25-Aug-2011Source: Castleberry
Castleberry Instruments and Avionics announced that its repair station has earned FAA full Class 1, 2, 3 Radio, Class 1, 2, 3, 4, Instrument and Limited Airframe ratings. These upgrades enable Castleberry to add all Avionics, all Instruments, as well as Installations and certain Aircraft certifications to its current service offerings. “Earning these ratings will... Read more
25-Aug-2011Source: Zetron
A mission-critical communications control system from Zetron has been deployed by Bristow Helicopters’ North Sea oil and gas operation in a bid to help achieve a demanding world-wide quality target – and it is already paying dividends. The Zetron DCS-5020 Digital Console, installed at Bristow’s Aberdeen logistics control room, enables three controllers to coordinate some... Read more
25-Aug-2011Source: Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant
At MAKS-2011 International Aviation and Space Salon Russian Helicopters holding company signed two macrocontracts for delivery of Mi-171 helicopters produced by JSC Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (JSC U-UAP). According to the agreements achieved, 40 helicopters of Mi-171 type are planned to be delivered to JSC UTair Aviation, 39 helicopters of Mi-8 type – Gaspromavia Aviation Company... Read more
25-Aug-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace are pleased to announce that the Hiroshima Prefecture of Japan has signed a contract for an AW139 medium twin helicopter. This aircraft will be used by the Hiroshima Prefecture Disaster Relief Department to perform fire fighting and disaster relief missions. The helicopter is due to enter operational... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: Helitech
Helitech has formed its first Steering Committee to help ensure that the event continues to reflect the needs and aspirations of the rotary-wing industry in future years. With the event celebrating its 25th year of supporting the rotary wing arena this year, the aim is to continue to shape Helitech to meet the requirements of... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: WCSC
Following their announcement of the contract with MUSC, Med-Trans have recently started operations of a new EC135P2+, registration N452MT and Eurocopter serial 0974 out of Charleston. A profile of the new operation can be found here... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
A Collier County EMS pilot suspended in July for leaving his running helicopter has won his appeal. Mark Holmes was suspended without pay July 28 and ordered to complete a safety course and pass a test before returning to work, which he immediately passed. The suspension involved an incident on July 14, when Holmes was... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: NTSB
The NTSB has issued a long statement of recommendations to the FAA following their investigation of a May 2009 accident to a Robinson R44 operated by Alaska State Troopers. The recommendations are summarised at the end of the document as:- Therefore, the National Transportation Safety Board makes the following recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration:... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: HeilHub.com
The Rio Grande Valley’s longest-running helicopter ambulance will be permanently grounded this autumn, thanks to Texas state budget cuts. The South Texas Emergency Care Foundation has operated Valley AirCare since 1995, but operating their AS350B2 in recent years has been an increasing challenge as cost reimbursements continued a downward slide and fuel prices soared. With... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: Courier Gazette
Profile article on the PHI Air Medical base at McKinney TX is featured here. The base operates a Eurocopter EC135P2+, registered N325PH... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: Systems Interface
SIL will be showing a selection from the Avlite’s portfolio of environmentally sustainable, eco-friendly, solar powered airfield and Helipad lighting. Avlite Systems is a world-class solar aviation lighting systems manufacturer with a proven reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions designed specifically for defence, government, civil and humanitarian aid operations in the most remote... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
The Evansville, Ind. Air Evac Lifeteam base has been selected as the company’s 2011 Region 1 Base of the Year. Region 1 consists of Air Evac Lifeteam bases in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. The Base of the Year Award is presented to the base in the Air Evac Lifeteam system that best exemplifies the... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: Oliver VTOL
Oliver VTOL LLC, today announced the “Hexplane,” an innovative six-engine vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft that holds the promise to fly faster, further and safer than any VTOL in the industry. The Hexplane design has three wings and six tilt-able propulsion units that will enable the aircraft to fly above 25,000 feet at cruise... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: PAMA
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) has elected its 2011 Board of Directors. Those elected for two-year terms as PAMA Directors are: Chairperson – Roger Sickler, President, Air Land Turbine Services Inc. Vice Chairperson – Jeff Gruber, Instructor, Columbus State Community College Secretary – John Wicht, DER, Rapco Inc. Treasurer –Richard Wellman, Field Service Representative,... Read more
23-Aug-2011
