JUSTIN WASTNAGE / BRUSSELS
The nascent European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has awarded its first type certificate, for the Turbomeca Arriel 2B1A turboshaft powering the Changhe Z-11-MB1 single-engined helicopter.
The certification was awarded following preparatory work undertaken by France's civil airworthiness authority, the DGAC.
EASA simultaneously awarded retrospective certification for the entire Arriel 2 family, taking airworthiness responsibility from the DGAC.
EASA was created on 28 September to take over aircraft and engine certification from national aviation authorities. During a 72-month transition period, work will be carried out either by national authorities or Joint Aviation Authorities technical teams until the agency is fully staffed.
Snecma subsidiary Turbomeca chose to certificate most members of the Arriel 2 family one country at a time, rather than seek JAA approval. Eric Daccord, Arriel programme manager, says the new EASA type certificate will reduce the administration, cost and logistics of pursuing certifications in several countries.
He points to concerns that the elimination of country-specific operating requirements could lead member states to delay certification to incorporate their specific requirements into pan-European approvals, but the company says it will "wait and see" whether this happens.
The 745shp (555kW) Arriel 2B1A is a derivative of the Arriel 2B1 used on the Eurocopter EC130, downrated from 850shp for high-altitude flying. It replaces the indigenous W28 engine on the Z-11. The engine has undergone 80h of flight tests since its first flight in February at the Changhe test facility in Jingdezhen, China.
EASA does not have a bilateral agreement with the Chinese civil aviation authority, which may request additional tests, but China is expected to become the first country to accept EASA certification and approve the 2B1A this week. Chinese certification of the Z-11 is scheduled for the end of the year.
The next EASA certification is expected to be the General Electric GE90-115B engine, for which approval is imminent.
Source: Flight International
