12-Feb-2014Source: Turbomeca
During the Singapore Airshow, Turbomeca announced the achievement of a major milestone for both Turbomeca Asia Pacific (Singapore) and Heligo Charters Pvt Mumbai, India Ltd who have signed a new “Support By The Hour” (SBH®) contract to cover the Arriel 2C engines fitted on its fleet of two Dauphin AS 365N3 helicopters. Mr. Aurelien Blanc,... Read more
12-Feb-2014Source: Turbomeca
During Singapore Airshow, Turbomeca (Safran) announced its agreement with Indonesia’s PT Travira Air for a Customer Support agreement extending a “Support By The Hour” (SBH®) contract for five more years. The €5.7 million ($9.5 million) contract covers a total of 20 engines (Arriel 1D1, 2S1, 2S2 and 1S1), including spares, fitted to seven Sikorsky S76... Read more
12-Feb-2014
Emergency landing at airport with patient on board. Second helicopter came to take patient on to destination. Unstated technical issue, needed engineer. Operator Geisinger has six EC145s and one BK117... Read more
11-Feb-2014Source: Airbus
Shree Airlines today received the first of five AS350 B3e rotorcraft ordered last year from Airbus Helicopters, expanding this Nepal-based operator’s capabilities for passenger transport and utility missions throughout the region. The new AS350 B3e was formally presented to Shree Airlines at the Singapore Airshow, where this helicopter is on display at the Changi Exhibition... Read more
7-Feb-2014Source: DRF
Traffic accidents, heart attacks or injured tourists: DRF Luftrettung is alerted every day to provide patients with medical care. In 2013 its crews flew a total of 38,180 missions (in 2012: 38,748) from its 31 HEMS bases in Germany, Austria and Denmark and through worldwide repatriations with its ambulance aircrafts. Approximately 700 emergency physicians, 300... Read more
6-Feb-2014Source: SOF Air
Tail struck snow while on heliski operations.... Read more
5-Feb-2014Source: Airbus
Airbus Helicopters Canada (formerly called Eurocopter Canada) announced today that it will be adding a new production line at its Fort Erie, ON helicopter production facility, creating approximately 40 new high-skill manufacturing jobs. Following a global competitive process the new production work has been awarded to Airbus Helicopters Canada by its parent company, Airbus Helicopters,... Read more
3-Feb-2014Source: Soloy
Soloy Aviation Solutions presents the Electronic Engine Management System (EEMS) that provides a graphical representation of all engine instrumentation and is designed to act as the primary engine instrumentation for SD2 aircraft. The EEMS unit has been configured properly to reflect instrumentation scales, exceedance limitations and warnings. Once configured to the owner’s individual airframe and... Read more
31-Jan-2014
Force landed in field near Clearview Airport... Read more
30-Jan-2014Source: Aspen Avionics
Aspen Avionics today announced its Evolution EFD 1000H Pro has gained EASA minor change approval (MCA) for installation on the Eurocopter AS355. Avionik Straubing of Germany designed the engineering package for the certification and partnered with Instruments de Precision de la Cote Ouest (IPCO) of France, which performed the installation. The minor change approval covers Eurocopter AS355 models AS355E, AS355F,... Read more
30-Jan-2014Source: HeliHub.com
Airbus Helicopters have shipped one of their EC175 development aircraft to Canada, ready for cold weather trials. The helicopter was shipped by Volga-Dnepr Airlines in one of their Antonov AN124 freighters (RA-82074, should anyone be asking!) to Edmonton last Friday evening. It then moved north 900 odd miles to Yellowknife, arriving Sunday 26th – captured... Read more
30-Jan-2014Source: Irwin Mitchell
Specialist aviation lawyers representing a growing number of victims of the Clutha tragedy in Glasgow have written to Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin, urging him to launch a public inquiry into commercial helicopter safety in the UK and review the laws that exempt helicopters from having to carry crucial black box equipment. In... Read more
30-Jan-2014Source: Airbus Helicopters
The Brazilian Air Force has reason to celebrate. Last week its team of EC725 pilots logged their 1,000th flight hour with one aircraft (H-36 FAB 8510) while performing EMS, firefighting and Search and Rescue missions in the region. This mighty helicopter, operated by the Aviation Group Falçao, enables the team to protect and save lives... Read more
29-Jan-2014Source: Thales
Blueway is a market leader in Scandinavian on-shore and off-shore helicopter services, specialising in shuttle services and replacement of flare tips, as well as search & rescue, infrastructure and environmental operations. In particular, Blueway’s offshore activity is very well regarded in the Scandinavian oil and gas sector. The Thales training centre will answer to the... Read more
29-Jan-2014Source: Soloy
