4-Apr-2013Source: Step Change
Step Change in Safety has published its 2013 Annual Update report and has called on the UK oil and gas industry to continue its focus on improving safety performance. The report reviews the organisation’s achievements over the last year and identifies where it will focus its attention in future. Highlights include: The launch of the Workforce Engagement Toolkit –... Read more
2-Apr-2013Source: Eurocopter UK
The AS350B3e, the newest version of Eurocopter’s successful Ecureuil family, is the latest addition to the UK’s important single engine helicopter fleet in Private/Business Aviation. After its entry into service in September 2011, the AS350B3e, the latest version of the powerful 7 seat, 2,3 ton AS350 single engine helicopter family was delivered for the first... Read more
28-Mar-2013Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd (Bond), one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a new contract with Premier Oil plc. The contract is to provide crew change flights for the independent exploration and production company. Services started on the 4th of March and the... Read more
28-Mar-2013Source: AgustaWestland
Editor note – you can’t blame AW for putting this press release out to promote their products, but it’s worth noting that BOTH of the final two bidders included the AW189 in their portfolio AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that its AW189 Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopter will play a pivotal role... Read more
27-Mar-2013Source: GKN Aerospace
GKN Aerospace has been contracted by Eurocopter UK to develop upgraded fuel tanks as part of the UK RAF’s life extension programme (LEP) for its fleet of Puma helicopters. The new self-sealing fuel tanks will enhance the helicopter’s survivability in today’s theatres of operation, providing extended protection for the crew against weapons such as heavy... Read more
27-Mar-2013Source: Avincis Group
Avincis CEO James Drummond said: “We are pleased that Secretary of State has noted the very high quality and credibility of our bid, which drew on our global and UK expertise in providing helicopter emergency services. Of course we are disappointed, but Bond has had fantastic success in winning new business this year. I’m very... Read more
26-Mar-2013Source: UK Dept for Transport
A new £1.6 billion contract for search and rescue helicopter services will see the UK benefit from improved flying times and better coverage of high-risk areas. The Department for Transport has today signed a contract with Bristow Helicopters Ltd to provide search and rescue helicopter services in the UK. Helicopters will be able to reach... Read more
26-Mar-2013Source: RAF
He is among a total of 27 RAF personnel named in the latest Armed Forces Operational Awards and Joint Commanders Commendations for their service in Afghanistan, Britain and around the world. Flight Lieutenant Christopher Gordon used his helicopter to shield the troops as they boarded the aircraft, resulting in the loss of one of his... Read more
25-Mar-2013Source: Royal Navy
The 3,074ft Beinn Sgulaird is approximately 10 miles north east of Oban and it turned out to be a formidable foe during the course of this rescue. Lieutenant Commander Sweeney brought years of Commando Helicopter Force experience in similar conditions in the Arctic and Afghanistan to bear, allowing him not only to reassure his crew,... Read more
22-Mar-2013Source: Crown Office
On 1 April 2009 Super Puma helicopter AS332 L2 G-REDL crashed into the North Sea resulting in the deaths of all 16 men on board. Having carefully considered all the circumstances of this incident, Crown Counsel have decided that there is insufficient evidence for a prosecution and as result no criminal proceedings are instructed. The... Read more
20-Mar-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Cornwall Air Ambulance, one of the early pioneers of EMS helicopters in the UK, will move away from Bond Air Services after working with them for 27 years. From December 2014, the charity will stop flying a red EC135 and move over to a pair of MD Explorers, operated for them by Medical Aviation Services.... Read more
20-Mar-2013Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, welcomes the UK Government’s announcement of further significant investments in the aerospace industry. A joint Government and industry research and technology investment valued at over 2 billion pound in the next seven years has been announced through the Aerospace Growth Parthership (AGP) involving a number of aerospace companies. An official ceremony... Read more
20-Mar-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Hayward & Green made a very short announcement on their website – “We are pleased to announce the launch of our A109A/C and E model component support program. Please enquire for the level of support we can offer across a large range of A109 components. All stock is available with Full trace and EASAF1/8130-3 Release... Read more
19-Mar-2013Source: Decoded Science
… reports about North Sea oil workers being put on slimming diets because their average weight over the last few years had increased so much (see full story)... Read more
18-Mar-2013Source: Sunday Times
Ahead of any official announcement, the Sunday Times are reporting that Bristow have won the UK SAR contract worth approximately £3 billion (see full story). HeliHub.com will run the official announcements as and when they are released in the near future. Bristow were bidding with Sikorsky S92 and AgustaWestland AW189 helicopters.... Read more
