This is exactly the sort of discussion that is required to try and iron out the problems with operating this aircraft. As someone said to me the other day, he would, "give Agusta eleven out of ten for concept, but only three out of ten for execution!"
The idea of putting together a wish list made up from all operators through out the world can only help to bring these problems to the attention of Agusta. We never know, there may be a few common themes running through out!
Geoff, having an Owner / Operator conference is a GREAT idea but we must ensure the right people attend! As you know the biggest operator of the aircraft in the world do not own the aircraft directly, but lease them off an inhouse third party who have no expertise whatever in operating the aircraft at the coal face. No doubt it will be them who get the invite, and if past experience is to be believed will not think about canvasing opinion of the pilots and engineers prior to turning up in Vallencia!!!!!!
Red, for what it is worth here is my top ten. I have tried to put them in some sort of order of importance but I am sure others would order them differently.
1. AVAD - it seems to me the hardware for the system is already there! As well as producing a MIN warning when going through the decision height bug, surely the software should be capable of it triggering a "check height" warning aswell?!!
2. Aural warning regrade caption on CAS - Agusta have produced enough warnings on the CAS but seemed to have ignored this one! At least make it a guarded switch like the others on the MISC panel.
3. "Gear Up" warning triggered by an airspeed switch. I would have thought that this could once again be done through software modification.
4. Searchlight location.
5. Radar software compatible with the aircraft TCAS.
6. Independent DME display on PFD.
7. Seats that move independently forward / aft, and up / down.
8. Totally seperate power supply for the standby ADI.
9. Glide slope info on HSI.
10. FMS suited to the roles the aircraft is being sold into;
i) Search patterns for SAR
ii) Auto flyovers for offshore shuttles
iii) Fuel to nearset Kg on progress page rather than right at the back of the FMS in the engineering Data.
Looking at this it seems six out of ten of the above faults could be software related - Significant??
As an asside I wonder if anyone can explain to me why the CAT B WAT graphs indicate an increase in weight with decrease in windspeed at altitude. My limited knowledge thought that it should be the other way around, but I am waiting to be corrected. After all the graphs have been certified and therefore must be correct. It could be another one like Reds anomoly with airspeed at height placard.