21-Apr-2011Source: DART Helicopter Services
DART is pleased to announce that they have received FAA certification for their Automatic Door Opener Kits for the Bell 206A/B/L/L1/L3/L4 and 407 models of aircraft. Transport Canada and EASA approvals have been previously received. The DART Automatic Door Opener Kits feature sturdy gas springs. Door opening and closing is assisted by the action of... Read more
20-Apr-2011Source: SkyBooks
SkyBOOKS, Inc., a Textron, Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and affiliate of Bell Helicopter, announced the expansion of its electronic maintenance tracking capability for Russian Mi helicopters. SkyBOOKS now provides maintenance tracking coverage for the MI-8 and MI-17 series helicopters to meet the ever expanding needs of its global customer base. “SkyBOOKS allows customers to spend... Read more
20-Apr-2011Source: Dart Helicopter Services
DART, a global leader in design, development and distribution of helicopter components and accessories that enhance flight safety, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction, has completed an exclusive distribution agreement with All Metal Maintenance Stands (MS). The new agreement enables DART to exclusively distribute All Metal’s comprehensive line of custom made aircraft maintenance stands & hangar... Read more
20-Apr-2011Source: DISTI
AgustaWestland is currently developing an innovative mobile application for aviation training. Through the GL Studio iDevices Toolkit, DiSTI has been supporting AgustaWestland’s development. Beginning with the iPad, AgustaWestland is developing a range of mobile applications to improve the flexibility and effectiveness of training media within its courses. By leveraging this next generation of hardware and... Read more
20-Apr-2011Source: NOIA
Washington, DC – Bristow Group was awarded the 2011 National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) Safety in Seas Award today, recognizing their outstanding contribution to the safety of life offshore for energy workers through their “Target Zero†program of training and safety tracking. Bristow’s award-winning nomination was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges from the... Read more
20-Apr-2011Source: Air Methods
Air Methods is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Graham as the new Director of Commercial Business Development of its Products Division. Mr. Graham assumes responsibility for leading the Division’s development and growth of commercial sales in both rotary- and fixed-wing markets, including EMS, airborne law enforcement, search and rescue, corporate, utility and special... Read more
20-Apr-2011Source: Helitech
The latest European safety requirements for helicopter operators is just one of the high profile topics that will come under the microscope at Helitech’s conference this year. Helitech 2011 takes place at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, near Cambridge, from 27 to 29 Sept. The Helitech Conference, which is new for 2011, will take... Read more
20-Apr-2011Source: Eagle Copters
Eagle Copters Ltd. (ECL) has been awarded a contract to provide the City of Houston and the Houston Police Department with a fully mission equipped Bell 412EP helicopter. In operation since 1970, the Houston Police Department Air Support Division (Helicopter Patrol Division) has grown into the second largest municipal helicopter police air support unit in... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: LA Helicopters
In December 2010, LAH was awarded one of only eleven Rolls-Royce RR300 Service Centers worldwide. After completing a thorough application process which included a background check, site visit, and interview with the Rolls-Royce Regional Manager and a local Rolls-Royce representative, LAH was awarded the first repair station in the United States. Mark Thompson, Rolls-Royce Helicopter... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: Statoil
Statoil has awarded Bristow Norway a new contract for offshore helicopter services running from Stavanger Airport, Norway. The estimated value of the contract is over NOK 1 billion. All installations with helicopter flights from Stavanger will be served under this contract. Statoil’s helicopter flights from Stavanger go to the Sleipner, Draupner, Volve and Glitne fields... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: Photonics
SA Photonics has developed the High Resolution Night Vision System (HRNVS), a wide field of view digital night vision head mounted display for use by commercial and military pilots of fixed-wing airplanes and rotorcraft. Night vision has been a key enabling technology for the U.S. military for more than 30 years, allowing U.S. pilots to “own... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com adds a separate page for every reported incident, including details of the particular helicopter and links to online reports of the event. see 19-Apr-11 Mil Mi-17 Tawang, India (17F)... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter’s 1,000th helicopter from its Dauphin family was delivered today to India’s Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited, the world’s largest civilian operator of this successful twin-engine, medium weight rotary-wing aircraft. Pawan Hans’ milestone helicopter is an AS365 N3 version, configured for offshore oil and gas drilling missions, and it brings the Indian operator’s fleet to a... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: Indra
