Airbus expects the long-awaited FAA certification for its H160 Medium twin to be granted this year, saying that the only remaining issues are centred on EASA airworthiness directives (ADs) relating to screen blanking of the Helionix avionics system. According to Programme Head Gilles Armstrong, a resolution is expected sooner rather than later since the “solution is straightforward, and we are confident we are near the end of the process”. FAA certification will, of course, allow PHI to begin Oil & Gas operations with the type, specifically on a Gulf of Mexico contract with Shell.
Overall, 2020 was a healthy year for the type, with the maturity of the production process seeing the H160s Takt time – the time taken for each unit’s production – reduce by a factor of three compared with early production. As a result, the company expects to deliver 23-24 aircraft this year, nearly a quarter of the present backlog, which stands at just over 100 aircraft.
Meanwhile, the in-service fleet continues to build time “without any surprises,” explained Armstrong. This, he said, is largely thanks to the work with the Dynamic Helicopter Test Bench, which is now nearly one-third of the way through the projected 3,000 hours of the test programme. “We have remained ahead of the in-service fleet in terms of hours, and that has shown us what to expect and when.” The major step in the Dynamic Test programme will come at the 1,000-hour mark when “aircraft zero” will be disassembled and examined before carrying on for the next 1,000 hours of testing. The goal continues to be to “get to every milestone with aircraft zero before the fleet does”.
A year for firsts
2022 saw a number of ‘firsts’ for deliveries of H160 variants. The first ACH160 went to a customer in Brazil. Meanwhile, the French Navy has taken delivery of the first of four H160s in SAR configuration. The aircraft, which was delivered at the end of last year, is now undergoing operational trials from bases on the Atlantic coast and is expected to enter service before the summer season. Armstrong was keen to point out that the four SAR aircraft are designed to be land-based and are a precursor for any militarised ‘M variants’ that the navy may order in the future. Clearly, though, much rides on a successful introduction as far as the H160M order book is concerned. Meanwhile, in Law Enforcement, the air wing of the French Gendarmerie Nationale (FAGN) expects to have three H160s in service before next year’s Olympic Games in Paris – the first two aircraft have been delivered with the third due to follow ‘in the next few weeks’. The FAGN aircraft are configured for a variety of roles, including tactical control and SWAT operations.
While sales of the H160 remain healthy, and orders were taken for 12 more aircraft last year, it’s reasonable to assume that the order rate will be given quite a boost once the long-awaited FAA certification is finally granted.
