14-Jan-2013Source: London's Air Ambulance
London’s Air Ambulance, the Charity that delivers an advanced trauma team to critically injured people in London, is delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Hodgkin to the role of Chief Executive Officer. He joins at an exciting time of rapid transition for the Charity and will lead the service through its next stages of... Read more
14-Jan-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Last week it emerged that the UK Government has reduced the number of bidding groups for the UK Search And Rescue contract from three to two – and the loser was CHC. The Canadian based company, who have an established operation on the UK North Sea, are the current contractor operating four Sikorsky S92 and... Read more
13-Jan-2013Source: Royal Air Force
Warrants Officer Dave Woodhead, 7 Squadron Warrant Officer Engineering, was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours. Warrant Officer Woodhead has shown over 35 years of exceptional dedication, leadership and devotion to duty. During this time he has deployed to numerous operations and has been previously recognised with various Commendations. Due to his innovative... Read more
13-Jan-2013Source: SaxonAir
As part of their continued expansion, Norwich based air charter operator and flight support services company SaxonAir announces the appointment of a new CEO, Alex Durand, who takes up his new position within the company in early January 2013. Mr Durand, 43, brings to the role over 20 years of experience in the Business Aviation... Read more
10-Jan-2013Source: BBC
The jury found the instructor guilty of making a false representation with intent to deceive the Civil Aviation Authority. He will be sentenced next month. (see full story). File photo... Read more
10-Jan-2013Source: SICL
After 5 years sponsoring Yorkshire Air Ambulance SICL has committed to a further 5 years and increased the donation. SICL has provided the YAA Charity with corporate sponsorship including free-of-charge IT support, services and infrastructure for the last five years but it has now re-committed until 2018 and increased the level of sponsorship. The YAA has long been SICL’s... Read more
10-Jan-2013Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Agusta Bell 206B Jet Ranger II, (G-SUEZ), engine failure and a forced landing, Perthshire, 20 February 2012... Read more
7-Jan-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Specialist Aviation Services have imported a pair of MD Explorers from California, which have been purchased from EMS operator CALSTAR. The two have been registered as G-HMDX and G-KSSA and are serials 900-00121 (previously N902RN) and 900-00123 (previously N902CS) respectively. G-HMDX is for Magpas Helimedix, a more recent addition to the UK EMS scene. Magpas... Read more
7-Jan-2013Source: HeliHub.com
British Formula 1 driver Dr Jonathan Palmer has recently upgraded from a Eurocopter AS355NP Twin Squirrel to an AgustaWestland AW109S Grand – buying a 2006 aircraft previously owned by Sir Peter Ogden – joint owner with Palmer of MotorSport Vision “MSV”. (Mr Ogden has replaced the Grand with a new GrandNew – see article) Palmer... Read more
7-Jan-2013Source: West Midlands Police
MORE than 500 people were arrested in 2012 – who would otherwise have got away had it not been for the West Midlands Police helicopter. The helicopter, known to officers on the street by its call sign ‘Alpha Oscar 1’, has taken off 1,362 times this year and has been involved in 3,698 incidents. Using a... Read more
7-Jan-2013Source: The Helicopter Museum
The Helicopter Museum came alive with the sounds of “Action!” and “Cut!” last week as a small film crew recorded a number of scenes for their début feature using one of the more iconic aircraft in the museum’s vast collection. With the use of some clever lighting angles and a large Green Screen backdrop, the... Read more
6-Jan-2013Source: London’s Air Ambulance
Coutts has exceeded its annual target of raising £50,000 for this year’s chosen charity, London’s Air Ambulance. Coutts’ Products, Services & Marketing team dug deep to raise more than double last year’s charity donation, culminating in a grand total of £51,705.60. Numerous fundraising activities were organised throughout the last twelve months, including comedy nights, a... Read more
4-Jan-2013Source: BBC
Tactical flight officer PC Paul Gridley said: “When we are approaching a scene, usually at 1000ft, we tend to use the blue lights of emergency vehicles as one way of guiding us into the scene” (see full story)... Read more
4-Jan-2013Source: 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
3-Jan-2013Source: BBA Aviation
BBA Aviation today announced the promotion of Mark Taylor to Managing Director of its H+S Aviation subsidiary. He will be responsible for the day to day activities of this OEM-approved engine repair and overhaul company. Taylor joined H+S Aviation in 1990 and has worked in numerous positions throughout the company. As an engineer, Taylor started... Read more
1-Jan-2013Source: NHS East of England Trauma Network
The NHS East of England Trauma Network is pleased to announce that a temporary helipad will be laid at Addenbrooke’s Hospital as the next step in enhancing care for the most seriously injured people across the region. This solution has been made possible by close partnership working between the hospital, ambulance service, air ambulance trusts... Read more
