Rolls-Royce wins $17M contract for MH-47G infrared exhaust suppressors
Source: US DoD, 17-May-12
Rolls Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., was awarded a $17,000,000 firm-fixed-price and cost-no-fee contract. The award will provide for the production of MH-47G helicopter infrared exhaust suppressors, systems components, initial fielding spares and sustainment spare parts. Work location will be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of May 10, 2017. One bid [...]
Parker Hannifin awarded $9M for UH-60 work
Source: US DoD, 17-May-12
Parker Hannifin, Irvine, Calif., was awarded a $9,482,700 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of a minimum-maximum quantity of UH-60 helicopter valves. Work will be performed in Irvine, Calif., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2017. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone [...]
Nivisys receives FAA Repair Station Certification for Night Vision Aviator Goggles
Source: Nivisys Industries, 17-May-12
Nivisys Industries, LLC, a leader in Night Vision and Thermal technologies, announced today that they have received FAA Certification authorizing the operation of their Repair Station for Night Vision Aviator Goggles. According to Lee A. Stephens, Nivisys’ FAA Accountable Manager, “Nivisys now holds the unique distinction of being the only Night Vision Goggle Manufacturer (TSO-C164) [...]
Donaldson delivers CH-53K ground test vehicle EAPPS units
Source: Donaldson, 17-May-12
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), has delivered the first complete shipset of CH-53K Engine Air Particle Protection System (EAPPS) Units to Sikorsky Aircraft. The milestone delivery supports Sikorsky’s System Development and Demonstration Program. The advanced engine protection units featuring Donaldson’s patented Strata™ Tube technology will be installed on [...]
FAA Steps Up Enforcement of Laser Penalties
Source: FAA, 17-May-12
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has directed its investigators and staff to pursue stiffer penalties for individuals who purposefully point laser devices at aircraft. “Shining a laser at an airplane is not a laughing matter. It’s dangerous for both pilots and passengers, and we will not tolerate it,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We [...]
UK – Suspended licences await pilots infringing Olympic zone
Source: CAA, 16-May-12
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today confirmed the enforcement policy that will be in place to deal with infringements of this summer’s Olympics security airspace restrictions. The existing CAA policy of not generally pursuing a prosecution in cases when an airspace infringement is inadvertent, and the pilot has taken all reasonable steps to resolve [...]
Helipad approved for Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Source: SeaCoastOnline, 16-May-12
The Board of Adjustment on Tuesday unanimously granted a special exception for a helicopter landing pad to be built at the emergency room entrance to Portsmouth Regional Hospital. (see full story)
Bell delivers six helicopters into Europe
Source: Bell, 16-May-12
Bell Helicopter announced at EBACE it completed deliveries of six of its newest aircraft in Europe during the last month. Three Bell 407GX aircraft, the first of its kind in Europe, took flight in Belgium, Denmark and, most recently, Iceland. Bell also delivered three additional Bell 429 aircraft in Russia and Ukraine. “We are excited [...]
Gulf Helicopters honours HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah
16-May-12
Gulf Helicopters Company has honoured HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, who was instrumental in the company’s growth over the years, by naming its newest helicopter after him (see full story)
YAA paramedics to take on Guinness World Record challenge
Source: Yorkshire Air Ambulance, 16-May-12
Seven of the YAA Paramedics, who will be joined by nine more colleagues from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and friends and family, will attempt to break the ‘Longest marathon playing five-a-side football record’. The current record stands at 40 hours, however the team are determined to break this record by aiming for at [...]
New Simplex STC for AW139 – more capacity and approved at 150 knots
Source: Simplex, 16-May-12
Simplex received FAA STC approval for several enhancements to their Fire Attack system for the AgustaWestland AW139. The new system, STC number SR02351LA, was issued on April 23th, 2012, and is the result of a partnership with AgustaWestland to take advantage of the AW139 flight speed and increased payload capacity. The enhanced AW139 Fire Attack [...]