18-Mar-2013Source: St George's Healthcare
St George’s Hospital has scrapped plans to reduce the size of a new helipad which was too small for Search and Rescue helicopters. The proposed £4m helipad, approved last year, was reduced by 5 sq m in another application withdrawn last week, making it too small for larger helicopters used by Search and Rescue teams.... Read more
15-Mar-2013Source: Eurocopter
The acquisition of an EC145 by the Police Service of Northern Ireland will add another helicopter to this agency’s all-Eurocopter fleet, and reinforces the company’s impressive presence with law enforcement agencies in the British Isles. This latest rotary-wing aircraft is to be delivered in the first half of 2013, joining the Police Service of Northern... Read more
14-Mar-2013Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue does not refer to any helicopters and this update is included in HeliHub.com for completeness.... Read more
13-Mar-2013Source: Bond Aviation Group
Two Bond Offshore Helicopters (Bond) Search and Rescue (SAR) crewmen have been awarded the Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy 2012, in recognition of their key role in a dramatic North Sea rescue last December. The award honours SAR winchmen and operators who have shown great skill and courage in carrying out rescues over land or... Read more
12-Mar-2013Source: Heli UK
Heli UK Expo will provide an event platform within a traditional airfield setting, where exhibitors and visitors can meet, mingle and do business in a flexible and relaxed environment. Both exhibitors and visitors will be able to fly-in and out of the event, and with demo flights simple and straightforward, visitors will be able to see... Read more
11-Mar-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Here in the UK we have had some recent high-profile general media stories about huge international organisations avoiding tax. Household names including Amazon, Google and Starbucks were splashed across the headlines – each of them using various legal tactics to minimise their UK tax payment. While these activities may be ethically dubious, they are all perfectly... Read more
11-Mar-2013Source: Royal Navy
Roger Bigden read about the trip to Borneo and made contact with the Squadron through the ‘Junglie Association’ on their website www.junglies.org.uk. He came to visit 845 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton to share his experiences of the 1960s Borneo campaign, and to present the Squadron with a map and photographs from his time there. Roger... Read more
11-Mar-2013Source: Royal Navy
A dozen-strong team from 217 Flight – observer/flight commander Lt Mike Curd, pilot Lt Chris Southworth, senior maintenance rating CPO Matthew ‘Cakey’ Eccles and seven technicians, plus two Royal Marines snipers – return to base at RNAS Yeovilton just before mid-day on Friday (8 March). The highlight of the deployment – for the ship and... Read more
9-Mar-2013Source: PR Week
Eurocopter has created a new top PR role to help drive comms efforts amid a Civil Aviation Authority ban on its EC225 Super Puma helicopters following North Sea ditching incidents last year (see full story)... Read more
7-Mar-2013Source: Sloane Helicopters
Sloane Helicopters, the UK and Ireland Robinson Dealer since the mid 1970’s has, along with many other potential European buyers, been frustrated at the delays to EASA certification of the R66. During the original FAA certification of the R66, the FAA granted Robinson an exemption from the redundant control valve regulation. Several non US countries... Read more
7-Mar-2013Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Sloane Helicopters Ltd of the United Kingdom has signed a contract for the purchase of two GrandNew light twin and two AW169 light intermediate helicopters. This contract demonstrates the continuing success achieved by the AgustaWestland range of light twin helicopters in the UK market as well... Read more
4-Mar-2013Source: Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Specialist child doctors have praised the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance in helping to save the lives of critically ill babies and children across the county. Over the last year Yorkshire Air Ambulance has worked with Embrace – the Yorkshire and Humber infant and children’s transport service – to rapidly get specialist medical teams and... Read more
28-Feb-2013Source: Isle of Wight County Press
THE construction of a new helipad at St Mary’s Hospital is well underway, with the work due to be completed by the end of March. l.(see full story)... Read more
28-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Cotswold Helicopters have placed an order with the French manufacturer Guimbal for the fourth UK Cabri. The helicopter is due for delivery in July 2013 and will be operated by Helicentre at Leicester alongside their first example G-CHAG. Helicentre have been very pleased with the Cabri and have flown around 60 hours a month (yes,... Read more
28-Feb-2013Source: Devon Air Ambulance
Imagine being miles from anywhere on deepest Dartmoor when you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a horrific accident. Now, thanks to the new Devon Air Ambulance Trust iPhone App, you can not only alert the authorities of your plight, but with the most accurate coordinates available, your chances of a speedy rescue are... Read more
27-Feb-2013Source: Wales Air Ambulance
