Page 8 - World Airnews Magazine May 2020 Edition

HELICOPTER HELICOPTER

RIDING OUT THE STORM

that spread their business model into
different areas might also see a faster
elicopter Association Internation- recovery. The continued development of

Hal has a new president and CEO urban air mobility projects will eventually

James Viola after former incumbent Matt provide global societies with more trans-
portation options, and entrepreneurs will
Zuccaro passed away. World Airnews editor find some dynamic, unforeseen uses for
Heidi Gibson interviewed James to find out these systems. With a continued need

his thoughts on the current COVID-19 crisis for new helicopters and UAS aircraft in
and the current helicopter market. a variety of industries, new designs and
HONEYWELL IS FORECASTING innovations by our members and strong
PREDICTING MARGINALLY government intervention, I believe
LOWER PURCHASE PLANS IN THE our industry and others can ride out
this storm.
USA. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR
OWN ANALYSIS OF THE NORTH WORLD AIRNEWS IS THE
AMERICAN MARKET – GIVEN LONGEST SERVING – 47 YEARS
THAT OVER 40% OF THE WORLD’S – INTERNATIONAL AVIATION
HELICOPTER FLEET IS OWNED IN MAGAZINE WITH A LARGE
THIS PART OF THE WORLD? SECTOR OF OUR READERSHIP AND
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted STAKEHOLDERS COMING FROM
many industries around the world, not just AFRICA. THIS YEAR THIS MARKET

in North America. The rotorcraft industry IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN

is no different. I remain confident in our LAST YEAR. DO YOU HAVE ANY

industry’s ability to weather this storm as THOUGHTS ON WHY THIS MARKET
well in its growth potential over the next IS SUFFERING

several years and for the long term. Many THIS YEAR?
of the companies that build, support, The COVID-19 pandemic is not limited
THE AIRPLANE-HELICOPTER maintain, or operate helicopters are doing to the Unites States. The 54 countries space or local transportation of people
some of that work with unmanned aircraft

making up the African continent are no
systems (UAS) and remotely-piloted
different. For example, tourism which is

COMBO THE FUTURE aircraft, and there is significant potential in a major economic driver in many parts of and material. I don’t hear a significant

that area once regulations and infrastruc-
Africa has been hard hit by COVID-19 im-
amount of news about urban air delivery
ture are in place.
pacting many helicopter tour operators.
using fixed-wing craft, nor long-range

ALWAYS PROMISED WHAT FACTORS ARE Once tourism starts to rebound in Africa I battery-powered airplanes. There are
would expect our member operations to

still a number of steps that need to occur
CONTRIBUTING TO THIS STATE?
follow suit. With some dense population

here, notably capability and certification,

AND HOW MUCH OF THIS WOULD
BE ATTRIBUTED TO COVID-19? centers spread throughout the continent, but this market segment is poised for
By Nicolas Zart There is no doubt that COVID-19 is I believe Africa was poised for growth in extensive growth.
the rotorcraft field before the pandemic
having an impact. How much of an occurred. LASTLY HAVING JUST TAKEN OVER
ney is quiet, safe, and highly efficient. It Fly” solution that nullifies the gyrocopter impact will depend on how long this THE REINS OF HAI , WHAT ARE YOUR

is not an airplane, though it flies like one. effect. The mast tilts forward and backward pandemic lasts. Our members have ARE THERE ANY NEW MODELS THAT PLANS FOR THE ORGANISATION?

ith Uber Elevate’s announce- It’s also not strictly a helicopter (Jaunt so that the cabin stays level at all times. As always put the safety and health of their HAI IS EXPECTING TO BE LAUNCHED I made no secret of the changes I

