On the Record with

FRANK ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, ROBINSON HELICOPTERS INC.

Robinson: World's Biggest Helo Builder?

If you see Frank Robinson smiling at Heli-Expo `99, it is because Robinson Helicopters has just enjoyed its best year ever, and is looking forward to an even better 1999.

"We're pretty optimistic," Robinson told Show News. He likes to point out that in terms of numbers, he is consistently outselling both Bell and Eurocopter, which, some could muse, might let him claim to be the biggest helicopter manufacturer in the world for the last 10 years.

Last year Robinson sold 251 new helicopters (134 four-seat R44s and 117 two-seat R22s), and remanufactured another 126 R22s and 10 R44s as they reached their 2,000-hour overhaul limits.
Production rates have hit two to three a week of each model, with a similar number running along the overhaul line. Robinson helicopters are now flying in over 50 countries; indeed, two-thirds of the company's output is exported. The worldwide fleet comprises just under 3,000 R22s, and nearly 600 R44s.

Robinson has no plans for a new design, although he said he is always watching the market. He believes any new helicopter should be piston-powered below 500 hp; if more power is required, a turbine becomes feasible.

So instead of dreaming of bigger and better helicopters, Robinson is tweaking his current production line to increase the utility of his aircraft. Recent development programs include:

• Pop-out floats for the R44 Clipper;

• Turbocharging the R44 for better high altitude performance;

• Hydraulic controls for the R44 to eliminate stick shake. "But it is too early to tell if this one will come to fruition," Robinson said; and

• Ready-equipped turnkey police and "Newscopter" versions of the R44.

"The Newscopter will be a big seller," said Robinson. Indeed, some believe it is already putting a dent in turbine helicopter sales, as Robinson can provide a fully-equipped newscating chopper with gyro-stabilized, microwave transmitting gear for $500,000, and with operating costs only half that of a turbine aircraft. "And it is as fast, if not faster, than a JetRanger," he pointed out.

Robinson's past bugabooa disproportionately high accident rate for his helicoptersappears to be behind him. "One of the most gratifying achievements of the last four to five years has been bringing our accident rate down to one of the lowest in the industry by working with the FAA and NTSB to improve pilot training. That's where the problem has always been.

"With the R22 we were getting a lot of entry level pilots, with less than 100-150 hours, who just weren't trained properly to handle a lot of situations."

Robinson has introduced safety courses, "and the FAA and NTSB are quite astounded in the reduction in the accident rate," he noted. Another factor has been the mandatory fitting of a governor to prevent low rotor RPM causing stall accidents.

Among the new markets his helicopters continue to find are as spotter aircraft with the Pacific Coast tuna fleet, and as personal chariots for businessmen in Latin America who want to avoid the dangers of robbery or kidnapping if they go by road. "They're buying them to go from downtown to their estate; the helicopter is faster and much safer," Robinson pointed out.

By John Morris