Rotorcraft/Helicopter Transmissions/Gearbox Producers

[ricardoinc]

Hi Everyone:

 

I'm trying to get a better idea of who produces the main/rotor gearboxes for the transmissions systems across helicopter OEMS. I know that Triumph Group had done the main transmission for the Bell 429 Helicopter; however, was that an anomaly? Are the transmissions systems usually produced in house by the specific helicopter manufacturer such as Sikorsky, AugustaWestland, Bell, Airbus, etc.? Any help in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Ricardo

[iChris]

Hi Everyone:

 

I'm trying to get a better idea of who produces the main/rotor gearboxes for the transmissions systems across helicopter OEMS. I know that Triumph Group had done the main transmission for the Bell 429 Helicopter; however, was that an anomaly? Are the transmissions systems usually produced in house by the specific helicopter manufacturer such as Sikorsky, AugustaWestland, Bell, Airbus, etc.? Any help in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Ricardo

 

It’s become a common practice. In the early days, cost or headcount reduction was the most common reasons to outsource. In today’s world the drivers are often more strategic, and focus on carrying out core value-adding activities in-house where an organization can best utilize its own core competencies.

 

* Reduce and control operating costs

* Improve company focus

* Gain access to world-class capabilities

* Free internal resources for other purposes

* A function is time consuming to manage

* Insufficient resources are available internally

* Share risks with a partner company

 

In the case of the Bell 429, if sales don’t meet the mark, Bell is not left holding under-utilized engineering, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and equipment resources.

 

WAYNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 28, 2009-- Triumph Group, Inc. (NYSE:TGI) today announced that its gear systems operations, located in Park City, Utah and Macomb, Michigan, have been awarded a multi-year supply agreement by Bell Helicopter to provide the main transmission assembly for the 429 helicopter. The scope of the agreement includes manufacturing, assembly/integration and testing of the transmission, as well as the design and engineering of the test equipment.

 

The supply agreement is for a period of five years with five one-year contract extension options and has an estimated value in excess of $363 million over the next ten years.

Edited May 22, 2014 by iChris

[ricardoinc]

Hi Chris,

 

Thanks for the reply. Do you know of any other examples besides the Bell 429 where this sort of outsourcing has occurred? That is the ONLY case I have been able to find so far of this type of agreement between a helicopter manufacturer outsourcing its transmission design.

 

Best,

Ricardo

[iChris]

Hi Chris,

 

Thanks for the reply. Do you know of any other examples besides the Bell 429 where this sort of outsourcing has occurred? That is the ONLY case I have been able to find so far of this type of agreement between a helicopter manufacturer outsourcing its transmission design.

 

Best,

Ricardo

 

Outsourcing has occurred across the board, they all do it.

 

ITT Exelis has been awarded a contract valued at more than $15 million from Sikorsky for the production of composite tail rotor blade components on the S-76D helicopter. The work will be performed at the new Exelis composite design and manufacturing center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

LaBarge, Inc. (AMEX: LB) has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $5 million from Kaman Aerospace Corporation to provide cockpit wiring harnesses for various models of the BLACK HAWK helicopter. The Company anticipates additional follow-on orders. Kaman is a major subcontractor to Sikorsky on the BLACK HAWK program.

 

Ducommun Incorporated (NYSE: ) (“Ducommun” or the “Company”) today announced that it has received a multi-year contract from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: ) , to continue to produce electromechanical assemblies for various models of the UH-60 BLACK HAWK helicopter. Ducommun LaBarge Technologies will produce the electromechanical assemblies at its Huntsville, Ark., facility through 2017.

 

Onboard Systems, a leading provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, announced that MD Helicopters has awarded them a contract to begin development of a new cargo hook system for the MD Explorer line of twin engine helicopters.

 

(GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) today announced that it has received a contract from American Eurocopter Corporation, an operating unit of EADS North America, to provide its Video Management System (VMS) for the U.S. Army's UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Security & Support (S&S) Battalion Mission equipment Package. The estimated value of the contract is $20 million based upon projected helicopter production and deliveries over the next five years.

Edited May 23, 2014 by iChris