Research & Development

INNOVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST CHALLENGING PROBLEMS

From Legacy to Legendary

Erickson’s Advanced Engineering Capabilities

Engineering services include the entire commercial and defense aircraft spectrum from concept development, requirements gathering, system architecture, hardware and software development, FAA and EASA certification, and field deployment. Our engineers are focused on the most challenging operational environments using advanced technologies.

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Areas of Active Development

Night Vision Goggles for the S-64

Erickson partnered with Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) to modify an S-64F to perform NVG operations. Concurrently, Erickson pilots received NVG training and certification through ASU. Aircraft modifications and pilot certifications were completed in March, with FAA aircraft certification in April.

A critical element of Erickson’s NVG program is ensuring that the NVG flight crew maintain currency in accordance with current FAA regulations, though it is the policy of the Erickson training department that pilots exceed the FAA’s minimum requirements to maintain a high level of proficiency. Erickson conducted NVG training in accordance with this policy at its annual spring training event in Oregon.

Read the Press Release

Virtual Reality Trainer

The VR (Virtual Reality) Trainer links together crew members globally in the same virtual environment. The multi-pilot aspect allows two users to simultaneously be in the same cockpit anywhere in the world — as long as there’s a good Wi-Fi connection.

Design and development for the VR Trainer started pre-COVID, in early 2020. It was designed to enhance pilot training without having to access the actual aircraft. Shortly after, COVID created an increased need for remote training, while also proving the technology to be just as valuable. The trainer benefits pilots of the S-64, both experienced and brand new, allowing them to interact in the same virtual cockpit with Erickson training pilots. The engineering team is currently working on use cases for others whom the trainer will benefit, which include additional crew members and maintainers.

The trainer is equipped with impressive features that include:

High resolution, with 4k display for each eyeball for improved detail, sharpness, and an even wider color spectrum
Full-fidelity cockpit model of the aircraft, down to the last switch and dial
Linking together cutting-edge optics with multi-player video game technology
Designed to take advantage of Virtual Reality instead of the traditional screen-based simulation
- Allows new mission-specific training, which can’t be done in a simulator
- Fully immersive long-line training
- Also, it’s way more fun!

Composite Main Rotor Blades

Several years ago Erickson was faced with a dire situation for its flagship platform, the S-64: Create more main rotor blades or eventually ground the entire S-64 fleet. Over time these blades wore out due to the high-demand for flight hours of the uniquely-capable heavy lifting S-64. Then came the eventual retirement of the old blades — and the opportunity to engineer a new product that would enhance the S-64 legacy fleet.

Erickson’s New Composite Main Rotor Blades:

Increases performance at hot and high-altitude conditions
Lowers cost with advanced composite materials
Reduces fuel burn significantly
Extends the performance of the next generation S-64

Testing the Composite Main Rotor Blades

Erickson’s engineers are constantly upgrading the S-64 with improved systems and capabilities, so we have frequent needs to do on-aircraft prototype and certification testing. During this testing, the aircraft is outfitted with a suite of hundreds of sensors, and a data acquisition platform that monitors all types of aircraft system states such as strain levels, torques, pressures, temperatures, etc. Owing to our worldwide operations in extreme environments, we test in all corners of the globe including Europe, South America, Canada, and of course North America’s highest public airport at Leadville, Colorado.

Competitive Advantage:
With Erickson’s frequent design improvements, the S-64 will continue to have an outsized role in utility aircraft operations well into the future.

Read a Case Study published by Toray Advanced Composites

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Sea Snorkel™ Development

The purpose of this project is to instrument and test the Sea Snorkel to determine the loads and stresses experienced in flight. This requires designing and building test fixturing, instrumenting and calibrating strain gauges and equipment, and data acquisition that will be used for a conceptually new and improved design.

The Sea Snorkel allows Erickson Inc.’s fleet of S-64 helicopters to rapidly fill our 2,600-gallon fire suppression tank during forward-flight with water from oceans and other sources, which conserves fuel and allows us to reach more remote fires all while executing faster and more frequent water drops.

Usually at some point during testing, we are required to take the aircraft beyond its normal flight limits into the experimental range, whether that be speed, altitude, weight, or some other limit. But it’s very exciting to go there and see the improvement in whatever system we’re testing.

– Billy Johnson, Sr. Director of Engineering

This effort has been great to be a part of. It has allowed me the opportunity to work closely and create new relationships with fellow engineers, as well as with people from other areas of the company from the machine shop, the hangar, plant maintenance, as well as the pilots and crew to collaborate, work hand in hand, and make this project come together as a team. Additionally, sitting in the aft pilot seat and getting a firsthand view of how skilled our pilots are while using the sea snorkel is downright impressive. The precision required for these operations was incredible to experience.