26-Oct-2011Source: Rockford Register Star
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center celebrates 30 years of its Lifeline medical helicopter program Wednesday, and staff say health system officials have invested in major equipment upgrades and training during the last few years to make the aircraft more dependable and in demand for the region. (see full story)... Read more
24-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today it has received type certification for the Bell 429 from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. “This is an important milestone as Bell Helicopter continues to grow its presence within the Asia Pacific region,†said Larry D. Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter’s Commercial... Read more
24-Oct-2011Source: The Panolian
Strong community support, a hometown crew and a steadfast mission to always do what is best for their patients: the essential ingredients to a recipe for success that has allowed the Batesville Air Evac Lifeteam crew to faithfully serve northwest Mississippi since first taking flight in 2006. (See full story)... Read more
21-Oct-2011Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for a maximum $6,675,000 for transmission assemblies. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. The date of performance completion is Nov. 30, 2015. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-G-0003/ZB63).... Read more
21-Oct-2011Source: BLR Aerospace
BLR Aerospace, a name synonymous with outstanding performance enhancement technologies that increase the capabilities of rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft by manufacturers such as Bell Helicopter and Hawker Beechcraft, today announced an FAA-certified performance increase for its Bell 212 FastFin® System. The FAA has approved a Flight Manual Supplement (FMS) certifying up to 500 pounds of... Read more
21-Oct-2011Source: Scott’s – Bell 47
Scott’s – Bell 47, Inc., is excited to announce an agreement with Instrument Specialties Co., Inc. (INSCO) to design & build new Instrument Panel Assemblies for the model 47 helicopter. INSCO will partner with AeroPanel Corporation & Geneva Aviation to provide a turnkey solution for a modern cockpit interface to be made available for upgrade... Read more
20-Oct-2011Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
NORTH Flight Data Systems LLC is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with Air Evac Lifeteam to partner together to develop a flight data recording system for the analog Bell 206 platform in a continuing effort to invest in safety through Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA). NORTH Flight’s C-2000 system is a... Read more
20-Oct-2011Source: Wysong Enterprises
Wysong Enterprises, Inc., announced today from the Air Medical Transport Conference that they delivered a new Bell 407 EMS Helicopter to Missouri based Air Evac EMS, Inc., (Air Evac Lifeteam) the largest independently owned and operated air medical service provider in the United States. Air Evac Lifeteam operates more than 110 Bell 206 Long Ranger... Read more
20-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The InfoDefensa website is reporting that Paraguay is negotiating with Taiwan for eleven Bell UH-1H helicopters. This follows ten from the same source in 2004 and a Bell 427 in July (see HeliHub.com story). Due to the way that the UH-1s were acquired by Taiwan, the far East country needs to apply to the US... Read more
20-Oct-2011Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
Air Evac Lifeteam, the largest independently owned and operated air medical service in the United States, awarded Philips a contract to supply 127 HeartStart MRx monitor/defibrillators. The HeartStart MRx units will be deployed across all of Air Evac Lifeteam’s bases, which number 104 in 15 states, over the next six months. The HeartStart MRx meets... Read more
20-Oct-2011Source: Army Times
Army aviation leaders grounded its fleet of OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters at Fort Rucker, Ala., on Tuesday because of “specific system concerns,†according to an Army release. (Full story)... Read more
20-Oct-2011Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
Air Evac Lifeteam, the largest independently-owned air ambulance service in the country, has entered the second level of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Safety Management System Voluntary Pilot Project, further bolstering the company’s commitment to safety and risk management.Air Evac Lifeteam Director of Safety Dave Hardin explained that Air Evac Lifeteam’s voluntary participation in the... Read more
19-Oct-2011
Mechanical issues led to the landing near 11th and Gallatin streets. Both radios went out during a routine exercise... Read more
18-Oct-2011Source: Becker Avionics
Mercy Flight Inc. of Buffalo, NY and San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, NM recently took delivery of new Bell 429 light-twin EMS helicopter equipped with Becker Avionics Digital Audio Systems, the DVCS6100. The Bell 429 for Mercy Flight was completed and delivered by Bell Helicopter Piney Flats, TN and the San Juan Regional... Read more
