Australian VTOL news

[rickshaw]

Ian Honnery - The rotorcraft industry says thank you!

AMDA chief executive Ian Honnery has announced his retirement from the role at the end of March, after holding the title for 46 years.

After nearly five decades as the foundation’s CEO, overseeing the Avalon Airshow, as well as the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition and the RotorTech Helicopter convention, Honnery welcomed his successor. “At the age of 75, it is time for me to hand over to a new generation of leadership, who will build on the organisation’s achievements and success,” Honnery said.

Current Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings has been appointed as the new CEO of AMDA Foundation, the organiser of the iconic Avalon Airshow. Ian was a great supporter of the helicopter industry and provided sponsorship to the AHIA since around 2016. The CEO's position was partly sponsored.

Welcome to Justin.

[rickshaw]

Australian Helicopter Registrations 2022

The Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific Business Association (RAPBA) has obtained CASA’s latest database current on 25 December 2022. Effectively it is the fleet size at the beginning of 2022.

Good news is Australia had 15,942 aircraft registered at the beginning of 2022. Of this number 13,469 were aeroplanes (includes 5 RPA) and 2,473 were rotorcraft with 15.5%. (Three were RPAs – a new trend?)

Single engine piston rotorcraft totalled 1,505 and turbine rotorcraft almost made one thousand, with 968 registered. Of this total 651 were SE and 317 ME machines.

Multi-engined rotorcraft appeared to have now stronger growth rate with 317 of which five were RPAs. As a result, 312 were conventional helicopters.

At the heavy end of town, the number of helicopters above 5,600 kg were 96. A steady growth rate at around twice the GDP.

Once again, this raises concerns about the MCC(H) – or lack of - in Australia. This situation seems to be becoming cancerous in the long-term.

RAPBA is working on the finer detail of where the rotorcraft are registered by type and fleet differences between each state and territory. An item of interest for jobseekers?

The RAPBA has produced the Australian Helicopter School Directory which lists around 40 helicopter schools and their locations.

A complimentary copy is available – just ask. Email rotorcraftnews [at] outlook (dot) com.

Hopefully, 2022 will boost the demand for helicopters after most of Australia’s international borders are opened on 21 February 2022.

Will our Autumn bring colour back into our general aviation landscape?

[rickshaw]

Industry helping industry - Australia

Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific Business Association (RAPBA) is working on a directory which shows where helicopters are registered by type and fleet differences between each state and territory. At present the ranking of regions by number are:

QLD – 820; NSW – 547: VIC – 335; WA – 313; NT – 212; SA - 92; TAS - 52 and ACT – 16.

The RAPBA has produced the Australian Helicopter School Directory which lists 38 helicopter schools and their locations:

QLD – 13; NSW – 12; VIC – 4; SA – 3; WA – 3; TAS – 2; NT – 1

A complimentary copy is available – just ask.
Email rotorcraftnews @ outlook . com

[rickshaw]

Heli-Expo Returns To Nearly Full Strength

After the 2021 absence, Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) Heli-Expo rebounded this year drawing 13,083 attendees and 590 exhibitors. That marked 91 percent of the attendees and 90 percent of exhibitors that had participated in the 2020 Heli-Expo. “This was such a dynamic event, thanks to the extremely positive response by the industry,” said HAI president and CEO James Viola. “I can see that our industry—and our people—could not wait to get together in person.”

The March 7 to 10 event hosted people from 72 countries—despite the pandemic-related complications involving international travel—and showcased the latest aircraft, engines, avionics, and other goods and services for both crewed and uncrewed rotorcraft. HAI stressed that safety remained a central focus, including the Safety Symposium that kicked off Heli-Expo and a Rotor Safety Zone on the show floor housing virtual-reality training devices, a helicopter configured for preflight test inspection, and safety experts from around the world. HAI’s Rotor Safety Challenge education sessions drew more than 2,000 attendees.

“Sharing safety information throughout our industry and around the world is critical to the ongoing health of rotorcraft operations,” Viola said. “The active interest in our safety programming shown by attendees is a sign of our strengthening safety culture.”

