9-Aug-2024Source: Bell
The Bell 429 retrofitted with its brand-new Designer Series interior has completed a flight demonstration tour in Latin America, hosting more than 20 demonstration flights to prospective customers eager to experience its latest advancements in technology and safety-enhancing features. “The Bell 429 is a highly sought out platform for our customers in Latin America. Its ample... Read more
31-Jul-2024Source: Ecocopter
Living a unique and exciting experience in the mountains and sliding through the snow with spectacular views is what hundreds of Heliski lovers have experienced in the winter season in this corner of the world. Heliskiing is an activity that consists of reaching the summits by helicopter and skiing down. In this scenario, the athlete... Read more
11-Apr-2024Source: Airbus
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H125 to the Carabineros de Chile Air Prefecture, within the framework of a fleet growth plan to expand the air coverage of Carabineros de Chile throughout the country. “The incorporation of this aircraft shows the commitment that Carabineros de Chile has in terms of security towards our citizens. This... Read more
15-Feb-2024Source: Ecocopter
Helibiking in Chile is gaining more and more strength and the Andes Mountains have become an attractive mountain for lovers of this sport around the world. An adventure activity that combines mountain biking with helicopter transport and consists of climbing to a high and remote summit with a bicycle and then descend on trails or... Read more
27-Nov-2023
With the aim of rewarding the most innovative companies in the country for their capacity to systematically develop new innovative products, processes and services, the results of the Ranking “Most Innovative Companies” Chile 2023 were announced. The ranking measures and compares seven key aspects of innovation: strategy, culture, leadership, organization, innovation process, use of strategic... Read more
20-Nov-2023Source: Ecocopter
In two decades of history, Ecocopter has a recognized trajectory and international reputation where it has become a strategic ally, both for its customers, suppliers, communities and different stakeholders, providing comprehensive services, providing value, safety and efficiency in the activity of highly complex aerial services, especially to key sectors such as Mining, Energy, Telecommunications, Forest... Read more
12-Sep-2023Source: Ecocopter
Living a unique and exciting experience in the mountains of Santiago and the Chilean Patagonia, and gliding through the virgin snow with spectacular views, is what hundreds of Heliski lovers have experienced during the winter season in this corner of the world. Heliskiing is an activity that consists of reaching the highest peaks by helicopter... Read more
20-Jul-2023Source: Ecocopter
Large cities in the world such as New York and Sao Paulo have an extensive network of private helicopters for aerial tours, significantly boosting the tourism industry in their respective countries. Thus, and with the aim of providing a tourist offer of unique helicopter experiences in Chile, eCopter is born -at the end of 2022-,... Read more
4-Jul-2023Source: Ecocopter
In the aeronautical world, the control of maintenance scheduling and scheduled and unscheduled inspections are part of the life of the aircraft and of utmost importance for the safety and efficiency of operations. In this context, Ecocopter, in this period of the year, starts its processes. For this, the company has a first level Aeronautical... Read more
19-May-2023Source: Ecocopter
The Chilean company Ecocopter, with its helicopters and expert pilots, provides effective and safe support in the maintenance of equipment and rescue of information recorded in the monitoring systems of volcanoes located in inhospitable and difficult to access areas in the Andes Mountains. Chile is one of the countries with the largest number of volcanoes... Read more
15-Mar-2023Source: Ecocopter
The Chilean firm Ecocopter ordered three H125 helicopters and one H145 from Airbus in 2022 to continue consolidating aerial work missions in a variety of industrial and productive sectors in the Southern Cone of America. The first three H125 helicopters have already been delivered and are in Chile, and by mid 2023 the H145 will... Read more
1-Mar-2023Source: HeliHub.com
Babcock International Group today announced the conclusion of its portfolio alignment programme with the completion of the sale of certain of its aerial emergency services businesses to Ancala Partners. These businesses were sold for a cash consideration of €136.2 million (c. £120 million), before completion adjustments and transaction costs. In turn, Ancala have rejuvenated the... Read more
13-Feb-2023Source: Chilean Army
[electronic translation] Bell-412 helicopters and their air crews are operating from the Maquehue Air Base in Temuco and from the Temporary Air Garrison (GAT) based at the Carriel Sur Airport in Talcahuano, who continue to support the fight against the forest fires that affect the south of the country. Thus, on February 8, an aircraft... Read more
3-Feb-2023Source: Ecocopter
