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Innovative Airbus News Boasts Study to Reduce Noise in Flight

August 31, 2016 By Prime Industries

When you’re flying in an aircraft, some noises are relatively easy to ignore, while others are deeply annoying. For this reason, Airbus is doing all it can to make all its new aircraft cabins as quiet as possible.

In Airbus news released online earlier this month (August 2016), the company stated that it was using a highly innovative “representative fuselage segment” that is able to proximate an A320-sized plane. The A320 “family” of aircraft are single-aisle jetliners that are used all over the world for both intercontinental flights and short hauls.

Originally launched in 1984, the A320 has been improved continuously ever since. The aircraft already boasts advanced technology including:

Weight-saving composites
An ultra-efficient optimized wing design
Centralized fault display the improves troubleshooting and decreases Airbus maintenance costs
Fly-by-wire flight controls that improve safety and reduce the workload for pilots

The pioneering noise reduction study aims to make Airbus cabins of the A320 family and other Airbus aircraft, “the quietest and most comfortable in the sky.”

Acoustic Laboratory for Noise Testing

The resource Airbus is using for the new study is an acoustic laboratory based in Hamburg, Germany that uses a new test platform supplied by the Center for Applied Aviation Research (ZAL). Considered a mammoth breakthrough in noise testing, they are able to achieve what previously could only be evaluated during test flights, or by studying isolate components.

The ZAL acoustic chamber has the capacity to accommodate fuselage “demonstrators” that are up to 15 meters long and eight meters high, including Airbus widebody products, specifically the A350 XWB and A330. These large Airbus aircraft have twin-aisles, and offer superior efficiency and comfort. They also use 25 percent less fuel than other aircraft, which is great Airbus news for operators. Given the company’s mission to make their aircraft quieter, demand will only continue to grow.

Airbus News Reveals How Their Craft Will Become Quieter Than Ever

The 8.5 m-long ZAL Airbus fuselage demonstrator currently in use in Hamburg has been designed specifically to replicate engine noise. The way it works is that the demonstrator is subjected to sound waves around the circumference of the fuselage through a series of 128 speakers, each of which can be individually controlled.

Because the lab is able to accurately reproduce the conditions that apply when the aircraft is in flight, researchers are able to examine ways of reducing noise in the aircraft cabin without having to do expensive test flights. The acoustic chamber they have set up also allows them to do detailed comparisons using “real-world physics” together with simulation models.

According to one of the project co-leaders, Henning Scheel, the research teams are focusing on pinpointing:

Where noise enters aircraft cabins
How noise is spread once it has entered the cabin
And also how noise is transmitted

Once they have this information, they will be able to determine how background noise in the cabin can be reduced. Ideas they are exploring include:

Making minor structural adaptations
Changing the form of insulation used
Using new materials that absorb noise more successfully in certain frequency ranges; these include embedded vibration dampers

According to Scheel’s co-leader Martin Wandel, the demonstrator will also significantly shorten development cycles for new solutions to minimize noise. He said that once the initial fuselage mock-up has been investigated thoroughly, the research team would work on interior cabin components. Later on there would be tests undertaken in the acoustic lab using “passengers.”

Prime Industries and Airbus

Prime Industries is an FAA AC 00-56A compliant and ISO 9001:2008 certified company that specializes in the supply, repair and overhaul of aircraft components and parts for helicopters and fixed-wing planes. These include Airbus and other leading aircraft manufacturers. So if you require Airbus parts or assistance with Airbus maintenance, we can help.

New customers are welcome to contact us for availability and pricing of parts, or to view our current inventory.

The Most Famous WWII Aircraft

August 15, 2016 By Prime Industries

During World War II, military aircraft played a major role when it came to bombing the enemy and fighting in the air. Since then, in addition to the role they play for civilian transportation, aircraft have continued to play a central part in wars and military activities.

But incredibly, it was not much more than a century ago that the world’s first aircraft – including military aircraft – was produced.