HAI already is gearing up for its 75th-anniversary celebration at Heli-Expo 2023 from March 6 to 9 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Well done industry ....

[rickshaw]

Papua New Guinea. Updates 18 Mar 2022.

Travel: Flights to Australia are operating at reduced capacity. You may need to be fully vaccinated to travel internationally on Air Niugini flights. Exemptions for minors and medical grounds may apply. The economy is suffering at present and travel anywhere is considered unsafe. Crime and tribal fighting is rampant, according to Australian Government.

GDP: US$24 million. (AUD$32 million). Population: 9.25 million. Growth for GDP and population is around 2%pa. Fleet: All registrations have flatlined at 207 since 2020. Helicopter numbers are still at 104 from March 2017 down to 87 in 1 Mar 2022, a decrease 17 or –16% over five years.

Political unrest in Indonesian West Papua, population 1.2 million. Protestors seeking self government.

[rickshaw]

Robinson wire strike protection for R66

Now available for the R66, the FAA certified WSPS is described as a bolt-on Magellan’s WSPS sold separately by Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg, Canada.

The Magellan’s R66 WSPS, complete with wire deflectors and cutting blades adds 7.2 kg to the empty weight of the helicopter. The system is available as a kit compatible with Robinson factory-installed provisions for US$16,000 or as a complete aftermarket kit for US$22,800.

Only available for the R66 and not the R22 and R44.

For additional information, visit www.robinsonheli.com.

Warning. According to Australia's ATSB’s Avoidable Accidents Low-level flying research report, about 63% of pilots involved in wirestrike accidents reported they were aware of the powerlines but had forgotten about them before they were struck

[rickshaw]

General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reports good Q1 2022 helicopter results.

The first quarter brought good news for the general aviation industry in terms of deliveries. Overall airplane deliveries rose nearly 15 percent year-over-year and helicopter handovers climbed 7 percent in the same period.

While airplane delivery totals were up in the quarter, they were led by smaller aircraft, causing a US$300 million decline in billings from a year ago, down to $3.7 billion.

Turbine-powered helicopters exceeded the first-quarter 2021 delivery total by 7 percent, but the segment still saw a 17 percent decrease in billings (value of sales - smaller helicopters).

“It is reassuring to see aircraft deliveries continue to show strong progress as we emerge from impacts of the pandemic,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “It is especially encouraging to see piston airplane deliveries continue their positive trajectory and exceed last year’s numbers, as well as the first-quarter numbers of 2020 and 2019.”

“Australia’s helicopter fleet growth over the past year or so was around 7%,” according to Rob Rich Convenor of the Australian based Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific Business Association (RAPBA). “We are just awaiting the results of the Federal Election on 21 May 2022, and will publish a detailed fleet summary, so we can track the progress of the helicopter industry under the newly elected government.

BTW: Drones are enjoying an unbelievable growth rate – now being pushed along by AAM investors. More soon.

Need a free copy? Just ask. robsrich [@) bigpond (. ] com

[rickshaw]

ROTORTECH 2022 - Updates

The event will be held, 21 to 23 June 2022, at the Royal International Convention Centre (RICC) Brisbane and is the industry event for the rotary wing and uncrewed flight communities from Australia, New Zealand and the Indo Pacific region.

Event features a three-day Program of Exhibition, Conference and Networking Opportunities. Also, an Industry Exhibition Featuring Leading Rotary Wing and Autonomous Systems Organisations.

Industry Conferences include:

• Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) RotorTech Conference.

• Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) Conference.

• AHIA Annual Awards Presentation for Rotary-Winged Industry Excellence

Free to attend for accredited trade visitors

Leading organisations including Airbus, Boeing, Standard Aero, Riegl and Jet Aviation among others, will participate in a premier industry exhibition that provides the ideal platform for networking and face to face business to take place over three days.

A comprehensive program of conferences by the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) and the Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) will feature key rotary and uncrewed systems industry experts from Australia and the Indo Pacific region.

Complimentary Registrations - See website.

The fall out from a change of Australian Government on 21 May may result in a change of key note speakers. The new PM has yet to announce his Ministry, as he is in Japan. The Minister responsible to aviation has yet to be nominated. .

