Australian export case study 
Nearly ten years ago, pilot Chris Ryan was having his first ever helicopter lesson, when he placed his foot on the wrong pedal and the aircraft began to spin out of control. This was normal for a first timer as it takes time to develop the necessary motor skills, but at $500 a lesson, getting practice flying helicopters was going to be very expensive. Mr Ryan asked his instructor whether there were any simulators on which, he could practice. The instructor said there weren’t – and someone should invent one. “So, the first thing I did was get out the gaffer tape and buy a gaming joystick from Harvey-Norman. I re-wired it and built a prototype in my back shed. I used that for practice before my next lesson,” Mr Ryan said. “My instructor was amazed at how fast my flying skills had improved. I was able to take-off, land, hover and fly sideways. He’d never seen anyone pick up those flying skills with so little experience,” he said. From there, Mr Ryan started the company, Ryan Aerospace, and began making a commercial version of the helicopter simulator. To his surprise, his very first customer was the British Royal Air Force, which purchased two units. “I personally delivered the Helimod simulators to the RAF in the UK. They were so impressed they took me to meet with the UK Ministry of Defence. I was asked to design a new simulator for the Defence Helicopter Flying School where all army, navy and air force helicopter pilots are trained,” he said. Chris was allowed to fly one of their helicopters “to get a feel for it.” Whilst maintaining a stable hover, the pilot asked Mr Ryan how many flying hours he had. “I told him I had three-and-a-half. He thought I meant three-and-a-half thousand. When the pilot realised I meant just three-and-a-half hours, he put his hands and feet a little closer to the controls. He was stunned at how well I could fly the machine and it was all thanks to my simulator,” he said. The Helimod After this success, Ryan Aerospace went on to develop the Helimod, which is a unique product consisting of two main elements. The main platform comprises pedals, joystick and a seat to replicate a generic helicopter configuration and aircraft specific ‘modules’ can simply be bolted onto the side. The modules consist of the instrumentation panel, avionics, radios systems, navigation aids, collective lever and overhead panel, with working switches, buttons, circuit breakers and throttle, allowing realistic operations, start up and shut down procedures. “The Helimod can teach basic flying and airmanship skills, emergency procedures, navigation and weather avoidance and interaction. It has also found a place in aeronautical testing laboratories around the world, being used for human factors analysis and lab software testing. The machine is also being used by military organisations for combined arms training,” Mr Ryan said. How Austrade helped Ryan Aerospace’s association with Austrade began in 2006. “When I started out, I had no idea of how to go about exporting. My local Austrade representative gave me advice on issues such as shipping, customs, the integrated cargo system – all the things that someone with no experience in exporting would know”, Mr Ryan said. “Austrade also helped me take the Helimod to I/ITSEC, a defence training and simulation trade show in Florida, USA, which is where NASA saw it,” he said. NASA recently sent a helicopter pilot to a lab in Texas to test the Helimod and will be doing further testing later this year. The US and Australian Armies have also tested it. Mr Ryan has sold simulators to the Saudi Arabian National Guard, an aeronautical research agency in South Africa, the Australian Navy and several commercial flying schools. Due to its affordability, the Helimod has been taken up by gaming and flight simulation enthusiasts in Australia and overseas. Austrade also helped Ryan Aerospace exhibit at the ITEC trade show in London, UK. While there, Mr Ryan partnered with Canadian firm Presagis, which specialises in commercial off-the-shelf software that allows buyers to easily integrate the Helimod into their training and simulation systems. “While demonstrating the Helimod for the US Navy, one official commented that it was 80 per cent of the solution at about two per cent of the cost,” Mr Ryan said. A niche product “There are very few other companies in the market that supply this type of product. A Helimod simulator costs nothing compared to the thousands of dollars it costs to operate a real helicopter,” Mr Ryan said. Based on the NSW Mid North Coast city of Taree, Ryan Aerospace has business relationships with around 10 local firms, all involved in different parts of the Helimod manufacture process. Mr Ryan personally designs and assembles each Helimod. He said, “Taree is an excellent place for a small manufacturing business, with access to highly skilled people and materials needed for the product.” Mr Ryan is also hoping to take advantage of Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme, which can help offset the costs associated with marketing the Helimod simulator internationally. “I’ve invested every cent in this business and cash flow at times has been hard. But Austrade has been very supportive. I am very appreciative of the assistance given and with their continued help. I think that the future is looking bright,” Mr Ryan said. Ryan Aerospace was one of only three companies worldwide invited to exhibit as part of the innovation showcase at prestigious Paris trade show, Eurosatory, in June this year. The company has also been chosen as one of four finalists in the US-based Aviation Week Aerospace and Defence Supplier Innovation Challenge 2011. “There has been very positive feedback as a result of this nomination and demonstrations at various trade shows in the US, Europe and the UK,” Mr Ryan said. |