UK

Helicopter Services adds Guimbal Cabri G2 to training fleet

Helicopter Services adds Guimbal Cabri G2 to training fleet

20-Apr-2016Source: Cotswold Helicopter Centre

Helicopter Services, a very active training school based at Wycombe Air Park, have become the eleventh training school to offer the Guimbal Cabri G2 in the UK.  Serial number 1140 arrived today in the UK after a two day delivery flight from the factory in southern France. Helicopter Services, run by Leon Smith, has been... Read more

UK – 815 Naval Air Squadron receives first four of 12 Wildcats

UK – 815 Naval Air Squadron receives first four of 12 Wildcats

20-Apr-2016Source: Royal Navy

The first four of 12 new Wildcats has been delivered to 815 Naval Air Squadron as the Fleet Air Arm’s largest squadron begins the switch from Lynx after 35 years. Over the next 11 months the Yeovilton squadron will gradually retire the Lynx Mk8 as its successor takes over as the wings of front-line destroyers... Read more

Castle Air buys Bristow Academy base in UK

Castle Air buys Bristow Academy base in UK

19-Apr-2016Source: HeliHub.com

Castle Air has bought the UK branch of Bristow Academy at Gloucestershire Airport, which has up to now focused on providing IR courses in a purpose built facility which includes FNPT II Simulators. The new facility, which will trade as Castle Air Academy, will bring together all of Castle Air’s training work, and their simulator... Read more

Helipaddy creates WW1 Memorial tour to demonstrate trip planning capabilities

Helipaddy creates WW1 Memorial tour to demonstrate trip planning capabilities

18-Apr-2016Source: Helipaddy

Helipaddy, the world’s largest moderated database of helicopter landing sites and points of interest, has started to create suggested helicopter tours as a way of demonstrating the capabilities and value of their system. The first itinerary around the significant First World War (WW1) locations of Northern France has been well received.  The suggested route will... Read more

Airspace alert after UK airliner hit by drone on approach to Heathrow

Airspace alert after UK airliner hit by drone on approach to Heathrow

18-Apr-2016Source: HeliHub.com

Police in London were last night investigating after an object – reported to be a drone – struck the nose of a British Airways jet over Heathrow in what is believed to be the first case of its kind.  The pilot of flight BA727 from Geneva, carrying 132 passengers and five crew members, reported the... Read more

Lydd Airport made permanent base for UK SAR

Lydd Airport made permanent base for UK SAR

18-Apr-2016Source: UK DoT

The Department for Transport has announced that Lydd Airport will be the permanent base for the UK Coastguard’s search and rescue helicopter services in the south-east. The UK Search and Rescue Helicopter Service has operated out of Lydd Airport on a temporary basis since August 2015. The decision to make this arrangement permanent will enable... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – April 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – April 2016

15-Apr-2016Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- AAR 1/2016 AS332 L2 Super Puma, G-WNSB struck the sea on approach to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands, 23 August 2013 Agusta Bell 206B Jet Ranger III (G-OMDR), loss of control in flight, near Gamston... Read more

Royal Navy SAR Sea Kings leave Culdrose for the last time

Royal Navy SAR Sea Kings leave Culdrose for the last time

13-Apr-2016Source: Royal Navy

On Monday 11th April, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose waved goodbye to its iconic Search and Rescue Sea King helicopters for the last time. During the late morning, the final three aircraft flew from the Helston base to HMS Sultan. The much-loved red and grey aircraft have flown from RNAS Culdrose since 1988. Brave aviators... Read more

UK – Change of control at Cardiff Heliport

UK – Change of control at Cardiff Heliport

11-Apr-2016Source: HeliHub.com

The BBC is today reporting that Cardiff Heliport has new operators, with Roy Steptoe and Hugh Evans having signed a 50-year lease.  Mr Steptoe is the owner of Caernarfon Airport at the opposite end of Wales, and also owns fixed wing operator Air Caernarfon and North Wales Air Academy.  Mr Evans owns an Agusta-Bell JetRanger... Read more

