AW189
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Germany
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well here we go, just a civil AW149!
Put the 169, 139 and 189 next to each other and it becomes true nerd stuff to tell which one is which.
If prices of the AW189 are noticably cheaper than EC225/S92 it might be a success. At least Agusta thinks one seat makes a difference...
Put the 169, 139 and 189 next to each other and it becomes true nerd stuff to tell which one is which.
If prices of the AW189 are noticably cheaper than EC225/S92 it might be a success. At least Agusta thinks one seat makes a difference...
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Global
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Watched the 149 put on a rather spirited display along with EC175 & X3 which I personally thought was brilliant.
As said 189 basically a civil 149, was unable to get to the podium as it was invite only however the interesting thing seen was the 4 rows of seats with what would be the middle seat of 5 missing in rows 1,2 & 3 to allow ingress to the rear and front.
Was told the cockpit will end up similar to that of 169 for commonality figures quoted were 145-150 cruise but as we all know when you start hanging all that crap off the outside it will go down and projected radius was 140nm with a full load with a Cat A departure at each end.
As said 189 basically a civil 149, was unable to get to the podium as it was invite only however the interesting thing seen was the 4 rows of seats with what would be the middle seat of 5 missing in rows 1,2 & 3 to allow ingress to the rear and front.
Was told the cockpit will end up similar to that of 169 for commonality figures quoted were 145-150 cruise but as we all know when you start hanging all that crap off the outside it will go down and projected radius was 140nm with a full load with a Cat A departure at each end.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: ...in view of the 'Southern Cross' ...
Posts: 1,383
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mmmm ...
And the CT7 engines will not have to be installed backwards so perhaps the exhaust ducting will be simplified ....
Have they re-engineered the aft undercarriage to eliminate the excessive tyre wear issue ....
Will the AB/AW139 type rating become a 'series' typerating I wonder ??
So many questions ......
And the CT7 engines will not have to be installed backwards so perhaps the exhaust ducting will be simplified ....
Have they re-engineered the aft undercarriage to eliminate the excessive tyre wear issue ....
Will the AB/AW139 type rating become a 'series' typerating I wonder ??
So many questions ......
Someone should tell AW that "more pax=more baggage"! Check out the size of that baggage compartment door 
OK, door size isn't an indicator of baggage capacity, but can you imagine trying to locate a bag in there whilst doing a 5+ stop shuttle.
It looks less practical than the back end of the Super Puma, and I didn't think I would ever say that
OK, door size isn't an indicator of baggage capacity, but can you imagine trying to locate a bag in there whilst doing a 5+ stop shuttle.
It looks less practical than the back end of the Super Puma, and I didn't think I would ever say that
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Europe
Age: 45
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
is it just me, or does not it look very similar to the Westland 30, but with 30 years improved technology applied? It even uses the same engines (GE CT-7) as the WG30-200!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
maiden flight performed yesterday
AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the first prototype of the AW189 twin engine 8-tonne class helicopter successfully completed its maiden flight yesterday. The aircraft was launched at the Paris Air Show earlier this year and this first prototype made its maiden flight ahead of schedule. AgustaWestland aims to achieve civil certification for the AW189 in 2013 and to start deliveries in early 2014. The AW189 was flown by AgustaWestland Chief Test Pilot Giuseppe Lo Coco at the company’s Cascina Costa plant in Italy. It performed as expected during the flight which included an assessment of the helicopter’s general handling and basic systems. The first prototype will be used for avionic system testing and certification of offshore equipment options, while the second prototype, set to fly in 2012, will be dedicated to a load survey programme.
Bruno Spagnolini, Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland, said “Performing the first flight of the new AW189 just a few months after its launch highlights our strong commitment to providing the market with the most advanced helicopters in the shortest possible timescales. We are delighted with the initial response from the market with a number of leading operators having already committed to buy the AW189 for long range offshore missions.” He went on to say “We are confident as we progress towards certification and production that many more operators will select the AW189 as their new generation helicopter for Search and Rescue, offshore transport and parapublic missions due to its long-range capabilities, attractive operating costs and modern safety features.”