Best of luck to the RotorTech 2022 organisers; seems a lot on late nights rearranging the speakers programmes.

More soon when known ........

[rickshaw]

Australia’s Federal Election – 21 May 2022
A change of government – Labor ousts three term incumbent national government.

Catherine King is new Transport Minister. (Responsible for aviation, including GA and rotorcraft). Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has announced the members of his frontbench, with Catherine King being sworn in as the new Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government – by default role covers the aviation industry.

“This is an exciting team. It’s a team which is overflowing, I think, with talent, with people who are absolutely committed to making a difference as Ministers n my Government.”

Catherine King said it was a privilege to be sworn in as the new Minister. “I am very proud to be named Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government,” she said. “This is a big portfolio that has a real impact on the lives of all Australians – from the cities to the country. “As the first female federal Infrastructure Minister and as part of a diverse ministry, I can’t wait to get to work with my state and territory colleagues.”

Editor of Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific e-News stated, “The election of a new national government will no doubt cause a huge change to many of our relationships with the regulators and a wide range of commercial key players. A detailed report will included in our June edition of our Board Room Briefings due out mid-June ‘22.

Also, a report on South Africa’s RW industry (fleet about 1,600) and an analysis of military rotorcraft capabilities of the 21 nations in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Are we as good as we think we are?

Free subscriptions to both – just ask – robsrich [@] bigpond (.) com.

[rickshaw]

News flash of 1 June 2022 – Upheavals in UK North Sea off-shore operations.

UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requires CHC to unwind helicopter services deal!

CHC must unwind its completed acquisition of Babcock’s oil and gas offshore helicopter services to address competition concerns. This decision by the CMA follows a Phase 2 investigation.

CHC provides offshore transport in the oil and gas sector, including taking workers to and from rigs in the UK North Sea. Prior to the merger, Babcock also provided these services. The CMA found the parties were 2 of just 4 suppliers of oil and gas offshore helicopter services in the UK and provided an important competitive constraint on each other.

The loss of this constraint would significantly reduce rivalry between an already limited number of suppliers. As a result, the CMA has found the merger would lead to significant competition concerns in the UK’s oil and gas offshore helicopter services market.

In assessing competition in the supply of oil and gas offshore helicopter services in the UK, the CMA engaged with customers, competitors and other industry players. The CMA reviewed data on bidding for previous contracts, which indicated the parties frequently bid against each other, and reviewed business strategy documents that showed the parties considered each other to be significant competitors.

As a result, to restore competition to pre-merger levels, the CMA requires CHC to sell the UK oil and gas offshore helicopter services business it bought from Babcock.

The sale of this business will ensure that 4 effective competitors remain in the market.

Kip Meek, Chair of the CMA inquiry group, said:

“Offshore oil and gas are important industries for the UK, and helicopter companies play a vital role in transporting workers safely to and from oil rigs. While the industry faces commercial challenges, UK customers continue to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on offshore helicopter services each year. Competition is vital to avoid higher prices or poorer quality, problems that ultimately increase costs to UK consumers.”

The sale of Babcock’s UK oil and gas offshore helicopter services business will support competition in future tenders for these important services.

Some headaches for Board Room folks - investors are probably reaching for their smelling salts?

[rickshaw]

Wisk Aero Partners With Local Government To Bring AAM To Australia

Source: HAI’s Rotor Daily of 8 June 2022

In brief: Wisk Aero, a leading advanced air mobility (AAM) company and developer of the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the United States, is bringing the future of flight to Australia through a new partnership with the Council of Mayors South East Queensland (“Council of Mayors”). In addition to this new partnership, the company will also be expanding its physical presence in the country, with the addition of Australia-based personnel.

Wisk’s entry into Australia is driven by a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council of Mayors, which will see the two organizations working together to introduce safe, sustainable, and scalable, autonomous air taxi service to South East Queensland.

The Council of Mayors (SEQ) was established in 2005 to represent the interests of the fastest growing region in Australia. Representing residents across South East Queensland (SEQ), member Councils work together to tackle the region’s biggest challenges and leverage opportunities to ensure the region is the best possible place to live, work and play. Over the past two decades they have built a reputation of being an action-based organization, delivering innovative and strategic outcomes for the region.

