[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Airborne Services and NLR initiated a collaborative effort to develop an innovative procedure for balancing helicopter rotor blades. This procedure can be applied to new as well as overhauled rotor blades. If successful the technology balancing rotor blades will become cheaper and the amount of rotor track and balance flights with helicopters will be reduced.
Marco Brinkman, Managing Director of Airborne Services BV states: “The improved balancing of helicopter blades offers advantages for industry since it reduces the costs and time for balancing rotor blades”.
Air Commodore Mario Verbeek, Commander of the Logistic Centre Woensdrecht says: “This new technology is important for the Dutch Airforce since we can reduce the amount of Rotor Track and Balance flights, this reduces costs and increases the operational availability”.
First platform to apply the technology will be the Cougar AS532 U2 helicopter.
Background
NLR: The National Aerospace Laboratory NLR is the central institute for aerospace research in The Netherlands. NLR is an independent non-profit organisation and one of the Dutch Major Technological Institutes which performs a large part of the applied research each within its own specific technology field.
www.nlr.nl
Airborne Services: Airborne is a company specialised in the design, manufacturing and maintenance of composite aero-structures. The group employs around 250 people and has facilities in The Netherlands and Spain. This particular business unit is active in maintenance and repair of composite structures, with a focus on rotor blades of military and civil helicopters.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]