Ecocopter is committed to contribute with concrete actions to the care and protection of the environment with international standards. Based on this, Ecocopter began to offset its carbon footprint in 2022 and additionally became the first helicopter company in Chile to join the “Vuelo Limpio” (Clean Flight) program. A public/private initiative that seeks to implement... Read more
28-Oct-2022Source: Ecocopter
Seventy percent of Chilean territory, home to more than 7.5 million people, is susceptible to forest fires. For this reason, the government, in order to prevent this type of disaster, has allocated a budget of Ch$83,000 million, which will allow 62 aircraft and some 3,000 brigade members in 283 brigades, distributed between the regions of... Read more
19-Aug-2022Source: Ecocopter
The carbon footprint was born as a measure to quantify and generate an indicator of the impact that an activity or process has on climate change. In order to face the planetary environmental threat, Ecocopter is committed to compensate its carbon footprint and contribute with actions to the care and protection of the environment... Read more
12-May-2022Source: Ecocopter
The 5G network will be the most transformative communications technology of this generation, enabling a universe of new services, as it is up to 90% more efficient per unit of traffic than its 4G predecessors. However, they require much more power due to the higher network density with new frequencies, which means that new... Read more
29-Apr-2022Source: Rotortec
Rotortec signed a contract for the purchase of two H125 to be used in aerial work, passenger transport and a wide range of missions at sea level and high altitude in the Chilean mountain range “Rotortec has faced new challenges in recent years in line with the significant growth of aerial work flights. Due to this,... Read more
2-Mar-2022Source: Ascent
We are pleased to announce that Ascent is becoming global, expanding its footprint to Chile. Beyond Asia Pacific, Ascent users in Chile can now avail of air taxis and enjoy experiences of a new kind. With Ascent, users can connect between Santiago and popular locations in a matter of minutes. This launch represents an important... Read more
17-Feb-2022Source: Airbus Helicopters
In Chile, there was only one aircraft of this type acquired by Ecocopter, the first national company to incorporate this “colossus of the air” to its modern fleet. However, the Chilean company, the only operator of this helicopter in the country, added a second H145 that began operations to provide multipurpose services. This twin-engine aircraft,... Read more
6-Jan-2022Source: Ecocopter
Chile is one of the countries with the largest number of volcanoes on the planet. Being located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, there are about 3,000 volcanoes in an extension of 4,300 kilometers of continental land, in addition to the Antarctic and insular territory. That is why, from time to time, columns of... Read more
20-Dec-2021Source: Wingcopter
German drone delivery pioneer Wingcopter has secured its next investment. The capital influx comes from SYNERJET Corp, a leading business aviation specialist in Latin America, with operations in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Panama, and Guatemala. The new funding follows recently announced investments from Japan-based DRONE FUND as well as UBER co-founder Garrett Camp’s Expa. SYNERJET... Read more
15-Dec-2021
Experts agree that there will be above-normal temperature conditions and below-normal rainfall, which implies that the fuel – the vegetation – will have much drier characteristics and this evidently contributes to a greater frequency and extension of forest fires that will break out in the central-southern area of the country. Faced with this worrying forecast,... Read more
6-Oct-2021Source: Ecocopter
The commune of Til Til is on red alert due to the voracious forest fire in the area, where there are five helicopters and four airplanes flying over the area to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading. In addition to this, there is the Los Vilos fire, active since Monday. Climate change, the... Read more
9-Aug-2021Source: Ecocopter
[electronic translation] Three years ago, the H145 was the world’s market leader in light twin-engine helicopter sales. In Chile, there is only one aircraft of this type to date, and it belongs to Ecocopter, the first national firm to incorporate this “titan of the air” with cutting-edge technology into its “air squad”. However, the Chilean... Read more
24-Jun-2021Source: Ecocopter
The technology in world aeronautics advances and develops in a dizzying way with rapid and profound changes aimed at providing the greatest safety. Thus, in recent times, the use of data and monitoring has developed transversely from operation to maintenance. Flight safety aims, in addition to safeguarding human lives, to know the causes of a... Read more
20-May-2021Source: Ecocopter
Ecocopter, a leader in rotorcraft operations in South America (Chile, Perú, and Ecuador), continues to invest in safety despite falling energy prices and the sudden impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As most helicopter operators tighten their financial belts and defer safety initiatives to what everyone hopes are better and more profitable times ahead, Ecocopter did... Read more
6-May-2021