21-Dec-2012Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, valued at approximately £260 million, for the provision of Sea King Integrated Operational Support (SKIOS) from 1st April 2013 to the type’s out of service date in March 2016. This contract will follow on... Read more
20-Dec-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Sir Peter Ogden, joint founder of the very successful computer services company Computacenter, is upgrading his AW Grand to a GrandNew. Remaining executive chairman until 1997, Sir Peter placed £22.5M into an educational trust – the Ogden Trust – when Computacenter became a UK public company in 1998. The trust fund helps very able students... Read more
17-Dec-2012Source: Medical Aviation Services
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust (KSSAAT) has signed a contract with air ambulance operator Medical Aviation Services (MAS) which heralds the introduction of a full 24/7 helicopter service in the UK’s South East from early next year. KSSAAT works in conjunction with the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) in the delivery of... Read more
17-Dec-2012Source: Cornwall Air Ambulance
The Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust has been rewarded for its commitment to the environment by winning the New Build category at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards. Chief Executive Paula Martin, who collected the award, said, “We at the charity are both honoured and proud to have won this category, the competition was very strong indeed this... Read more
17-Dec-2012Source: Eurocopter
On 27 November at an award ceremony in Ministry of Defence Main Building, Whitehall, London, Eurocopter UK was presented with a “Recognition of Achievement Award”. Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (DEST) Philip Dunne MP handed over the award to the Team. These awards recognise and celebrate specific areas of procurement and included for... Read more
17-Dec-2012Source: HeliHub.com
CHC have transferred a pair of Sikorsky S92 helicopters form their operation in Denmark to the UK. Serial 920046 OY-HKA has now been registered as G-WNSF while 920058 OY-HKB is now G-WNSG. We assume that this is, at least in part, to cover for the requirements generated by the suspension of operations of the Eurocopter... Read more
13-Dec-2012Source: HeliHub.com
A British registered AgustaWestland AW109S Grand has recently been sold by one British retailer to another. Previously G-CDWY with Mike Ashley’s SportsDirect group, the helicopter is moving further north into Scotland, where it has been bought by Edinburgh Woollen Mill. Part of the sale will be the change of registration of this aircraft – serial... Read more
13-Dec-2012Source: Cornwall Air Ambulance
Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust is very sad to confirm the news of the tragic death of our former Chairman, Mr Harold Chapman. Harold and his wife Pamela, who was also a trustee, had recently emigrated to Australia, to take up their retirement ambition and become reunited with close family members. In the past few days,... Read more
12-Dec-2012Source: Yorkshire Air Ambulance
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is breaking new ground in the Air Ambulance industry having just become the first Air Ambulance in the UK to apply for and obtain their own Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from scratch. The Yorkshire based charity, which owns and operates two MD 902 Explorers, learned last week that after nearly... Read more
12-Dec-2012Source: MCA
At 4.30am, a doctor on Unst called Shetland Coastguard to ascertain the times of the ferries to the main Island. This was because he was dealing with a woman in labour. After the doctor had spoken with the Scottish ambulance service, ARCC Kinloss tasked the Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter Rescue 102. The helicopter was... Read more
11-Dec-2012Source: 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
11-Dec-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Britain’s Sloane Helicopters opened its base in Northern Ireland at Enniskillen Airport back in 2007 before the recession hit – and it’s no secret that helicopter operations in Northern Ireland have been hit nearly as badly as those in the country of Ireland to the south. Undaunted by this, Sloane are showing a continued commitment... Read more
11-Dec-2012Source: Helicopter Museum
The Museum has put three models of the unique Fairey Rotodyne compound helicopter on display complementing the only surviving sections of the actual aircraft that are also part of the collection. The new models have been transfered to THM from the Imperial War Museum store at Duxford, Cambridge and are on display for the first... Read more
11-Dec-2012Source: CAA
An innovative new lighting system for use on off-shore helidecks has undergone a successful flight inspection by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The new system, developed under a CAA research project and manufactured by Orga BV in the Netherlands, is designed to radically improve visibility for approaching pilots. The first production version of the... Read more
6-Dec-2012Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc has purchased the first Bell 429 to be operated in Great Britain. The aircraft will be used for inspection and maintenance of power lines. “We required a versatile and reliable aircraft to support our mission, which is providing power... Read more
5-Dec-2012Source: Oil & Gas UK