Great North Air Ambulance to feature in second series of Air Ambulance ER

Great North Air Ambulance to feature in second series of Air Ambulance ER

11-Apr-2016Source: GNAA

The second series of Air Ambulance ER will broadcast at 9pm on Monday nights on Sky One. The show features the work of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), which operates across the North-East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. Filming took place last summer at both the charity’s bases, at Durham Tees Valley Airport near Darlington and at Langwathby,... Read more

UK – Surrey and Sussex Police increase drone fleet from one to five

UK – Surrey and Sussex Police increase drone fleet from one to five

11-Apr-2016Source: Surrey Police

Surrey and Sussex Police have acquired four new state-of-the-art drones.  The Aeryon SkyRangers will add to the existing one which has been used to support policing operations at Gatwick since March 2014. The drones – also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – are designed to be used to safeguard people and to assist with... Read more

UK wind farm operator centralises helicopter and vessel monitoring

UK wind farm operator centralises helicopter and vessel monitoring

8-Apr-2016Source: SeaPlanner

In a contract awarded by DONG Energy (DE), SeaPlanner was confirmed as the system provider for their Marine and Helicopter Coordination Centre (MHCC), acting as a centralised hub for their UK offshore wind farm construction and a number of regional Operations MHCCs. The MHCC project utilises SeaPlanner’s latest enhancements that set out to centralise, standardise,... Read more

Helipaddy forges expansion link with Good Hotel Guide

Helipaddy forges expansion link with Good Hotel Guide

8-Apr-2016Source: Helipaddy

Helipaddy, the world’s largest moderated database of helicopter landing sites and points of interest, is expanding through a new collaboration with the Good Hotel Guide.  This will increase the already-impressive Helipaddy database with helipads at every relevant hotel in the Good Hotel Guide worldwide. The Helipaddy smartphone apps and website are being updated with around... Read more

Northumbria Helicopters becomes tenth UK Guimbal Cabri School

Northumbria Helicopters becomes tenth UK Guimbal Cabri School

6-Apr-2016Source: Cotswold Helicopter Centre

Northumbria Helicopters, based at Newcastle Airport, have become the tenth training school to offer the Guimbal G2 Cabri in the UK.  The company, now Britain’s notherlymost Cabri operator, has taken a helicopter on lease from Cotswold Helicopter Centre.  This will add to the Robinson R44s operated by Northumbria Helicopters, of which they have two at... Read more

Bristow starts flying S92 and EC225 for Petrofac under new flight-share agreement

Bristow starts flying S92 and EC225 for Petrofac under new flight-share agreement

6-Apr-2016Source: Bristow Helicopters

Bristow Helicopters Limited, the market leading helicopter logistics company, has commenced flights for Petrofac in the Central North Sea. The contract, which sees Bristow flying Petrofac passengers to the Central North Sea for the first time, commenced in March and will continue for three years, with two additional one year options. Alan Corbett, Managing Director... Read more

Customer Advantage Plans from Bell to launch in Europe with Heli Charter

Customer Advantage Plans from Bell to launch in Europe with Heli Charter

6-Apr-2016Source: Bell

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company announced today that Heli Charter UK will be its Customer Advantage Plan (CAP) launch customer for the European region – choosing the support solution on their existing Bell 429. The company additionally secured an order for a 407GXP through Heli Charter UK, for a private customer. Heli... Read more

Name for second MD Explorer announced by London Air Ambulance

Name for second MD Explorer announced by London Air Ambulance

6-Apr-2016Source: London Air Ambulance

Four year old Ethan from Hornchurch is one of the lucky winners to name one of our helicopters. The winning name is ‘Rowan’ after his two year old sister. On a visit to our helipad at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel last week, Ethan and his sister got to see the chosen name. The... Read more

UK – Planning approval reversed for Police and Air Ambulance heliport

UK – Planning approval reversed for Police and Air Ambulance heliport

4-Apr-2016Source: HeliHub.com

South Gloucestershire Council has reversed its approval for a new helicopter base in Almondsbury following a legal challenge.  The heliport was planned to serve both the Great Western Air Ambulance and the National Police Air Service, whose helicopters are currently based at Filton Airfield.  Filton, most famous for its role in the development of the... Read more

