Press Release

Issued by Honeywell Aerospace.

April 14, 2016

Honeywell Aerospace has signed a new distribution agreement with Vibratech International, a Honeywell-licensed, condition-based maintenance services and technical support provider. The agreement grows Honeywell's health and usage monitoring systems' distribution network, which will help provide better support for helicopter operators in greater China.

With Vibratech International's office and technical team in Shenzhen, China, Honeywell's health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS) users across greater China are able to receive faster responses to their requests and localized product training. The widened distribution network helps address helicopter rotor-track balance and vibration monitoring needs for helicopter operators. In addition, it increases their safety and saves time and costs.

“Vibratech International's expertise and deep understanding of Honeywell's HUMS will allow for enhanced support for a wider network of helicopter users in greater China,” said Andy Gill, senior director, Asia Pacific, business and general aviation, Honeywell Aerospace. “The new distribution agreement strengthens our HUMS offering in the region, helping end customers improve safety and reliability.

“Search and rescue mission medical services make up the largest percentage of helicopter usage in China, where mountains, plateaus and hills account for 70 percent of land. As such, helicopters are required to operate in extreme hot and high conditions in the region,” said Nico Demonei, general manager, Vibratech International. “The new agreement allows helicopter operators to receive additional support across greater China through a combination of our expertise and Honeywell's HUMS.”

In a study done over eight years and in cooperation with the South Carolina Army National Guard, researchers concluded that the use of HUMS resulted in savings in parts cost and operation support of $2.1 million. Much of this savings can be attributed to a reduction in the number of hours devoted to maintenance test flights as maintenance crews became familiar with the HUMS-enabled vibration management enhancement program.

The study team calculated per-aircraft savings due to maintenance test flight reductions for just rotor track and balance to be $121,000 per aircraft over the eight-year study period. Using these calculations, the system yields a 100 percent return on investment in four years on savings from these test flights alone.