This certificate confirms Kopter as a duly recognized Production Organization. It is attesting that Kopter has in place qualified personnel, the necessary methods, processes and procedures, as well as a reliable quality system. It is a major milestone for Kopter making it eligible to produce and ramp up its light single-engine SH09 helicopter.
The handover ceremony of the certificate took place today at the Kopter premises in Mollis with the participation of the Chief Operations Officer of Kopter, Dr. Jan Nowacki, the FOCA POA Team Leader for Kopter, Urs Frei, and Andreas Boss, national FOCA POA coordinator.
Jan Nowacki said, “We are extremely satisfied to receive this certificate, which acknowledges all the work we’ve done in building a well performing team and organization. We thank FOCA for their trust and strong support in reaching this key step and look forward to pursuing our close cooperation on our way to produce our new turbine engine helicopter.”
Andreas Boss and Urs Frei commented: “We are proud to handover this POA certificate to Kopter. It demonstrates that Kopter fulfills the highest aviation standards and possesses the capability, facilities, manpower, resources and quality assurance systems to produce and support the SH09 helicopter which is on its way to certification.”
Kopter Group is thrilled to be part of the Zigermeet event, which takes place in Mollis, Switzerland, on the 16th & 17th August 2019.
Mollis being the home of Kopter, the company is very proud to support the organization of this unique event, during which all types of aircraft perform one after the other breathtaking in-flight demonstrations. On this occasion, Kopter is showcasing its SH09 prototype #2 (P2) on the static display, allowing visitors to come closer to the first Swiss made helicopter.
Rafale International will also be taking part in the Zigermeet 2019 airshow at Mollis Airport, Switzerland, from August 16 to 17, 2019.
– Gualter Helicopteros appointed as Kopter Group distributor for Brazil. – Kopter’s SH09 is exhibited at LABACE in Sao Paolo from August 13th to 15th.
Kopter Group (Kopter) is starting the active promotion in Brazil of its SH09, the next generation single engine helicopter, with the appointment of Gualter Helicopteros as its representative & distributor.
The partnership between the two companies was signed on the first day of the LABACE 2019 exhibition, which is taking place in Sao Paolo from August 13th to 15th. Christian Gras, Kopter Executive Vice President Customers declared on this occasion: “With more than 30-year experience in the helicopter business and having introduced several helicopter models in the Brazilian market, Gualter Helicopteros is the right partner to ensure the success of the SH09 in Brazil. The team has an impressive track record, having sold over 600 new and used helicopters on the Brazilian and South American markets”.
Brazil, which has a solid aeronautical tradition and is the world third largest aircraft industry, counts today more than 1,800 helicopters in operations, including a large part of single engine models. It represents a unique opportunity for Kopter’s SH09 as the helicopter perfectly meets the market expectations for a modern, performing and cost-effective platform to replace an aging fleet.
For the first time, Kopter is showcasing the full-scale mock-up of its SH09 in Brazil at the exhibition. The SH09 is fitted with a seven-seat transport configuration (five passengers and two pilots) developed and installed by Metro Aviation. The mock-up also features the Garmin G3000H, a state of the art avionics suite for which Kopter is the launching customer. The G3000H will be integrated in the SH09 since the very first delivery. It will significantly reduce pilot workload, increase situational awareness and boost the aircraft’s operational safety margins.
The multi-role SH09 helicopter is a highly adaptive and versatile platform to transport passengers with the highest levels of safety, comfort and visibility. Its large cabin offers the volume and flexibility typically seen on light-twin helicopters only. It allows multiple interior layouts that provide ample legroom as well as flexibility for added luggage loaded through the rear clamshell doors. The helicopter’s low vibration levels with its five-blade main rotor, as well as the silent noise signature of the shrouded tail rotor, create the ultimate flying experience.
The SH09 is generating a strong response on the worldwide market, having today a total number of orders amounting to 70 units, to which another 100 LOIs are to be added. Kopter looks forward to welcoming Brazilian operators to its list of customers.
P3 completed 34 flights in Sicily, reaching an overall 100 flight test hours. Flight envelope has been opened beyond 10,000 feet and at an airspeed of 135 knots.
In March 2019, Kopter transferred its third prototype (P3) together with a team composed of 20 flight test engineers, pilots and mechanics to Sicily to set up an additional flight test base in Pozzallo.
Pozzallo provides the perfect operational conditions to conduct the SH09 intensive flight test campaign needed in the frame of certification. It offers very limited restrictions and favorable weather conditions throughout the year, while giving the opportunity to experience a demanding climate with hot temperatures, high humidity, strong winds and a salty atmosphere.
Since its arrival and over a period of two months, the flight test crew performed 34 flights with P3, allowing the aircraft to reach around 100 flight test hours. In this timeframe, the first major inspection has been carried out successfully.
The major outcome is the opening of the SH09 flight envelope up to 10,000 feet altitude and up to a speed of 135 knots. During all flights, P3 performed as expected and generated a large volume of valuable data that is being used to finalize the design of the serial production SH09.
The next phase of the flight test campaign, after implementing some aerodynamic refinements further improving P3 handling qualities and the retrofit of the main gear box housing, will see P3 going higher, faster and further. It will allow gathering the remaining data needed to finalize the configuration of Pre-Series aircrafts n°4 and n°5 (PS4 & PS5), which will contribute to the certification flights next year.
2020 remains the target for EASA certification. Kopter management and team are fully committed to deliver the SH09 with the highest levels of safety, performance, flight qualities and competitiveness.
