The L3Harris Avionics Products Repair Station (NN2R037L) in Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first U.S. repair station to be awarded EMAR-145 (European Military Airworthiness Requirement Part 145) certification. EMAR-145 is the governing regulation for Military Maintenance Organizations (MMOs) and has recently become a requirement for contractor run maintenance organizations, known as Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs). Airbus Helicopters approached L3Harris Avionics in early 2023 with the requirement for EMAR-145 certification to be implemented by January 2025 to support delivery of the H160M to the French Government.
A team, led by Chief Inspector Seth Schaefer, was formed to determine what was required for the repair station to become an EMAR-145 AMO. The team needed to create new process and procedures to augment the existing system and then train the personnel on the new process. In February 2024, a delegation from the French DGA (Directorate General of Armament) travelled to Grand Rapids, MI to conduct a compliance assessment of the repair station. There were no major findings in their report and the few observations noted during their assessment were promptly actioned by the team.
In early April 2024, following the final ‘objective evidence report’ being submitted to the DGA, certification was awarded. L3Harris offers a portfolio of forward-fit and retrofit technology solutions for civilian, corporate, governmental, military and commercial rotorcraft. The company solutions include ADS-B In and Out systems that go beyond the minimum mandates, as well as traffic, weather, standby systems, flight data recorders, battery packs and lightweight LED displays. L3Harris provides trusted Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring/Helicopter Flight Operations Quality Assurance (HFDM/HFOQA) products and services to onshore and offshore helicopter operations.
The Airbus Helicopters H160 (formerly X4) is a medium utility helicopter developed by Airbus Helicopters. Formally launched at Heli-Expo in Orlando, Florida on 3 March 2015, it is intended to replace the AS365 and EC155 models in the firm’s lineup. The H160 is the first rotorcraft to feature the Blue Edge five-bladed main rotor that reduces the noise generation of blade-vortex interactions (BVI) and raising the effective payload. It received its EASA type certification in July 2020, and first deliveries were in December 2021. The H160M is derived from the EASA-certified H160. It benefits from a low cost of operations and optimised flight safety.
