV employs four people specializing in geomatics, engineering and computing. Audet says that the response to his new acquisition has been very positive. The company will soon be undertaking projects all over Quebec. “A blueberry farm requested detection of freezing plants and agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will probably also use our services,” said Audet. “This winter we also have requests to check electrical lines for connection problems using thermal imagery.”  

Conklin & De Decker Workshops at Heli-Expo 

Conklin & de Decker will offer five different courses in affiliation with the upcoming Helicopter Association International (HAI) Heli-Expo to be held in Houston on February 24-26.  For 15 years, Conklin & de Decker has worked with HAI to provide multiple educational workshops focused on helicopter maintenance, operations, management, tax and insurance topics in concurrence with the annual HAI Heli-Expo convention.  The 2008 line-up of courses offered before and after the Heli-Expo includes: Helicopter Operators & Management Course; Helicopter Maintenance Management Course; Tax & Insurance Course for Commercial Operators; Defining Direct Operating Costs; and Advanced Helicopter Operators & Management Course. For more information and to register for these courses, call HAI at 703-683-4646 or go to the Heli-Expo 2008 site at www.heliexpo.com.

Gary Royer Receives Aviation Repair Specialist Award 

Gary Royer, avionics shop supervisor at Canadian Helicopters Ltd. in Edmonton, is recipient of this year’s HAI Aviation Repair Specialist Award.   Royer’s association with Canadian Helicopters and its affiliates goes back more than 35 years. As supervisor of the avionics department, he is responsible for the more than 130 aircraft ranging from the R22 to the IFR S6l. Royer keeps an active fleet of helicopters flying in some of the most demanding environments in the world. Under his guidance, Canadian Helicopters’ fleet enjoys a worldwide serviceability and safety record that is among the best in the industry.
          
Royer has spent his career ensuring his employer's helicopters are well-maintained and suitably equipped for a wide range of operations including firefighting, forestry, heavy lift, mining exploration, seismic, wildlife studies, air ambulance, flight training, offshore drilling, pipeline patrol and many others. Over his three decades he has kept complex avionics systems running. His knowledge and problem-solving skills have earned him the respect of his peers and gratitude from the entire helicopter industry.

Winners will be recognized at Heli-Expo’s 2008 “Salute to Excellence” awards banquet on February 25 in Houston. For more information about the awards banquet, contact HAI’s Communications Department at 703-683-4646 or email: rotor@rotor.com. For more information on Heli-Expo 2008, visit www.heliexpo.com. 

ACROHELIPRO Approval for S76 Exhaust Ejectors 

ACROHELIPRO Global Services Inc. has announced Transport Canada Certification Authority (Manufacturing Approval) for an improved version of the Sikorsky S76A-model exhaust ejector assembly.  
           
Aerodynamically and functionally comparable to OEM design, ACROHELIPRO’s ejector is a direct replacement for part number 76305-007003-043/044. The OEM exhaust ejector is fabricated via furnace brazing and resistance-welding processes; the newly-approved ACROHELIPRO version utilizes riveted louvers combined with selective resistance-welded components, press-formed end details, and thicker materials in crack-prone areas.   

These measures offer benefits such as greatly reduced warping, cracking, and material liberation commonly caused by thermal cycling. Improved reparability is achieved through riveted detail construction and available replacement parts that are fabricated by ACROHELIPRO.  

Rick Hill Appointed VP at Helijet

Rick Hill was appointed vice-president of operations and commercial programs at Helijet effective December 1, 2007.

Daniel Sitnam, president and CEO of Richmond, BC-based Helijet International Inc., has announced the appointment of Rick Hill as vice-president of operations and commercial programs.
In his new role, which became effective on December 1, Hill leads and oversees all facets of fixed-wing jet and helicopter air service operating standards and commercial development, with the support of a highly qualified management team.

Hill has maintained a senior position with Helijet for 18 years and has managed commercial, financial and technical operations while overseeing the primary development of Helijet’s scheduled helicopter air services.

Hill’s extensive background in aviation leads back to overseeing financial reporting and route planning at CP Air, then at Canadian Airlines where he was instrumental in integrating Canadian’s regional network with the mainline parent carrier.