Protective Packaging Corp helps Bristow inhibit North Sea S92

Protective Packaging Corp helps Bristow inhibit North Sea S92

4-Apr-2016Source: PPC

The downturn in the energy industry has idled millions of dollars of oil and gas equipment worldwide, including the nearly a fifth of the helicopters used to ferry workers and equipment to offshore rigs, according to The Wall Street Journal.  [Other sources give nearer to one third.  Ed] Dallas-based Protective Packaging Corporation recently helped a... Read more

Cornwall Air Ambulance extends HQ with help of banking fines

Cornwall Air Ambulance extends HQ with help of banking fines

4-Apr-2016Source: West Briton

The new fundraising and volunteering building and the new clinical training room will certainly enhance the service that we offer to patients. While the medical team now has a dedicated area in which they concentrate on their studies, they can now accommodate more volunteers who raise vital funds to keep the air ambulance flying.  See... Read more

Bond Offshore Helicopters wins new contract with Premier Oil

Bond Offshore Helicopters wins new contract with Premier Oil

31-Mar-2016Source: Bond

Bond Offshore Helicopters has been awarded a new contract to provide offshore crew transport on behalf of Premier Oil. The three year deal, awarded after a competitive tender, will see the helicopter operator transport thousands of men and women to and from Premier’s offshore platforms in the North Sea. Bond’s helicopters will serve areas including... Read more

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust to replace MD Explorer with AW169

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust to replace MD Explorer with AW169

30-Mar-2016Source: EHAAT

Thanks to the support of the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire, the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) has reached a milestone in its fundraising – enabling the charity to purchase its own helicopter for the first time in its 20 year history. Today (30 March 2016) Rob Forsyth, Chair of Trustees... Read more

Scotland Charity Air Ambulance reports on 1,000th mission

Scotland Charity Air Ambulance reports on 1,000th mission

30-Mar-2016Source: SCAA

A leisurely Easter weekend walk on the slopes of Schiehallion in Highland Perthshire turned into a full scale emergency, prompting the landmark 1,000th rapid response from Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA). The country’s only charity-funded helicopter air ambulance was scrambled from its base at Perth Airport when emergency services received a call to say a... Read more

Initial intake graduates Bond S92 engineering course

Initial intake graduates Bond S92 engineering course

29-Mar-2016Source: Bond

The first class of graduates from Bond’s new Aberdeen-based training programme for helicopter engineers has graduated with flying colours. Bond, a Babcock International Group company,  established its first CAA approved training scheme for licensed helicopter engineers in December and the first class of five students has now graduated. Each is now qualified to sign off... Read more

Bristow UK donates £78K to reopen disabled centre

Bristow UK donates £78K to reopen disabled centre

29-Mar-2016Source: Bristow

Employees from Bristow Helicopters’ Redhill office recently visited The Orpheus Centre, an independent specialist college for disabled young adults, for the official re-opening of Baseline. Baseline is a vital teaching space on the Orpheus campus that was recently refurbished using a generous donation of £78,000 from Bristow. The funding has allowed Orpheus to create a... Read more

Atlas achieves first Helideck Certification Agency accredited course

Atlas achieves first Helideck Certification Agency accredited course

23-Mar-2016Source: Atlas

Market leader in digital learning technologies Atlas Knowledge Group has achieved its first ever course accreditation from one of the helicopter industry’s leading authorities which regulates the safe operation of helidecks and helicopter landing sites. The Helideck Certification Agency (HCA), which works to ensure the safe landing and take-off of helicopters across the world, has... Read more

UK – Manchester Helipad Appeal receives million pound boost

UK – Manchester Helipad Appeal receives million pound boost

22-Mar-2016Source: CMUH

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will receive over £1 million to help pay for the first hospital helipad in the city centre, the Chancellor announced in yesterday’s Budget. The £1.1million will go towards an existing appeal for £3.9m to build the landing pad and infrastructure at the Trust’s central Manchester hospitals site, where... Read more