It was reported that on 31 December 2021, member Councils included Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Noosa Council, Redlands City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Council and Toowoomba Regional Council.

Wisk intends for its presence in Queensland to be long-term, and will be working with local government toward providing the city with green tourism and transport options. The company will also be displaying its 5th generation aircraft in Brisbane in July.

Wisk’s self-flying, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi, will make it possible for passengers to skip the traffic and get to their destination faster. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area and New Zealand, Wisk is an independent company backed by The Boeing Company and Kitty Hawk Corporation.

[Wannabe60Driver]

One tiny problem for anyone trying to get their stupid pilotless aircraft off the ground and it’s called certification.

$450 million from Boeing might sound like a lot of money, but the V22 Osprey took over 100 times that at $45+ billion. It also took 26 years so I for one don’t buy into the BS about getting from A to B like a Jetson anytime soon. I think you’ll find the whole autonomous air mobility scene is a lot more about making a few snake-oil salesmen very wealthy via brainless investors.

[cupid stunt]

One tiny problem for anyone trying to get their stupid pilotless aircraft off the ground and it’s called certification.

$450 million from Boeing might sound like a lot of money, but the V22 Osprey took over 100 times that at $45+ billion. It also took 26 years so I for one don’t buy into the BS about getting from A to B like a Jetson anytime soon. I think you’ll find the whole autonomous air mobility scene is a lot more about making a few snake-oil salesmen very wealthy via brainless investors.

Whoooaaaaa easy there tiger, you'll have gonsky on your case with posts like that!

[Gonsky]

Yep nothing to see here.....

https://www.aviationtoday.com/2022/05/2 ... 7-50822406

https://www.beta.team/

https://www.aviationtoday.com/2021/05/0 ... -aircraft/

Regards,

[rickshaw]

Congratulations to Choppy Patterson

Airbus has presented its inaugural Civil Helicopter - Innovation in Rotary-wing Aviation Safety Award to ROTORTECH exhibitor Eye in the Sky at ROTORTECH 2022 on 21 June 2022 - the first day of the event in Brisbane, Australia

The New Zealand-based aviation company was recognised for its significant contribution to improving aviation safety performance, and making a tangible difference to safety in the rotary-wing industry. Eye in the Sky designed and manufactured a video-based flight data recorder that is lightweight, compact and affordable for the aviation industry, with all proceeds going to aviation related scholarships through the James PG Foundation. The Eye in the Sky device is able to provide vital answers in the event of incidents or crashes with high definition video, audio and data and user-friendly playback software.

Founder and developer of Eye in the Sky, Louisa (Choppy) Patterson said they are extremely proud to receive the safety award.

Well done to the Eye in the Sky team - this makes SAR responses and post accident investigations more effective.

[Gonsky]

https://evtol.news/news/tier-1-engineer ... 5-50822406

Interesting read.

Regards,

[rickshaw]

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Results for 2020

The Annual Report provides an overview of the operations of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. (This is also Australia’s Fiscal Year). It identifies CASA’s plans to meet expected challenges in the year ahead.

By coincidence, the report was issued on 25 Oct 2022, the day prior to Australia’s inaugural budget from the new Labour government late on the same day. Wise heads would query this by saying, “was this a planned move to cover a report which showed so little growth?” However, it must be acknowledged economy has suffered enormous setbacks over recent times and hard times are upon us all.

It must be remembered over the past decade Australia like many other international nations has suffered a number of different events which have slowed the growth of aviation in some areas. For example, Australia has suffered enormous damage during a series of destructive bushfires (wildfires), followed by several years of catastrophic floods which are still ongoing, deteriorating geopolitical global security issues and the Covid 19 pandemic which caused a near shutdown of the global air transport industry due to national border restrictions. For this reason, the tourist industry and the enormous airline industry it fostered collapsed in some areas.

Oddly enough, and thankfully, the helicopter segment of the general aviation industry in Australia was able to tiptoe through each of the potential destructive episodes; but progress in helicopter fleet figures was less than expected at 6.4% over three years. At about half the Australian annual GDPs.

