18 November 2003

The majority of today's HUMS operators as well as all of the major helicopter manufacturers (Bell, Boeing, Eurocopter, Agusta, Westland and Sikorsky), and the key regulatory organisations in the UK (the Civil Aviation Authority) and the US (the Federal Aviation Administration) attended the conference.

During presentations the CAA concluded that 'HUMS is a major contribution to helicopter safety'. Independent studies were quoted, which determined that 'HUMS was probably the most significant isolated safety improvement of the last decade'.

The HUMS was introduced into service in the UK in 1991 and since then has been taken up worldwide. There are now around 350 Smiths HUM systems in service with 20 operators, involving 15 different helicopter types, and the conference provided the opportunity to share operational experiences and discuss the significant safety and maintenance benefits that have been achieved with HUMS over the last decade. Most of these operators were present at the conference, representing the UK, Norway, Canada, USA, Singapore, and The Netherlands. To date, around 1.5 million flying hours have been logged.

Smiths Aerospace is the leading transatlantic aerospace equipment company with its 9,100 employees and nearly $2 billion revenues split equally between Europe and North America. Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group plc, holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and is a world-leader in electronic and mechanical systems, and precision components.