Indra, the premier IT company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe, and helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter, will be the first to provide China’s helicopter pilots with training simulators. This way both companies open the door of a market which will expand as air space is deregulated and new helicopter companies are free to... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: Eurocopter India
Dr Stolpe, chief flight surgeon and medical director of the biggest HEMS operator of Europe, Germany’s ADAC Air Rescue, will be in India for four days from April 19th – April 22nd, 2011 to support the urgent need to adopt HEMS in India. Eurocopter, the world’s leading helicopter manufacturer, is pleased to announce the ‘India... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: CHC
CHC Helicopter, the world’s leading offshore helicopter services provider, is pleased to announce a joint partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI). This new partnership will provide CHC Helicopter with the opportunity to obtain and maintain a Cayman Islands Air Operator Certificate to conduct offshore operations in several foreign jurisdictions worldwide.... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Franch operator Heli Horizon has launched an iPhone app “Helicopter Checklist” which they hope will be an indispensable assistant for pilots. The app has pref-flight check lists, separated out into Pre-flight, Before Starting, Start Engine and Stop Engine. The “basic version” (their description, not HeliHub’s) includes four checklists for R22 R44 helicopters EC120 and AS... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: Globe Gazette
The public is invited to a “Grand Landing” Thursday, April 28, of Mercy Air Med’s new helicopter and Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa’s new medical transportation partner, Med-Trans Corp... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: DRF
At the beginning of April, the 10th annual medical conference of the DRF Luftrettung took place in Freiburg, in southern Germany: About 100 emergency physicians and paramedics of the DRF Luftrettung got together to exchange their ideas on subjects of emergency medicine. The event provided the medical personnel of the DRF Luftrettung, which is stationed... Read more
19-Apr-2011
Mi-17 hit a wall and burst into flames as it was trying to land in India’s remote northeast, killing 17 people [later revised to 18 after another passenger died]. It was on a regular passenger service from Guwahati. See also HeliHub.com story on appointment of a committee of inquiry... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
In a recent filing in the London Gazette, one of the official journals of record of the British government, British helicopter operator Sterling Helicopters is facing complete closure. Published on Friday 15th April, a document dated Wednesday 13th April indicated that Toby Blackwell Ltd was seeking a petition to wind up (close) the company, claiming... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Oil & Gas UK
The oil and gas industry has underlined its ongoing commitment to offshore helicopter safety, with the launch of a new publication. Oil & Gas UK’s ‘Guidelines for the Management of Aviation Operations’ has been revised and updated to improve awareness of helicopter issues for those whose jobs require a comprehensive technical or logistical understanding. The... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Telvent
Telvent have announced a free webinar on new advanced weather alerting capabilities for European helicopter operators. The online seminar is scheduled for 26th May at 15:00 CEST / 14:00 London, and is targeted at 30 minutes with a 10 minute Q&A session. In their promotional material, Telvent tells us that “weather is the single factor... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Surf Muhlenberg
PHI Air Medical announced a community-wide effort to educate and raise public awareness for alcohol abuse and drunk driving as a part of Alcohol Awareness month. The campaign is called, “You Drink. You Drive. We Fly.”... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: St Augustine Record
“Whenever we get in bed with the county, we get screwed,” said Commissioner Cathy Brandhorst. She also said that the arrangement would amount to “purchasing a liability.”... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Randolph Leader
Air Evac is not attached to a specific hospital and is subsidized by the community through membership, which is like a form of insurance. Flights cost approximately $19,000-$20,000 with insurance covering only about half. Patients are asked to set up a payment plan for the remainder of the bill.... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Aviation Unit is being honored for more than 10 years of safe flying while using night vision equipment to protect the public. In 1998, the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit increased its ability to run operations after sundown when it purchased four pairs of night vision goggles thanks to a special grant through... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Indian Express