UK Army helicopter pilots quit in overpayment row

UK Army helicopter pilots quit in overpayment row

21-Mar-2016Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35842588

Fifteen of the Army’s most experienced helicopter pilots quit in a dispute over a demand they repay wages given to them in error, documents have revealed  See full story... Read more

UK Helicopter Industry gets Together to Improve Safety

UK Helicopter Industry gets Together to Improve Safety

20-Mar-2016Source: Starspeed

Over 40 members of the UK onshore helicopter industry got together at the buildings of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), Farnborough on 10th March. Senior members of many of the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) operators and maintenance organisations, along with Airbus Helicopters UK, Finmeccanica UK, and Turbomeca UK all contributed to a busy schedule... Read more

Thames Valley and Hampshire IOW Air Ambulances start night flights

Thames Valley and Hampshire IOW Air Ambulances start night flights

18-Mar-2016Source: TVAC

Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA) and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) have officially started night-time Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) operations across the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) region and the Isle of Wight. TVAA’s Airbus H135 helicopter is flown by highly-trained and experienced Bond pilots operating with the latest-generation of night-vision... Read more

Founder of paramedic profession takes centre stage at EHAAT Clinical Governance Day

Founder of paramedic profession takes centre stage at EHAAT Clinical Governance Day

18-Mar-2016Source: EHAAT

The founder of the first paramedic unit in Europe, Prof. Douglas Chamberlain, spoke to an 85-strong audience of doctors, paramedics, nurses, students and other emergency services personnel at the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust’s monthly Clinical Governance Day held at North Weald Airfield on Tuesday 15 March. Prof. Chamberlain, who has dedicated his career... Read more

Northern Ireland Air Ambulance to launch thanks to £4M of banking fines

Northern Ireland Air Ambulance to launch thanks to £4M of banking fines

18-Mar-2016Source: BBC

In the UK Budget announced this week, Chancellor of the Exchequor George Osborne committed £4 Million from the Government’s banking fine levy to help launch the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance.  See full story  ... Read more

Castle Air buys business jet operator Sovereign

Castle Air buys business jet operator Sovereign

17-Mar-2016Source: HeliHub.com

British helicopter operator Castle Air has recently bought Biggin Hill-based Sovereign Business Jets Ltd from AYR Group.  Castle Air Managing Director Ross Bunyard and Sales Manager Barry Chalmers were appointed as directors of Sovereign on 23rd February. [We note that Chalmers is usually referred to as Sales Director or Commercial Director but official company records... Read more

British International Helicopters to close Redhill base

British International Helicopters to close Redhill base

16-Mar-2016Source: HeliHub.com

HeliHub.com can confirm that British International Helicopters (BIH) are closing their base at Redhill. Staff at the base south of London were informed at the end of February that they were losing their jobs, and we understand that the moving process has already begun. Typical commercial leases in the UK run to “quarter days”, the... Read more

Allianz UK Employees to raise £1million for air ambulance charities

Allianz UK Employees to raise £1million for air ambulance charities

15-Mar-2016Source: AAA

Employees from Allianz UK have set themselves the target of raising over £1million for new charity partner Association of Air Ambulances Charity (AAAC). Launching today, the partnership will initially last three years with each Allianz branch organising fundraising activities at a local level to support their regional air ambulance service. Jon Dye, CEO Allianz UK... Read more

New Date for UK National Air Ambulance Week 2016

New Date for UK National Air Ambulance Week 2016

15-Mar-2016Source: AAA

The Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) is delighted to announce that the new date of National Air Ambulance Week 2016 is Monday 19th to Sunday 25th September. NAAW is an initiative created by the AAA and celebrates the work of local air ambulances, giving them a national voice and an opportunity to promote the work... Read more

New Chairman at Association of Air Ambulances

New Chairman at Association of Air Ambulances

15-Mar-2016Source: AAA

The Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) is delighted to announce that Hanna Sebright was duly appointed as the new Chairman of the Association at their Annual General Meeting held on Monday 7 March 2016. A large gathering of representatives from across the European HEMS sector, attended the AGM which saw former Chairman Bill Sivewright hand... Read more