18-Oct-2011
Helicopter ended up upside down, but with the cabin and boom looking reasonably intact – certainly tail boom is complete and tail rotor blades do not appear damaged... Read more
17-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Evergreen Helicopters have acquired two low-time Bell 214STs from the Saudi royal family. Previously allocated to operations from superyacht “Prince Abdul Aziz”, the fourth largest private yacht in the world at 147m in length, the pair have last week been registered with the FAA as N511EV and N512EV. They are serial numbers 28105 and 28115... Read more
17-Oct-2011
Seven children hurt after hovering helicopter caused billboards to be blown over the crowds at a stadium. Helicopter was demonstrating troops rapelling to the ground... Read more
15-Oct-2011
Crashed in wooded area after turning back due to weather. 7 POB – Pilot Óscar Cabrera, Co-pilot Ricardo Ortiz along with engineers Carlos Batista, Orber Godoni, Armando Sosa, Augusto Masias and Jose Guarimba. One had second-degree burns and a fractured collarbone, all others had minor injuries only... Read more
14-Oct-2011Source: Halo Flight
HALO-Flight, Inc., the only air ambulance serving the sixteen counties surrounding Corpus Christi, is expanding its fleet of emergency service vehicles. A third Bell 407 helicopter is expected to be delivered in early 2012. With this addition, HALO-Flight’s fleet will include three rotor-wing aircraft and one Specialty Care Transport ground ambulance. “HALO-Flight is focused on... Read more
13-Oct-2011Source: Brownsville Herald
The new McAllen base will be one of Air Evac Lifeteam’s 104 bases in the country and the 21st base in Texas, the company said in a statement. –... Read more
13-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Swiss helicopter operator HeliSwiss has acquired a Bell 206B JetRanger 3 from Germany to replace the helicopter they lost in an accident in April (see details). Rhe Bell arrived at HeliSwiss’ base at Bern on Monday of this week still carrying its German registration D-HGMS and will in the next few days be registered locally... Read more
13-Oct-2011
Onondaga County Legislature decided on Tuesday to stop all funding of their Air-1 helicopter. The Legislature’s actions do not necessarily spell doom for Air-1 or the fledgling philharmonic. But it will be much more difficult for them to operate without a subsidy from county taxpayers next year (See full story)... Read more
11-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) today announced that its OH 58 Kiowa Warrior has successfully demonstrated several ground breaking capabilities that will enable interoperability among multiple aviation platforms, such as manned and unmanned vehicles. The exercise was conducted at the Manned Unmanned System Integration Capability (MUSIC) demonstration, sponsored by the U.S. Army... Read more
11-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) announced today the appointment of Michael “Willy†D. Andersen as Vice President and Program Director for of the V-22 Osprey and deputy director of the Bell-Boeing Program office. In this dual role, Andersen will report directly to Mitch Snyder, executive vice president of military programs at Bell... Read more
11-Oct-2011Source: FlightSafety
FlightSafety International is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) in Mexico for two Level D simulators and three Level 7 qualified flight training devices. FlightSafety has now received approval for 274 of its simulators and flight training devices from the DGAC in Mexico. “The approval... Read more
10-Oct-2011Source: LifePort
AUSA, Wash., D.C., Maryland – LifePort, Inc. announced today it has been awarded a commercial Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to equip the Bell 407 helicopter with lightweight Ballistic Protection System (BPS). This is LifePort’s first STC approval for a BPS in a civil utility helicopter. LifePort is a Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) company – the... Read more
10-Oct-2011
Mercy Flight Central,has scheduled a press conference to display an Ec135 that it will use in Central New York and base at Marcellus Airport in Onondaga County, replacing an older Bo105. The event is being held just a day before the Onondaga County Legislature votes on the county’s 2012 budget, where the sheriff is bidding... Read more
10-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Turkish police have detained 16 people, including 13 military officers (11 active, 2 retired from duty), as part of an investigation into a helicopter crash that killed a politician. President Abdullah Gul has voiced suspicion about the circumstances of the crash after two components, including the flight recorder went missing following the March 2009 accident... Read more
