26 September 2001

This selection reinforces the existing relationship between Smiths and the Agusta-Bell team which has already selected Smiths to supply the Bell-Agusta BA-609 helicopter and will benefit from common on-board hardware and ground station. The AB139 HUMS is a derivative of the GenHUMS equipment which entered operational service on the UK Ministry of Defence Mk2/2a Chinooks in September 2000 and which will be fitted to the UK Sea King, Puma, Lynx and Chinook Mk3 fleets. The system is currently flying on Bell 412 and Sikorsky CH-53.   Bell Helicopter is also offering the Smiths HUMS for all international AH-1Z King Cobra sales.

The Smiths Aerospace HUMS capability, which has been developed and proven in over 1 million flight hours of operation, offers both improved safety and reduced operating costs and can be readily configured for a variety of helicopter platforms.  The AB139 HUMS will continuously monitor the performance of safety-critical components, providing advance warning of potential equipment failures and collecting valuable data for routine maintenance of the helicopters. HUMS sensors monitor the health and usage of the engines, transmission, drivetrain system, rotor system and airframe by detecting and diagnosing potential failures, recording usage, automating test procedures and providing alerts for potential maintenance actions.

Smiths Aerospace is the leading transatlantic aerospace equipment company, with half its 12,000 staff and $2 billion revenues in North America. The company holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and are world-leaders in electronic systems, actuation systems and precision components.