Eurocopter details activities at HeliRussia
Source: Eurocopter, 16-May-12
Eurocopter’s long-term commitment to the Russian helicopter market will be highlighted at this month’s HeliRussia 2012 industry exhibition, in which the company is taking part for the fifth consecutive time since the event’s creation in 2008. Organized May 17-19 at Moscow’s Crocus Expo international exhibition center, HeliRussia 2012 will feature the display of a Eurocopter [...]
Orange County Fire Authority selects Night Flight Training
Source: Night Flight Concepts, 16-May-12
Leading night vision imaging system (NVIS) solution provider Night Flight Concepts is pleased to announce the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) has contracted to use NVIO™ Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Computer-Based Training (CBT) for Initial and Recurrent training of flight crews to ensure readiness in night operations. “The use of night vision goggles has really [...]
Cadorath announces 41 Bell repairs
Source: Cadorath Aerospace, 16-May-12
Cadorath Aerospace announces it’s development of new Bell Helicopter repairs in the 1st half of May 2012. The Cadorath design and engineering department continues to develop approved repairs for the Bell Helicopter line nearing close to a total of 800 repairs now available. Cadorath Aerospace recently engineered a long list of new repairs on the [...]
HAI FAASTeam Regional Safety Seminar, Texas
Source: HAI, 16-May-12
HAI and the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) present a two-day safety seminar, June 1-2, 2012, in Irving, Texas. The target audiences on the first day are commercial helicopter operators and pilots, and the target audiences for the second day are General Aviation helicopter pilots, certified helicopter flight instructors, and helicopter student pilots. For more information and to register, click here.
Superior Aviation Services moves to new facility in the DFW area
Source: Superior Aviation Services, 16-May-12
Helicopter repair and maintenance specialty company, Superior Aviation Services, Inc., has recently expanded by moving to a larger facility at the Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD), located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area metroplex. The move offers capacity for more aircraft and easier access for customers. Since 1983, Superior Aviation has been providing comprehensive helicopter maintenance services [...]
Draganflyer launches X4-P multi-rotor UAV
Source: Draganflyer, 16-May-12
We are proud to announce the release of our new compact, economical Draganflyer X4-P multi-rotor VTOL UAV. The Draganflyer X4-P is the newest model in our series of ingenious flying machines. Devised for commercial/industrial aerial videography and photography, the X4-P is safe, stable, and the all-around best solution for steady, low-altitude photos and video. Based on the [...]
Air Methods selects AirVault® for Medical Transport Records Management
Source: AirVault, 15-May-12
AirVault today announced that Air Methods Corp. has licensed the AirVault Mx Records Management Solution. Air Methods (NASDAQ: AIRM) is the largest publicly owned emergency medical services helicopter operator in the United States, with a fleet of over 400 medical transport aircraft that fly over 100,000 transports and nearly 140,000 flight hours per year. Teri Short, [...]
Sweden – Malmen Air Base to host huge air show
Source: Nordic Rotors, 15-May-12
The Malmen Air Base in Linköping will house one of northern Europe’s largest air shows this summer – Aerospace Forum Sweden 2012. The event starts with a two-day seminar, which brings politicians, industrial leaders, scientists, lobbyists, military chiefs, entrepreneurs and government officials together. It continues with a VIP flight show on day three, and has [...]
Azerbaijan to receive 64 new military helicopters this year
Source: HeliHub.com, 15-May-12
From contracts signed in 2010, Azerbaijan will this year receive a total of 64 helicopters, consisting of 40 Mi-17V1 and 24 Mi-35M models, being built by the Kazan and Rostvertol plants. This all adds up to the largest aviation contract signed between the two countries. Nikolai Vanesev – HeliHub.com Moscow correspondent
Bond AS332s and EC225s take to the air again
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 15-May-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd., one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services announced the resumption of flights following the release of important data from Eurocopter. The full fleet of helicopters will return to service over the next 24 hrs. Bill Munro, Managing Director of Bond Offshore Helicopters said, “Bond puts safety first, above [...]
MD Helicopters hires Washington lobbyists
Source: HeliHub.com, 15-May-12
Pulic-access disclosure records from the US Sentate show that MD Helicopters has been hiring two lobbyists recently. One is named as Lawrence C Grossman (of “The Grossman Group LLC”), who set up on his own in 2003 after spending ten years with governmental relations firm Cassidy & Associates according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to [...]