Soloy Aviation Solutions announced that operators of AS350B, BA and B2 helicopters may now select from a wide variety of engine configurations to better meet their operational or budgetary requirements. For the AS350B and BA models, the LTS101-600A-3A will be available in 12 price configurations, varying from $281,000 for the basic engine to $415,000 for... Read more
29-Jan-2014
Pilot of offshore helicopter issued distress call 45 miles from Sumburgh and was escorted to a safe landing by Coast Guard helicopter. Report suggests pilot had indication of a “pump failure” without providing more details. Aircraft grounded awaiting engineering support... Read more
28-Jan-2014Source: Airbus Helicopters
The certification process of the EC175 has been successfully completed. On January 27, 2014, the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) Internal Safety Committee formally approved the recommendation of the EC175 Project Certification Team to grant the EC175 with EASA type certification.EASA will officially issue the type certificate in the coming days. “This is a major milestone for... Read more
28-Jan-2014Source: Entrol
entrol has certified two EC-135 FNPT II MCC simulators in Germany. The simulators were chosen by Heli Trans Hamburg and Heli Transair with the objective of improving their students training and using it in their CPL and MCCcourses. Since being set up in 2005, entrol has established itself as one of the main companies of the FNPT’s market, thanks to... Read more
28-Jan-2014Source: PDG Helicopters
PDG Helicopters have delivered the second of two custom modified helicopters for Network Rail. These two aircraft have been specially modified and equipped to Network Rail’s specification and feature advanced technology to deliver rail and infrastructure aerial surveys. G-NLSE will provide helicopter support for London and the South East rail networks and G-NLDR will work... Read more
27-Jan-2014Source: TVACAA
In a year that has seen the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance ‘raise the bar’ in terms of clinical excellence, new developments at TVACAA have enabled the Trust to further their promise of enhanced patient care by becoming the first Air Ambulance to carry an I-Stat (portable blood analyser) machine on board the helicopter.... Read more
26-Jan-2014Source: Calgary Herald
The project to replace the Canadian Coast Guard Bo105 fleet has ground to a halt after Eurocopter filed a lawsuit against the government following allegations that Bell had been given an unfair advantage. See full story... Read more
26-Jan-2014Source: CTV
Saturday’s gala raised in excess of $1 million, helping the total contributions from the 20 years of the gala to surpass the $10 million mark. See full story... Read more
26-Jan-2014Source: Irwin Mitchell
Specialist aviation lawyers acting for injured victims and families who lost loved ones in the Clutha helicopter tragedy in Glasgow in November have welcomed Bond Aviation Group’s admission of liability in relation to the incident, but warned much more needs to be done to improve helicopter safety. Irwin Mitchell’s Aviation Law team, ranked as one... Read more
26-Jan-2014Source: KCE
Electricity generator and retailer, King Country Energy (KCE), has entered into a major associate sponsorship with charitable organisation Philips Search & Rescue Trust. The trust provides dedicated air ambulance and rescue services throughout the Central North Island of New Zealand. KCE’s sponsorship will specifically contribute to operational costs of the Hamilton-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter that services the... Read more
26-Jan-2014
Landed at a ski resort. With the rotors still turning and the crew still in the aircraft, it slid 30m down a slight (but snowy) slope until it hit a snowmobile and a sign, damaging a main rotor blade and the rear cabin area (see video of accident)... Read more
24-Jan-2014
Air Methods will assume total management responsibility for the StarCare program, including employing the medical personnel, as it does at its other air bases throughout Nebraska and the region See full story... Read more
24-Jan-2014Source: Oil & Gas UK
In response to today’s AAIB Special Bulletin, Oil & Gas UK Health, Safety & Employment Issues Director, Robert Paterson, said: “Oil & Gas UK fully supports the safety action made in today’s AAIB special bulletin. We are now working closely with helicopter operators to ensure safety briefings clearly explain the application of the re-breather system which... Read more
24-Jan-2014Source: AAIB
OThe AAIB has issued a Special Bulletin specifically referring to the CHC AS332L2 fatal accident of G-WNSB near Sumburgh on 23 August 2013. The key information from this bulletin is shown below, but it is best taken in context of their full report. This Special Bulletin is published to highlight a safety concern relating to... Read more
24-Jan-2014
Crew injured alighting from helicopter in snowy conditions... Read more
22-Jan-2014Source: FlightSafety
FlightSafety International announces that five of its simulators equipped with the recently introduced VITAL 1100 visual system have been qualified to Level D by EASA and the FAA. Three additional VITAL 1100 equipped simulators are scheduled to receive Level D qualification in the next few months. “The VITAL 1100 is leading the industry with unprecedented... Read more