Wales Air Ambulance is celebrating its 12th birthday this week with the launch of a series of trials that could see the lifesaving helicopters flying at night. The trials form part of a string of clinical and hi-tech advances at the charity, including new equipment for paediatric missions and specialist paramedic training. WAA chief executive... Read more
26-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Bond Offshore will be changing the livery of its helicopters to dark blue to match the rest of the Avincis Group’s global offshore fleet, but the aircraft will still be branded with the Bond name. This change is designed to allow Avincis to more efficiently direct resources to where they’re most needed, such as bringing... Read more
25-Feb-2013
The “GAP SAR” contract requires Bristow Helicopters to supply four Sikorsky S92s for UK Search and Rescue. The first arrival (which we reported here) is now stationed at Inverness on a training programme. Meanwhile the second example G-MCGB was air freighted into Prestwick last week and ferried through to Aberdeen on Saturday. This is serial... Read more
22-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
A third Guimbal Cabri helicopter has been sold into the UK market, with handover scheduled for Aero 2013, the exhibition at Friedrichshafen in Germany at the end of April. The private purchaser is an experienced helicopter owner, having had two Robinson R22s and three R44s in the last 24 years. He told HeliHub.com that his... Read more
22-Feb-2013Source: FlightGlobal
FlightGlobal are quoting Eurocopter’s EC175 marketing manager admitting that both remaining bidders in the UK SAR contest have the UK-built AW189 in their tenders. (see full story)... Read more
21-Feb-2013Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd, one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a new contract with BW Offshore. This new contract, worth in the region of £16 million, is to provide crew change support for the BW Offshore (UK) Limited Floating Production Storage and... Read more
19-Feb-2013Source: CAA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is to strengthen its provision of safety information to general aviation pilots from this spring. The CAA announced today that the publishing group, Archant, will begin producing general aviation safety material on its behalf. Archant, publisher of Pilot magazine, has been awarded a contract to write and distribute three... Read more
18-Feb-2013Source: Reed Exhibitions
With seven months still to go, booked stand space at Helitech International 2013 is already 10% larger compared to the 2011 show, with the number of new international exhibitors steadily rising. Reed Exhibitions, the organisers of Helitech International, are staging this year’s event at ExCeL in London from 24 – 26 September, which continues to... Read more
18-Feb-2013Source: Den Helder Airport
Flybe franchise carrier Loganair has commenced ticket sales for a new weekday service, operating from Den Helder to both Norwich and Manchester in the United Kingdom. The flights to Norwich, which serves as East England’s offshore support hub, will operate on weekdays from March 4 2013. Passengers will be able to leave Den Helder at... Read more
18-Feb-2013Source: Scottish Ambulance Service
The Scottish Ambulance Service has completed an initiative to create new lit helicopter landing sites on Shetland’s outer isles that will enhance access for medical evacuations. While the Coastguard helicopter has always had 24 hour access to these islands, the new sites will allow access at night by the Jigsaw helicopter, which requires a lit... Read more
18-Feb-2013Source: The Helicopter Museum
The Helicopter Museum (THM) at Weston-super-Mare has appointed Bristol architects Alec French to act as its Stage One lead designer in support of a new Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid. The Practice has previously successfully participated in HLF funded projects at the Underfall Yard and the SS Great Britain in Bristol and the Clifton Suspension... Read more
17-Feb-2013Source: Wales Air Ambulance
The founder and Chairman of Wales Air Ambulance, Robert Palmer has died after a short illness, aged 64. Mr Palmer was a leading businessman in Swansea who founded Wales’ first ever air ambulance, in 2001. The news comes as the Charity, now operating three aircraft nationwide, marks its twelfth birthday on St David’s Day. A... Read more
17-Feb-2013Source: AAA
Following the Association of Air Ambulances decision to change its membership structures the Association has recruited 2 new full members and a range of associate members to its ranks. Full members of the Association are ambulance services and air ambulance charities that are committed to ethical fundraising and collaboration in their unified vision of improving... Read more
14-Feb-2013Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Robinson R22 Beta (G-CHZN), in-flight separation of main rotor blades, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, 6 January 2012 Sikorsky S-76C (G-CGOU), precautionary landing following smell of smoke in flight, 19 nm east-north-east of Humberside Airport, 26 September 2012... Read more
12-Feb-2013Source: MIU Events
A one-day conference dedicated to commercial helicopter operations will debut at and be supported by the Barclays London Heliport, Battersea on Wednesday, 12 June, 2013. Organised by MIU Events, the Rotary Operations Conference (ROC) will bring together helicopter manufacturers, operators, suppliers and industry chiefs. The event is also being supported by the UK’s British Helicopter Association (BHA)... Read more