The National Economic Prosecutor’s Office (FNE) filed a complaint before the Competition Tribunal (TDLC) against three helicopter companies in the forest firefighting market, as well as two executives who facilitated the coordination and execution of anti-competitive agreements. The corporations are Calquín Helicopters SpA (Calquín), Inaer Helicopter Chile S.A. (Inaer), and Pegasus South America Servicios Integrales... Read more
27-Jan-2021
Remained upright in very heavy landing. Engine fire. Skids collapsed, boom detached. Pilot (only person on board) airlifted to Rancagua hospital Chilean Army photo from Twitter... Read more
25-Jan-2021Source: HeliHub.com
Many people across our industry have been calling for some years now for better regulation of hobby drones, along with more proactive policing and harder sentencing. At present the first US court case is progressing where a drone owner has pleaded guilty in a situation where a drone struck a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter. But this... Read more
8-Oct-2020Source: IHSF
With strong support from the Chilean Association of Helicopters (ACHHEL) and dozens of experts from across the industry, the Helicopter Safety Team of Chile (HST-Chile) has been formed with a focus to reduce accidents and enhance safety. The team includes representatives from authorities, civilian and governmental helicopter operators; commercial and private pilots, etc. HST-Chile leadership... Read more
31-Jul-2020
The pilot took off from the Santiago Heliport to carry out an aerial work to control frost. Three minutes after takeoff, a light on the governor failure warning panel came on, stopping the engine in flight, for which the pilot performed an autorotation, forcibly landing in a private parking lot. The pilot, the sole occupant... Read more
7-Jan-2020Source: Leonardo
Leonardo announced that Rotortec, a premium passenger service provider in Chile, has recently taken delivery of one AW119Kx. The best-in-class helicopter will be used for tourism and sightseeing flights over Santiago, the region’s striking Andes Mountains, volcanoes, and world-class ski resorts among other routes that provide unbeatable views of rugged natural beauty and urban splendor.... Read more
20-Aug-2019Source: Leonardo
Leonardo announces the delivery of one AW119Kx VIP helicopter with a 24,000 ft. altitude kit to an undisclosed private customer in Chile. The unique altitude kit provides outstanding performance in the region’s tall Andes mountain peaks. This latest handover adds to over 20 helicopters already in service in the country including the AW119, AW109, AW139... Read more
4-Jul-2019Source: Airbus Helicopters
The prototype of the five-bladed H145, which Airbus Helicopters unveiled at Heli-Expo in Atlanta last March, has just arrived in Chile where the aircraft will start a high altitude flight campaign. EASA certification is expected in early 2020, with deliveries following later that year. The new H145 is ready to take on the Andes, with... Read more
1-Jul-2019Source: Airbus Helicopters
The prototype of the five-bladed H145, which Airbus Helicopters unveiled at Heli-Expo in Atlanta last March, has just arrived in Chile where the aircraft will start a high altitude flight campaign. EASA certification is expected in early 2020, with deliveries following later that year. The new H145 is ready to take on the Andes, with... Read more
6-Apr-2018Source: Leonardo
Leonardo announced today that Aerocardal Limitada has been appointed an Authorised Service Centre for its helicopters in Chile. The announcement was made during an official ceremony held at FIDAE 2018. Under the agreement, Aerocardal Limitada will provide comprehensive support and maintenance services from its base at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez international Airport, for Chilean owners... Read more
3-Apr-2018Source: Leonardo
Leonardo announced today that two additional civil helicopters will be delivered to Chilean private operators by early 2019, adding to a fleet of more than 20 aircraft currently in service. The deliveries will mark the entry of the new AW109 Trekker light twin, in a utility configuration, into the Chilean market in 1Q2019 as well... Read more
8-Nov-2017Source: Waypoint Leasing
Waypoint Leasing (Ireland) Limited (“Waypoint”), the largest independent global helicopter leasing company, today announced that it has completed a lease transaction for one H145 helicopter to Ecocopter in Chile to be used in support of the operator’s wide range of utility work. The lease transaction marks Waypoint’s 14th H145 delivery and the entry of the... Read more
28-Nov-2016Source: Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters recently celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in Santiago, Chile, and unveiled new investments in the South Cone region of South America, amounting to 4.6 million US dollars. On November 11, 2016, Airbus Helicopters celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in Santiago, Chile, and unveiled new investments in the South Cone region of South America, amounting to... Read more
30-Aug-2016Source: Waypoint
Waypoint Leasing (Ireland) Limited (“Waypoint”), the largest independent global helicopter leasing company, today announced that it has closed a lease agreement with Calquin Helicopters S.A. (“Calquin”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo FAASA (“FAASA”), for one Airbus AS350 B3 helicopter, which will transition from firefighting operations in Europe to high altitude utility missions in the... Read more
