Progress in Assistance: A Leap in User Aid
Airbus H160: Revolutionising Helicopter Maintenance and Support
The Airbus H160, a game-changer in the helicopter industry, is introducing innovative maintenance and support solutions to ensure smooth, reliable operations and minimal downtime.
Airbus Helicopters is committed to making customers' missions successful from the start with the H160. To achieve this, they are equipping Japanese training instructors with hands-on experience of the H160's controls, features, and handling qualities. This training initiative is taking place outside Europe for the first time, as Airbus Helicopters sends technician training rigs directly to Japan.
The H160's training tools for technicians and pilots include interactive and intuitive system emulators, the Helionix trainer, and a component locator. For pilot training, the H160 benefits from a Level D full flight simulator and a cockpit procedures trainer.
The H160's unique maintenance and support innovations are centred around a Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) that continuously monitors mechanical and structural health in real time. This system enables predictive maintenance, providing alerts to avoid unexpected failures and costly downtime.
Competitive operating costs and flexible maintenance are further enhanced by advanced materials and aerodynamic design that improve fuel efficiency by up to 15%. The aircraft's design focuses on modularity and streamlined maintenance steps, reducing turnaround time and maintenance complexity. The use of standardized, cutting-edge engines (Safran Arrano) and the integration of patented efficiency and safety innovations enhance reliability and reduce maintenance frequency.
Support from a comprehensive global maintenance network and digital health monitoring facilitates proactive interventions, ultimately lowering lifecycle costs. The new generation of technical documentation uses precise 3D illustrations with a minimum of text, available offline with the O.R.I.O.N. digital reader.
The digital flight manual, or c-RFM, provides crew with aircraft performance information and automates calculation tasks, improving safety and performance levels. This manual, equipped with a calculation app, is installed on a touch-screen tablet, marking the first helicopter flight manual of its kind.
Together, these innovations deliver high aircraft availability, safer operations, and cost-effectiveness, allowing operators to achieve flexible scheduling and optimized maintenance planning aligned with operational demands. The H160's real-time health monitoring (HUMS), advanced materials and engine efficiency, modular design for simpler maintenance, and strong maintenance network support uniquely enable it to offer competitive operating costs and flexible maintenance options.
- The innovative solutions offered by the Airbus H160 in the helicopter industry extend beyond maintenance to encompass finance, as competitive operating costs contribute to its appeal for potential customers.
- In the realm of business and finance, Airbus Helicopters' decision to send technician training rigs directly to Japan is a strategic move aimed at strengthening ties with the Japanese aerospace industry.
- The integration of technology such as the Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) and the Helionix trainer in the H160 helps bridge the gap between the traditional helicopter industry and modern data-and-cloud-computing, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing downtime.
- The use of patented efficiency and safety innovations in the H160, including the Safran Arrano engine, showcases Airbus' commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and cybersecurity, driving competition and advancement within the aerospace industry.
- The digital flight manual equipped with a calculation app on a touch-screen tablet represents a step forward in smartphones and gadgets technology, bringing the convenience of artificial intelligence to the helicopter cockpit.