12-Feb-2013Source: Western Daily Press
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance flew rescue missions 615 times last year (see full story)... Read more
12-Feb-2013Source: Heli-One
On Feb. 7 Lars Landsnes from Heli-One, joined Ian Craddock, head of helicopters for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), to sign a multi-million pound, 13-year contract to provide long-term logistic support for the Makila 1A1 engines fitted in new Puma HC2 helicopters used by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF fleet of 24... Read more
12-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Gone are the big sponsor logos – but the theme is still very much red. The MD Explorer of LAA (London’s Air Ambulance) G-EHMS has appeared from the paint shop at Gloucestershire Airport in new red paint with a yellow and pale blue “dog tooth” pattern to the aft of the cabin area and to... Read more
11-Feb-2013Source: The Helicopter Museum
With all the severe weather recently it seems quite apt that a new display has opened at The Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare to mark the 60th Anniversary of The Dutch Flood Disaster. On 1st February 1953 gale force winds and a high spring tide led to the breaching of coastal defences on both sides of the... Read more
8-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
UK’s Castle Air has recently sold an AW109S Grand to Nigeria – and delivered it by air. Coverage on the company’s Facebook page indicates that the route followed the West Africa coast via Mauretania, Ivory Coast and Ghana before arriving at Lagos in Nigeria. The purchaser is Azikel Dredging, who started in the business supplying... Read more
7-Feb-2013Source: Bond
Bond Helicopters Europe (Bond) is delighted to confirm that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved one of its EC135 aircraft for night vision goggles (NVG) operations to ground level, a significant step towards the UK’s first night air ambulance operations. At present, no air ambulance service in the UK is able to operate... Read more
7-Feb-2013
AgustaWestland, the world’s second- largest helicopter maker, will start civil rotorcraft production in Britain if the company prevails in a competition to supply search-and-rescue choppers in the country, its chairman said (see full story)... Read more
6-Feb-2013Source: AAA
Following last night’s [Monday 4th] broadcast off BBC1’s Inside Out investigation into the Children’s Air Ambulance operated by The Air Ambulance Service Ltd. The Association on behalf of its members wishes to reassure the public that their local air ambulances provide emergency and transfer services for children and babies. Members of the association can be... Read more
6-Feb-2013Source: Devon Air Ambulance
On Monday 4 February, during the BBC South West ‘Inside Out’ programme, there was a feature about The Air Ambulance Service’s proposed Children’s Air Ambulance service. Heléna Holt, Chief Executive of Devon Air Ambulance Trust said: “We would like to take the opportunity to reassure the people of Devon that their local Air Ambulances can... Read more
5-Feb-2013Source: DIO
Maintenance staff at a frontline RAF helicopter base are enjoying a better working environment, thanks to new lighting that not only brightens their working day but also saves energy and money. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has worked with its regional industry partner PriDE to improve lighting in hangars at RAF Benson, in Oxfordshire, as... Read more
5-Feb-2013Source: BBC
The Coventry-based charity became The Air Ambulance Service after launching a national children’s service but is yet to transport any youngsters. A leaked NHS report suggests a whole network of air ambulances would be needed to provide such a national air transfer service for children (see full story)... Read more
5-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
London’s Air Ambulance are reportedly moving base to Northolt in the very near future, having overnighted their helicopter – currently an MD Explorer, plus the Dauphin before that – for 24 years at Denham. There are two possible reasons for this – either their contract was with Premiair (who ceased operating from Denham late last... Read more
4-Feb-2013Source: Yorkshire Post
A British helicopter instructor has been sentenced to six months jail for falsely signing off the training records of a student pilot to get him a pilot’s licence. The Judge said that it was impossible to say whether these actions were contributory to the “newly qualified” pilot and his wife losing their lives in their... Read more
4-Feb-2013Source: Bristow Helicopters
Over ten days after HeliHub.com reported the arrival of this aircraft, Bristow issued the following press release which provides more details, including equipment fit. The first of four Sikorsky S-92 helicopters that will service the U.K. GAP SAR contract starting later this year is nearly finished and on track to begin training flights in February.... Read more
4-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Bond Offshore Helicopters have confirmed to HeliHub.com this morning that Malcolm Paine, Director of Flight Operations, and Graham Wildgoose, Ground Operations Manager, have both “left the company to seek opportunities externally” (our inverted commas, not theirs) Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com... Read more