New £4.5M air ambulance base opened at Glasgow Airport

New £4.5M air ambulance base opened at Glasgow Airport

15-Mar-2016Source: Scottish Ambulance Service

The Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, Shona Robison, formally opened a new, purpose built base for air ambulance and clinical retrieval teams at Glasgow Airport today. The new facility brings Scottish Ambulance Service Air Ambulance helicopter and fixed wing operations from the West into a single location. Scotland’s national specialists retrieval service for critically ill... Read more

New CEO at Elbit Systems UK

New CEO at Elbit Systems UK

15-Mar-2016Source: Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems UK Limited (ESUK), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. (Elbit Systems), announced that Martin Fausset has been appointed as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect as of March 1, 2016. Mr. Fausset will report directly to Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, Elbit Systems’ President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his joining ESUK,... Read more

Cotswold Helicopter Centre delivers fourth Cabri purchased by Helicentre Aviation

Cotswold Helicopter Centre delivers fourth Cabri purchased by Helicentre Aviation

14-Mar-2016Source: Cotswold Helicopter Centre

Cotswold Helicopter Centre has today delivered the 17th Guimbal G2 Cabri for the United Kingdom market, handing over G-DGRE serial 1137 at the factory in southern France. This is the fourth Cabri purchased by Helicentre Aviation, following their initial collaboration with two aircraft leased from Cotswold Helicopter Centre. The new aircraft will fly to the... Read more

Police Scotland renew Bond contract with upgrade

Police Scotland renew Bond contract with upgrade

14-Mar-2016Source: Police Scotland

A new state-of-the-art helicopter will be brought into service for Police Scotland as part of a new seven-year air support contract. Bond Air Services secured the contract with the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland after they were selected as the preferred bidder following a competitive tendering and procurement process. The new helicopter – an... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – March 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – March 2016

10-Mar-2016Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Correction: Agusta Bell 206B (G-SUEX), loss of engine power in a position from which it was not possible to conduct a safe landing, Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, 16 September 2014... Read more

Bristow shares Fair Culture knowledge with Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Bristow shares Fair Culture knowledge with Maritime and Coastguard Agency

9-Mar-2016Source: Bristow

As part of its efforts to introduce Just Culture to its organization, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) invited Bristow’s Europe Caspian Region Head of Safety Steve Harriss to address their project board. The MCA is working towards formally signing up to a Just and Fair Culture program – focusing first on its post-mission review... Read more

UK – Northern General Hospital helipad appeal receives £1M from HELP

UK – Northern General Hospital helipad appeal receives £1M from HELP

9-Mar-2016Source: HELP Appeal

The HELP Appeal – the only charity in the UK dedicated to funding the construction of hospital helipads– has made another huge donation of £50,000 towards Northern General Hospital’s helipad, bringing it ever closer to its final target of £2million. Over the past two years, the HELP Appeal has raised over £1 million – over... Read more

EASA approves Garmin G500H and Genesys HeliSAS autopilot for R66

EASA approves Garmin G500H and Genesys HeliSAS autopilot for R66

6-Mar-2016Source: Heli AIr

EASA has certified the Garmin G500H Avionics Display System and the Genesys Aerosystems HeliSAS autopilot for installation in the Robinson R66. G500H Avionics Display System – improving situational awareness / significantly reducing risk The G500H is a combination of Primary Flight Display and Multifunction Display (PFD/MFD) that provides flight instrument, moving map navigation and situational... Read more

Wales Air Ambulance pays tribute to former chairman as it moves into new HQ

Wales Air Ambulance pays tribute to former chairman as it moves into new HQ

4-Mar-2016Source: Wales Air Ambulance

The name of the founder and chairman of the Wales Air Ambulance Charity will live on among future generations of medics and fundraisers. The lifesaving charity has named the boardroom and training centre at its newly-built headquarters in Dafen after Swansea businessman, the late Bob Palmer, who died in 2013. Mr Palmer’s wife Ann, alongside... Read more