22-Jan-2014Source: HeliHub.com
Kawasaki has received an order for a new EC145 from Okayama City Fire Department in Japan. The unit is upgrading from their current Kawasaki-MBB KB117 JA6793 which they bought as a B1 model and have upgraded to the C1 standard. File photo from Wikipedia Commons Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com... Read more
22-Jan-2014
The helicopter impacted the helipad surface shortly after lift-off. It was airborne for less than a minute and had climbed to approx. 20 meters. After impact, the helicopter continued to spin counter clockwise about its landing gears, on the tarmac for approximately 149 meters destroying the surrounding trees/markers before coming to rest at the end of the tarmac.... Read more
21-Jan-2014
Flying from Traverse City to Lansing for maintenance of a compass malfunction when it developed mechanical problems requiring the emergency landing. Roaded out.... Read more
21-Jan-2014
During a practice autorotation from 1 500 ft, the engine failed and the crew completed an autorotation landing. An engineering inspection did not reveal the reason for the failure... Read more
20-Jan-2014Source: STARS
The 21st annual STARS Lottery officially launches today with 3,217 prizes worth more than $5.6 million retail. The STARS Lottery raises over $10 million net each year and continues to be STARS’ single largest source of funding in Alberta, helping critically ill and injured patients across the province. “In 2013 STARS responded to more than... Read more
20-Jan-2014Source: Nordic Rotors
On 1 January Scandinavian AirAmbulance (SAA) opened its tenth helicopter base – a HEMS station in Ringsted, Denmark. The Danish HEMS station is situated southwest of Copenhagen and it employs a single-pilot EC145 that sits in alert 24 hours around the clock. The helicopter is operated in partnership wih Falck Ambulans on a January-October interim contract... Read more
20-Jan-2014Source: Airbus Group
Airbus Group leaders today welcomed the decision by Congress to fund procurement of 20 UH-72A Lakota helicopters through an omnibus spending package that the President has indicated he will sign into law. “This continuation of the government contract orders for the Lakota demonstrates the value of affordable, cost-effective programs in a constrained budget environment,” said... Read more
20-Jan-2014Source: HeliHub.com
British based charity South Georgia Heritage Trust have moved the maintenance of their three Eurocopter Bo105 helicopters from Specialist Aviation Services to A2B Heli at Oxford. The charity operates the helicopters for one month a year on an unusual operation – dropping poison pellets on the South Atlantic island of South Georgia in an effort... Read more
20-Jan-2014Source: Airbus
The Bolivian Air Force (FAB) has selected the latest high-power version of the Super Puma to fight drug trafficking and perform public-security and disaster-relief missions throughout the country. The contract includes a logistics package that will support fleet sustainability in the coming years. The first two helicopters will be delivered this year and the remaining... Read more
18-Jan-2014
Helicopter wheels stuck in concrete – helipad had been hastily built for new Santiniketan-Calcutta service and had not fully set!... Read more
17-Jan-2014
Emergency landing followed by uncontained engine failure and fire. 2 POB safely exited helicopter... Read more
16-Jan-2014Source: Airbus Helicopters
Spanish Ministry of Defense Becomes the World’s Leading Operator of the Airbus Helicopters’ EC135 Helicopter for military use Airbus Helicopters’ factory in Spain provided the setting early this week for the delivery of the two EC135 helicopters to the Spanish Army Airmobile Force (FAMET). The aircraft were the first to be delivered as part of... Read more
14-Jan-2014Source: HeliHub.com
A Norsk Luftambulanse EC135P2+ stationed at Loerenskog has crashed about 20 miles north west of Oslo on landing at a road traffic accident scene. The helicopter reportedly struck powerlines on final approach, leading to instability which the pilot was unable to control. Norsk Luftambulanse have confirmed that two of their employees have died and the national... Read more
14-Jan-2014Source: UMMC
Addition of a third AirCare helicopter, which would be based at UMMC Grenada this spring, promises to save lives by quickly transporting patients to hospitals while providing advanced-life-support services en route. AirCare, the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s emergency flight service, bases its current helicopters at the main UMMC campus in Jackson and at Key... Read more
14-Jan-2014
Air Ambulance helicopter struck powerlines (video) on final approach to road traffic accident landing site. Norsk Luftambulanse has confirmed two of its employees have died in the accident. Fatalities confirmed here as pilot Bjorn Nergård and doctor Anders Nakstad with the paramedic Sondre Bjartland seriously injured... Read more