Members of Oil & Gas UK’s Board today (Wednesday 5 December) met with senior representatives from Eurocopter in Aberdeen. Eurocopter had been invited to update the group on their investigation into the main bevel gear shaft failures, which led to two ditching incidents earlier in the year. Eurocopter has been carrying out extensive testing of... Read more
5-Dec-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Two new Sikorsky S92 helicopters were registered in the UK yesterday to Bristow Helicopters – G-CHKI (serial 920175) and G-CHMJ (920176). The pair arrived in the UK by airfreight to Prestwick Airport on Sunday in an Antonov An124 freighter, with G-CHMJ making the 180 mile flight to Aberdeen yesterday and G-CHKI expected to follow today. ... Read more
5-Dec-2012Source: HeliHub.com
A new arrival on the British aircraft register yesterday was a new Eurocopter EC135P2e for Devon Air Ambulance. Serial 1080 has recently been completed at the Donauworth factory and is now registered as G-DAAN. This normally signifies arrival in the UK, and the aircraft is currently registered to Eurocopter UK at Oxford,. who are doing... Read more
4-Dec-2012Source: Wales Air Ambulance
Wales Air Ambulance’s Swansea based air ambulance attended its 8,000th mission on the 28th November 2012. The service has now been in operation for 11 years from Fairwood Airport, Swansea, starting as a 5 day service which was launched on St David’s Day 2001. Wales Air Ambulance has since expanded to having three helicopters across Wales which... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: Bond Air Services
Bond Air Services (Bond) is proud to have presented cheques totaling over £5,000 to three charities at the company’s base at Gloucestershire Airport earlier today. Staff at Bond have raised a total of £5,254.83 through a variety of fundraising efforts over the course of the year, exceeding the target of £3,000 the company set itself... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Starspeed Ltd. of the UK has signed a preliminary sale contract for one AW169 light intermediate helicopter plus an option for an additional aircraft. The helicopter will be used to perform VIP transport missions in the United Kingdom. The order marks the entrance of the all... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: Essex & Herts Air Ambulance
Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) having recently upgraded to state of the art ZOLL® X Series™ Patient Monitors is delighted to donate two older generation Schiller patient monitors to Dr Peter Temesvari, Medical Director of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in Hungary. Before being appointed Medical Director of Hungarian HEMS, Peter Temesvari was a HEMS Doctor... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: European Defence Agency
The third Helicopter Tactics Symposium was held from 19 – 21 November in Luxembourg. 43 participants from 16 Member States (AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, ES, EE, FI, FR, HU, IT, LU, NL, PT, SE, UK) and additional guests from New Zeeland and the Joint Air Power Competence Centre exchanged views on the status of... Read more
27-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Scotland has previously been covered from the air by two Eurocopter EC135s, operated by Bond Air Services on contract to Gama Aviation who hold a contract with Scottish Ambulance Service. This is the only EMS operation in the UK funded by central government, and it is planned to upgrade from EC135 to EC145T2 in due... Read more
27-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
On Thursday 15th November, UK held its first ever Police chief elections and 41 new “Police and Crime Commissioners” have been elected across England and Wales in an attempt to give the public a say in cutting crime in their area. In the far southwest of England lies the counties of Devon and Cornwall, which... Read more
27-Nov-2012Source: Enterprising Barnsley
A dry suit created in Barnsley is helping to protect thousands of emergency workers facing dangerous waters across the UK. Fire crews and coastguards are among those kitted out with the suit made by Hoyland-based AZDRY. Now the company is receiving backing from business support organisation Enterprising Barnsley to take the product to markets overseas.... Read more
25-Nov-2012Source: Guernsey Post
Guernsey Post has finalised the details of its contingency plans developed in response to Guernsey’s airport closures on 27th & 28th November and 4th & 5th December 2012. Dave Bynam, Head of Network and Planning at Guernsey Post said: “Our contingency plans for the airport closures in November and December are largely based on the... Read more
25-Nov-2012
Two Super Puma helicopters were at the centre of fresh safety fears. The Bond aircraft, which were travelling independently to different offshore installations, were both forced to return to the heliport in Aberdeen following concerns. (see full story)... Read more
25-Nov-2012Source: Daily Mail
MD500E owner Jeremy Paxton said: “The council says that landing on the turntable might damage the a tree, but I could land on that spot if the turntable was not there. Would I really want to land too close to a tree in a helicopter?” (see full story)... Read more
23-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Sloane Helicopters have today taken delivery of another A109E Power to provide additional back-up support to their operational fleet following introduction of their third AW109 on air ambulance duties. The aircraft will also be used to cover the increased demand for flying training to IR level. The aircraft concerned is G-CHVA, serial 11100 and previously... Read more