The all new AW189 was launched this year in response to the growing market demand for a versatile, affordable, multirole helicopter in the 8-tonne class and has rapidly found success in the market place. A number of sales have already been secured from leading operators serving the offshore oil and gas markets, including Bristow Helicopters, Bel Air, and Weststar Aviation Services. The AW189 is part of AgustaWestland’s family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW169 and AW139 models. These helicopters all possess the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features and share the same common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concepts. This approach will deliver real cost savings in areas such as training, maintenance and support for existing operators of the AW139 who add AW169 and/or AW189 helicopters to their fleets. Set to enter service in early 2014, the twin engine AW189 helicopter is optimised for long range offshore transport and SAR missions. The spacious cabin seats 16 passengers in the standard configuration with the option of a high density 18 seat layout or an ultra long range 12 seat configuration. In the SAR role the 11.2 m3 cabin can accommodate a mission console, stretchers and seating for the crew and survivors. A single or dual rescue hoist is positioned above the large sliding cabin door on the starboard side and a range of equipment including FLIR, searchlight and radar can be fitted. Exceptional external visibility and the deployment of the latest in avionics technology make the AW189 the pilot’s choice. The cockpit design incorporates the latest in advanced situational awareness technologies which reduce crew workload and enhance safety. The new generation AW189 will meet the very latest international regulatory safety requirements (EASA / FAA Part 29, JAR OPS 3 / EU-OPS). The AW189 will also benefit from the extensive and expanding AgustaWestland worldwide support network already serving the offshore oil and gas industry. A range of simulator and training devices will progressively be made available to serve the worldwide AW189 customer base.
Bruno Spagnolini, Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland, said “Performing the first flight of the new AW189 just a few months after its launch highlights our strong commitment to providing the market with the most advanced helicopters in the shortest possible timescales. We are delighted with the initial response from the market with a number of leading operators having already committed to buy the AW189 for long range offshore missions.” He went on to say “We are confident as we progress towards certification and production that many more operators will select the AW189 as their new generation helicopter for Search and Rescue, offshore transport and parapublic missions due to its long-range capabilities, attractive operating costs and modern safety features.”
The all new AW189 was launched this year in response to the growing market demand for a versatile, affordable, multirole helicopter in the 8-tonne class and has rapidly found success in the market place. A number of sales have already been secured from leading operators serving the offshore oil and gas markets, including Bristow Helicopters, Bel Air, and Weststar Aviation Services. The AW189 is part of AgustaWestland’s family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW169 and AW139 models. These helicopters all possess the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features and share the same common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concepts. This approach will deliver real cost savings in areas such as training, maintenance and support for existing operators of the AW139 who add AW169 and/or AW189 helicopters to their fleets. Set to enter service in early 2014, the twin engine AW189 helicopter is optimised for long range offshore transport and SAR missions. The spacious cabin seats 16 passengers in the standard configuration with the option of a high density 18 seat layout or an ultra long range 12 seat configuration. In the SAR role the 11.2 m3 cabin can accommodate a mission console, stretchers and seating for the crew and survivors. A single or dual rescue hoist is positioned above the large sliding cabin door on the starboard side and a range of equipment including FLIR, searchlight and radar can be fitted. Exceptional external visibility and the deployment of the latest in avionics technology make the AW189 the pilot’s choice. The cockpit design incorporates the latest in advanced situational awareness technologies which reduce crew workload and enhance safety. The new generation AW189 will meet the very latest international regulatory safety requirements (EASA / FAA Part 29, JAR OPS 3 / EU-OPS). The AW189 will also benefit from the extensive and expanding AgustaWestland worldwide support network already serving the offshore oil and gas industry. A range of simulator and training devices will progressively be made available to serve the worldwide AW189 customer base.
Merry Xmas all and be nice to see the 169 fly next !
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Europe
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AW189 Demonstrates 50min Run Dry Time
An AW publication is saying that they have successfully demostrated to EASA a 50 minute run time time on the AW189 MGB during bench testing. 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The material choice is the easy bit. Deciding what coatings and treatments is the key. I very much doubt anyone would know what heat treatment processes and finishes are used except the guys at AW!
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Royal Leamington Spa
Age: 78
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Could someone tell me what material helicopter gearboxes are made from?
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Resting in shade
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It would be interesting to see more details.
Was it - ''i forgot to screw the filler cap properly'' run dry, or was it more like -
''I smashed gearbox casing with sledge hammer'' run dry...
Was it - ''i forgot to screw the filler cap properly'' run dry, or was it more like -
''I smashed gearbox casing with sledge hammer'' run dry...
Last edited by 311kph; 17th Apr 2013 at 16:57.
From AW official Press Release:
AgustaWestland Sets New Safety Benchmark for Helicopter Gearboxes with A 50 Minute “Run Dry” Capability
05/03/2013
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has successfully demonstrated to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) a 50-minute loss of oil or “run dry” capability for the AW189 main gearbox. The AW189 will be the first helicopter ever to enter service with such a capability, which is 20-minutes more than any other currently certified helicopter.
In what Giuseppe Gasparini, AgustaWestland’s Head of Transmission Systems Design & Development describes as a “outstanding result”, the AW189 main gearbox was subsequently disassembled and the components checked. “Although they had sustained some damage due to lack of lubrication, overall they were in very good shape and this showed that our design approach and the way we engineered the distribution of residual oil made it possible to extend the run dry period to 50 minutes.”