In brief:

2020 - 2022 (three years) Australian summaries:

Aircraft register growth from 31,203 to 30,729, a loss of 474 = - 1.52%.

Aeroplane fleet 28,606 to 28,071, a loss of 535 = -1.9%.

All pilots from 31,203 down to 30729, a loss of 474 = -1.54%

Helicopter pilots from 4,464 to 4,458, a loss of 6 = -0.13%.

ATPL RW pilots from 654 to 675, a gain of 21 = +6.4%.
CPL RW pilots from 2,934 down to 2,838, a loss of 48 = -1.7%.
PVT RW pilots from 846 to 920, a gain of 74 = +8.74%.
Recreation RW pilots from 30 to 25, a loss of 5 - -20%.

Helicopter fleet increased from 2,255 to 2,399 a gain of 144 = +6.4% (excl amateur build).

Single engine piston from 1,358 to 1,436, a gain of 78 = +6.2%.
Single engine turbine from 628 to 677, a gain of 49 = +7.8%.
Multi-engine below 5,700 kg, from 185 to 196, a gain of 11 = +5.9%.
Multi-engine above 5,700 kg, from 81 to 90, a gain of 9 = +11%.

Drones: Remote pilot licences from 16,482 to 25,722 up 9,240 or +56%

A complete fleet report on NZ now being prepared. APAC also in draft.

Provided by Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific e-News, a free monthly newsletter.

[Gonsky]

Great to see some financial support and industry recognition for Australian VTOL company.

Coal baron and self-described “futurist” Trevor St Baker has once again thrown his financial weight behind the electrification of transport, this time backing Australian electric aircraft start-up, AMSL Aero. St Baker, though his St Baker Energy Innovation Fund, will tip $5 million into AMSL Aero – the company behind ‘Vertiia’, which claims to be the world’s most efficient electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft technology.

https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewa ... 5-50822406

https://www.futureflight.aero/news-arti ... 5-50822406

Regards,

[rickshaw]

Australia Helicopter Fleet – Updated using 4 November 2022 data from regulator. (CASA).

Source: Provided by Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific e-News, an Australian free monthly newsletter.

Review still in progress, but current updates are:

Helicopter registrations: 2,537 of which 2,360 are in groups of ten and above. (177 are in groups of less than ten.

Top three types in major categories with more than ten in each.

Single engine piston.
• R22 – 671
• R44 – 614
• B47 – 72

Single engine turbine.
• B206 – 280
• AS350 – 194
• B407 – 17

Twin engine turbine below 5,700 kg.
• BK117 – 41
• B412 – 30
• B212 - 14

Twin engine turbine above 5,700 kg.
• AW139 – 75
• S92 – 18
• AS332 – 5.

An Australian Helicopter Directory is now being drafted by the Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific Business Association and is [/b]free to all. It includes all helicopters, private owners and commercial operators current to 4 Nov 2022. Just ask for a copy – robsrich [@] bigpond.com.

More soon as our figures are being checked. Good news for 2023 at last.

[rickshaw]

Australian helicopters – number by State or Territory – October 2022

Source: 4 November 2022. Shared data from the Rotorcraft Asia-Pacific Business Association.

Numerical ranking order – total is 2,537.

Queensland (QLD) – 922.
New South Wales (NSW) – 527.
Victoria (VIC) – 369.
Western Australia (WA) – 358.
Northern Territory (NT) – 226.
South Australia (SA) – 116.
Tasmania (TAS) – 65.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - 15.

Historical note. At end of June QLD had a population of 5.257 million. By comparison New Zealand (NZ) was only slightly behind with 5.187 million. By an amazing coincidence, NZ had 923 helicopters (excluding 75 gyrocopters) and Qld 922. So, the Kiwis are just one helicopter in front!

Not only are the Kiwis global leaders in many sports, but they have the most helicopters per head of population. Today, this is one helicopter for every 5,620 citizens.

But has QLD stolen their legend? Almost, but no! The number is 5,701 banana benders for each helicopter.

Fact checker. In fact, the NT has an interesting profile – more soon with an explanation. .