In partnership with the DGAC, France’s civil aviation authority, Airbus Helicopters has begun flight testing an engine back-up system (EBS) on board its Flightlab test-bed aircraft.

According to Airbus, the EBS project should open the way to a future hybridised propulsion system for light helicopters, while delivering concrete flight safety improvements in the short term. Its main aim is to enhance the safety of single-engine operations by providing emergency electrical power in the event of a turbine failure.

For the tests, the Flightlab, an H130 helicopter, has been equipped with a 100 kW electric motor connected to the main gearbox. This is designed to provide power for 30 seconds if the engine fails. Airbus notes that by giving the pilot extra time to react and maintain rotor speed, the EBS contributes to a safer and smoother autorotation manoeuvre to the ground.

The current tests include the simulation of engine failure in different flight conditions, including during take-off and landing procedures. In addition to evaluating the safety benefits of the EBS, the flight campaign is expected to demonstrate a performance gain from the system’s use. It could lead to an increase in maximum take-off weight that would not only compensate for the mass of the EBS, but also provide operators with additional payload.

“The engine back-up system is a good example of the incremental approach in our innovation strategy,” said Tomasz Krysinski, head of research and innovation at Airbus Helicopters.

“The current EBS flights are a very important first step towards a future hybrid propulsion system, and we already foresee a second phase of the project with more energy and power on board,” he explained. “We are looking at developing a fully parallel hybrid propulsion system mixing thermal and electrical energy together with the aim of optimising fuel consumption and enabling hybrid single-engine flights over urban areas.”

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