Ghana’s air force to take delivery of four Mi-171s soon
Source: HeliHub.com, 15-May-12
The Ghanaian Vice President John Dramani Mahama was interviewed recently about the investment of new aircraft for the country’s military forces. During this interview, he said that the country was expecting to take delivery of four Mi-171SH helicopters by July. This corroborates with the story we filed in November 2011 when a budget request was [...]
JetNet announces 2012 JetNet iQ Global Business Aviation Summit
Source: JetNet, 15-May-12
JETNET LLC, the world leader in aviation market intelligence, announced it is returning to New York City for its 2012 JETNET iQ Global Business Aviation Summit, to be held June 5-6, 2012. Following on the success of last year’s Summit, this year’s conference theme is “Igniting Ideas. Provoking Change.” JETNET is promoting Summit speakers and [...]
Western Australia Police N3 Dauphin to go live in two weeks
Source: The West Australian, 15-May-12
Western Australia Police are on the point of replacing their BK117 with a new AS365N3 Dauphin, subject to completion of paperwork with CASA regarding installed equipment. (see full story). The Police Air Wing also operate three fixed wing aircraft – two Pilatus PC12 and a Cessna 182.
Russian Helicopters detail their participation in Heli-Russia 2012
Source: Russian Helicopters, 15-May-12
Russian helicopter holding “Russian Helicopters”, part of United Industrial Corporation “Oboronprom”, one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of helicopters, including some of the most iconic, innovative and well-operated models, today announced that in the V International Exhibition of helicopter HeliRussia industry in 2012 will provide a wide range of helicopters for civilian and military purposes. The [...]
Bell employee syndicate scoop $28M lottery win
Source: WFAA, 15-May-12
Ten Bell employees, mostly from the site at Roanoke, scooped a $28M syndicate win on the Texas Lottery on Sunday morning. The group apparently all called in sick on Monday so they could go to Austin to pick up their prize. (see full story)
NATF Announces New Scholarship
Source: NATA, 15-May-12
he National Air Transportation Foundation (NATF) of the National Air Transportation Association is pleased to announce the Navigate Your Future scholarship, the newest addition to the foundation’s scholarship program. This scholarship is offered to a graduating high school student continuing his or her education in the general aviation industry. The scholarship applicant must be a [...]
Defense Company Profile & SWOT Report – Bell Helicopter
Source: Research and Markets, 15-May-12
Research and Markets has announced the addition of iCD Research’s new company profile “Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.: Defense Company Profile & SWOT Report” to their offering. “Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.: Defense Company Profile & SWOT Report” Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell Helicopter), based in the US, designs, manufactures and provides commercial and military helicopters, tiltrotor [...]
HAI Seeks Leading Educators for Heli-Expo 2013
Source: HAI, 15-May-12
Do you want to be part of the team of educators who set the industry standard for rotorcraft professional education and teach at the world’s largest helicopter trade show? If so, don’t miss this opportunity. HAI is currently developing the program of HELI-EXPO 2013 Professional Education courses. We are looking for course proposals from highly [...]
Opportunities abound in CEE countries
Source: CEPA, 15-May-12
The newly appointed Board of the three-year old CEPA (Central Europe Private Aviation) will be in Geneva this week, meeting with their members and aiming to raise awareness internationally of viable investment opportunities available in business aviation in such countries as Poland and the Czech Republic. “The CEE region has not been so affected by [...]
Microturbo e-APU60 completes first flight tests in AW189
Source: Microturbo, 15-May-12
The Microturbo (Safran group) e-APU60 has successfully completed its first flight tests as part of the AgustaWestland AW189 helicopter certification campaign. Initially designed for new-generation more-electric business jets, the e-APU60 is a new concept of auxiliary power unit characterized by an excellent power-to-weight ratio and its exceptional compactness. It also meets the high demands of [...]