23-Nov-2012Source: Essex & Herts Air Ambulance
Thanks to an appeal over the summer which raised over £14,000, the people of Essex and Hertfordshire are now benefiting from some of the highest standard pre-hospital cardiac care the World has to offer with new state of the art equipment on board the Essex & Herts Air Ambulances. Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust... Read more
23-Nov-2012
HeliHub.com has withdrawn an article we ran yesterday regarding the way in which Bristow Helicopters chose to word an invitation for applications to a scholarship program they are running, which has an application deadline of 31 January 2013. We understood that the UK’s Equalities Act in 2010, which aims to remove discrimination on a wide... Read more
22-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Article withdrawn. Please see replacement article here –... Read more
22-Nov-2012Source: County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal
HeliHub.com Editor note – We just HAD to change the title of this press release. A case of PR agency not engaging brain, in fact. They sent this press release out with the title “Southampton General Hospital helipad celebrates well over 300 successful landings in its first year of service” – Of course they were... Read more
22-Nov-2012Source: The Helicopter Museum
The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare is holding a special Free Educational Open Day on Friday 14th December between 10am and 7pm. “We would like to invite all those who work in the educational sector and who plan group outings and educational activities to visit their local museum and experience first hand the resources available literally... Read more
19-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
PremiAir Aviation has gone through a change of ownership in recent days, and a formal press release is expected very soon. However, part of the changes have involved the repossession of at least four aircraft, including three Sikorsky S76s and a Twin Squirrel which departed from their base at Blackbushe last week by road. Industry... Read more
19-Nov-2012Source: 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 Perenco Oil and Gas. This new contract, worth in the region of £37 million, is for the provision of crew change flights to Perenco’s newly-acquired assets in the... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: Essex Air Ambulance
After four years of investigations into a Charity Shop in Walton-on-the-Naze; Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) is delighted to confirm the closure of the Charity Shop and that the proprietor Nigel Philpott-Jones has pleaded guilty of fraud by false misrepresentation. His official sentencing has taken place today at Chelmsford Crown Court and Mr... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: Royal Navy
THE first Royal Navy Lynx helicopter to join a French frigate on a full counter-piracy deployment has arrived on board the ship in Toulon. As part of the initiative for the UK and French armed forces to work more closely together, the Lynx Mark 8 aircraft from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton will deploy with... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: Bond Air Services
Bond Air Services is delighted to congratulate the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) on winning an Air Ambulance Team Award from the Ambulance Service Institute. The award, presented at a ceremony in London earlier today, recognised MAAC’s exemplary response to an incident in Lucton, Herefordshire in February this year, when all three Midlands Air Ambulance... Read more
8-Nov-2012Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Special Bulletin S4/2012: Sikorsky S-76C++, G-WIWI, East Sussex, 3 May 2012 Bell 206L-3 Longranger III (G-LVDC), forced landing near Silverstone, Northants, 8 July 2012... Read more
7-Nov-2012Source: Eurocopter
On October 22, 2012, during a flight to an offshore platform, a controlled ditching was performed with an EC225 helicopter. No one on board was injured and everyone was brought back to land safely. The helicopter remained afloat thanks to its emergency floatation gear and was recovered by a ship. An emergency lubrication warning light... Read more
7-Nov-2012Source: Oryx Jet
London Biggin Hill based aircraft management and first class air charter company Oryx Jet is delighted to be able to offer helicopter charter as an additional method of transportation and onward carriage to complement its existing fleet of executive jets. Offering more choice to private business and leisure charter services both locally and internationally, our... Read more
6-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
The Children’s Air Ambulance issued a press release last week, and after we scanned through it, we rejected it as it did not appear much of an aviation story. On the face of it, the central theme was the appointment of a brand ambassador – a 54 year old music star whose success started to... Read more
5-Nov-2012Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters
Luke Farajallah joins Bond Offshore Helicopters as new Managing Director 5th November 2012. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Luke Farajallah as Managing Director. Luke brings with him 25 years of aviation experience leading different functions in a number of airlines both in the UK and Internationally. Most recently Luke... Read more
