Wisk Air have selected the GPMS Foresight MX health and condition monitoring system (HUMS) for its Bell 407GXi and 412 fleets. Based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wisk Air has over 40 years experience in firefighting, powerline, forestry, mining, and remote access missions.
According to GPMS, Bell’s support for Foresight MX was a key factor in Wisk Air’s selection, connecting predictive aircraft health monitoring with the manufacturer’s product support expertise. Foresight MX is the only non-OEM HUMS fully supported on the Bell 505, 407, 429, 212, and 412 by Bell Product Support. Operators who choose to share their data with Bell can draw on the aircraft manufacturer’s expertise alongside GPMS to review trends and exceedances and support maintenance decisions.
“We’ve relied on Bell’s product support for decades, and its support of GPMS was a major factor in our decision,” said Mark Wiskemann, President of Wisk Air Helicopters. “When we invest in technology that helps guide maintenance decisions, we want the aircraft manufacturer behind it. Foresight MX gives us advanced monitoring and a way to connect our team, GPMS, and Bell around the same information. That combination matters when an aircraft is supporting customers far from base and we need a clear path from an alert to an informed maintenance decision.”
Wisk Air say that automated data uploads and browser access which allow its maintenance team to review aircraft health information after flights, even when an aircraft is operating away from its home base. With the ability to track changes over successive flights can provide earlier indications of developing component deterioration, creating time to investigate, arrange parts and personnel, and coordinate maintenance with the aircraft’s assignment.
“What I’m most excited about is moving from reacting to problems to predicting them and preventing them from happening,” said Kevin Robins, Director of Maintenance at Wisk Air. “GPMS will give us a window into what’s happening inside our critical components, so it will be like having X-ray vision for the aircraft. Plus, having onboard track and balance will be a game changer. The ability to make adjustments on the fly, keeping the aircraft flying smoothly, will keep our pilots and customers happy, but ultimately will help prevent premature wear caused by unfelt vibrations.”
“We’re proud to work with Wisk Air and look forward to supporting their fleet as they launch their HUMS program this fall,” said Ronnie Ries, Chief Revenue Officer at GPMS. “They’re putting their trust in our technology and our people, and we take that responsibility seriously. We’ll be working closely with their maintenance team as they bring Foresight MX into daily operations, providing the guidance and ongoing support to help their program succeed.”
Image: Wisk Air
