Aviation Civile

© Dassault
26 AERoNAuTICS INDuSTRy
27
Interface Two events illustrate the high technology of Dassault Aviation
Falcon business aircraft: the EASy II cockpit and the launch of the Falcon 2000S.
Falcon “eASy II”,
compatible with EGNOS
In 2003, Dassault Aviation installed
the “EASy” cockpit in its Falcon aircraft,
a real revolution in the field of
man-machine interfaces. Resulting
from ten years work, it represents
real progress in terms of ergonomics,
coordinated crew work and safety.
EASy has four large screens arranged
in a T in front of the pilots. It displays
all of the information they need when
they need it: flight parameters, states
of systems, charts and aircraft trajectory,
weather forecasts, check list, etc.
In an emergency the problem—and its
solution—are automatically displayed
on the screen.
The EASy cockpit means easy, intuitive
and safe flight management with scrolling
menus and the selection of functions
using a “track ball”, the equivalent of a
computer mouse. Pilots have a continuous
and instantaneous overall view of
the aircraft’s current and future situation
in its environment. The advantage
is that the workload is lightened which
means greater safety.
Today, on the strength of the experience
of around 400 Falcon operators
– and to take account of changes in air
navigation regulations – Dassault Aviation
is further improving the design
with an EASy II version. It includes the
latest technologies featured with new
options and functionalities. For example,
a synthetic vision system that provides
a digital representation of the external
environment so that the terrain can be
seen as in full daylight, even in very poor
visibility.
The EASy II cockpit will be offered
as a standard equipment on board Falcon
900LX aircraft immediately after
its certification, expected at the end of
May 2011, then at the end of 2012 for Falcon
2000LX and Falcon 7X aircraft.
One of the advantages of the EASy II
cockpit is its total compatibility with the
new navigation systems, in particular
the European EGNOS 1 . This is why Dassault
was among the first operators to
experiment with its signal and measure
the benefits. In February 2011, when
the European service opened, seven LPV 2
type instrument approaches—i.e. down
to 80 m, the minimum descent height
authorised—were made at the Pau
Pyrénées airport by a Falcon 900LX.
régis noyé
1/ European Geostationary Navigation Overlay
Service (read Aviation Civile No.357).
2/ Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance.
30 CM ACCuRACy
“We have been able to confirm
the reliability and high accuracy, right up
to landing, of the new EGNOS signal,
to about 30 cm, measured as the wheels
touched the runway, says Jean-Louis
Dumas, test pilot. LPV2 approaches
considerably improve the accessibility
of a large number of secondary airports
with little or poor equipment. The EGNOS
system will offer operators more direct
routes and a greater flexibility in the
choice of destinations whilst preserving
a better level of safety.”
DASSAuLT INTRoDuCES THE FALCoN 2000S
Dassault launched the Falcon 2000S, bringing a large cabin aircraft
to the mid-sized business jet market. It will offer category leading range,
performance and efficiency. The 3,350 nm Falcon 2000S will feature
inboard slats, blended winglets, a new generation PW308C engine
that emits fewer emissions, entirely new bMW Group DesignworksuSA
interior and redesigned cockpit aesthetics along with the next-generation
EASy II flight deck. It is expected to be certified in second half 2012
with deliveries beginning in early 2013.
The new platform bases on the original Falcon 2000 has been optimized
with a long list of standard options and cutting edge technology and
industry leading features. but the most astonishing accomplishment
has been to create this large cabin Falcon in a way that runs on as much
as 10 percent less fuel than aircraft 20% smaller. And to offer it at
a comparable price.
© Dassault
lutz bertling, chairman of Eurocopter, reports on the EC175 programme.
He also tells Aviation Civile about the prospects offered by the forthcoming
liberalisation of the Chinese lower airspace.
The Chinese market’s
promises
Are you happy with your cooperation
with China on the EC175?
Up to now the cooperation with Avicopter
has proceeded satisfactorily, within
the given time scales, and this in spite
of the heavy constraint of distance. The
results of the flight tests of the EC175 1 ,
our new 7 t twin-engined civil helicopter,
have proved to be excellent.
I would also like to point out its very
high level of systems integration,
automatic flight controls and excellent
manoeuvrability.
what stage is the programme now at?
The freezing of the production configuration
in 2010 has enabled us to start the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
certification procedure, still planned
for this year, and speed up the series
production of the EC175, in view of the
first deliveries in 2012. We estimate that
the EC175 market should be from 600 to
800 units in the next twenty years.
How did you receive the announcement
of a forthcoming liberalisation of the
Chinese lower airspace?
This measure seems to match the desire
to develop the country’s dynamism
and commercial potential. Experience
shows that the objectives of the
five years plans in China are very often
achieved. On the strength of our long
history with China 2 we are obviously
ready and keen to strengthen our presence
in the country.
what are the challenges and the
prospects?
The first consequence is obviously a significant
growth in the helicopter market,
in all of its segments (mainly the light
single-engined craft and the medium
capacity twin-engined machines). This
measure opens the way to offshore
activities, aerial work and VIP transport.
The new Chinese market is estimated
at more than 450 helicopters by 2015;
maybe 1,000 in the next ten years…
Our first objective is to maintain and
even grow our market share, which, with
150 helicopters sold to date, currently
stands at 41%.
“the new Chinese
market is estimated
at more than
450 helicopters
by 2015”
what are Eurocopter’s plans for
developing its activities, especially in
terms of training and maintenance?
Eurocopter is currently the only foreign
manufacturer to benefit from a fully
operational subsidiary in China: Eurocopter
China, in charge of sales and support.
In addition, we have signed three
agreements, in 2010, with General Aviation
Maintenance & Engineering Co. Ltd.
(CGAMEC), the Civil Aviation University
of China (CAUC) and the Civil Aviation
Flight University of China (CAFUC). They
are aimed at expanding maintenance
capacities and developing training
activities for pilots and technicians.
Already, in 2009, Eurocopter increased its
holding in CGAMEC, a major MRO (Maintenance,
Repair and Overhaul) company
for helicopters, from 21 to 34%.
Interviewed by régis noyé
1/ Read Aviation Civile No.354, p. 31,
on-line at www.developpementdurable.
gouv.fr.
2/ The first Alouette III entered service
in China in 1967.
Aviation Civile magazine No.358_ June 2011 Aviation Civile magazine No.358_ June 2011
© DR Eurocopter
EuRoCoPTER WoRLD N°1
IN 2010
15,600 people
A division of EADS and a
French-German-Spanish group,
Eurocopter employs 15,600 people.
346 orders
recorded for helicopters in 2010, for a
total of €4.3 billion, or 49% of the civil
and paragovernmental market.
527 helicopters were delivered
for a turnover of more than €4.8 billion
(+6% compared to 2009).
11,200 eurocopter
helicopters are in service in
147 countries, which represents 33%
of the world fleet of civil and
paragovernmental helicopters.