Move Follows Similar FIKI Approval by FAA
Transport Canada has certified Sikorsky Aircraft's S-92
helicopter, equipped with a new Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS),
for flight into known icing conditions (FIKI).
Transport Canada's certification comes on the heels of the
Federal Aviation Administration's precedent-setting certification
earlier this month, as was reported in
Aero-News. The S-92 is now certified to the
newest and most stringent all-weather flight safety standards for
both the United States and Canada.
Transport Canada certification validates the S-92 type design
and authorizes its use on aircraft flying under Canadian registry,
according to a company release. Both Transport Canada and the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) flew a RIPS equipped S- 92
in Alaska in October to test the new de-icing system immediately
following the FAA flights.
"Icing conditions in Canada are among the most severe in the
world. This makes the Transport Canada endorsement particularly
meaningful," said Mick Maurer, Sikorsky Vice President of
Commercial Programs. "Cougar Helicopters Limited, one of the
earliest S-92 customers, was a key participant in the certification
effort. Cougar's operations in St. John's, Newfoundland, are
influenced much of the year by severe icing. Cougar has special
expertise in these types of operations, so much so that their
knowledge and experience was sought by the FAA in advance of the
S-92 flight tests."
Any S-92 with the RIPS will now be allowed to launch in icy
weather that might otherwise delay or cancel flight operations. The
system determines the temperature and moisture content of the
surrounding environment and applies heat to the main and tail rotor
blades to remove any ice buildup.
Canada's 28 new H-92 maritime helicopters being built by
Sikorsky, designated the CH148 Cyclone by the Canadian Forces, are
naval variants of the S-92. The Cyclone will possess the same FIKI
ability as the S-92.
Most of the S-92 helicopters delivered to date or ordered
include RIPS. Beginning this month, Sikorsky teams will visit
customers to activate the system for operation now that it has
received certification. Besides Sikorsky, key suppliers include the
Autronics and Penny & Giles divisions of Curtiss-Wright and the
Moog Corporation.
Development of the S-92 flight into known icing capability began
in 1997 and included three years of aircraft testing. That testing
began with ice accretion tests in the Eglin Air Force Base McKinley
Climatic Hangar in Florida and dry air tests of simulated ice on
the tail surfaces in 2003. In 2004, Sikorsky conducted
flight-testing behind a helicopter with special equipment that
creates a cloud of ice. The tests concluded with flights in natural
icing conditions in 2004 and 2005 at sites in the northeastern
United States, Canada and Alaska.
Sikorsky plans to incorporate similar rotor ice protection
equipment on the new S-76D helicopter, which is slated to enter
service in 2008.