22-Jun-2016Source: HeliHub.com
A new H135 helicopter has been test flying recently from the Airbus Helicopters factory in Donauworth, in the colours of Carabineros de Chile – the national police force of Chile. HeliHub.com believes this order was not announced, but the aircraft is seen in the photo here carrying a German test registration, prior to it taking... Read more
19-Apr-2016Source: Airbus
The H215 heavy helicopter, a member of the Super Puma family, will be demonstrating its multi-mission capabilities and performance for aerial work in high & hot conditions during a demo tour of Latin America. The demo flights will begin tomorrow in Argentina and will then continue in Chile before finishing in Peru. During this three-week... Read more
1-Apr-2016Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced two Bell 505 letter of intent (LOI) signings in Chile to two corporate customers. Both aircraft will be outfitted for corporate and VIP transport for flights throughout the region. These signings are a testament to the growing demand of this aircraft and brings the current LOI... Read more
12-Jun-2015
Crashed into a tree on approach to airport. The pilot, Juan Manuel Urrutia was slightly injured, while his passenger was uninjured.... Read more
17-Apr-2015Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland announced today that the AW139 intermediate twin helicopter delivered to the Carabineros de Chile has now entered service. The aircraft will be used to support a wide range of missions including public order and safety, crime control, counter terrorism, drug control and border security across the nation, search and rescue and transport. The exceptional... Read more
31-Mar-2015
Crashed in mountainous area with the loss of all 4 POB. The helicopter was transporting workers sent to restore water service to the tens of thousands of people left without drinking water after the floods. Pilot Pedro Pablo Aldunate Arriola was married to a cousin of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.... Read more
12-Mar-2015
External load operations (carrying food and supplies to a mining camp in Colchagua) at 12,700ft amsl but only 50m above the ground when an engine problem caused pilot to jettison the load and take evasive action, descending to the right intending flying down a gorge. Sadly the pilot, named as Francisco Bismara from Argentina, died... Read more
23-Feb-2015
Tail rotor hit rock during firefighting work on approach to land to pick up a forest fire brigade team... Read more
13-Feb-2015
Helicopter with four on board crashed in forest area. One passenger (named as Miguel Zunino Valenzuela) jumped clear just before the helicopter crashed and the other three died in the accident, including Ítalo Zunino Muratori, Nicolás Fossatti and pilot Luis Alvarado.... Read more
27-Dec-2014
Passenger injured from gunshot fired from the ground while helicopter was overflying. damage to plexiglass window... Read more
8-Dec-2014Source: Trakka
Trakka Corp Pty Ltd is pleased to announce the Carabiniers of Chile have selected the Trakka A800 Tactical Helicopter Searchlight for the agency’s AW 109E Power patrol helicopter in Iquique, Chile. The Trakka A800 searchlight’s advanced optics technology provides superior performance and flexibility complimenting the AgustaWestland 109E Power mission equipment. The Trakka A800 is the... Read more
30-Nov-2014
The helicopter landed on scene at a road accident involving an intoxicated driver whose car hit a Carabineros vehicle. With rotors turning, a fire department vehicle got too close and clipped the blades. Initially the helicopter spun 90 degrees on the ground before the damage caused the tail boom to break off a few seconds... Read more
27-Nov-2014Source: HeliHub.com
Chilean operator Ecocopter is preparing for a new contract with ENAP (Empresa Nacional del Petróleo), the national petroleum company, which starts on 1st December. The company has ferried two EC135s and an AS350B3 down south to Punta Arenas – the South American continent’s southerly-most town. From here, the three will support offshore rigs in the... Read more
1-Aug-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), showcased the versatility and superior performance of the Bell 429 WLG, the aircraft’s wheeled landing gear variant, with nearly 60 demonstration flights between March 2014 to July 2014 in Latin America. “We received great feedback from our customers about the retractable landing gear for ground taxi operations,”... Read more
20-Jun-2014
Written off. 4 POB – two adults, two children – got out OK... Read more
30-Mar-2014Source: Airbus
The Chilean Army, Ejército de Chile, took delivery of the world’s first Cougar AS532 ALe on Tuesday, March 25 at the FIDAE International Air and Space Fair in Santiago, Chile. This new aircraft is the latest member of the Cougar family and features the same four-axis autopilot and glass cockpit as the EC225. It is... Read more
25-Mar-2014Source: Airbus Helicopters