Heliwork Services adds Bell 429 approval in UK

Heliwork Services adds Bell 429 approval in UK

3-Mar-2016Source: Bell

Heliwork Services Ltd, located in the United Kingdom, has added Bell 429 aircraft maintenance capability to their Bell Helicopter Authorized Customer Service Facility. “Authorizing Heliwork Services to perform 429 field maintenance capabilities reinforces our commitment to enhancing the regional support customers need to continue their operations,” said Jakub Hoda, Bell Helicopter’s vice president of Europe.... Read more

Wales Air Ambulance to upgrade from EC135s to H145s in 2017

Wales Air Ambulance to upgrade from EC135s to H145s in 2017

3-Mar-2016Source: Wales Air Ambulance

Wales Air Ambulance will introduce a brand new fleet of custom-made aircraft which will significantly enhance its operations, the charity has announced. Three new helicopters will be launched in January 2017 after a competitive tender process which drew international interest for Wales. Helicopter operator Bond, a Babcock International Group company, secured the winning bid to... Read more

British operator orders first Bell 407GXP in country

British operator orders first Bell 407GXP in country

1-Mar-2016Source: Bell

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)  is delighted to announce that Topflight has selected the Bell 407GXP to carry out sightseeing missions for their customers in the United Kingdom. “We are really looking forward to operating the first 407GXP in the United Kingdom,” said Mark Prior, Top Flight. “The aircraft will be used for corporate... Read more

Airbus H175 reaches 3,000 hours

Airbus H175 reaches 3,000 hours

1-Mar-2016Source: Airbus

After little more than one year of operations, NHV have reached 3,000 flight hours with their H175 fleet, demonstrating the aircraft’s mission capability and reliability in oil and gas offshore transportation. Early February, the first H175 that entered service in December 2014, reached the 1,000 flight-hour milestone. “This milestone was easily achieved thanks to the... Read more

Heli UK Expo 2016 – visiting pilots in line for prizes

Heli UK Expo 2016 – visiting pilots in line for prizes

1-Mar-2016Source: Heli UK Expo

At HELI UK- the UK’s only fly in Helicopter event, pilots will enjoy the pleasure of flying into the event in the comfort of their own aircraft and by doing so the possibility of wining up to three different prizes. The Bose A20 Aviation Headset is engineered to be more comfortable and provide more noise... Read more

Midlands Air Ambulance Night-Approved Landing Sites Go Live

Midlands Air Ambulance Night-Approved Landing Sites Go Live

26-Feb-2016Source: Midlands Air Ambulance

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is a step closer to undertaking air ambulance missions at night, as four night-approved lit helipad sites have now gone live across the region, at Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Bishops Castle and Shobdon. The charity currently operates 14 hours a day, 365 days a year, flying full air ambulance missions in daylight across... Read more

Castle Air picks new cloud software package Total AOC

Castle Air picks new cloud software package Total AOC

23-Feb-2016Source: Total AOC

Helicopter charter and sales business Castle Air has found that cloud-based software from Total AOC is making it easy to audit and manage the business in multiple locations. Castle Air uses Centrik to handle its documents, safety management, risk management, training and administration tasks, with its web-based interface ensuring all processes are robustly documented in... Read more

Cornwall Air Ambulance recruits eight doctors

Cornwall Air Ambulance recruits eight doctors

23-Feb-2016Source: BBC News

Cornwall Air Ambulance says the doctors will assess patients and make sure they are taken to the most appropriate treatment centre. See Full Story... Read more

New chairman at East Anglian Air Ambulance

New chairman at East Anglian Air Ambulance

23-Feb-2016Source: Bury Free Press

TThe East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has announced Major General Sir William Cubitt as its new chairman. See Full Story... Read more

Cotswold Helicopter Centre delivers Cabri to Helicentre Aviation

Cotswold Helicopter Centre delivers Cabri to Helicentre Aviation

22-Feb-2016Source: Cotswold

The 15th Guimbal G2 Cabri for a UK customer has arrived in the UK after a delivery flight from the factory in France.  This aircraft is the third purchased by Helicentre Aviation, who also have two other examples leased from Cotswold Helicopter Centre – the distributor for UK and Ireland. Serial 1131 is the first... Read more