The heliport proposed at the Hadapsar Gliding Centre would not disrupt gliding activity, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) E K Bharat Bhushan on Saturday dispelling fears that gliding activities will come to a stop.... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Becker Avionics
Becker Avionics’ partner, Axnes Aviation AS, just announced the sale of the Polycon Wireless Intercom Extension system to Norsk Luftambulanse AS (Norwegian Air Ambulance AS) for retrofit into their entire EMS fleet of helicopters. The product will be installed in the company’s ten EC135s and one EC145, as well as in their lead company, Norwegian Air Ambulance... Read more
18-Apr-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
18-Apr-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
18-Apr-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
18-Apr-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
18-Apr-2011Source: Eurocopter
Engine fire while taxying for take-off to offshore rig. Fire put out on the ground... Read more
18-Apr-2011
Three POB all reportedly retrieved by a rescue helicopter. No details yet on level of damage to the R44... Read more
16-Apr-2011Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
People living and working in the East of England will soon benefit from an extended daylight hour Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) thanks to the operational partnership of two air ambulance charities based in the East. The move to cover the extended daylight hours during the summer months will see the East of England Ambulance... Read more
16-Apr-2011Source: WQOW
Life Link III provides critical care and life support transportation by ambulance. 9 EMT’s and 11 paramedics will be laid off effective 30th June... Read more
16-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
In the last two weeks, two more police helicopter units in the UK have joined Twitter and started to spread news of their work via the successful social media site. The two are West Midlands – @WMP_Helicopter South Yorkshire – @SYP_AirOps Suoth Yorkshire currently appears to be just an automated feed of the jobs their... Read more
16-Apr-2011Source: Kent Police
A 21-year-old Maidstone man has been sentenced to eight months in prison for endangering the Kent and Essex Police helicopter while it was on a task in Maidstone last year. On the evening of 24 June 2010 the police helicopter was carrying out a search in the town centre when someone shining a laser pen in the... Read more
16-Apr-2011
Precautionary landing by Riverside County Sheriff helicopter. Both occupants fine.... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Times-Herlad
According to a press release from Air Evac, the decision to move the office was made to better align the company with its service area.... Read more
15-Apr-2011
This multifaceted issue was thrust into the local spotlight at a Nov. 23 “neighborhood meeting†held at the hospital. Area residents voiced their concerns regarding the disruptive air traffic, which many said had increased dramatically with the addition of the Clinic’s helicopter (a Sikorksy S-76).... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Hawaii News Now
Sunshine helicopters fly around Maui up to 20 times a day. It’s one of Hawaii’s busiest helicopter tour companies. Recently, the FAA picked Sunshine to take part in a landmark program called “safety management system” or SMS.... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Russian Helicopters
Russian Helicopters, the helicopter industry holding and a part of UIC Oboronprom, have signed an agreement with Brazilian operator Helipark Taxi Aereo to create a support centre for the medium multi-role Ka-32A11BC helicopters. Their experts think that the availability of service and support centres in the country will help provide full-scale support for the operations... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Miami Herald
A helicopter pilot’s failure to see a power line during a deer survey was the probable cause of a fatal crash in the Sierra foothills last year that killed four people, the National Transportation Safety Board reported.  See also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 05-Jan-10 N5016U Bell B206 nr Redinger Lake, US-California (4F) Drugs... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Baltimore Sun
In its latest filing, the federal government says the pilot failed to properly assess the risk of landing the helicopter and executing an approach to the base’s runway, and that he attempted to descend too quickly.... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: HAI
HAI presents the “Overview of Current Trends in Helicopter Safety”seminar in Anchorage, Alaska, on April 29. HAI Director of Safety, Stan Rose, will speak at a combined event for pilots and maintaince technicians for commerical and General Aviation operations. Fred Brisbois, of Sikorsky and the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST), will present safety discussions on hazard identification and... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Russian Helicopters