SkyTrac Systems to exhibit at HeliRussia 2012
Source: SkyTrac Systems, 15-May-12
SkyTrac Systems is pleased to announce that it will be exhibiting at the HeliRussia 5th Annual International Helicopter Industry Exhibition from May 17th – 19th, 2012 in Moscow, Russia. HeliRussia is the only exhibition in Russia where Russian and overseas companies present world achievements that cover all aspects of the helicopter industry – from design, [...]
US Navy demonstrates Telephonics’ radar on MH-60S
Source: Telephonics, 15-May-12
Telephonics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Griffon Corporation (NYSE:GFF), announced today that the U.S. Navy conducted an exercise to demonstrate several Anti Surface Warfare concepts of operation using an MH-60S (Sierra) helicopter in conjunction with a Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. The exercise included the use of Telephonics’ multi-mode, maritime surveillance radar on the [...]
Helicopter Safety Steering Group meets over North Sea EC225 ditching
Source: Oil & Gas UK, 15-May-12
The Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) met today, Monday 14 May, to share preliminary information on the recent helicopter ditching incident in the North Sea. Making up the HSSG are helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, the pilots’ union BALPA, the regulators HSE and CAA and Oil & Gas UK. [...]
Concorde Battery announces AW139 STC in US, Canada and Brazil
Source: Concorde Battery, 15-May-12
Concorde Battery is pleased to announce AW139 FAA approved STC SR03072NY, Transport Canada approved STC SH11-47 and Brazil ANAC STC 2012S04-04 replacing the standard nickel cadmium batteries with Concorde’s Sealed Lead Acid Recombinant Gas (RG®), Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. SR03072NY, SH11-47 and 2012S04-04 replace the 27AH Nickel Cadmium auxiliary battery with a RG-407, 27AH [...]
Calstar appoints new Director of Medical Operations
Source: CALSTAR, 15-May-12
California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) has named Cordelia Resident Scott Wallace, R.N., C.C.R.N., C.F.R.N., as its new Director of Medical Operations, CALSTAR COO Tad Henderson announced. In his new position, Wallace will have direct responsibility for all medical operations of CALSTAR, the largest non-profit air ambulance provider on the West Coast. “Scott is a [...]
Bond EC225 ditching – AAIB report consistent with Bond analysis
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 15-May-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd., one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services concur with the initial findings of the AAIB interim Service Bulletin S2/2012 issued which indicates component failure. The bulletin states that, “An initial visual inspection of the main gearbox has identified a 360° circumferential crack on the bevel gear vertical shaft, [...]
New Head of Communications for Eurocopter Germany
Source: Eurocopter, 15-May-12
Christoph Müller will become the Head of Communications for Eurocopter Germany as of June 1, 2012, and will report directly to Cécile Vion-Lanctuit, Vice President of Corporate Communications for the Eurocopter Group. This newly created position has been established to strengthen communications locally for Eurocopter Germany and the German market. Prior to this position, Christoph [...]
PDG Helicopters adds Cinedeck RX solid state recorder
Source: Oxygen DCT, 15-May-12
Leading on-shore helicopter operator PDG Helicopters has become the first company in the UK to use a Cinedeck RX dual channel, solid-state recorder to deliver high quality digital aerial filming to clients in film, TV broadcast, commercials and corporate production. Based in Scotland, PDG Helicopters has over 40 years of knowledge in helicopter charter, a [...]
AVIC Changhe delivers first AW109E fuselage
Source: JEC Composites, 15-May-12
AVIC Changhe has handed over the first AW109E fuselage from its factory in China to AgustaWestland. (See full story)
HNZ Group – new name for Canadian Helicopters confirmed
Source: Canadian Helicopters, 15-May-12
Canadian Helicopters Group Inc. (TSX: CHL.A, CHL.B) (“the Company”), an international provider of helicopter transportation and related support services, announced that the Company’s shareholders approved a special resolution to change the Company’s name from “Canadian Helicopters Group Inc.” to “HNZ Group Inc.” at the Company’s annual and special meeting of shareholders held today. The name [...]
Ex-Im Bank approves $350M loan guarantee to support Bell/Cessna exports
Source: Ex-Im Bank, 15-May-12
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has approved a guarantee of a $350 million loan facility to provide the funds to assist Textron Inc. in financing the exports by two of its companies, Cessna Aircraft Company and Bell Helicopter Textron. The guaranteed lender is PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Ex-Im Bank-guaranteed [...]