13-Jan-2014Source: Irwin Mitchell
Specialist aviation lawyers representing persons injured and bereaved as a result of the Clutha helicopter crash in Glasgow have formally launched their fight for justice in relation to the tragedy and outlined their hopes that the move will lead to increased efforts to review and improve flight safety. Irwin Mitchell’s Aviation Law team, which is... Read more
10-Jan-2014Source: Airwork
Global niche helicopter operator and maintenance specialist Airwork NZ is expanding into Europe through a contract with Germany’s largest motoring organisation, The General German Automobile Club (ADAC). Based in Munich, ADAC is one of Europe’s largest operators of helicopters for emergency air rescue services which are among the range of mobility services provided to its... Read more
10-Jan-2014
Emergency landing after pilot suspected (wrongly as it happens) an engine fire. Helicopter ended up on its side. 3 POB all injured and to hospital. US Customs & Border Patrol helicopter was reportedly on low level work... Read more
9-Jan-2014
Fell onto its side in landing on snow... Read more
7-Jan-2014Source: University of Miami
The University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) is adding to its fleet of specialized research vessels with its latest acquisition – a helicopter equipped with state-of-the-art technology that converts a commercial aircraft into a flying scientific laboratory. This one-of-a-kind Helicopter Observation Platform (HOP) will allow scientists to obtain vital information on... Read more
7-Jan-2014
This was a training flight and the crew was practising a simulated governor/FADEC failure when the helicopter landed hard short of the helipad, resulting in substantial damage to the skid gear, which broke off. The pilot flying closed the throttle at a height of 30 ft AGL, which resulted in a sudden decay in main... Read more
6-Jan-2014Source: 10 11 HD
With an IFR EC135 already based at North Platte, Midwest MedAir sees scope for a second aircraft and will open a new base at Hastings. The organisation has purchased a new EC135P2+, serial 1101 and registered N535MW, to add to its current EC135 which they bought new in 2009. See full story... Read more
5-Jan-2014Source: Elite Simulation Solutions
The FAA awarded AATD certification to a new Model S623T twin turbine engine rotary wing trainer by ELITE Simulation Solutions. The S623T is a full cockpit, dual pilot flight training device based on the performance of the twin engine turbine Eurocopter AS355. Features include control loading that enables a fully coupled Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), Electronic Flight Information... Read more
5-Jan-2014Source: ECS
Enterprise Control Systems Ltd (ECS) has recently secured a major contract to supply a substantial number of Handyview hand-held, COFDM receivers to the Norwegian Police Air Support Unit. ECS has supplied the Norwegian Police with a digital video capability for their aircraft since 2004 and this contract will further enhance their existing system in delivering... Read more
4-Jan-2014Source: Eurocopter
The helicopter lifted an external load of 485 kg from the deck of a vessel at sea to transport it to land. After lifting the load, the helicopter gained climbing speed and began to climb to 300 ft AMSL for the cruise. Once at 300 ft the load was reported to be stable, the PIC... Read more
3-Jan-2014Source: HeliHub.com
Eurocopter Canada have announced that over the holidays, Yellowhead Helicopters took delivery of a AS350 B3e for heli-skiing operations in British Columbia. Serial 7649 remains on the Canadian register in Eurocopter’s name, but it expected to change to Yellowhead in the near future. From left to right: Brad Pratt, Pilot and Rob Wittmack, AME. Jeremy Parkin... Read more
3-Jan-2014Source: Turnberry Associates
Bob Martinez, a lawyer for Jeffrey Soffer, chairman and chief executive of Turnberry Associates, said today that Daria Pastouhkova Gogoleva has voluntarily withdrawn a $100 million lawsuit filed last month in federal district court in Miami against Mr. Soffer and others over a helicopter accident that occurred in 2012 in The Bahamas. The accident resulted... Read more
3-Jan-2014Source: HeliHub.com
The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, UK, is seeking two particular aircraft to expand what is already a most impressive line-up of helicopters. In a posting on a popular forum website, the user heli1 – widely believed to be the Chairman of the Museum’s Trustees, Elfan ap Rees – posted a request initially for an Alouette... Read more
3-Jan-2014
Badly damaged when fell off the trailer it was being transported on Interstate 90. Road conditions were snowy. Helicopter was withdrawn in 2011 and has been sold to a new owner in Australia. It still appears to be carrying old registration N505TJ (since taken up by a new Bell 429) and not its reassigned reg N585TJ.... Read more
2-Jan-2014Source: Metro Aviation
