Your iAeroNEWSn°12 I October 2023 |
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| | From concept to flight... The world of (e)VTOLs is progressing. The development of future vertical take-off and landing aerial vehicles hopes to meet the need to decarbonize civil aviation. In fact, they were one of the stars of urban mobility at the last Paris Air Show. There are already over 500 concepts worldwide: electric, hybrid or fuel cell. But how many will actually become fully certified & operational? Big question... Numerous technological, financial, regulatory and societal hurdles stand in the way of their progress from prototype to commercial air vehicle. And one of them is related to flight testing. What skills do test pilots need? Do we have the right professionals to test these prototypes in flight? Each project has its own specificities, which need to be analyzed individually to answer these questions. And depending on its architecture and aerodynamics, the test pilots will come from the airplane and/or helicopter industry. iAero is one of Europe's leading flight test specialists for general aviation. Its pilots fly all over the world, testing helicopters of all manufacturers and aircraft of all sizes. This dual expertise is what sets iAero apart. And let's not forget data collection and performance monitoring, thanks to APIBOX, which makes iAero a privileged partner for this new market that is expanding in all directions. The demand for flight test support is growing, as manufacturers and funding agencies step up their efforts. And iAero is at the forefront in meeting this need! Fly safe! Gérald DUCOIN iAero Managing Director and Test Pilot |
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| The APIBOX X-factor for flying schools! |
| Whether civil or military, French or foreign, the APIBOX is the trusted partner of flight training schools. The APIBOX, installed in training aircraft, with its debriefing software, offers superior training quality. It monitors, alerts and analyzes all phases of flight, from start-up to engine shutdown. Students who use this tool tell us that they progress faster and perform better. And their instructors confirm this, because with APIBOX, even solo flying is improved, and no longer limited to vague and more or less objective impressions! Many schools trust us. Let's take a look at a few examples of APIBOX users: - German airline Lufthansa's flight school, with its 2 Diamond DA 40s
- The French Navy with its 2 Robin Aircraft CAP 10 Cs
- OxfordSaudia Flight Academy with a planned total 60 new DA40s and DA42s
- French Air Force Aerobatic Team (EVAAE) with 2 EXTRA 330 SCs
- Most recently, the HBG group and one of its Robinson 44 helicopters in France
- And many others in France and all over the world...
APIBOX is a tool for differentiating and attracting new customers to your training offer. It's the X factor for pilots, schools and aircraft owners. And what about you? Will you have an APIBOX on board for your next flight? |
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| | It was a sunny spring morning at an airfield in eastern France. A small aerobatic aircraft, a CR100, left its parking area and taxied towards the runway. The pilot, alone on board, is getting ready to take off on what looks like a serene journey. The weather was fine, the aircraft was in perfect flying condition and the navigation had been well prepared. Unfortunately, during the last turn before entering the runway, the aircraft's propeller hit a runway sign. Although damaged, the propeller continued to turn and punctured the fuselage. The pilot switched off the engine and went down to the taxiway to inspect the damage. How did this happen? It was the APIBOX that clarified the situation and provided the data needed to understand the incident. Deciphering the parameters recorded revealed a slow speed, low power and rudder pedal positioning that indicated a lot of crosswind at the time of impact. The runway sign, positioned on the right and very close to the taxiway, was in the blind spot of the pilot seated on the left of the aircraft. This was immediately obvious. The APIBOX data, consulted remotely via its internal GSM transmission system, supplemented the on-site inspection and the pilot's statements. The owner was precisely informed of the facts almost in real time. And the insurance expert put together a complete file with the APIBOX data, which were "extremely useful", he told the owner . APIBOX is your trusted partner, both in the air and on the ground. |
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APIBOX: HOW DOES IT WORK? |
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| And I turn up the sound... |