Russian Helicopters, the helicopter industry holding and a part of UIC Oboronprom, have signed an agreement with the Brazilian commercial helicopter operator Ðtlas Taxi Aereo (a subsidiary of Qualy Group Brasil) for the creation of a Mi-171A1 support centre in Brazil. Such a centre will help improve the airworthiness of Russian rotorcraft in Brazil and... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Frasca
Frasca International, Inc. Urbana, IL, will be exhibiting at the Latin American Aerospace and Defense Show (LAAD) April 12-15, RioCentro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Frasca will have a booth in the training pavilion (N84). According to Mike Phillips, Director of Helicopter Sales at Frasca, “Brazil as a very important aviation training market, and we are... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: PAMA
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of Dale Forton as President. The selection of Dale as president comes after two years of reinvigorating the organization’s leadership structure and refocusing on the strategic plan. Current PAMA Board Chair, Clark Gordon, commented on Dale’s selection as President: “The selection... Read more
15-Apr-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 II, G-ODHB – 5 December 2010 at Staverton Airfield, Gloucestershire Robinson R22 Beta, G-HRBS Correction – 28 September 2010 at Goodwood Schweizer 269C-1, G-LINX Addendum – 22 September 2009 near Stalmine, Lancashire... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: HAI
HAI was in Boston, Mass. this week sharing with professional planners from around the world a simple but important message: consider helicopters and heliports early in the process of planning your communities. Director of Flight Operations and Technical Services Harold Summers manned the HAI booth at the American Planning Association’s National Planning Conference at Boston’s... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Carmanah
Carmanah Technologies (TSX: CMH) (Pink Sheets: CMHXF) in partnership with ADB Airfield Solutions announce the release of the solar-powered Helipad Kit; the first comprehensive and stand-alone wireless helipad light and navigational aid system. The Helipad Kit features ADB wireless solar engine power systems, visual navigation aids and Carmanah wireless solar-powered airfield lighting technology. Wireless, completely... Read more
15-Apr-2011
Cattleman, Duane Fishlock died instantly when his Robinson helicopter struck powerlines at the Mataranka sports ground and crashed. The only passenger, 20 year old Sam Webb, survived but was seriously injured.- full story [file photo]... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: US Dept of Justice
PHILADELPHIA – James Gautieri, 54, of Williamsport, PA, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for interference with an aircraft or aircraft facilities, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Gautieri was convicted at trial on September 30, 2010 of his involvement in an April 30, 2008 incident during which he shined a laser... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: FAA
Over the last few weeks we have seen examples of unprofessional conduct on the part of a few individuals that have rightly caused the traveling public to question our ability to ensure their safety. This conduct must stop immediately. I am committed to maintaining the highest level of public confidence and that begins with strong... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Liza Transport International of Burkina Faso has recently taken delivery of a Grand light twin engine helicopter. The aircraft will be used for VIP/passenger transport duties. This handover marks the entrance of AgustaWestland in Burkina Faso and expands the presence of company’s helicopters in the Sub-Saharan... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Aspen Avionics
Aspen Avionics announced today that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has expanded the European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) authorization for Aspen’s Evolution Flight Display to include additional system components previously approved by the FAA. This latest EASA approval expands the ETSO authorization to include the Aspen Evolution 1500, 2000, and 2500 systems. These systems... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Helicopter Line
Following their nomination by the NZ Police for search and rescue efforts in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, The Helicopter Line has been awarded an NZSAR certificate of achievement. Transport Minister Steven Joyce awarded them the certificate at the 2010 New Zealand Search and Rescue (NZSAR) Council Awards in Wellington yesterday (14 April). The Helicopter Line (THL)... Read more
14-Apr-2011Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter South East Asia hosts 9th HUMS User Conference on 5th to 7th April 2011 in its new facility in Singapore. On 7th April, the last day of the conference, the participants celebrated the 10th anniversary of Eurocopter Asie Support Technique (EAST) HUMS Support. “This celebration marks an important milestone for ESEA. 10 years is... Read more