Daniele Romiti, CEO of AgustaWestland added “The capability for a helicopter to continue to fly after a loss of oil incident affecting the main gearbox is a critical safety issue that remains a top priority for manufacturers, operators and certification authorities worldwide. As demonstrated here AgustaWestland continues to lead the way in finding technological solutions to one of industry’s most long-standing issues and delivering ever increasing levels of safety for everyone that flies in our helicopters.”
Current EASA rules state that during any failure resulting in total loss of lubricant the aircraft must be capable of safe operation for at least 30 minutes after the crew is alerted to the problem. A helicopter main gearbox is a finely-tuned mechanical system which needs to run reliably and consistently at high input speeds (more than 20,000rpm) and torques, while coping with high temperatures and heavy stresses on its components. Loss of lubrication in flight can have serious consequences – a number of recent industry incidents have involved loss of oil from the main gearbox.
The need for dry run capability is vital for all helicopter operators but particularly for those operating in harsh environments such as the offshore sector where immediate landing is not always an option. AgustaWestland’s approach to reducing the risk of loss of oil from transmission systems differs from its competitors, first of all in the area of design. The design of most main gearboxes includes a heat exchanger designed to cool oil and a fan to draw air – typically these are located away from the main gearbox itself and connected to the main casing via pipes, hoses and fittings. Avoiding these external components is one way to mitigate the risk of catastrophic loss of lubrication. Since the early 1980s AgustaWestland has developed the heat exchanger installation as integrally fitted to the main gearbox casing and has replaced external pipes with integrated cored oil passages.
AgustaWestland designs also include redundancy on the lubrication system with dual pumps working in parallel to ensure sufficient oil flow should one pump fail and the low pressure warning be activated. Other measures include fail-safe capability on pressurised fittings, independent lubrication (sealed grease or oil) to mechanically-driven rotating components and multiple ‘green run’ testing and systems checks during assembly.
Finally, the ability to reduce heat generation within the main gearbox during a loss of oil situation is an important factor because this means less demand is placed on the residual reserves of oil. AgustaWestland has introduced measures to minimise friction through super finishing of gears and the introduction of special treatments and coatings as well as the use of heat-tolerant materials.
05/03/2013
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has successfully demonstrated to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) a 50-minute loss of oil or “run dry” capability for the AW189 main gearbox. The AW189 will be the first helicopter ever to enter service with such a capability, which is 20-minutes more than any other currently certified helicopter.
In what Giuseppe Gasparini, AgustaWestland’s Head of Transmission Systems Design & Development describes as a “outstanding result”, the AW189 main gearbox was subsequently disassembled and the components checked. “Although they had sustained some damage due to lack of lubrication, overall they were in very good shape and this showed that our design approach and the way we engineered the distribution of residual oil made it possible to extend the run dry period to 50 minutes.”
Daniele Romiti, CEO of AgustaWestland added “The capability for a helicopter to continue to fly after a loss of oil incident affecting the main gearbox is a critical safety issue that remains a top priority for manufacturers, operators and certification authorities worldwide. As demonstrated here AgustaWestland continues to lead the way in finding technological solutions to one of industry’s most long-standing issues and delivering ever increasing levels of safety for everyone that flies in our helicopters.”
Current EASA rules state that during any failure resulting in total loss of lubricant the aircraft must be capable of safe operation for at least 30 minutes after the crew is alerted to the problem. A helicopter main gearbox is a finely-tuned mechanical system which needs to run reliably and consistently at high input speeds (more than 20,000rpm) and torques, while coping with high temperatures and heavy stresses on its components. Loss of lubrication in flight can have serious consequences – a number of recent industry incidents have involved loss of oil from the main gearbox.
The need for dry run capability is vital for all helicopter operators but particularly for those operating in harsh environments such as the offshore sector where immediate landing is not always an option. AgustaWestland’s approach to reducing the risk of loss of oil from transmission systems differs from its competitors, first of all in the area of design. The design of most main gearboxes includes a heat exchanger designed to cool oil and a fan to draw air – typically these are located away from the main gearbox itself and connected to the main casing via pipes, hoses and fittings. Avoiding these external components is one way to mitigate the risk of catastrophic loss of lubrication. Since the early 1980s AgustaWestland has developed the heat exchanger installation as integrally fitted to the main gearbox casing and has replaced external pipes with integrated cored oil passages.
AgustaWestland designs also include redundancy on the lubrication system with dual pumps working in parallel to ensure sufficient oil flow should one pump fail and the low pressure warning be activated. Other measures include fail-safe capability on pressurised fittings, independent lubrication (sealed grease or oil) to mechanically-driven rotating components and multiple ‘green run’ testing and systems checks during assembly.
Finally, the ability to reduce heat generation within the main gearbox during a loss of oil situation is an important factor because this means less demand is placed on the residual reserves of oil. AgustaWestland has introduced measures to minimise friction through super finishing of gears and the introduction of special treatments and coatings as well as the use of heat-tolerant materials.