5-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Following our story earlier today regarding the situation PremiAir find themselves in at Denham, HeliHub.com can confirm that Finance Director Mike Harding has resigned. Mr Harding joined PremiAir in September 2004, and had responsibility for the finance and IT functions at PremiAir in the eight years since. His role involved a wide range of tasks,... Read more
5-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Premair Aviation Group has ceased trading at Denham, after the airfield owners changed the locks on the offices and hangars. We understand that Denham’s owners, Bickerton’s Aerodromes Ltd, had a meeting with PremiAir owner Andrew Davis in recent weeks concerning balances owed. As nothing was forthcoming after that meeting, Bickerton’s took action. A notice on... Read more
4-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Aerial application specialists Airbourne Solutions have acquired a second Twin Squirrel from PremiAir Aviation at Blackbushe, taking their fleet to three. The three helicopters involved are N30LG AS355F2 (5065) acquired July 2008 and not flown since (photo above) G-VONG AS355F1 (5323) acquired recently – airworthiness documents expired Feb-12 G-VONK AS355F1 (5325) acquired late 2011 –... Read more
2-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
The controversial move of the Helitech show by Reed Exhibitions from a wide-open airfield to a city-bound exhibition centre has led to the proposed revival of “The Helicopter Show” – originally planned in September this year for Farnborough and later moved to the well-known Formula 1 race circuit at Silverstone. In a brief update on... Read more
1-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
It is with sadness we record the closure yesterday of the helicopter link between the UK mainland and the Scilly Isles, following the sale of Penzance Heliport to a retail supermarket as the site of a future store. Scheduled services began on 1st May 1964 and have continued for forty eight and a half years,... Read more
31-Oct-2012Source: H+S Aviation
H+S Aviation, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) company, has added the new generation General Electric CT7-8 series turboshaft engine to its EASA 145 and FAA approvals list. The CT7-8 is currently in production for Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW101 multi-engine helicopters. H+S Aviation now offers full scale support for engine repair, overhaul... Read more
25-Oct-2012Source: HeliHub.com
In an interview with HeliHub.com, the exhibition Director of Helitech International confirmed to us that an independent survey had been carried out before making a decision to move the event from Duxford to a conference centre in London. John Hyde told us that Reed Exhbitions enlisted the services of AMR International, which on its website... Read more
23-Oct-2012Source: HeliHub.com
In an interview with HeliHub.com, the exhibition Director of Helitech International 2013 confirmed to us that there is no space at the ExCeL conference centre in London for daily visitors to the event in September 2013. John Hyde confirmed that three or four sites are under consideration, and they would soon decide on one and... Read more
23-Oct-2012Source: Weston Aviation
Weston Aviation and the operators of Tatenhill Airfield have launched a new venture to provide FBO and executive handling services at the airfield to provide quick and easy helicopter and aircraft access to the FA’s new £120 million National Football Centre at St. George’s Park, near Burton on Trent, UK. The new centre was officially... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: Bond Air Services
HeliHub.com editor note – The EC135 was first shown at Helitech 2009 fully kitted out. At Helitech 2011 we reported that the helicopter had not yet started offshore wind farm operations as expected two years prior, and a further year has now passed. We are pleased to see this finally working on the contract it... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: IOW County Press
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been called out on 4,000 emergencies since it was established five years ago. (see full story)... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: Royal Navy
The helicopter from 217 Flight (a flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron), headed up by Flight Commander Lieutenant Mike Curd, will join FLF Surcouf at her base in Toulon on Monday for a four-week training period. In November they will then deploy on Op Atalanta for four months as part of an initiative for the... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: Central Helicopters
Central Helicopters, a leading UK-based provider of helicopter services for business purposes, aerial photography, weddings and other occasions, have received planning permission to relocate to new premises. Central Helicopters has been based at Tollerton Airfield – also known as Nottingham City Airport – for the past five years, but now they have been granted permission... Read more
19-Oct-2012Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it has been selected to go forward to the contracting phase for their bid of up to £46 million from Round 3 of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The combined RGF and AgustaWestland investment of more than £100 million will create a brand new industry... Read more