14-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Following suggestions in an online forum, HeliHub.com checked with Yorkshire Air Ambulance on the current situation regarding the maintenance contract for their two MD Explorers, registered G-CEMS and G-SASH. The suggestion has been floated that YAA are to move from their current provider Medical Aviation Services (part of the Specialist Aviation Group) to Multiflight, based... Read more
14-Apr-2011Source: FAA
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced today that effective immediately the FAA will place an additional air traffic controller on the midnight shift at 27 control towers around the country that are currently staffed with only one controller during that time. The FAA is taking this action after... Read more
14-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
British International have sold two of their Sikorsky S61N helicopters to Vector Aerospace. The pair are currently at Southampton Docks awaiting shipment across the Atlantic, destination British Columbia for work at Vector’s Vancouver International Airport base. Both airframes need extensive work to get them airworthy, one having not flown for 10 years. The particular airframes... Read more
14-Apr-2011Source: DRF
On April 1st 2011, DRF Luftrettung has inaugurated the newly founded HEMS base of Weiden in der Oberpfalz (Upper Palatinate) in Bavaria. According to a European tender, DRF Luftrettung had been selected as operator for the new rescue helicopter with the call sign “Christoph 80â€. The start of the operation was accompanied by a ceremony... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: Barger & Wolen
In two days in late March, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Sonoma County Superior Court dismissing separate claims by EMS operators seeking to obtain medical provider benefits under workers’ compensation without following the dictates of the California workers’ compensation system... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The Public Utility 061 emergency has set up a new heliport located in the town of Vera. This infrastructure is the third of the 15 provided in the provincial network, designed for helicopters from the 061, and whose implementation will require an investment of approximately EUR 1.1 million, funded by European Regional Development Fund (... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: DLR
A helicopter relies on its rotor to be able to take off and land vertically. The rotor is also responsible for the noise a helicopter makes during flight. Researchers at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) in Göttingen and NASA are investigating the exact origin of this rotor noise. The... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: TechEye
According to Le Monde, there was a Chinese link to the hack and investigators have arrested 10 people so far.... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Russian Helicopters is in line to become the first global Russian defence company to list on the London Stock Exchange, following announcement of plans to raise $500m (£307m). The company reports about 8,500 machines in operation and accounts for 13% of the global helicopter fleet. With revenues last year of $2.7bn, the company has yet... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: EADS
The European aerospace and defence Group EADS further fostered its position as top employer by recently having been awarded in all its four European home countries. While the Group and its Divisions received the “Randstad†award in Germany, France, and Spain, the research institutes “trendence†and “Universum†ranked EADS as most preferred employer for engineers... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: Cleveland Police
‘Helicopter Watch’ will be updated daily to give details of what operations the helicopter has been involved in and whereabouts in the Force area it has been. The new helicopter was delivered three months ago and since then has: Attended 550 incidents Airlifted 2 casualties to hospital Assisted in the arrest of 109 people Attended... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: Survival-One
Increased survival chances without sacrificing comfort Water is a dangerous place with unpredictable elements. But with some jobs and activities it is not possible to just stay away from it. To get to offshore installations there is no other choice than to fly over water. So if a risk can’t be avoided it is essential... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: FAA
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that Barbados does not comply with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), based on an assessment of Barbados’ civil aviation authority As a result, the FAA has assigned Barbados an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 2 rating. With... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: Securus Escrow
Securus Escrow Ltd, the independent service that handles escrow accounts on behalf of international aviation buyers and sellers, is experiencing a growing number of enquiries from the international business aviation market. “We’ve seen a rise in demand covering a variety of aviation sectors including aircraft brokers, engine repairs, helicopter sales and even training schools,†said... Read more