10-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that its newest version of the popular Bell 407 – the 407GX – has earned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification following its certification by Transport Canada earlier this year. Since the Bell 407GX was introduced in February at the 2011 HELI-EXPO annual convention in Orlando,... Read more
10-Oct-2011Source: US Marine Corps
The rotors of the aircraft made the once peaceful flight line a whirlwind of chaos. In true military fashion the birds flew in slow and came to a hover over their designated spots. While still hovering, the aircraft turned and proceeded to touch the ground, one at a time. This landing started a new chapter... Read more
7-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company (NYSE: TXT), has implemented a new call center for customers of its Aeronautical Accessories brand and its Repair and Overhaul operation in Piney Flats, Tenn. The call center simplifies the process of incoming customer calls and increases routing capabilities, resulting in reduced overall call time and more rapid inquiry resolution.... Read more
6-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced the signing of three purchase agreements, which included the Bell 429 and Bell 407GX, received during the 6th International Business Aviation Exhibition Jet Expo in Moscow and the Helitech Conference in Duxford, United Kingdom – continuing to grow its presence in the European and Russian markets... Read more
6-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), was recognized for its recycling program by the North Texas Corporate Recycling Association (NTCRA) at the Green Awards event on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Bell Helicopter was claimed winner of the Stupendous Recycling Service category. “We are extremely pleased to be recognized for our recycling program at Bell... Read more
5-Oct-2011Source: HeliFlite
HeliFlite announces 24/7 airport helicopter transfer services. Airport transfers are available to and from private area airports: Teterboro (TEB) and White Plains (HPN) as well as international hubs such as Newark (EWR), John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). The flight time into any of the 3 New York City heliports is under 15... Read more
5-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced that on Friday, August 2, Shannon Halter became the 120,000th student to complete training from the Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA). Pictured below, Trey Wade, Director of the Bell Helicopter Training Academy and Charles Fisher, Manager Technical Training for Bell Helicopter present Shannon Halter of United... Read more
5-Oct-2011Source: DART Helicopter Services
DART Helicopter Services announces Transport Canada Approval of DART Aerospace’s Electric Step Replacement Pneumatic Actuator for the Bell 412/412EP model of aircraft. FAA approval has been previously received. The DART Step Actuator Release System replaces electrical linear step actuators with pneumatic actuators. This modification is designed to permit the passenger steps to remain in the... Read more
5-Oct-2011
Crashed in field 2km from airport it was on approach to. Sole occupant pilot did not survive. Fellow pilots said thick fog made flying conditions treacherous at that time... Read more
4-Oct-2011Source: US DoD
Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems of Warner Robins, Ga. is being awarded an estimated $8,395,974 cost plus award fee contract modification to modify and disassemble a UH-1N aircraft and convert it to a TH-1H aircraft. The cabin is inspected to find any cracks and corrosion which are repaired as required. The outdated obsolete analog avionics package... Read more
4-Oct-2011Source: US DoD
Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $14,089,047 firm-fixed-price order under previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00164-11-G-JQ97) for target sight system (TSS) spare parts and program support. This acquisition is for AN/AAQ-30 TSS spares that will be utilized for the current TSS that are installed into AH-1Z Cobra attack... Read more
4-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Follow the HeliHub.com reports at the page for this accident – 04-Oct-11 Bell 206 New York, US-New York (1F) [File Photo] William P Johnson – HeliHub.com... Read more
4-Oct-2011
Took off to about 20ft, then started spinning and ditched shortly after. Sonia Marra Nicholson, aged 40, died after being trapped inside the helicopter. Her girlfriend Helen Tomaski died from her injuries the next week. Her mother Harriet was in critical condition later in the day after being pulled unconscious from the water. Her 72-year-old... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company (NYSE: TXT), presented the True Patriot Love Foundation with a donation of $10,000 to further their mission of supporting members of the Canadian military and their families. The donation was presented as part of a ceremony held at Bell Helicopter’s Mirabel, Canada facility, on September 6, in honor of the... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: CPI Aero
CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (“CPI Aero(R)”) announced today that it has received new purchase orders totaling $1.4 million from Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, for the manufacture of various assemblies for the AH-1Z ZULU attack helicopter. The new orders were for additional requirements to a contract CPI Aero announced in March 2011. Including the new... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: Canadian National Defence
Thirteen members from CFB Edmonton-based 408 Tactical Helicopter (TH) Squadron flew to Nanton, Alta, home of the Bomber Command Museum and the Lancaster FM159, to celebrate the Squadron’s 70th anniversary, the museum’s 25th anniversary and the unveiling of newly acquired Halifax Bomber parts. It was a weekend filled with immense passion, amazing stories and the... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: St Cloud Times
Honoring the history of Minnesota National Guard aviation, two Army helicopters were dedicated as part of a permanent display Thursday outside the Army Aviation Support Facility in St. Cloud. (Full story)Â File photo... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: US Navy
The Navy and Marine Corps recently fired the first shots of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II from a UH-1Y helicopter at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, Calif., Sept. 9-13. The recent shots, part of the program’s low-rate initial production phase, mark the start of APWKS testing on the UH-1Y... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: HALO-Flight
Driscoll Children’s Hospital and HALO-Flight, Inc. have begun a partnership that will result in an unprecedented level of service for critically ill and injured children of South Texas. Beginning in September, HALO-Flight will dedicate a helicopter exclusively to Driscoll Children’s Hospital. This partnership will significantly reduce the time it takes to transport patients to the... Read more
3-Oct-2011
While in cruise flight at 11,500?MSL from Grand Junction, CO to Gunnison, CO, the transmission warning light illuminated. The pilot also observed a decrease in pressure on the transmission oil pressure gauge. The helicopter landed safely without incident in a field, was immediately taken out of service and secured.... Read more
3-Oct-2011
One serious and two minor injuries to the 3 POB... Read more
1-Oct-2011
Reported mechanical problems, crashed onto mountain and rolled for some distance... Read more
30-Sep-2011
Accident between EC-GIC and CC-CIS both 212s involved in re-filling their water tanks during fire-fighting operations. Pilot Leo Janssen, flying CC-CIS was killed. Pilot Manuel Fuertes in EC-GIC survived... Read more
30-Sep-2011
Accident between EC-GIC and CC-CIS both 212s involved in re-filling their water tanks during fire-fighting operations. Pilot Leo Janssen, flying CC-CIS was killed. Pilot Manuel Fuertes in EC-GIC survived... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: ATK
ATK has received an order valued at more than $58.7 million from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Direct Fire Munitions Branch, Rock Island Contracting Center (RICC), Rock Island, Ill., to produce multiple variants of 20mm PGU-series ammunition. This is the third order under a contract originally signed in September 2008. If all options are exercised,... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: Doug Doty Foundation
Hillsboro Aviation and The Doug Doty Vertical Flight Foundation has teamed up to offer the non-profit foundation’s first Bell 206B3 JetRanger Scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is to help helicopter pilots advance to the next level in their training and make positive contributions to the aviation industry. The scholarship includes enrollment in Hillsboro Aviation’s... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: Post-Standard
Sheriff Kevin Walsh is trying to sell naming rights to Onondaga County’s Bell 407 as a way of keeping it flying in the face of budget cuts. A sponsor’s financial contribution would be in exchange for having the company’s name displayed prominently on it. While it will retain its “Air-1†radio call sign, it would... Read more
28-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $16,650,000 firm-fixed-price contract for six spare AN/AAQ-30 target sight systems (TSS) for the AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. The TSS provides target identification and tracking; passive targeting for integrated weapons, including Hellfire missiles; and a laser designation capability supporting friendly laser-guided weapons. Work... Read more
28-Sep-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) and the U.S. Army Armed Scout Helicopter program office announced today the completion of the final Safety Enhancement Program (SEP) OH-58D delivered to the Army as part of the Kiowa Warrior refresh program. The program experienced 13 years of on time deliveries. “Delivering each of the 292... Read more
