Diagnostic health management system saves time, money for military, commercial helicopters

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 11, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Goodrich Corporation's (NYSE: GR) Sensors and Integrated Systems business in Vergennes, Vt. marked the delivery of its 2,000th helicopter health and usage management system (HUMS) in a ceremony March 8, 2010 attended by employees and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT).  Leahy has supported the company in winning more than $100 million in contracts to develop and deploy the HUMS systems for a number of helicopter platforms for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.

"I am incredibly proud to mark this day with the men and women of Goodrich," said Leahy.  "2,000 HUMS units are a win for Vermont, the Department of Defense, and our men and women in uniform.  These life-saving, money-saving devices keep our helicopters flying safely and have been at the heart of this region's economy."

Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems vice president Gary Loftus described how a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter unit, fully equipped with HUMS, recently set a new record for numbers of hours flown in a 12-month period and saved taxpayers $45 million in maintenance costs.  "The HUMS units give feedback to mechanics that enable them to catch big problems while they are still small, inexpensive problems," Loftus explained.  "They also catch problems while the helicopter is either on the ground or in time to get the helicopter to the ground safely. Our employees are proud of the role they play in helping our warfighters save lives, time and money."

Goodrich's Health and Usage Management Systems (HUMS) give mechanics feedback on a helicopter's engine performance, structural performance and rotor performance – allowing a helicopter to be serviced before major system failures.  Before the use of HUMS units, helicopters were routinely taken out of service for unnecessary preventative maintenance.  The units are onboard a variety of military and commercial helicopters including the U.S. Army's UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook, the U.S. Marine Corps' CH-53E Super Stallion, and Sikorsky's commercial S-76D® and S-92 aircraft. 

Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities. For more information, visit http://www.goodrich.com.

Goodrich Corporation operates through its divisions and as a parent company for its subsidiaries, one or more of which may be referred to as "Goodrich Corporation" in this press release.

GR – Electronic Systems

SOURCE Goodrich Corporation; GR - Electronic Systems

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