The Helicopter Flight Training Center has completed the certification of its first simulator, the AS350 FlightSafety flight training device with NVG-capability. The FAA recently wrapped up their visit to the training facility to give it the green light and Metro Aviation pilots immediately began their recurrent training in the simulator. This simulator is available for... Read more
2-Jan-2014Source: Airbus Group
Taking off into the New Year, the EADS group has been rebranded as “Airbus Group”. Uniting all its activities under a single and strong brand, Airbus Group also renames two of its three Divisions. Going forward, the Group is home to: Airbus, focussing on commercial aircraft activities; Airbus Defence and Space, integrating the Group’s defence... Read more
2-Jan-2014Source: NOGEPA
On 20th December, NOGEPA signed a contract with North Sea Helicopters Vlaanderen (NHV) for Search and Rescue (SAR) services. The contract entails provision of SAR services from 1/1/2014 and has a minimum duration of 6 months. NHV will operate from Den Helder Airport with two AS365N (Dauphin) helicopters, supported by additional AS365N helicopters from the Botlek area. The... Read more
2-Jan-2014Source: Vector Aerospace
Vector Aerospace, a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, is pleased to announce that Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services-North America (“HS-NA”), a subsidiary of Vector Aerospace and one of the world’s leading providers of helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, has signed a 5 year, exclusive MRO support contract with... Read more
1-Jan-2014Source: HeliHub.com
Following the closure of the City Centre Airport last month, Edmonton police are moving their flight operations 35km to Villeneuve Airport for “at least the next three years” — despite the additional 12 minute delay each way to get to the city and a corresponding reduction in on-scene time. The City Centre Airport had been... Read more
1-Jan-2014
Heavy landing and rolled over after losing power on a post-maintenance test flight. Pilot was only person on board... Read more
23-Dec-2013Source: Irwin Mitchell
LAWYERS representing a family bereaved in the Clutha helicopter crash have called for all passenger-carrying helicopters to be fitted with black box recording devices. Aviation legal experts from Irwin Mitchell, who also act for the victims of North Sea helicopter ditchings, have been instructed by John McGarrigle, whose 57-year-old father, also called John McGarrigle, died... Read more
22-Dec-2013Source: ITV
The very first paramedic to serve with Cornwall Air Ambulance is retiring – his first mission was in 1987 see full story... Read more
22-Dec-2013Source: Eurocopter Vostok
Eurocopter Vostok and Heliport Moscow signed a contract for two EC130 T2 to be delivered in February and August 2014 respectively. These are the first EC130 T2 sold to Russia which makes Heliport Moscow the launching operator of the latest version of the EC130 family. Heliport Moscow is a daughter company of NDV Group, one... Read more
22-Dec-2013Source: Helibras
[electronic translation] With four aircraft already in the hangar factory for upgrades, Helibras held the first flight of the first upgraded AS550 Fennec of the Brazilian Army on Thursday 19th December, after completing its rebuild and modernizaston at their Itajubá plant. A first cell – base for reconstruction / modernization of the helicopter EB -1019... Read more
21-Dec-2013
Tail hit ground on final approach, and helicopter rolled onto its side. 2 of 5 POB seriously injured... Read more
20-Dec-2013Source: Eurocopter
With the resumption of EC225 commercial flights by BHS Helicopter, OMNI and Aeróleo Taxi Aéreo in Brazil, all operators using this Eurocopter helicopter around the globe have now reinstated service. The EC225 oil and gas fleet’s return-to-service began in July 2013 in Angola, and now has been completed with all three Brazilian operators back in... Read more
20-Dec-2013Source: Midlands Air Ambulance
TV presenter and Top Gear star Richard Hammond and his wife, columnist Mindy Hammond are the latest high profile celebrities to be appointed as ambassadors for the MAAC. The couple join stars from the worlds of sport and entertainment who are ambassadors and supporters of the charity including professional rugby players Mike Tindall MBE (England... Read more
19-Dec-2013
While on autorotation training, the aircraft made an abrupt run-landing with low main rotor rotation. One of the blades of the main rotor hit the upper surface of the tail-boom... Read more
18-Dec-2013
Struck powerlines while surveying them for energy company Energias de Portugal. Helicopter crashed into a wooded area. 1 fatal, 2 serious.... Read more
17-Dec-2013
Port side landing gear failed on landing, helicopter fell onto its side. Later photo shows propped up helicopter with tail sitting on the ground and port stabiliser end-plate bent from ground contact. All six passengers and two crew safely evacuated. It is believed that the helicopter was operating on the scheduled route between Guwahati and Shillong... Read more