The new EC145 boasts several new state-of-the-art features, including NVG capability, several global positioning units, terrain avoidance technology, onboard weather systems and a glass cockpit that Sgt. John Ratliff said was the “latest and best technology.â€Â (Full story) The particular aircraft is registered N39VA, serial 9384. File photo... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: GES
Global Experience Specialists (GES) a leader in exhibition, event and retail marketing services announced that it completed another successful product launch for long-time client Bell Helicopter. The most recent product launch was at Heli-Expo 2011, the largest trade show dedicated to the international helicopter community. GES delivered a sophisticated, high-impact experience to showcase and debut two new... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: Conklin & de Decker
Conklin & de Decker announced the latest release of their innovative LIFE CYCLE COST 2011 Volume II. The most comprehensive aircraft budget and financial analysis tool available, LIFE CYCLE COST from Conklin & de Decker, provides aircraft owners, operators, flight department managers, and aircraft consultants with extensive ownership and operating cost data for nearly 400... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accidents of:- Robinson R44 Raven, G-GDOV – 16 May 2011 – Chagford, Devon... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: Scott’s – Bell 47
Scott’s – Bell 47, Inc. (SB47), OEM for the Model 47 helicopter, today announced a reduction of their Main Rotor Blade spares pricing to $45,000 per blade, -13 & -21, and $45,500 for the -23. This reduction is driven by the customer survey responses received over the past 6 months and is afforded by their... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: Helijet
Helijet’s regularly-scheduled Victoria to Vancouver passenger service landed Tuesday morning with a special delivery: the Fairmont Empress’ famous tea and scones and a freshly-logoed helicopter to promote a new business partnership between North America’s largest scheduled helicopter carrier and Fairmont Hotels. The new partnership between The Fairmont Waterfront, The Fairmont Empress and Helijet means great Helijet rates (up... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: Bristow Helicopters
Bristow Helicopters Ltd (Bristow) has appointed David Laskowski to oversee its operations in the busy northern North Sea energy sector. Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, Laskowski will serve as Development Manager responsible for day-to-day management of up to 250,000 passenger movements annually through the Integrated Aviation Consortium (IAC) contract. He will play a key role in... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: Aero Dynamix
Aero Dynamix Inc. is very proud to announce the completion and delivery of the Howard County Police night vision goggle modified Bell 407 aircraft. ’We are very pleased to be working with a large number of law enforcement agencies on the conversion of their aircraft for night vision goggle operations’ stated General Manager Dennis Trout.... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: C-NLOPB
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) today responded to the final report of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry entitled “Report and Recommendations arising from the Transportation Safety Board’s Reportâ€. The submission of this report signals the completion of the inquiry. The C-NLOPB wishes to extend its gratitude to Commissioner Robert Wells, Inquiry Counsel... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Huntington Beach police helicopters will continue to patrol Newport Beach for now. The City Council has approved a 3 year contract to provide helicopter services to its neighbour at the hourly rate of $700, and allowing for 1,000 hours worth of response services and patrol time per year. On July 30, Newport Beach and Costa... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: HAL
Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh has taken over the charge of Director Corporate Planning & Marketing of HAL. Earlier to this, he was Executive Director Flight Operations and the Chief Test Pilot (Fixed Wing) at HAL Bangalore Complex. Highly experienced in various facets of aviation, he has a total Flight Test experience of over 6000... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: HeliFlite
The 2011 Barclays PGA Golf Tournament takes place August 23rd-28th at the prestigious Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey. HeliFlite has approval for a private landing site less than a mile away from the event. Attendees to the tournament arriving by car will use a drop off point or parking, both over 8 miles... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: AAI
AME Unmanned Systems, a Chandler/May, Inc. company, and AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that the two companies have entered into a strategic alliance agreement regarding unmanned systems development. “AAI and Chandler/May have enjoyed a long, successful working relationship for several years,”... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: United Rotorcraft Solutions
nited Rotorcraft Solutions (URS) recently refurbished two Eurocopter EC135s for Air Methods Corporation. The renovation included a complete re-upholster of the interior, sanding, repairing and repainting the exterior and performing major maintenance inspections and clearing of discrepancies. The work on both helicopters was completed on schedule. “Performing the inspections and clearing all discrepancies is important... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: Connecticut Post