ACROHELIPRO Approval for S76 Exhaust Ejectors ACROHELIPRO Global Services Inc. has announced Transport Canada Certification Authority (Manufacturing Approval) for an improved version of the Sikorsky S76A-model exhaust ejector assembly.  

Aerodynamically and functionally comparable to OEM design, ACROHELIPRO’s ejector is a direct replacement for part number 76305-007003-043/044. The OEM exhaust ejector is fabricated via furnace brazing and resistance-welding processes; the newly-approved ACROHELIPRO version utilizes riveted louvers combined with selective resistance-welded components, press-formed end details, and thicker materials in crack-prone areas.   

These measures offer benefits such as greatly reduced warping, cracking, and material liberation commonly caused by thermal cycling. Improved reparability is achieved through riveted detail construction and available replacement parts that are fabricated by ACROHELIPRO.  

Fly-by-Wire Sikorsky Completes First Flight

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced in December that its first H-92 helicopter to feature fly-by-wire technology has successfully completed its first flight.The new technology is designed to significantly improve aircraft maneuverability, safety and effectiveness. Sikorsky has two development programs which will feature the FBW technology: the X-2 Technology demonstrator, and the newest model of the Black Hawk helicopter, the UH-60M. The fly-by-wire system electronically links the controls inside the cockpit with the exterior actuators, the movement of which enables the aircraft to maneuver where and how the pilot intends. Eliminating the traditional mechanical linkage saves weight, reduces maintenance costs, adds capability and improves performance. The new system was developed in association with BAE Systems. 

CHC Signs Contract for 13 AW139 Helicopters  

The AW139 can perform many roles including offshore transport, search and rescue, emergency medical service, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement and utility missions.

CHC Helicopter Corporation, through its global helicopter support division, Heli-One, has signed a contract for 13 AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin helicopters. The order value is worth approximately $140 million. This new order, which adds to the previous one for 20 AW139s, will further expand CHC's AW139 fleet dedicated to offshore and emergency medical service missions. CHC, as the world's largest provider of helicopter services to the global offshore oil and gas industry, started incorporating the AW139 helicopter into its fleet in 2005 as part of its fleet renewal and expansion plans. CHC is progressively expanding and strengthening its capabilities in emergency medical services and search-and-rescue markets, offering increased capabilities and improved services. CHC was awarded a contract in March 2007 to operate three AW139s in Australia providing improved emergency medical and rescue services around the clock. Almost 300 AW139 orders have been placed by more than 80 customers from over 30 countries to date.   

Fly-by-Wire Sikorsky Completes First Flight

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced in December that its first H-92 helicopter to feature fly-by-wire technology has successfully completed its first flight.The new technology is designed to significantly improve aircraft maneuverability, safety and effectiveness. Sikorsky has two development programs which will feature the FBW technology: the X-2 Technology demonstrator, and the newest model of the Black Hawk helicopter, the UH-60M. The fly-by-wire system electronically links the controls inside the cockpit with the exterior actuators, the movement of which enables the aircraft to maneuver where and how the pilot intends. Eliminating the traditional mechanical linkage saves weight, reduces maintenance costs, adds capability and improves performance. The new system was developed in association with BAE Systems. 

CHC Signs Contract for 13 AW139 Helicopters  

The AW139 can perform many roles including offshore transport, search and rescue, emergency medical service, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement and utility missions.

CHC Helicopter Corporation, through its global helicopter support division, Heli-One, has signed a contract for 13 AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin helicopters. The order value is worth approximately $140 million. This new order, which adds to the previous one for 20 AW139s, will further expand CHC's AW139 fleet dedicated to offshore and emergency medical service missions. CHC, as the world's largest provider of helicopter services to the global offshore oil and gas industry, started incorporating the AW139 helicopter into its fleet in 2005 as part of its fleet renewal and expansion plans. CHC is progressively expanding and strengthening its capabilities in emergency medical services and search-and-rescue markets, offering increased capabilities and improved services. CHC was awarded a contract in March 2007 to operate three AW139s in Australia providing improved emergency medical and rescue services around the clock. Almost 300 AW139 orders have been placed by more than 80 customers from over 30 countries to date.