Eurocopter blames Australian NH90 pilots for engine failure
Source: Herald Sun, 20 Jul, 10
Eurocopter chief executive Lutz Bertling said the root cause of the problem was pilots not following “correct procedures” for a so-called “hot” engine start.
FAA urges everyone to get ready for ADS-B
Source: FAA, 14 Jul, 10
Greater efficiency and improved situational awareness – that’s what ADS-B promises to provide for aircraft operating in the national airspace system (NAS). With several airport areas already operating with ADS-B capability, as well as a recently published rule on performance requirements, those objectives are becoming a reality. What do these changes mean to general aviation, [...]
Sky Shuttle resumes AW139 ops from Hong Kong to Macau
Source: Sky Shuttle Helicopters, 7 Jul, 10
Following a comprehensive fleet inspection and airworthiness review of Sky Shuttle Helicopters and East Asia Airlines Limited’s AW 139 helicopters and operations, the civil aviation authorities of Hong Kong and Macau have approved the resumption of all commercial flight services effective tomorrow (7 July). In demonstrating its continued and full confidence in the helicopter type, [...]
Transport Canada closes helipad at Invermere and District hospital
Source: Invermere Valley Echo, 7 Jul, 10
Helipad “failed the inspection”. The local mayor says that required upgrades will be very expensive and include things such as burying hydro lines and moving oxygen tanks at the hospital.
Fairfax man accused of shining son’s laser at police helicopter
Source: NBC Washington, 7 Jul, 10
A grand jury is expected to decide whether Raymond Jeffrey Poli should stand trial.
British man convicted of shining light at police helicopter
Source: Gazette Live, 6 Jul, 10
A man who shone a high-powered lamp at a police helicopter could face prison. Michael Kevin Renney was accused of twice shining the light into the skies, hitting the cockpit of the Cleveland Police aircraft.
Botched takeoff blamed for Temecula R44 crash
Source: Press-Enterprise, 6 Jul, 10
Refers to accident 06-Apr-10 N688SS Robinson R44 Temecula, US-California (see HeliHub.com page for this accident)
UK AAIB Bulletin – June 2010
Source: AAIB, 6 Jul, 10
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue does not refer to any helicopters and this update is included in HeliHub.com for completeness.
US Forest Service alerts pilots on LatLong coordinates
Source: US Forest Service, 30 Jun, 10
The United States Forest Service (USFS) has released an information bulletin regarding latitude/longitude coordinates – focusing on potential confusion between latlong coordinates in degrees and minutes when the aircraft GPS is configured to use degrees and tenths. Please click here to read their Information Bulletin FS 10-02
Australian aviation statistics: Bird and animal strikes 2002 to 2009
Source: ATSB, 30 Jun, 10
A significant proportion of all occurrences reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) involve aircraft striking wildlife, especially birds. This report provides aviation birdstrike and animal strike occurrence data for the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2009. It also describes the results of an ATSB survey of aerodromes concerning current wildlife control [...]
NZ: Taranaki Community Rescue must keep AW119 away from hospital
Source: Stuff, 30 Jun, 10
NZ CAA has sent a letter to all helicopter operators and trusts that explicitly warns that they have until the end of August to bring their operations into line with the rules or cease their operations.
South African man arrested for shining laser pen at helicopter
Source: IOL, 30 Jun, 10
A Durban man has been arrested for shining a laser light at a helicopter, blinding the pilot while he was patrolling the beach on Saturday.
Ocean helicopter crash caused by cracked engine case
Source: WA Today, 30 Jun, 10
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau examined the Bell 407 chopper that was carrying seven people when it left luxury cruise ship True North and crashed into Talbot Bay in September 2008
Northern Ireland drug addict dazzled police pilot with laser
Source: Belfast Telegraph, 30 Jun, 10
A man who admitted shining a laser pen into the eyes of a police helicopter pilot 2,000 ft over Derry forcing him to take evasive action has been put on probabtion for 18 months
Baron blamed for helicopter crash
Source: Press & Journal, 30 Jun, 10
Accident involved Eurocopter EC130 registered M-BOAT – see HeliHub.com accident page here
UK teenager cautioned for shining laser pen at police helicopter
Source: Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 29 Jun, 10
The 16-year-old, from Cheltenham, was arrested in Crabtree Place at 2.45am on Tuesday on suspicion of shining a light at an aircraft so as to dazzle or distract a pilot. He was given a formal reprimand after admitting the offence.
Alberta man who pointed laser beam at police helicopter convicted
Source: Vancouver Sun, 25 Jun, 10
Alvin Vargas Bautista had testified during the trial that he was trying to fix his young son’s toy laser while waiting for his wife outside a friend’s apartment building near Millbourne Mall.
NTSB confirm helicopter exemption from reporting runway incursions
Source: NTSB, 24 Jun, 10
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued correcting amendments to a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on January 7, 2010 and became effective March 8, 2010. The final rule required the reporting of certain runway incursions, but did not specify that helicopters are exempt from one of the provisions and [...]
Children paid $5.6M settlement after mother killed in 2008 Indiana crash
Source: Arizona Accident Info, 21 Jun, 10
Two children will be paid $5.6 million following a settlement following the death of their mother when a medical helicopter she was in crashed in a rural area in Indiana in 2008.
Helicopter sector signs up to business aviation safety standards
Source: Flightglobal, 21 Jun, 10
Representing the helicopter operating sector at the signing were HAI president Matt Zuccaro, HAI’s chairman Mark Gibson, the British Helicopter Association’s chairman Brian Humphries, and the chairman of the EHA Dr Vittorio Morassi.