Missing from almost every list of “aviation pioneers” is Anselm Franz, the turbine engine genius who was responsible for the first jet engine, the first helicopter turbine engine and the first “high bypass” turbofan engine. (Full story)... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: Ulan-Ude
JSC Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP) being a part of Russian Helicopters holding company takes part in MAKS-2011 International Aviation and Space Salon, Zhukovsky city, which was held in August 16-21. The company is presented as a part of Russian Helicopters holding company at the stand of Oboronprom in pavilion C3. It is planned to demonstrate... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: NEMSPA
Join the over 1,200 helicopter pilots who have already taken the NEMSPA Nationwide Heliport Survey and make your opinion known. By taking this survey you will be providing the FAA and the industry with your first-hand input regarding the heliport infrastructure in the United States. The information gathered will be used to help write the next version of... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: Guardian Mobility
Guardian Mobility has signed a teaming agreement with California-based The Trend Group. The Trend Group, a leading provider of gas turbine engine trend monitoring analysis services, will team with Guardian Mobility to provide their mutual customers with an ability to automatically track the performance of installed aircraft engines. Engine Trend Monitoring (ETM) allows an aircraft... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: Aerovel
On Friday Aerovel’s Flexrotor demonstrated transition between hover and wing-borne cruise, capabilities which allow it to combine VTOL with range of more than 3000 km and endurance exceeding a day and a half. Aerovel’s president, Tad McGeer, explains that “transition requires a climb, pitch-over, dive, and zoom, so we entered the new regime with a... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with AVIASUR appointing them as Independent Sales Representatives for Chile and Peru for AgustaWestland commercial helicopters. The agreement follows the entry into the market of the AW119Ke single engine helicopter and the best selling AW109 Power and GrandNew twin-engine helicopters in... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Bristow Helicopters has recently begun using the TCAS2 traffic collision avoidance system on one of its seven North Sea based S92s on a flight from Scatsa to an offshore rig. All seven of its UK Sikorsky S92 fleet – six based at Scatsa and one at Aberdeen – are expected to have the system installed... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it has appointed Helipark in São Paulo, Brazil, as an AgustaWestland Authorised Service Centre for its range of commercial helicopters. The appointment of Helipark in Brazil will be followed in the coming months by the appointment of additional AgustaWestland Authorised Service Centres in other countries of... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, announced that the RR300 engine has received certification from the Russian airworthiness authority IAC-AR, enabling flight operations for the Robinson R66 helicopter and opening up future growth for the versatile aircraft. The RR300 engine, which powers Robinson’s first gas-turbine aircraft, received flight certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Russian Helicopters
Russian Helicopters, the industry holding and a subsidiary of UIC Oboronprom, has showcased its diverse lineup including the new light Mi-34C1, Ka-226T, Mi-38, and Mi-26T2 at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2011. Those and other civil rotorcraft of Russian make, including the attack Mi-28NE Night Hunter and the Ka-52 Alligator will be shown... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: American Eurocopter
The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) announced that it has launched social media profiles in an effort to increase awareness about the organization’s goal to reduce the civil helicopter accident rate by 80 per cent by 2016. American Eurocopter created the profiles in Facebook and Twitter, and has worked with IHST on the development of... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Donaldson
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), is helping one of the nation’s leading local law enforcement agencies improve the safety, efficiency and cost-effective operation of its aviation unit. The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department (LASD) Aero Bureau selected the company to provide inlet barrier filters (IBF) for the Bureau’s... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: City of DeSoto
The DeSoto Economic Development Corporation conducted a feasibility study for a heliport operation in DeSoto back in October 2009. It was determined that there was a market for a vertical flight facility in DeSoto’s Eagle Industrial Park, with the possibility of ancillary projects and businesses that would be supported by the new heliport. As a... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney has completed its first EcoPower engine washes on a U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk helicopter at Naval Base Coronado, Calif. The first EcoPower helicopter engine washes signify that EcoPower services are now available for military helicopters, in addition to large commercial and military aircraft. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Guardian Mobility