For the first time in Latin America under its new branding, Airbus Helicopters will display its efficient and adapted product line-up at next week’s FIDAE International Air and Space Fair, featuring rotorcraft flown by a cross-section of Latin American operators to underscore the company’s leadership in this portion of the world. Maintaining an overall 40... Read more
10-Mar-2014
All four POB injured, and rescued by Chilean Air Force UH-1... Read more
30-Dec-2013
Badly burned in arson attack while parked. Gang unsuccessfully attempted same on a second helicopter parked nearby... Read more
29-Dec-2013
Fire fighting helicopter shot at from the ground by 9mm bullett... Read more
30-Oct-2013
Impacted terrain on agricultural flight after hitting power cables, killing one of two on board... Read more
24-Jun-2013
Heavy landing, rolled over and tail with tail rotor separated aft of the horizontal stabiliser.... Read more
20-Mar-2013Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that AVIASUR has been appointed Official Distributor for AgustaWestland commercial helicopters in Chile and Peru. AVIASUR has also signed a contract for one AW119Kx single engine and one GrandNew light twin helicopter. This contract marks the entrance of the AW119Kx into the Chilean helicopter market. Both signings... Read more
7-Mar-2013Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter kicked off day 2 of Heli-Expo with a ceremony recognizing Ecocopter, the largest Eurocopter commercial operator in Chile, for 10 years of operation in Chile and Peru. On the occasion, Dominique Andréani, commercial director of Eurocopter Cono Sur, presented Ecocopter President Eduardo Ergas and CEO Fernando Kogan with a commemorative plaque as well as... Read more
4-Mar-2013Source: Avincis
Avincis Group (Avincis), the world’s leading provider of aerial services for mission critical operations, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Kümmerlin as Regional CEO Latin America, with immediate effect. Based in Santiago, Chile, Ian will be responsible for further developing Avincis’ business in the region, which includes subsidiaries Inaer Chile and Inaer Peru... Read more
6-Feb-2013Source: Avincis Group
INAER Helicopter Chile, aware of the importance of conserving the environment, has once again this year reinforced its fleet of aircraft for the 2012-2013 firefighting campaign with helicopters from the now-completed summer campaign in Spain and Portugal, where they intervened in numerous forest fires. During his visit to the Trilahue Air Base, Ricardo Rivera, leader... Read more
15-Jan-2013Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) has validated the Bell 429 for operations in Chile. Additionally, DGAC has endorsed the operation of the Bell 429 at 3402 kg (7,500 lbs.). This approval, based on Transport Canada’s certification, makes Chile the fourteenth country to increase the maximum... Read more
6-Nov-2012
Helicopter crashed during agricultural work. Pilot reported as Hernán Cabrera, age 47. Distant photo shows helicopter landed upright in the crop, although tail does not look quite right! Chilean sources are quoting the accident as a UH-1H, but we do not agree – see the two stabilizer end-plates, definitely a LongRanger!... Read more
16-Oct-2012Source: Avincis Group
Avincis Mission Critical Services (Avincis Group) has established itself in the UK today as the world’s leading provider of mission critical aviation services. The Group’s mission is to save lives, protect the environment and provide safe transport for mission critical people and assets for public services and blue chip corporations. Avincis’ operating companies deliver across... Read more
16-Sep-2012Source: UPI
Chile is in talks with the Netherlands to purchase eight Cougar helicopters that are likely to be reconditioned and upgraded to form part of an air cavalry brigade. (see full story)... Read more
17-Aug-2012Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that a new AgustaWestland Service Centre has been opened by AVIASUR to provide maintenance and other support services for AgustaWestland commercial helicopter customers. The service centre is located at AVIASUR’s modern facility at Santiago’s Arturo Merino BenÃtez International Airport in Chile, where an official opening ceremony was... Read more
4-Jul-2012Source: Ecocopter
[Electronic translation] Among its applications is a navigation system with aeronautical maps, airport information, radio aids, weight balance, video security briefings, and others. Ecocopter again make a difference in service, through the incorporation of iPad2s in their helicopters with the latest technology that allow these tablets. The tool offers a great application platform utility that allows... Read more
28-Jun-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Radio Netherlands has issued a report that their local Defence Ministry is looking to dispose of aircraft in an effort to both raise some money and to save operational costs – their target is to shave a billion euros from its budget. Apart from a proposed sale of fifteen F-16 jets to Romania, they also... Read more
18-May-2012
Minor damage in accident while helicopter was involved in operations to do with a ratio antenna in support of a sports challenge on the island called “Transportation Achilles”. The three crew members were unharmed – Fernando Saver Oyarzún, Claudio Navarrete Flores and Rodrigo Vargas Soto. One source quotes the helicopter serial number as “38” but... Read more