Ex-Im Bank to leverage industry expertise to expedite helicopter export financing
Source: Ex-Im Bank, 15-May-12
U.S. manufacturers of business aircraft and helicopters will benefit from a new process to assess credit risks and expedite foreign-buyer financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). Ex-Im Bank will work with qualified industry experts to perform due diligence and credit analysis to facilitate the Bank’s support for U.S. business-aircraft exports. The announcement was [...]
Blue Hawaiian Continues Green Leadership with Solar Power Array
Source: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, 15-May-12
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, the largest and most successful aerial tour company in Hawaii, has installed a solar power system on the roofs of its two Operations Center buildings at the Maui Heliport. The Blue Hawaiian array consists of 432 panels providing 102 kw of power, which handles, on average, 90 percent of Blue Hawaiian’s electrical [...]
First flight of AgustaWestland AW169
Source: AgustaWestland, 14-May-12
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the first prototype of the AW169, a new generation 4.5 ton light intermediate helicopter, successfully completed its maiden flight yesterday. The AW169 programme is on schedule to achieve basic civil certification in 2014. The AW169 was flown by AgustaWestland’s Chief Test Pilot, Giuseppe Lo Coco, Test [...]
Enterprise Ventures Corp awarded $12M contract for MH-60S equipment
Source: US DoD, 14-May-12
Enterprise Ventures Corp., Johnstown, Pa., is being awarded a $12,529,511 firm-fixed-price contract for the production of 12 carriage, stream, tow, and recovery system kits in support of the Naval Air Systems Command, MH-60S Airborne Mine Countermeasures Program. The overall objectives of the program are to design, fabricate, test, and integrate a system for the carriage, [...]
3rd MAW showcases helicopter firefighting capabilities
Source: US Marine Corps, 14-May-12
Third Marine Aircraft Wing Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., participated in a Wildland Firefighting Exercise at Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 10. The exercise was presented in the form of a demonstration to local military and fire departments as to what 3rd MAW, military assets, and local fire departments bring to the fight. [...]
Irish Coast Guard record 10 years of SAR from Waterford
Source: Irish Government, 14-May-12
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar TD today congratulated the Irish Coast Guard as they mark the 10th anniversary of the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter base at Waterford Airport (Thursday, May 10). Speaking today, the Minister said: “For the past decade the helicopter team at the Waterford Coast Guard base [...]
Irish Coast Guard to start S92 operations in June
14-May-12
Irish Coast Guard operations manager Declan Geoghegan said the first of the new S-92 Sikorsky helicopters would begin operations at Shannon next month, to be followed in the next year with similar new aircraft at Sligo, Waterford and Dublin. (see full story)
Essex & Herts Air Ambulance paramedic receives award
Source: Saffron Walden Reporter, 14-May-12
ESSEX & Herts Air Ambulance Trust Critical Care Paramedic Laurie Phillipson was surprised this morning live on ITV’s Daybreak by Dr Hilary who presented him with a Health Heroes Award. (see full story)
Bristow LLC pilots ratify three year pay agreement
Source: OPEIU, 14-May-12
Oil service industry helicopter pilots in the Gulf of Mexico andAlaska, members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 107 employed by Bristow LLC, have voted to ratify a three-year agreement covering 235 pilots. The agreement comes after 18 months of negotiations and was ratified by 84.3 percent of the voting members. The secret [...]
EBACE continues to side-track helicopters
Source: HeliHub.com, 14-May-12
The EBACE show in Geneva has a total of just three helicopters on display. Bell have taken their demonstrator 429, while AgustaWestland have brought a GrandNew from a French customer and Eurocopter have an EC135 from a Swiss customer. EBACE, like NBAA in the US, is clearly focussed on the corporate fixed wing market, and [...]
PHi reports Q1 numbers
Source: PHi, 14-May-12
PHI, Inc. (The Nasdaq Global Market: PHII (voting) PHIIK (non-voting)) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. Oil and Gas operating revenues increased $15.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, related primarily to increased medium and heavy aircraft flight hours and revenues resulting mainly from the continuing improvement in [...]