Guardian Mobility announced that it has completed its acquisition of Boston-based Alakai Technologies, creating an advanced turnkey flight data monitoring solution for aircraft operators around the world. With this acquisition, initially announced on May 10, 2011, Guardian now has one of the aircraft industry’s most innovative and sophisticated product and service solutions for fleet operators.... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Eurocopter
Following intensive relief operations after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March, the Japan Coast Guard, Eurocopter Group and Eurocopter Japan have signed a tripartite contract for the supply of three additional EC225 helicopters to the Japan Coast Guard. These aircraft will be the first civilian helicopters to be equipped with the most advanced mission... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Guidance Aviation
On August 17, 2011, the Guidance Academy Scholarship was established by Guidance Aviation of Prescott, Arizona to provide financial assistance to students in need who are enrolled in the Yavapai College Professional Pilot Program pursuing their Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Professional Pilot – Helicopters. Guidance Aviation is donating $11,000 in the month of August... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today issued a final rule that prohibits air carriers and other certificate holders from employing certain former FAA aviation safety inspectors as company representatives to the agency for a period of two years after they have left the agency. “The flying public can rest assured that our aviation safety inspectors... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Eurocopter Vostok
Eurocopter has delivered the first of 20 Ecureuil family helicopters contracted last autumn by Russia’s UTair Aviation in the largest acquisition of its kind for the Russian and CIS market in the lightweight helicopter segment. The initial helicopter provided in this order – which was signed with the Eurocopter Vostok subsidiary – is a single-engine... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Eurocopter Vostok
Eurocopter is highlighting the capabilities of its helicopter product line for the Russian and CIS market with the company’s participation at this week’s MAKS Aviasalon industry event, being held at Zhukovsky Airfield near Moscow. Exhibiting with its EADS parent company (Hall F3, exhibit stand A1), Eurocopter is showing scale models of the single-engine AS350 B3,... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: FlightSafety
FlightSafety International will celebrate the grand opening of its new flight simulation training system design, manufacturing and support facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on August 23, 2011. “FlightSafety’s new flight simulation training system design and manufacturing facility will enable us to further increase the efficiency of our manufacturing processes, augment our production capacity and enable... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has awarded its new contract for maintenance of their helicopters to Yorkshire based aviation management company, Multiflight. The contract, which will commence on 20th August, will see Multiflight take control of all the maintenance of the two MD902 Explorer helicopters the YAA operate. Ironically, the YAA has been based on Multiflight’s... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: SkyBooks
SkyBOOKS, Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and affiliate of Bell Helicopter, has issued Release 4.5.1.1 of its Electronic Record Keeping Program. SkyBOOKS latest release significantly upgrades existing document functionality and ease of use. The new Document Vault resides within the SkyBOOKS program and automatically archives attached documents to a structured file program, providing... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: San Juan Regional Medical Center
Four Corners residents might have noticed an unfamiliar sound and object in the air as San Juan Regional Medical Center’s new Bell 429 air ambulance landed at the hospital over the past weekend and its pilots began training flights. The Bell 429 AirCare helicopter replaces the hospital’s previous Bell 222 model, which was leased for... Read more
21-Aug-2011
Struck powerline during agricultural ops... Read more
20-Aug-2011
Emergency landing due to a generator failure, but the warning light on the annunciator panel had not illuminated... Read more
20-Aug-2011
Emergency landing on harbour-side dock. Pilot listed as Frank Proebster, aged 41... Read more
19-Aug-2011Source: HAI
Nominations for the 2012 Salute to Excellence Awards program, to be held Feb. 13 during HELI-EXPO 2012 in Dallas, Texas, can now be made online and through the mail! For more than 50 years, HAI has recognized the outstanding achievements and exceptional merits of individuals and organizations through the Salute to Excellence Awards program. The annual... Read more
19-Aug-2011Source: Insitu
Insitu Inc. announced that it has introduced the Inceptor small unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which will provide the public safety market with real-time video and stable, The short-range tactical rotorcraft system can be available when first responders need it. Inceptor’s compact size fits in the trunk of a car and is easy to launch and... Read more
19-Aug-2011
Helicopter had taken off from offshore installation P-65 (operated by Petrobras) and ditched in the Atlantic en route to its base at Macae. Casualties named as – pilot Rommel Garcia Oliveira, co-pilot Haytzann Lauro Pinto and passengers Ricardo Leal de Oliveira and João Carlos Pereira da Silva... Read more
