"The replacement of hydraulically powered systems by electrically powered equivalents will permit rationalization of the helicopter power supply arrangement, and potential elimination of conventional hydraulic systems," said Alan Bean, Managing Director of actuation specialists FHL. FHL announced that results of development work by its engineers on the Helicopter Electric Actuation Technology (HEAT) program indicates that an "all-electric aircraft" could be realized within the next decade.
A member of the HEAT consortium, FHL is developing electromechanical actuation for rotorcraft, focusing on the replacement of conventional hydraulically powered systems with electrically powered equivalents. FHL explains that the technology now being studied would be particularly for the GKN Westland EH101 helicopter. There are indications that HEAT could lead to weight reduction of at least 250 kg. Availability, reliability, and maintainability would also be improved.
Bean stressed that applications under development by FHL have an identical form and fit with their conventional counterparts. "We believe electric flight controls could be fully qualified and market affordable by 2004, making
an all-electric helicopter achievable within the next decade," he said.
The HEAT program is jointly funded by the British Government's Department of Trade and Industry under the More Electric Aircraft Initiative (MEA). FHL forms part of a consortium of companies; other members are BAE Systems, Smiths Industries, and GKN Westland Helicopters.
Stuart Birch
Aerospace Engineering October 2000