Erickson Air-Crane reports Q1 results
Source: Erickson Air-Crane, 14-May-12
Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (NASDAQ: EAC) (“Erickson Air-Crane” or the “Company”), a leading operator and the manufacturer of the powerful heavy-lift helicopter, the Erickson S-64 Aircrane, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) in April, 2012. First Quarter 2012 Highlights and Recent [...]
Eurocopter UK showcases EC120
Source: Eurocopter, 14-May-12
UK private operators and owners of light single-engine helicopters are to explore the advantages of Eurocopter’s EC120 during the company’s Discovery Weekend event, to be held at the Oxford Airport facilities of its Eurocopter UK affiliate on May 12. Attendees at the gathering will be given a first-hand look at the EC120 B Colibri in [...]
Eurocopter details its presence at EBACE
Source: Eurocopter, 14-May-12
At the annual EBACE meeting in Geneva, which will be held from May 14-16, Eurocopter will showcase its strength in the business aviation and private segments, highlighting the important role of helicopters as an ideal complement to business jets by being the “first mile, last mile” solution. Having registered the sale of more than 500 [...]
UK – CAA eases night flying restrictions
Source: CAA, 13-May-12
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today announced a change to night flying regulations which will allow aircraft to operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in the hours of darkness. Currently, all civil aircraft flying at night in the UK must comply with Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) but, from the 8 June 2012, this [...]
Unique Public/Private Partnership for new Guernsey Aircraft Register
Source: States of Guernsey, 13-May-12
The Commerce and Employment Department, on behalf of the States of Guernsey, and SGI Aviation have concluded an agreement for the development and operation of an aircraft registry in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The agreement establishes a unique public-private partnership, whereby the responsibility for the operational aspects of the public service of an aircraft registry [...]
CAE opening locations in Australia, Brazil, China and Mexico in 2012
Source: CAE, 13-May-12
CAE announced today on the eve of the European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) that it will begin training pilots and maintenance technicians this summer for Gulfstream G450 and G550 business aircraft operators in Asia at the Shanghai Eastern Flight Training Centre (SEFTC), located in Shanghai Pudong Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone. Shanghai is CAE’s [...]
Hensel Phelps awarded $43M contract for MH-47 hangar at Fort Campbell
Source: US DoD, 11-May-12
Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $32,450,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the design and construction of the MH-47 aviation maintenance hangar at Fort Campbell, Ky. Work will be performed in Fort Campbell, Ky., with an estimated completion date of March 8, 2014. The bid was solicited through the Internet, [...]
Morganti HAC awarded $54M to build Apache base in Egypt
Source: US DoD, 11-May-12
Morganti HAC, J.V., Danbury, Conn., was awarded a $54,696,965 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction of facilities and infrastructure to support the procurement of Apache AH-64D helicopters. Work will be performed in Kattamia Air Base, Egypt, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 22, 2012. There were 23 bids solicited, with six [...]
50th Anniversary of CH-54 Skycrane’s Maiden Flight
Source: Erickson Air-Crane, 11-May-12
May 9, 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the maiden flight of the CH-54, the military version of the S-64 Aircrane (“Aircrane”). The basic concept of the heavy-lift, or “crane,” helicopters was an early dream of aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky. The Aircrane was designed, developed, and produced as a multi-purpose, heavy-lift aircraft. Over the years, the [...]
Bond issue statement on North Sea ditching
Source: Bond Aviation Group, 11-May-12
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd, one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services reports that at 12.13h today an Eurocopter EC225 helicopter (registration G-REDW) outbound from Aberdeen going to the Ensco102 Maersk Resilient platform made a controlled descent 24 nautical miles off-shore. The Captain and Co-pilot made the controlled descent and landed on the [...]
Canadian Helicopters reports Q1 results
Source: Canadian Helicopters, 11-May-12
Canadian Helicopters Group Inc. (TSX: CHL.A, CHL.B) (“the Company”), an international provider of helicopter transportation and related support services, today announced its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. These results include those of Helicopters (N.Z.) Limited, (“HNZ”) acquired on July 7, 2011. Financial Highlights Quarters ended March 31, (in thousands of dollars, [...]