28-Sep-2011
First Lt. Ryan K. Iannelli, died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd Marine Air Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, MCAS New River, N.C.... Read more
27-Sep-2011
The Madera County Sheriff’s Department and Cal Fire as well as paramedics are on scene of a downed private helicopter. 2 POB to hospital, one by road, one by air... Read more
26-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for a maximum $8,622,105 for cuff assemblies. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. The date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2016. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-G-0003-THLN).... Read more
26-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Helitech could almost pass by with no mention of Bell. They have no exhibition stand, no helicopters in the static park and no plans to issue a press release to coincide with the event. Bell are, however, sponsoring the conferences, including providing two speakers, as follows Wednesday 16:20-16:40 Product Safety, Operational Risk and Safety Management... Read more
26-Sep-2011
Tail rotor failure during climb out... Read more
26-Sep-2011
Bell helicopter with 7 on board, including Provincial Police Region 3 commander, makes emergency landing in Ubon Ratchathani during illegal logging bust duty – likely a Bell 212 or 412.... Read more
25-Sep-2011
Bell 412 missing and later found crashed.pter with two POB missing, reported elsewhere as PK-OCV .... Read more
23-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron, Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $10,047,265 cost-plus-fixed-fee order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-11-G-0003) for design and development activities in support of the cuff and yoke redesign of the H-1 helicopter upgrades. This delivery order will include initiating the design-build-buy activities, part/drawing release, and support analysis for detailed... Read more
22-Sep-2011Source: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $49.9 million follow-on production contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center for the Target Sight System (TSS), the fire control system for the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. The Naval Surface Warfare Center awarded the initial TSS production contract in March 2008, followed by a second production contract... Read more
20-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
EFW, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $9,449,387 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0057) to provide hardware, installations, non-recurring engineering, technical data, and installation support of the Helmet Display Tracking System in AH-1W helicopters. Work will be performed in Haifa, Israel (51 percent), Fort Worth, Texas (25 percent), and Melbourne, Fla.... Read more
20-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
There has been a fatal accident of a Bell AH-1W at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in California, killing both occupants. The HeliHub.com page for this accident is at 19-Sep-11 Bell AH-1W Camp Pendleton, US-California (2F)... Read more
19-Sep-2011
There has been a fatal accident of an Agusta-Bell 412 in the Granada region of Spain, killing all three on board. Although a firefighting helicopter, it was not active in that role but on a ferry flight The HeliHub.com page for... Read more
19-Sep-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, was recognized by the Texas Veterans Commission at its 64th Annual Statewide Training Conference held in Houston, Texas. Bell Helicopter’s Military Aircraft Assembly and Delivery Center in Amarillo, Texas received the Large Employer of the Year Award for its successful efforts to hire veterans and its continued... Read more
19-Sep-2011Source: Australian MoD
Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Royal Australian Navy has signed a new contract with Raytheon Australia to provide three Bell 429 helicopters aimed to maintain and develop the skills of junior Naval helicopter aircrew. The contract is worth around $26 million over four years and includes support and maintenance. Mr... Read more
19-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
JetRanger from the German operator Rotorflug was operating out of Jerez airport in Spain on a filming detail when it had a problem and force landed in a narrow Spanish street. HeliHub.com safety data records this accident at:- 18-Sep-11 D-HONY Bell B206B El Puerto de Santa MarÃa, Spain... Read more
19-Sep-2011
Firefighting helicopter on ferry flight. High momentum terrain impact, fire followed.... Read more
19-Sep-2011
The helicopter went down at approximately 1:00 p.m. Monday in a training area in the southeast corner of Camp Pendleton. A small brush fire broke out as a result of the crash. Fire crews are on scene working to contain the flames. The two fatalities were later named as Capt. Jeffrey Bland, 37, and 1st... Read more