UK – Heli Air prepare to close another base

UK – Heli Air prepare to close another base

22-Feb-2016Source: HeliHub.com

British operator Heli Air is to close their base at Fairoaks on the south-west borders of London at the end of February.  This comes a few months after they also moved out of Silverstone, where they had an office within the boundaries of the racing circuit that hosts the annual Formula 1 British Grand Prix. Brian... Read more

RAF passes 10,000 hours on upgraded Pumas

RAF passes 10,000 hours on upgraded Pumas

22-Feb-2016Source: RAF

Wednesday 17th February marked a significant milestone for the Puma Force as they reached a staggering 10,000 flying hours for the Puma 2. The extensively upgraded helicopter declared Initial Operating Capability in February 2015 and just over three weeks later deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation TORAL; the ongoing NATO training and support mission.... Read more

Legendary pilot Eric Brown dies aged 97

Legendary pilot Eric Brown dies aged 97

22-Feb-2016Source: HeliHub.com

British pilot Eric “Winkle” Brown has died at the age of 97.  A pioneer in every sense of the word, Brown holds the record for having flown 487 different aircraft types, a world record that is unlikely to ever be matched – and only includes basic types (he flew 14 different marks of Spitfire/Seafire, for... Read more

Vector add AS350 capabilities in Scotland

Vector add AS350 capabilities in Scotland

19-Feb-2016Source: Vector

Vector Aerospace (www.vectoraerospace.com), a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, is pleased to announce the introduction of a new dynamic component repair (DCR) capability for the Airbus Helicopters AS350 Ecureuil family at its Almondbank site in Perth, Scotland. The new capability, which was officially opened by Deputy First Minister for... Read more

Silverstone Helicopters awarded prestigious contract by Silverstone Circuits

Silverstone Helicopters awarded prestigious contract by Silverstone Circuits

18-Feb-2016Source: Sloane Helicopters

Silverstone Helicopters, a joint venture between Sloane Helicopters and Fresh Air, has been awarded the contract by Silverstone Circuits to provide aviation services at the Northamptonshire race circuit. In addition to general aviation support at the circuit, Silverstone Helicopters will be providing a full range of flight training, pleasure flying and charter operations throughout 2016... Read more

Outline permission granted for new Wiltshire Air Ambulance HQ

Outline permission granted for new Wiltshire Air Ambulance HQ

17-Feb-2016Source: WAA

AN Outline Planning Application to build a new home for Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) has been granted by Wiltshire Council. The new home, on land at Outmarsh Farm, Semington, near Melksham, will bring together WAA’s helicopter, aircrew and charity team onto one site for the first time. The Outline Planning Application received no objections. The... Read more

Researchers size up helicopter escape potential of North Sea workers

Researchers size up helicopter escape potential of North Sea workers

16-Feb-2016Source: RGU

Charting their body dimensions has also cast valuable light on their ability to escape through a helicopter window. Bigger individuals are less likely to be able to do so than smaller individuals, but the study has shown that size isn’t everything. The new findings from a joint research project into the size and shape of... Read more

FB Heliservices selling three ex-UK military Bell 212s

FB Heliservices selling three ex-UK military Bell 212s

15-Feb-2016Source: HeliHub.com

FB Heliservices have confirmed to HeliHub.com that they are progressing with a sale of three Bell 212 helicopters to an as-yet-unidentified customer.  The helicopters had previously been operated by FBH under contract to the British Army in Kenya, and arrived back to their base at Middle Wallop in the UK in November and December 2015. ... Read more

Army Air Corps praise new Wildcat facilities at RNAS Yeovilton

Army Air Corps praise new Wildcat facilities at RNAS Yeovilton

12-Feb-2016Source: Army Air Corps

The new facilities to provide infrastructure to support the co-location of the army’s Wildcat Attack Helicopter Force at RNAS Yeovilton have been praised. Contract 2, which was completed at the end of last year, delivered technical facilities worth in the region of £14 million to facilitate the re-location of the Army Air Corps from Guttersloh... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – February 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – February 2016