Kazakhstan orders 20 Eurocopter EC725s
Source: Eurocopter, 11-May-12
Kazakhstan has signed a letter of intent to acquire 20 Eurocopter EC725 helicopters, marking a major new commitment for this medium-lift rotorcraft. These aircraft, which will be assembled in Kazakhstan, will be used by the country’s Ministry of Defense in a full range of mission applications. The agreement, formalized at this month’s KADEX-2012 military exposition [...]
Canadian Helicopters declares monthly dividends
Source: Canadian Helicopters, 11-May-12
Canadian Helicopters Group Inc. (“Canadian Helicopters”) (TSX: CHL.A, CHL.B) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared monthly dividends of $0.091875 per Common Share and Variable Voting Shares, payable on each of August 15, 2012, September 14, 2012 and October 15, 2012to holders of record at the close of business July 31, 2012, August 31, 2012 and September 28, 2012, respectively. The [...]
US House of Representatives looks at whether to arm military evacuation helicopters
Source: HAI, 11-May-12
In a continuing battle between a key lawmaker and the U.S. Army over whether to use armed or unarmed medical evacuation helicopters in combat zones, the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives voted May 9 to require detailed comparisons of survival rates, speed, and costs of the two methods. A Defense Department [...]
Rockwell Collins opens Berlin office
Source: Rockwell Collins, 11-May-12
Rockwell Collins today announced the grand opening of its Berlin Ascend™ flight information solutions office, which will provide flight support services for European business aircraft operators. “Europe’s airspace is growing more complex with increasing congestion and regulations,” said Steve Timm, vice president and general manager, Flight Information Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “The expansion of our [...]
FAA says 300 helicopter owners fail to re-register
Source: HAI, 11-May-12
Last year, when the FAA announced that it was beginning a multi-year process to clean up the civil aircraft registry by requiring all aircraft to re-register on a rolling schedule, the agency warned it would cancel registrations for any aircraft whose owner did not respond. They weren’t kidding. HAI’s Finance and Leasing Committee checked recently [...]
HAI Chairman takes Alexander amendment message to Congress
Source: HAI, 11-May-12
HAI Chairman of the Board Mark Gibson, in Washington, D.C., recently for a series of meetings with members of Congress on a variety of issues, made sure they understand the dangers of the so-called Alexander amendment. The measure, attached to the Senate version of the highway transportation bill, would give the National Park Service nearly [...]
Full details of PAvCon law enforcement conference announced
Source: PAvCon, 11-May-12
The Zeiss Opronics sponsored PAvCon 2012 event will take place at the German Federal Police air support and training facility at Sankt Augustin, Hangelar, near Bonn, Germany on 5-6 June 2012. The programme will include a potentially exciting programme of instructional presentations on the issues of today including CRM. This is a great networking event for police [...]
AVX awarded US Army fuel efficiency study contract
Source: AVX Aircraft, 11-May-12
AVX Aircraft Company today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Contracting Command in New Jersey to study technology approaches to improve fuel efficiency in vertical lift aircraft. AVX is a member of the Vertical Lift Consortium, Inc. (“VLC”) and responded to the Army request for proposal in 2011, administered [...]
Two more countries certify Bell 429 up to 7,500 pounds
Source: Bell, 11-May-12
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today Ecuador’s Director General of Civil Aviation and the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia have approved the increased maximum gross weight for the Bell 429 to 7,500 lbs. allowing for added safety and capability. The increase of 500 lbs. – to 7,500 lbs – is based [...]
Bond Air Services issues notice regarding its EC135 grounding
Source: Bond Air Services, 10-May-12
Bond Air Services, the UK’s largest independent emergency and mission critical helicopter operator providing air ambulance helicopter services, police and marine support to offshore wind farms and lighthouses, will resume flight operations of the EC 135 fleet at 07:00 on 9th May. Bond Air Services took the decision to suspend all flight operations for the [...]