The First Military Aircraft

Built by the world-famous Wright Brothers, the very first military plane was sold to the US army in 1909. Used to train pilots for a couple of years, it was retired before the breakout of WWI in 1914. However this war was the first major conflict where aircraft did in fact play a major role.

Initially aircraft were used primarily for reconnaissance, but it didn’t take long for engineers to design bombers, fighters fitted with machine guns, and ground-attack planes.

A large number of the WWI aircraft were biplanes mostly made of fabric and wood.

Impact of Aircraft in WWII

Air strikes were a major feature of World War Two, with the major powers, including Germany, Japan, the UK and the US, all developing powerful new military aircraft. Sleek, relatively lightweight aluminum airframes and powerful piston engines soon became the norm, though it didn’t take long for jet engines with no propellers to begin to supercede these.

So as the war intensified, the Germans rained bombs down over Britain, which prompted the British to improve its own military air power, at the same time introducing new radar technology. After the Battle of Britain, which was fought in the air, the Germans were forced to change their own war planes dramatically in an attempt to regain supremacy. They also developed guided missiles, as did the US, although to a lesser extent.

The large bombers that were produced towards the end of World War Two played an indispensable role in ending the war, particularly the huge US B-29s that dropped atomic bombs on the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan towards the end of the war in 1945.

Famous WWII Aircraft

Hundreds of aircraft played a role in World War Two including many manufactured in various countries by companies that continue to produce leading civilian and military aircraft today. They include (in alphabetical order) Beechcraft, Bell, Boeing, Hawker, Kawasaki, Lockheed, Mitsubishi, Sikorsky, and Yakovlev. A number of companies manufacturing military aircraft during WWII, including Focke-Wulf, became predecessor companies of what is today the huge Airbus Group; others were merged into the British Aerospace group’s BAE Systems.

In spite of the many aircraft that were produced during the war, the most famous WWII aircraft are limited to a handful. These include:

The iconic German Messerschmitt Bf 109 that was a single-seat “multirole” fighter plane based on a design (the Bf 108) that had been developed as a sport and touring plane. Introduced into the German Luftwaffe (Air force) in 1937, the Bf 109 was considered for years to be the best aircraft fighter in the world.
The German Focke Wulf 190, another formidable airborne weapon that was used as a fighter and fighter-bomber, for torpedo bombing, and to intercept ground attacks. Introduced just two years into the war, in August 1941, it’s superb design compelled the British to improve its own Spitfires. Chuck Yeager, the legendary American aviation pioneer, flew an Fw 190 after the war, and said it was the only aircraft that matched the legendary US P-51D Mustang.
The Supermarine Spitfire that was the champion British warplane and undoubtedly the most famous WWII aircraft originating from that country. Developed prior to the war, Spitfires in general are regarded as one of the best fighter aircraft ever. The Spitfire IX, produced from 1942, was Britain’s answer to the Fw 190, to which it proved to be a superior match, especially in the Battle of Britain.
The US North American P-51 Mustang, which is the most celebrated US fighter plan of WWII. While America entered the war rather late, only after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the P-51 Mustang was flown by British pilots from May that same year. Described as a “classic warbird,” the P-51s were fitted with machine guns. While able to attack ground targets, typically outperforming any and all German fighters, they were mostly used to escort bombers on “long range sorties.”
The US Boeing B-29 Superfortress that was a strategic long-range, high-altitude, heavy bomber aircraft used from 1943. Developed specifically to meet US Army Air Corps needs, it could fly long and high at around 400 miles an hour, and provided a virtually untouchable bombing platform. The two most infamous B-29s were Enola Gay, used to carry the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and Bock’s Car (or Bockscar), used for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki the same day.

There were many other Boeing aircraft used during WWII including the Boeing P-26 Peashooter, a monoplane fighter, the Boeing F4B/P-12, a pursuit fighter, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a heavy bomber aircraft that was the predecessor to the B-29, and the Boeing 314 Clipper (C-98) a long-range flying boat aircraft.

Interestingly, both Enola Gay and Bockscar were built in Nebraska by the Glenn L. Martin Company (now Lockheed Martin). The Lockheed Corporation, which merged with Martin Mariette to form Lockheed Martin in 1995, manufactured a number of quite famous WWII aircraft. These included the single-seat L-133 Starjet jet-powered fighter; the P-38 Lightning and P-80/F-80 Shooting Star, both heavy fighter-bombers; the PV-1 Ventura/PV-2 Harpoon patrol bomber; and the Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning, a high-altitude interceptor also used for close air support.

Prime Industries Offers Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed Parts and Service

While there aren’t many famous WWII aircraft still in flight today, Prime Industries offers new and overhauled parts for Boeing, Lockheed, Airbus and other well-known brands of plane and helicopter. The company’s clients include government and military agencies, as well as businesses and individuals. Whether you have a routine order or need critical low stock urgently, we will do whatever we can to help.

Military Airbus Helicopters With HForce on Track for Release in 2017

July 30, 2016 By Prime Industries

Development of a military Airbus Helicopter H225M equipped with the HForce weapon system is on track for release at the end of next year (2017), the Airbus Group has announced.

The HForce Weapon System

The first stage of firing tests was completed early June using HForce, which is described as a “generic weapon system.” The system, which has been tested for more than five months, is an innovative one that includes a number of important Airbus Helicopter parts for use with Airbus Helicopters H225M:

A central core unit
Thales’ Scorpion monocular helmet mounted sight display (HMSD)
A Wescam-manufactured electro-optical system (EOS)
Gunner ammunition or armament weapon pods and weapon grips

According to an Airbus Group statement, the firing “campaign” or tests took place between May 25 and June 3 this year, on a safe range in some part of Belgium. This gave Airbus Helicopters the opportunity to demonstrate how the HForce-equipped H225M helicopters were able to perform using ballistic weapons.

During the firing campaign, 70 mm size rockets, 20 mm size cannons, and 12.7 mm guns were used. HForce program manager, Jean-Luc André described the campaign as an important milestone that was achieved in the time allowed. He said the results surpassed expectations and were above the required specifications. Ultimately, the results provided significant added value for tracking targets and for the procurement of day and night missions.

The HForce project was launched just over two years ago as an affordable plug and play system to manage weapons that can be added to incrementally. It was designed to cater for the defense agencies requirements worldwide that need to add light attack mission capabilities to existing fleets of specialized helicopters designed for attack.

HForce can be fitted to any of the Airbus Helicopters commercial range of aircraft – the H125M, H145M, and of course the H225M.

The company, which is a division of the Airbus Group, is well known for its highly efficient civil and military helicopters worldwide. There are currently an estimated 12,000 helicopters in service, operated in 154 countries by more than 3,000 Airbus customers.

Airbus H225M Helicopters

Originally developed as the Eurocopter EC725 Caracal, and introduced in 2005, Airbus Helicopters H225M is ideal for troop transport, combat search and rescue, and casualty evacuation. Used in many crisis areas including Afghanistan and Lebanon, it is operated from both land and ships, and flies in all weather conditions. It has a 700 nautical mile range that can be extended by air-to-air refueling. A high-performance machine that can take off in less than five minutes, the H225M travels at high speed and gets to its destination quickly. It was designed with survivability a key factor, and has a reinforced structural mail frames, as well as landing gear capable of absorbing energy, and both self-sealing and “crashworthy” fuel tanks.

Airbus Helicopter Parts and Airbus Helicopter Maintenance

Of course Airbus Helicopters makes Airbus Helicopter parts and undertakes Airbus Helicopter maintenance. However there are times when customers, particularly those with older aircraft, need parts and service that they cannot get directly from Airbus.

US-based Prime Industries specializes in the supply of Airbus Helicopter parts as well as parts for other aircraft, including other Airbus craft, Boeing, and Lockheed. The company also specializes in the repair and overhaul of Airbus Helicopter parts and components, and has an extensive inventory of new, repaired, and overhauled parts.

So if you need Airbus Helicopter parts or assistance with Airbus Helicopter maintenance, contact us for pricing and availability.

Airbus Helicopter Parts in High Speed Clean Sky 2 will Reduce Environmental Footprint

July 15, 2016 By Prime Industries

The pre-design phase of Airbus Helicopters’ uniquely innovative new helicopter design is complete, paving the way for a highly efficient, sustainable, high-speed rotary-wing aircraft. The pre-design phase is the project’s first official milestone. This phase involved tests of a high-speed demonstrator that has been whizzing through wind tunnels as part of its contribution to the European Clean Sky-2 Low Impact, Fast & Efficient RotorCraft (LifeRCraft) research program.

The initial success of the LifeRCraft and its component Airbus Helicopter parts means that preliminary reviews of a prototype design will likely take place before the end of this year (2016). Flight-testing of the helicopter prototype is scheduled for 2019.

About the Clean Sky Initiative

Clean Sky, launched in 2008, is a hugely ambitious aeronautical research program that involves a joint technology initiative (JTI) between the European Commission and the aviation industry, including Airbus, the Airbus Group, and Airbus Helicopters. The JTI has its sights set on developing “breakthrough technologies” that will significantly increase the environmental performance of air transport in general, ultimately aiming at fuel-efficient aircraft with reduced emissions, and aircraft that are less noisy, in this way reducing their acoustic footprint.

The role of Airbus Helicopters in this undertaking is profound, and the company sees it as the opportunity to become “the benchmark of the rotorcraft industry.”

While the initiative is based in Europe, Airbus Helicopters, Inc. is the US affiliate of Airbus Helicopters, a subsidiary of Airbus Group, and the largest rotorcraft manufacturer in the world. This means that more Airbus Helicopter parts are made in the US than anywhere else in the world. The country is also an important hub for Airbus Helicopter maintenance.

About the Clean Sky 2 Demonstrator

According to the chief technical officer of Airbus Helicopters, Jean-Brice Dumont, the Clean Sky 2 Demonstrator is not just part of an exercise in making aircraft go faster, it is also about making speed smarter. To do this, the company is looking for the best trade-off between mission, cost-efficiency and sustainability.

Dumont says the company wants to break the cost barrier that is usually associated with increased range and speed, paving the way for “new mission sets” planned for 2030 and beyond. Ultimately, this will make it possible to provide critical rapid response emergency services more efficiently, offering crucial improvements for search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster relief and so on.

The Clean Sky 2 program manager, Ron van Manen, has highlighted the important benefits of the LifeRCraft Demonstrator Project to the public, stating that it can bring a “fundamentally new” combination of speed, range and payload to the aviation market. He has also said it will strengthen Europe’s “formidable competitive position in the vertical life aviation sector.”

Since Airbus Helicopters and its component Airbus Helicopter parts are found in at least 154 countries worldwide, it’s not just Europe that will benefit. The very fact that the Clean Sky 2 project is addressing existing technological gaps in everything from systems and structures to overall design demonstrates its universal value.

Prime Industries

US-based Prime Industries specializes in the supply, repair and overhaul of Airbus Helicopter parts and can help with the needs of those doing Airbus Helicopter maintenance. Whether you’re looking for airframe components, retables, landing gear, ground support equipment, accessories, or any other equipment or compounds for Airbus Helicopter models currently in flight, contact Prime Industries for professional assistance.

Plans for Robots to Paint Airbus Helicopter Parts

June 30, 2016 By Prime Industries

Airbus Helicopters has announced plans to use robots to paint Airbus Helicopter parts and do other repetitive tasks. The company plans to use a “new generation of humanoid robots” to do this, with the robots imitating “what they see,” rather than being autonomous.

Initially they will start using robots to paint primary Airbus Helicopter parts like the rotor hub, as well as some quite complex markings and decorations on their aircraft.

The company introduced its first robotic applications in 2015, and has said that it will continue to release additional robotic applications “every year or so.” However there is no plan to replace humans with robots. Rather, it is planned that robots will automate “high-volume repetitive activities” allowing people to focus on other important tasks.

According to Georges-Eric Moufle who heads Airbus Helicopters’ Aeronautical Factory of the Future project, robots will allow them to optimize the “finishing painting workflow” with “low energy consumption.” He further describes this workflow as a process that starts with preparation of the aircraft’s green surface and ends with curing of the final topcoat of paint.

Ultimately, the use of robots for painting Airbus Helicopter parts will help the company “optimize weight and cycle savings,” says Moufle.

The Role of Robots in Airbus Group’s Factory of the Future

According to Airbus robotics expert, Adolfo Suarez Roos, the company aims to develop robots that will be able to interact safely with humans and will be able to adapt to unexpected situations. It was working through the ICARO project to do this, he said.

ICARO (Increase of CAR Occupancy) is a European transport research project that was originally launched in 1997 to develop car-pooling policies in an endeavor to increase car occupancy rates in EU countries.

In a joint interview with Suarez Roos in 2014, Chrisoph Borst, head of autonomy and teleoperation at the German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Robotics and Mechantronics said that for 15 years they had been developing motion capabilities of robots. The next stage was to include human workers, and develop language that would enable them to work with robots. Since the process of human thinking is “really complicated,” he said they would start with relatively simple interactions and cited human collaborations with dogs as an example.

Since Airbus produces on average 1.5 aircraft every day, Suarez Roos said they needed to program robots to do tasks that last several hours.

In addition to painting Airbus Helicopter parts, the company is planning to get robots to do waterproofing tests on doors, windows and fuselages. Robots would be programed to track each bit of these various Airbus Helicopter parts, listening for noises that might indicate leaks of any sort in the airframe. They are also reportedly looking at using robots to increase automation when manufacturing the skin of helicopter blades.

Prime Industries Role in Provision of Airbus Helicopter Parts

While US-based Prime Industries doesn’t have any plans to employ robots in the foreseeable future, the company does offer new, repaired and overhauled Airbus Helicopter parts, as well as parts for Airbus planes, Lockheed and Boeing. Prime Industries also offers Airbus Helicopter maintenance services.

FAA Adopts New Airworthiness Directive for Airbus Helicopter Parts

June 28, 2016 By Prime Industries

A new United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopter parts has been designed to prevent the failure of parts that could lead to loss of control of helicopters in the air.

In a nutshell, the AD is intended to reduce the “life limits” of specific Airbus Helicopter parts and will require that these are removed from the aircraft once it has reached its life limit.

The airworthiness directive refers to six Airbus Helicopter models:

EC135P1
EC135P2
EC135P2+
EC135T1
EC135T2
EC135T2+

All six of these helicopters are approved by Germany’s aviation authority, and are approved for operation in the US. However the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an AD in August 2013 that was aimed to “correct an unsafe condition” for these and another three models, EC635T1, EC635P2+ and EC635T2+.

The new US AD does not apply to the EC635 models because these aren’t type certificated in the USA.

Published in the Federal Register on June 6, 2016, the US directive will become effective from July 11.

Background to the New FAA AD

The FAA first published its intention to amend the regulations in November 2014. The stated intention was to improve the safety of Airbus Helicopters in flight.

Only three people commented on the intention of the FAA to issue the AD. All believed the directive was unnecessary because all operators must in any case use the most current revision of the master servicing manual for Airbus Helicopter maintenance. The FAA disagreed based on information provided by EASA, believing that it was both in the public interest and interest of air safety that steps be taken to ensure that “unsafe conditions” be prevented by mandatory Airbus Helicopter maintenance – more specifically by replacing certain Airbus Helicopter parts when they reach their “life limit.”

According to the FAA there are 267 Airbus Helicopters on the US registry that are affected.

The New AD Regarding Airbus Helicopter Parts

The new AD defines an unsafe condition as “failure of a critical part” that could “result in loss of control of the helicopter.”

Actions required before any further flights are made are listed in the AD. They include updating revised life limits on component history cards or records for specific swashplate parts, including various rings and bolts, and for mixing lever gear unit parts. The original life limit as well as the new reduced life limit is given for each part, together with its part number.

Any of these Airbus Helicopter parts that have reached or exceeded the newly revised life limit have to be removed.

If a helicopter operator is not able to do this immediately, and needs to get the aircraft to a maintenance facility to replace the part, they may apply for a special one-time flight permit.

Airbus Helicopter Parts from Prime Industries

Whether your Airbus Helicopter parts are included in the new FAA AD or not, Prime Industries can help. You can check or current inventory online or contact us directly for assistance.

Airbus Helicopter Parts Made With 3D German Printer

June 1, 2016 By Prime Industries

Airbus Group is using 3D German printers to produce series components and prototype parts in an endeavor to deliver Airbus Helicopter parts that are lighter and cheaper than those currently available. The company is also promoting the use of 3D printing to improve efficiency of assembly lines.

“3D printing is the dream of any engineer,” says Rainer Rauh, global innovation manager of the Airbus Group, adding that from simply having a good idea, you can use the 3D printer to print overnight and have a new part ready the following day.

The first “flight-qualified” 3D-printed part from Airbus Defence and Space is a bracket made from a titanium alloy that is on board the French-made Atlantic Bird 7 telecoms satellite. There is also a 3D-printed air intake on board Airbus Military’s tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Atlante.

Recently the company made a number of prototype Airbus Helicopter parts using a large-format German RapRap X400 3D printer. These parts included shafts, gears, levers and windshield wipers, as well as bearings, sleeves and threads, all of which are functional prototypes that can be used to test the interaction of different components. As an example, Airbus Helicopter windshield wipers are put through a myriad of serviceability and functionality tests, as well as safety tests. They are also tested to see how easy they are to install and to assess future manufacturing processes.

Additionally, Airbus Helicopters, together with Autodesk (specialists in making software for engineering, construction, manufacturing and other industries), recently unveiled what is believed to be the largest metal airplane component ever made with a 3D printer. An airplane partition, it was created from Scalmalloy, the Airbus Group’s second-generation high-strength aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloy, using the same X400 3D printer.

The company is currently working on a camera mount extension prototype that will be able to assist military and police forces follow movement on the ground more effectively. The X400 is being used for this too.

3D printing, also known as additive layer manufacturing or ALM builds parts from the inside out, in layers. Materials used include concrete, glass and high-grade titanium alloys. Each layer is very thin (about 0.1 mm), but eventually the process results in an object that is solid and that can be very complex in shape. Computer-generated designs are used for 3D printing, and laser beams or electrons are used to model materials according to the designs. Because this form of production enables engineers to create topologically optimized natural shapes that could never be produced from solid blocks of material, Airbus Helicopter parts produced this way will ultimately be considerably less costly than the conventional parts that are currently produced. The process is also less wasteful, with only an estimated 5 percent of waste material produced from the 3D printing process.

Jörg Sander, a specialist in 3D printing for electronic equipment at Airbus Defence and Space, likens the shift to ALM to the change from handwritten books to those that are printed.

The shift to ALM is part of the Airbus strategy to optimize the company’s industrial system by 2020.

Of course cheaper Airbus Helicopter parts will ultimately impact on part service and repair for Airbus Helicopters. In the meantime US-based Prime Industries continues to source and supply quality aircraft components and parts for clients all over the world.

Airbus Helicopter Crash Highlights Importance of Part Service and Repair Work

May 15, 2016 By Prime Industries

The fatal crash of an airbus Group SE H225 Super Puma helicopter in Norway late April has highlighted the vital importance of part service and repair work on all aircraft.

While it is still not known what caused what has been described as a “rare” accident, amateur video footage captured at the time shows the rotor head with blades still attached breaking away from the helicopter while it is flying in the air. All 13 people on board were killed when the aircraft plunged into the sea.

Helicopter flight data (FDR) retrieved from the flight recorder and data from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) is all said to be of “good quality” and is currently being analyzed in Norway. While no official report has yet been issued by the Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN), the owners of the aircraft, CHC Helicopter have told media that there had not been any emergency calls from the two pilots prior to the crash. They also confirmed that the fated helicopter had been forced to return to base twice in the week before the accident because of a warning light.

The rotor was reported retrieved from a rocky outcrop more than 200 m from where the helicopter crashed just west of the city of Bergen, its destination. After the wreckage had been moved to facilities of the AIBN in Lillestrøm, AIBN reported that they will still searching for Airbus Helicopter parts that were “connected to the main gearbox.” Meanwhile, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) that stated it appeared that the main rotor hub had separated from the main gearbox, in flight.

Weather conditions on the day of the crash were normal and the AIBN has said it believes the incident was caused by “a technical failure.” As a precautionary measure, the EASA AD called for “before next flight” inspections on all EC 225 helicopters, and for “any discrepancy” to be reported to both EASA and Airbus Helicopters.

Airbus Helicopters’ Safety Management System

Airbus Helicopters has a strict safety management system (SMS) that promotes “a reactive, proactive and predicative organizational approach to safety risks.” This includes:

Safety by training of pilots and flight crews.
Safety by design that includes constant technological improvements aimed at safety. Aircraft design features include:
- The Fenestron shrouded tail router
- Starflex and Spheriflex main rotor hubs
- Crashworthy seats
Safety by maintenance which specifies three pillars of maintenance:
- Maintenance procedures
- Maintenance documentation
- Maintenance training
Safety by co-operation with suppliers and operators.
Safety documents that are supplied to the industry.
Safety news that is released regularly.
Safety events that the company supports worldwide.

Safety Maintenance, Part Service and Repair Work Vital

Shortly after the accident in Norway, a spokesman for the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority said that maintenance of the helicopter had been delayed twice during 2015. Mr. Hege Aalstad, a senior legal advisor at the Authority said there had been applications for travel-time extensions. Each was for a delay of 100 flying hours. These were granted.

Airbus Helicopters emphasizes the importance of a proper maintenance regime, stating that it “plays a crucial role in supporting helicopter safety.” This includes providing invaluable information to help maintenance teams “make the right decisions” when it comes to keeping aircraft airworthy.

The company also offers an online technical publication service that provides documentation supporting safe operations as well as maintenance of its helicopters. These include various maintenance manuals that list processes to be followed when identifying, maintaining and repairing helicopter parts.

Prime Industries helps owners and operators ensure that proper maintenance procedures are followed by supplying new and overhauled quality Airbus Helicopter parts as well as part service and repair. So don’t delay crucial maintenance work; contact the Prime team and we’ll provide the parts you need, when you need them.

Airbus Helicopters SMS

Keep Your Aircraft in the Air With Quality Airbus Helicopter Parts, Part Service and Repair

May 3, 2016 By Prime Industries

Finding the right civil and military Airbus Helicopter parts to keep your aircraft in the air can be a challenge. But it’s absolutely essential to do regular maintenance and repairs to keep it safe and in the air.

Even though the company, previously Eurocopter Group, has four main manufacturing plants in France and Germany, and smaller subsidiaries and production plants in various parts of the world, including the US, helicopter owners often struggle to find the parts they need, when they need them.

The Importance of Part Service and Repair of Airbus Helicopters

H155 courtesy of airbushelicopters.com

It stands to reason that if an aircraft of any kind is not properly maintained it isn’t going to be safe. But it isn’t left to the discretion of individuals or companies to decide when maintenance is necessary. In its endeavor to ensure that all forms of air travel are as safe as possible, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has very specific regulations for everything from aircraft design and maintenance to pilot training.

The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) – also referred to as part of Title 14 of the FAA’s Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) – deal with just about everything from airworthiness standards of aircraft to their maintenance (and everything in between). Elements of maintenance, which of course includes part service and repair, relate to:

Certification procedures for parts and various products
Airworthiness directives for aircraft
Preventive maintenance, maintenance, alteration and rebuilding of aircraft

The FAA regulations define airworthiness in terms of any aircraft’s conformation to type design and specifies that it must be in “a condition for safe operation.” And there are three main regulations that govern an aircraft’s airworthiness – Parts 21, 43 and 91 of CFR 14.

Part 21 relates to the various certification procedures for parts, including Airbus Helicopter parts
Part 43 relates to maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding and alterations to aircraft
Part 91 that relates to general operating and flight rules

One of the most important sections of Part 21 incorporates the instructions for continued airworthiness that predictably rely on the manufacturer’s instructions. So when it comes to part service and repair, it is essential that the service providers you use comply with the regulations.

The FAA describes Part 43 as “the heart of aviation maintenance,” because it provides standards for all civilian aircraft registered in the US, including Airbus Helicopters.

Even though it looks, at face value, as if it is purely a general regulation, Part 91 does contain issues that are related to maintenance.

Of course, while obviously not governed by regulations, there is also the issue of unexpected breakdowns that need urgent repairs. While planned maintenance allows for pre-planning of Airbus Helicopter parts, when breakdowns and other problems happen unpredictably, this often results in expensive downtime unless parts can be sourced quickly and reliably.

Where to Find Airbus Helicopter Parts and Reliable Part Service and Repair

An international trading company, the Georgia-based, Prime Industries buys parts from all over the world and sells both overhauled and new parts to meet the differing needs of customers. The company specializes in rotary-wing parts for helicopters made by Airbus Helicopters and when buying used parts, inspects every item thoroughly to ensure it meets industry and customer expectations.

No matter where in the world you are, if you’re in the market for quality Airbus Helicopter parts, the experienced team at Prime Industries can help you. In addition to supplying parts and doing part service and repair, Prime also buys and part-outs helicopters so they can offer serviceable, repaired, overhauled and “as removed” helicopter parts at affordable prices. So if you’re battling to keep you helicopter in the air because you can’t find good quality parts, contact us today for advice and pricing.

The World’s Most Expensive Airplanes

February 17, 2016 By Prime Industries

These days, traveling by air is the preferred method of transportation for everyone who needs to travel long distances in a reasonable amount of time. While most people are forced to fly commercial class airlines, private planes offer the wealthy the opportunity to fly in style.

Regardless of whether you fly commercial or privately, here are some of the most expensive planes that air commuters can choose from today.

Custom Airbus A340-300 – $350 to $500 million

From airbus.com

One of the most expensive passenger planes currently in use is a customized Airbus A340-300. Currently, it’s the largest plane in Russia and is estimated to be worth between $350 to $500 million dollars due to the significant upgrades it has undergone since it was initially purchased.

Airbuses that are used in commercial applications are capable of flying 9,000 miles and can carry up to 375 passengers comfortably.

The Boeing 747 – 8 – $153 million

From boeing.com

At a cost of $153 million dollars, it comes as no surprise that this aircraft is outfitted with all of the latest technology and has an exclusive design. Dubbed the “Dreamliner,” the VIP version of this aircraft boasts amenities that are common in many homes including spiral staircases, luxury sleeping accommodations, vaulted ceilings, and an onboard media room.

This same aircraft, when used in commercial use, is ideal for International travel due to it’s large size and can seat as many as 467 passengers.

Military Planes Are No Laughing Matter

It should come as no surprise that military aircraft is among the most high-tech and expensive aircraft currently in use today. This type of aircraft is specialized to meet the needs of military forces for defensive and offensive measures.

The F-22 Raptor – $350 million

From wikipedia.com

Perhaps one of the most recognizable military aircraft is the F-22 Raptor. At a cost of $350 million dollars, this combat aircraft is considered one of the best in the entire world. Lockheed Martin developed this tactical combat plane for use by the US Air Force. It can be flown in all weather and features a single seat and twin engines.

This aircraft is equipped to carry out numerous military tactics including reaching Supersonic speeds, completing long-distance flights, and destroying enemy cruise missiles. The F-22 is the ultimate stealth aircraft since it is designed to avoid detection from almost all types of radar detection in use today. Pilots of these awesome flying machines must meet stringent requirements set forth by the United States Air Force.

No matter whether you are interested in aircraft as a commuter, as a pilot, or as a simple enthusiast, you will find that planes are expensive and constantly evolving to meet the needs of public, private, and governmental interests.