12-Feb-2016Source: 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-DEFY), dynamic rollover, Elstree Aerodrome, Hertfordshire, 25 September 2015 Robinson R22 Beta (G-TIMH), heavy landing, Nottingham Heliport, 13 September 2015 Robinson R66 (G-LROK), dynamic rollover during takeoff, Denham Airfield, Buckinghamshire, 12 September 2015... Read more

First customer AW169 arrived in UK today

First customer AW169 arrived in UK today

11-Feb-2016Source: AgustaWestland

HeliHub.com can reveal that this helicopter landed in the UK for the first time in the last hour – arriving at Redhill aerodrome at 13:57 GMT.  The related press release is below: Finmeccanica, through its Helicopter Division, handed over to Specialist Aviation Services its first AgustaWestland AW169 new generation intermediate class helicopter. The helicopter is... Read more

11-Feb-15 G-OAMI Bell 206B Booker, UK

11-Feb-15 G-OAMI Bell 206B Booker, UK

11-Feb-2016

Date is not confirmed but is between 4th February and 11th when it was transported from Booker (Wycombe Air Park) by road. Substantially damaged in heavy landing with 5 on board.  Industry sources indicate that the tail boom was badly damaged in the autorotation landing.... Read more

Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance AW169 expected today

Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance AW169 expected today

10-Feb-2016Source: Kent Online

A new state-of-the art air ambulance is set to be added to the trust’s fleet. See Full Story... Read more

Helicentre Aviation achieves 5,000 hours landmark with Guimbal Cabri fleet

Helicentre Aviation achieves 5,000 hours landmark with Guimbal Cabri fleet

9-Feb-2016Source: Helicentre

Helicentre Aviation Academy has achieved 5,000 fleet hours with the Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter, a record number of hours flown by a single UK training organisation, and more than 6% of the global Cabri G2 fleet hours, according to statistics from Hélicoptères Guimbal. The French manufactured helicopter was selected to be the company’s flagship training... Read more

UK Guimbal Cabri fleet poised to double in 2016

UK Guimbal Cabri fleet poised to double in 2016

8-Feb-2016Source: Cotswold Helicopter Centre

The United Kingdom is already one of the leading countries for fleets of the two-seat composite Guimbal G2 Cabri helicopter, with 14 delivered to date. In the next five months, a further eight G2s will arrive for customers in the UK, and we are confident for 14 deliveries across the twelve months of 2016 to... Read more

New Director of Sales and Marketing at Sloane Helicopters

New Director of Sales and Marketing at Sloane Helicopters

7-Feb-2016Source: Sloane Helicopters

Sloane Helicopters is delighted to announce that John Parnell has joined the Company as Director of Sales and Marketing. John has had a wide-ranging 17 year aviation career starting as a UK military helicopter pilot, gaining invaluable operational and management experience. More recently, he has held senior executive helicopter sales and leasing positions. John was... Read more

Yorkshire Air Ambulance orders second H145

Yorkshire Air Ambulance orders second H145

4-Feb-2016Source: Yorkshire Air Ambulance

The rapid response emergency service announced the replacement of their oldest MD902 Explorer aircraft, G-SASH in the summer of 2015, however plans for a second Airbus H145 model to replace the other MD902 Explorer G-CEMS have been brought forward. The announcement comes after the YAA Chairman Peter Sunderland and Vice-Chairman Bruce Burns, recently visited the... Read more

Starspeed introduces two new team members

Starspeed introduces two new team members

4-Feb-2016Source: Star Speed

Starspeed is delighted to welcome two new members of staff to the team. David Powell joins as a Line Pilot and Tom Lawlor has joined the Operations Team. David brings 3600 hours of flying to Starspeed and has been a pilot since 1998 when he started flying training with the British Army. He carried out... Read more

Register Update – United Kingdom – January 2016

Register Update – United Kingdom – January 2016

3-Feb-2016Source: 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

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