HUMS kit pricing

[RSanchez]

Does anyone have comprehensive pricing information (equipment + labor costs ) to install a HUMS kit on a Eurocopter EC155, 365N3, or a EC225? :confused:
Any information is helpful. Thanks...

[widgeon]

I imagine the retrofit is pretty expensive as it has to connect to so many systems. I am not sure if anyone besides EC has an STC for even a minimal fit . There are some after market ones I believe for the Bell mediums.

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSTC.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet

Shows 6 hits for HUMS only large helicopter is S-61 Chawick system STC owned by CHC all other are Altair systems for small helicopters

I would expect it is only available as a factory installed option for these aircraft.

Anyone got a blue book handy ?.

Is HUMS a JAR OPS requirement ?.

( edited coz i can't spell JAR)

[Helitemp]

Well,
what do you need it for? is the first question to answer yourself. Regulations,maintenance credit,????
The earlier HUMS systems were driven by the heavy helio accidents of the late eighties and were not driven by the manufacturers. In europe there were two kits one developed with stewart hughs teledyne and fitted for development to Helikopter Services and British International. The other system was Bristows and Marconi I think. These systems are still in use to day and work on the whole quite well. Manufacturers who did power by the hour were very cagy about HUMS and told operators that transmissions rejected by hums and subsequently found to have no fault substanciated would have a large penalty applied to their account.
As most of the cost of development was born by the Oil companies working in Europe the cost of fit would be difficult to work out. Operators were given a premium on contract prices to provide a hums fitted contract Helio.
The manufacturers now provide a hums option on their products EC have EuroHums and Sikorsky & Bell also. If you want to provide a smooth reliable machine with minimum of stresses on it then its a good tool especially for over water flying.
Hope this of some use to you I work with IHUMS every day on a AS332L and it is a good tool and confidence booster to the mechanic. Sorry I cant help you too much on the possible price of it.

[Hippolite]

Cost for HUMS on a new EC225 from ECF is quoted at USD 848,408. This is for an aircraft with the CAA airworthiness kit and basically itted for NS opertaions.

HH

[No_7DAD]

Feel free to participate in the FAA listening session this FEB at HAI. The FAA is going to be open to suggestions from the operators regarding HUMS and other heath monitoring systems. The FAA in conjunction with the HAI and AHS will be rolling out the International Helicopter Safety Team. This is an industry - operator and government team to reduce the accident rate by 80%. HUMS and other systems will be critical to this effort. The FAA is funding a HUMS R&D effort as we speak. We have been talking to the UK CAA and EASA.

Hopefully you will be able to find a vendor. At the International Helicopter Safety Symposium in Montroal in September we found a graduate student who designed a HUMs for the R-22 for about $500 ($250 for the system and $250 for the two Robinson parts neede to accomplish installation). We are keen to support these programs. Come and let the FAA and other Regulatory Agencies here your suggestions and willingness to help.
thx
David Downey
Manager, FAA Rotorcraft Directorate
Ft. Worth, Texas

[widgeon]

848 K . is that for a kit fitted during aircraft build ? . Do they have a Service Bulletin in the optional section to install this ? , that will normally give the esimated ( not always accurate ) hours for the installation. Are any of the OEM's giving extended TBO's for aircraft fitted with Hums ?

[NickLappos]

The HUMS/HOMP/Maintenance Data Computer on the S-92 is standard, and included in the base price. It cannot be removed. So too is the EGPWS.

[widgeon]

What would the option cost on the S76 ?.

[chuckolamofola]

No_7DAD said:
Hopefully you will be able to find a vendor. At the International Helicopter Safety Symposium in Montroal in September we found a graduate student who designed a HUMs for the R-22 for about $500 ($250 for the system and $250 for the two Robinson parts neede to accomplish installation).

Chuck says:
A $500 system is quite a teaser, yet AFAIK he has had no certification testing to DO-160 or DO-178 standards, wait until he adds that, plus pays a DER for installation and STC certification and see what his price comes up to. No doubt, quite a bit less than $850K. But I bet it will be quite a bit more than $500 if and when he gets it certified. I also wonder how much capability it has, does it do RT&B, gear and bearing monitoring? I don't mean these comments to be negative, its just that not many people understand the cost it takes just to certify something simple in today's market.

For an alternative that's affordable but more than $500 check out IAC. http://iac-online.com. Come by booth 2731 at HAI for more details.

Widgen:
Currently no one offers TBO extension (credits) to any of the systems operated in the US. To do so would require the system software certification to be at level B, which significately adds to the development cost, which would push the system up in the $800K catagory. I seriously doubt many will buy an $800K system, as it would take a long time to pay for itself. PM me if you want to discuss further.

Regards,
Chuck Kemp