Wment that it plans to start its says it will be 63 percent quieter than Jaunt likes to say, laptops won’t go flying on customers and employees as their top THIS YEAR OR THE NEXT? expected to make, with the approval of

first urban air mobility network in 2023, traditional choppers) but behaves like their own during takeoffs and landings. priority. The good that helicopters do I think the Leonardo/Kopter SH-09, our Board of Directors. We really want
for the betterment of society is being
one on takeoffs and landings. It will also
the electric vertical takeoff and landing be classified as a rotorcraft. And it’s 100 The Jaunt also uses what the company demonstrated every day during this the Leonardo AW609 tilt rotor, and to expand internationally, doing more to

(eVTOL) race is on. Uber’s partnership percent electric. calls Reduced Rotor Operating Speed pandemic. We have members conduct- the Sikorsky S-97 Raider might be the help the rotorcraft industry around the

Aircraft (ROSA) technology. This technology
closest to certification, but I imagine the
with Joby is big news, as is Joby’s electric “We can guarantee that you will never reduces the rotor speed in cruise mode for ing medical transports; helicopters were pandemic created delays in these areas world.
four-person aircraft, but Jaunt Air Mobility spill your martini when riding in a Jaunt a quieter flight. This will help it meet noise used on Easter by religious figures to just like it did everywhere else. Many of We also want to be more inclusive of the

could be an equally important partner. Journey because it takes off vertically, regulations for residential communities. interact with communities. the manufacturers have scaled back their UAS and urban air mobility industries

as well. Then the pandemic began,
Jaunt has introduced the Journey, a transitions to fly like a plane and then lands Its electric engines also do not require productions to maintain social distancing.

radically different type of “compound vertically,” Kaydon Stanzione, CEO of Jaunt combustible liquids for fuel, and produce IN YOUR OPINION WILL THE There is also new technology advancing and we’ve had to slow our processes

just a little. While we’re waiting, we’re
aircraft” that combines what it sees as the Air Mobility said. “It’s LevelFly all the way.” zero emissions. HELICOPTER MARKET BE ABLE throughout the UAS market, so I expect focusing internally and restructuring our

best features of helicopters and fixed-wing Designed for an unusually smooth ride, Jaunt is currently working with BAE TO RIDE THIS STORM AND GIVE to see a variety of remotely-piloted organisation in areas where we can be

airplanes. the Jaunt Journey promises to be a leading Systems on electrical power systems. REASONS FOR THIS? WHEN DO products becoming available soon more efficient. We’re focusing more on
YOU BELIEVE IT WILL BE EXPECTED
Technically, it’s called a gyrocopter, an eVTOL in the air-taxi market. It recently The company expects FAA certification as well. our members, and providing them with

aircraft type that has been around since the signed a partnership agreement with Uber will begin by 2023 for the Journey and be TO RECOVER? what they need to succeed.
mid-‘30s. Elevate to be included in its UAM fleet. achieved by 2025. Its demonstrators have Recovery time will likely depend on how WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR Consequently, we’re looking at some

But the Jaunt Journey is a very ad- Jaunt Air Mobility flown 100-plus hours, with more than quickly the virus can be managed. That HELICOPTERS IN GENERAL? DO YOU really interesting tools and methods that

vanced version of the gyrocopter, with As a rule, gyrocopters tend to tilt forward 1,000 takeoffs and landings. Q said, our industry was already undergoing SEE THEM AS BEING THE TAXI OF will help us help them.

THE FUTURE?
breakthroughs made possible by its while taking off and then backwards when a transformation, embracing the world of Once the pandemic passes, we’re ready

electric motors. landing. This means everything needs to be Article courtesy: https://robbreport.com/ remotely-piloted rotorcraft. Companies Rotorcraft is poised to take over a lot to keep moving HAI into some exciting

Designed to cruise at 175 mph with a secured upon takeoff and landings. motors/aviation/new-blend-of- that included this technology may recov- of airspace. Most of the aeronautical new areas and new heights. Q

single pilot and four passengers, the Jour- Jaunt has eliminated that with its “Level- aircraft-2910356/ er more quickly. Equally, the companies engineering underway is focused on either

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