4-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Last week HeliHub.com announced that the first Sikorsky S92 had arrived in the UK for Bristow to operate in the SAR role. Today the aircraft moves from Aberdeen to Inverness to begin training ready for going live on 1st June – this is G-MCGA, serial The first of the four Sikorsky S92s arrived at Aberdeen... Read more
4-Feb-2013Source: Helicentre Aviation
Due to the severe weather the UK has experienced throughout January, Helicentre Aviation have granted a 30 day extension to candidates wishing to apply for their professional helicopter pilot scholarships. The weather conditions, ranging from heavy snow and freezing fog to gale force winds and torrential rain, have made it impossible to fulfill the training... Read more
3-Feb-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Following the very sad fatal accident last month, Rotormotion have acquired another helicopter – effectively replacing G-CRST which crashed to the ground in London killing experienced pilot Pete Barnes and one person on the ground after coming into contact with a crane in low visibility. Both helicopters were owned by Cornwall-based Castle Air and leased... Read more
3-Feb-2013Source: East London Advertiser
“his long-term mission is to have two helicopters flying simultaneously both day and night. At present the helicopter only operates during daylight hours from around 8am in the morning to around 4pm in winter and 8pm in summer.” Read the full article... Read more
29-Jan-2013Source: CAA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will soon offer online applications and provide payment options for certain services through secure online processes. As part of a major project to update and improve the way it handles applications, the CAA will begin accepting e-applications and payments, initially, for two services – Part 145 maintenance organisation approvals,... Read more
25-Jan-2013Source: Royal Air Force
Air Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a pilot in 1977 and, after flying training, joined No 72 Squadron, flying Wessex helicopters, beginning an association with the Support Helicopter Force which would last 25 years. During his flying career he accumulated over 5,000 hours on both Wessex and Chinook... Read more
24-Jan-2013Source: TVACAA
The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance reached another important landmark, flying its 14,000th mission to attend to a fallen horse rider out on the Lambourn Gallops. Sarah Williamson, Head of Fundraising for the Trust said: “Because of the rural location, Air Ambulance BOB received the ‘shout’ to Lambourn Gallops to assist a rider who... Read more
23-Jan-2013Source: AAIB
Report name: S1/2013 – Agusta A109E, G-CRST Registration: G-CRST Type: Agusta A109E Location: St George Wharf, Vauxhall, London Date of occurrence: 16 January 2013 Category: Commercial Air Transport – Rotorcraft Summary: The helicopter was flying to the east of Battersea Heliport when it struck the jib of a crane, attached to a building development at... Read more
22-Jan-2013Source: HeliHub.com
In early February 2012, HeliHub.com broke the news that the “Gap SAR” contract had been split between Bristow running the two northerly bases at Sumburgh and Stornoway, while CHC would continue with the two southerly bases at Portland and Lee-on-Solent. Not only were we first to announce this, but it took a further five days... Read more
20-Jan-2013Source: WFW
Watson, Farley & Williams (“WFW”), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it has advised CHC Helicopter on an operating lease facility of up to US$202m with Milestone Aviation, for up to 12 helicopters (including Sikorsky, Eurocopter and AgustaWestland helicopters), its third facility with Milestone. The team, led by partner Nicola Davies,... Read more
20-Jan-2013Source: Step Change in Safety
Helicopter operators are maintaining readiness for the return to service of EC225s. An element of this are short maintenance flights over land. The 20-minute flights will take place without passengers and are intended to keep the aircraft within their maintenance certification, meaning they won’t have to be placed for long periods in storage. As these... Read more
17-Jan-2013Source: Bond Air Services
Bond Air Services (Bond) is proud to announce that one of the two helicopter air ambulances it operates on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has reached 10,000 flying hours. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC135T2i (registration G-SASA), reached this milestone transferring a maternity patient with abdominal pains from Cambeltown hospital to Crosshouse hospital in... Read more
16-Jan-2013Source: Helihub.com
An AgustaWestland AW109E helicopter crashed this morning in central London’s rush hour – around 8am. The helicopter was en route from Redhill to Elstree, but diverting into Battersea Heliport due to poor visibility, when it hit a crane on a block of flats, and crashed to ground in flames. Two cars were reported hit and... Read more
16-Jan-2013Source: The Courier
Over the next five years, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) will receive an annual donation of £20,000 – helping it move closer to its ambitious £1.5 million target (see full story)... Read more
15-Jan-2013
Negligence claims over a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of two Britons should remain in the US, a judge has ruled. (see full story) We also found this document online relating to this case File photo... Read more
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