Amid a Tough 2020, Industrial Helicopters Keep Generating Lift

2020 has been a tough year for aviation, but there are a few segments that are still flying, including industrial helicopters.

These operators are gearing up for a busier-than-normal firefighting season  in the Northwest United States. Helicopter logging operations are helping paper mills meet a surging demand for paper goods. Some helicopters are lifting provisions to remote areas of the Far North, helping to keep supply lines open during the coronavirus crisis.

Although petroleum production has dropped due to lower prices, oil companies still need helicopters to help maintain drilling platforms and other remote sites.

Honeywell and our robust network of dealers and services centers are keeping these hardworking operators mission-ready with avionics and propulsion upgrades. These upgrades include:

• The RDR-7000 radar, a new volumetric weather radar that can detect turbulence out to 60 nautical miles.
• The Phase 8 avionics upgrade for the AW-139 helicopter that delivers superior functionality, enhancing visual clarity and improving situational awareness. The upgrade enables safer operations in marginal weather.
• The Sky Connect Tracker IIIA  upgrade enables flight data monitoring, messaging and tracking using the Iridium satellite network.

Honeywell is also helping to boost the power and efficiency of workhorse helicopters with:

• The HTS900 engine upgrade for Bell 407s, which provides improved payload and productivity in high and hot operations.
• The LTS101 engine upgrade for the AS350, which provides better fuel burn, more lift and cheaper overhauls.

“If you are due for an overhaul, this is a great time to consider an engine upgrade,” said Deta Adams, customer business manager for Honeywell Aerospace. “It’s also a great time to get on a Maintenance Service Plan to reduce your maintenance costs.  Plans are flexible and customizable to fit the needs of your fleet.” 

Honeywell’s onboard and portable Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) simplifies maintenance and can lower the number of maintenance test flights. The system enables rapid and accurate tracking and balancing of blades and enables operators to perform vibration and engine checks to service the entire fleet.

Honeywell and our partners are committed to keeping you operational during this time.  Please contact us directly for more information on our rotorcraft products.