Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Swiss startup helicopter maker Kopter plans to decide on a location for its U.S. manufacturing facility and hopes to “start swinging shovels” early in 2019, senior vice president Larry Roberts told AIN this week at the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in Phoenix. He also said Kopter is looking at establishing a flight-training facility, most likely with an established industry partner, “probably somewhere between Dallas and Atlanta.” The company is continuing its flight-test program for the turbine single SH09, which it hopes to conclude next year&nbsp;and gain certification in 2020 or 2021.

 


Kopter also would like to bring a flying prototype SH09 to next year’s Heli-Expo in Atlanta, provided it did not delay the flight-test program, he added. It is displaying a full-scale mockup of an SH09 with an air medical interior at AMTC. Roberts noted that the SH09 has “got just about the same cabin volume as an [Airbus Helicopters twin-engine]&nbsp;EC145” and “definitely more” than other twins, including the Airbus EC135 and Bell 429.

 


“There’s a lot of interest from the operators due to the big clamshell doors, cabin volume, speed, range, and power,” he said. Despite the large cabin, “the helicopter is very compact and it can do scene work very efficiently. And the cabin space allows room to carry a doctor or to hook up the patient to more sophisticated medical equipment faster,” Roberts said, noting that the cabin can accommodate up to two patients or a patient requiring dual oxygen therapy.

 


He also stressed that the SH09 will be equipped with a four-axis autopilot and have the ability to do WAAS approaches to plus six degrees, giving hospitals greater flexibility and the ability to use their own proprietary approaches. The SH09 is powered by a single 1,020-shp Honeywell HTS900 engine. Preliminary data indicates a maximum cruise speed of 140 knots and a maximum range of 430 nm. The retail price is expected to be close to $3.5 million.&nbsp;

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Kopter Expected To Decide On U.S. Plant Soon 

SH09 Attracts Attention From HEMS Operators

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

AmyWilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Rotorcraft

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

Rotortrade Partners with Safran, Joins Mentor Program

Preowned helicopter specialist is expanding its capabilities

Bell Logs Sales for 505 and 407GXi Helicopters

Includes the sale of the 100th Bell 505 in Europe

FAA Releases 2023 Helo Air Ambulance Ops Data Summary

Six accidents, two with fatalities, took place during calendar year 2023

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN