328 Support Services GmbH (328) and Reiser Simulation and Training GmbH (RST) have together carried out a comprehensive flight test programme that has collected flight envelope and handling quality data.
The data will be used to generate a Level D-compliant flight model of the H125 from Airbus Helicopters.
328, through its Design Organisation under the guidance of Jörg Gorkenant, has led the work through validation and approval of the installation of flight test instrumentation provided by RST, including an aerial probe installed on a nose boom, the preparation to final approval of EASA-approved flight conditions, and issuing the Permit to Flight (PtF) and Part 21J support required for flight testing.
The contract has run for two months, commencing on April with the work undertaken in Manching and at the 328 headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
RST has developed its own designed H145 simulator awaiting its Level D certification primarily for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) training in civil urban traffic environments and in offshore scenarios around Germany.
328 managing director Dave Jackson said: "This award from RST is a strategically exciting project for us to work on.
"We have the necessary skillset and expertise in-house to ensure the success of this project, which marks a significant win for the company as it opens the door to future collaborative work for rotor-wing technology."
Based on the excellent collaboration with RST, 328 won the second project that started over the course of the summer on an Agusta Westland twin-engine AW169 helicopter. This R&D project was conducted again by RST and 328 at this time in Oberpfaffenhofen.
RST’s CEO Dr Roman Sperl said: "328 has excellent expertise in helping business aviation companies gain the required regulatory approval.
"We are neighbors in Bavaria, have been looking to explore collaboration now for some time and we are delighted to entrust their team’s fine expertise to work with us to achieve our goals."
RST’s flight simulators are built on data collection they gather, rather than making use of OEM data. RST’s first H145 Airbus Helicopters Full-Flight Simulator (FFS) is now installed with the customer ADAC HEMS Academy in Bonn/Hangelar near Cologne, Germany, although RST will maintain ownership of the simulator and offer it up for third party training, on a per hour usage.