| And what if your APIBOX became your in-flight guardian angel! This is already the case after the flight, with over 100 parameters collected, audio and video recorded in the cockpit and debriefing software. A high-performance safety system that can be consulted on the ground. So what would you say if, in flight, you now had a voice command that told you live in the air that you were approaching a performance limit? that a parameter had been exceeded? Unfortunately, it's not uncommon in flight to make a mistake, to get distracted or lose concentration. A VNE or load factor overrun, a landing gear not extended or an overspeed can occur and take us by surprise. Imagine, then, having a voice in your headset alerting you to the anomaly and the danger? A preventive interaction between your aircraft and yourself at the controls. We're looking into the possibility of giving our system the ability to talk in flight, to serve you even better and make you even safer. Our APIBOX would become an active system, like a computerised pilot's aid. It could change the way you fly tomorrow. But shhhh... let's let our engineers get on with their work and look forward to seeing how they progress in a future issue of your newsletter! Stay tuned... APIBOX, let's talk to you! |
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BEHIND THE SCENES OF IAERO... |
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Our test pilots at the controls of a hybrid aircraft |
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Why have to choose when you can have both? That's the question asked by the inventors of this new aircraft concept: vertical take-off like a helicopter and cruise flight like an aeroplane. It will also be hybrid on the engine side, with electric power on take-off and thermal power on cruise. And now, who will be able to fly such an aircraft? iAero's test pilots! We are the only company in France to have all the flight test skills required for both aeroplanes and helicopters. So our test pilots Gérald (aeroplane) and Stéphane (helicopter) went on site, at the request of the manufacturers, to meet their need for experienced test pilots. Each will be able to carry out his responsibilities: one for hovering, the other for cruising flight. Their complementary is an undeniable asset for this mission. But it's not just about flight testing. Our pilots are working with the manufacturers on the future regulations applying to this new aircraft, as well as on a simulator that will determine the air vehicle's laws in flight. Among them, Gérald and Stéphane have more than 50 years' experience of flight testing aircraft and helicopters. iAero is also well versed in the regulatory processes and the language of the authorities. An essential asset for the certification of such new types of air vehicles. Next step for our two pilots: simulator tests with virtual reality goggles as a bonus! iAero, one of the international leaders in flight testing, in complete independence 😉. |
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| iAero, the Asian experience |
| Flying schools in Asia rely on iAero for APIBOX installation and maintenance work on their aircraft. But nothing can be taken for granted in these parts of the world, where the language, culture and logistics can be different from our own standards... Roadmap of a mission like no other... Two iAero engineers were sent to support the local teams of an Air Force Academy as they renovated the avionics and installed the APIBOX on three new two-seater aircraft. Thirteen intense days for our two experts to deliver these equipped aircraft on time. The constraints encountered were varied: - Cultural - Approach to work organisation
- Relational - getting through to the right people is essential to progress, and the complexity of the hierarchies doesn't make the task any easier
- Logistical - it's difficult to get spare parts on time
- Availability - aircraft are not always available when needed.
But iAero is no stranger to these complex contexts, having started out in Asia in 2011, working with a local airline on PC6s and Cessna 208s. We understand how to formulate our requests and manage the local teams without huge misunderstandings; we demonstrate our know-how and win the trust of staff and management; we anticipate and adapt to work as quickly as possible; not forgetting the humour and friendliness outside working hours, which are assets not to be overlooked. Mission accomplished for our two engineers, who returned to France a few days ago! They are now back at work in Darois (iAero's head office) before setting off again for Asia in the next few months... |
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| APIBOX certified for the King Air |
| In the Beech family, we ask for the KING AIR! After the Beech 1900, our APIBOX is now EASA-approved for the King Air family (Beechcraft 200 and 300), a twin-engine turboprop aircraft with a capacity of up to 11 passengers for public transport, business travel or government missions. |
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| | The EVAAE on the podium again! |
| Second and third place for the pilots of the French Air Force Aerobatic School at the French Aerobatic Championship. Congratulations to them and the whole team, who are flying APIBOX-equipped EXTRA 330 SCs! |
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| | The press is talking about us! |
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iAero 12B route de Troyes 21121 Darois Phone: +33 (0)3 80 73 60 26 info@iaero.fr www.iaero.fr |
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