18-Aug-2011Source: NTSB
Deborah Hersman was officially sworn in today for a second two-year term as NTSB chairman. She became chairman on July 28, 2009. She was nominated for the second term by President Barack Obama on June 28, 2011, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 2nd. “I am deeply honored to continue serving as chairman... Read more
18-Aug-2011Source: London’s Air Ambulance
Dr. David Lockey, London’s Air Ambulance Consultant & Trustee and Research & Development lead, was made Honorary Professor of Trauma and Prehospital Emergency Medicine by the University of Bristol. This is believed to be the only Professorial appointment in the UK in the new medical speciality of Prehospital Emergency Medicine. The General Medical Council have... Read more
18-Aug-2011Source: Helicopter Museum
The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare has successfully completed a £387,000 project under a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) programme to upgrade its conservation and educational facilities and introduce new skills training. The four year programme has seen the construction and fit out of a humidity controlled library and archive centre and adjacent film/lecture theatre, as well... Read more
18-Aug-2011
Night take-off in helicopter VFR equipped. Ground impact and ensuing fire left very few pieces. The helicopter was carrying experienced journalist Paul Lockyer, cameraman John Bean, and pilot Gary Ticehurst.... Read more
18-Aug-2011
Fell into river while trying to rescue people trapped in car by flood waters... Read more
18-Aug-2011
Fuel pressure warning light and one engine shut-down on final approach. Fuel line between the fuel valve and the fuel management module was not properly torqued and came loose allowing air into the system... Read more
18-Aug-2011
Emergency landing after crew smelled smoke inside the helicopter. Operated by South Texas Emergency Care, whose helicopter is flown as “Valley AirCare”... Read more
17-Aug-2011Source: CAA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced a new joint initiative with industry to produce a set of standardised Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) safety measures. FDM aims to improve safety through an analysis of information downloaded from an aircraft’s on-board computer at the end of every flight. This information can be used to identify... Read more
17-Aug-2011Source: London's Air Ambulance
We were delighted to host a visit for His Excellency, Kim Traavik, The Norwegian Ambassador for London, in July. He was joined by Steinar Sørlie, General Secretary of the Norwegian Air Ambulance and former Minister, and Professor Hans Morten Lossius, Research and Development Director of the Norwegian Air Ambulance. The visit was arranged to hear... Read more
17-Aug-2011Source: Daisychain Benevolent Fund
Some of the staff and volunteers from the Worcester and Malvern shops went to the Midlands Air Ambulance valuation day to present a cheque for over £97,000. Henry Sandon was present at the event and even valued some of the more unusual donations that had been kindly donated. We also got to see a real... Read more
17-Aug-2011
Four people were killed when the police helicopter crashed into the Miyun reservoir in a northern suburb of Beijing. Five crew members were aboard the helicopter that was returning from a rescue drill above the mountainous region of Miyun County with two other helicopters. One crew member has been saved.... Read more
17-Aug-2011
Lost altitude suddenly after having poured the water on the flames while firefighting... Read more
16-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the HeliHub.com “Register Updates†series, listing helicopters which have been added to a particular national register, removed from it or the listed owner has changed. Our coverage represents the majority of registration and owner changes within the global civilian helicopter fleet. Most updates are weekly or monthly, although some... Read more
16-Aug-2011Source: FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that effective today air traffic controllers will once again be able to ride in aircraft cockpits with commercial pilots as part of a voluntary education program. The Flight Deck Training program is designed to improve safety by giving air traffic controllers a greater understanding of the pilots’ experience and... Read more
16-Aug-2011Source: USAIG
USAIG strengthens its efforts to promote safe flight with the appointment of Paul S. Ratté as its new director of aviation safety programs. Ratté, a career U.S. Coast Guard aviator, offers a wealth of advanced experience in aviation operations, safety and human factors, and emergency response management. He is among the service’s most decorated aviators,... Read more
15-Aug-2011Source: CHC
CHC Helicopter said that Rick Davis is stepping down as executive vice president and chief financial officer of the world’s largest helicopter-services company. Doug Yakola, a senior advisor at McKinsey & Co., will assume Mr. Davis’ finance responsibilities on an interim basis. The temporary change is effective immediately, though Mr. Davis will be assisting with... Read more
15-Aug-2011Source: Russian Helicopters
16 August,the first day of the milestone 10th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2011, will be marked as Russian Helicopters Day, dedicated to the Russian rotorcraft industry corporation that is a subsidiary of the United Industrial Corporation Oboronprom. Airshow visitors will see modern light Mi-34C1, Ka-226T, and Ansat, medium Ka-32A11BC, the new modernised ultra-heavy Mi-26T2,... Read more
