Honeywell is expanding its predictive maintenance business with a new approval to install health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) technology on Finmeccanica AW139 helicopters and a memorandum of understanding for HUMS maintenance support on the Marenco Swisshelicopter SKYe SH09.

Honeywell received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for installation of its Model 1134 HUMS on the AW139. The Marenco MOU follows the agreement for Honeywell to supply its HTS9000 engine to power the SKYe SH09. Honeywell has provided Marenco with a full HUMS to be installed on its second prototype.

HUMS enables operators to continuously monitor mechanical rotating components and subsystems on their helicopters and become aware of potential problems before they occur. Honeywell noted that operators using HUMS are reporting a 4 to 5 percent increase in helicopter availability, 30 percent reduction in mission aborts, 20 percent reduction in maintenance test flights and 5 to 10 percent reduction in scheduled maintenance costs.