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
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
3-Feb-2016Source: CAA
On behalf of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), CAA International (CAAi) is set to open a brand new EASA Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML) electronic examination centre in Piarco, near Port of Spain. The new e-Exam centre will open onApril7th 2016 and will provide candidates in the Caribbean, Central and South America with... Read more
2-Feb-2016Source: HeliHub.com
NPAS – the UK’s National Police Air Service – have closed two more bases as planned. NPAS Ripley closed, and their EC135 will be the third in the upgrade line at Bond Air Services. The first from that process was displayed at Helitech in October 2015, and the second is currently in progress. NPAS Sheffield... Read more
2-Feb-2016Source: Aberdeen Airport
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP today (Monday 1 February 2016) visited Aberdeen International Airport to unveil details of what will be the single largest investment in the airport since the current terminal opened its doors in 1977. A total of £20 million will be invested in the airport resulting in a 50% increase in the... Read more
1-Feb-2016Source: The Helicopter Museum
A rare “Flying Banana” twin rotor helicopter arrived at the Helicopter Museum this week for restoration and future display as part of its collection.A forerunner of the modern Chinook, the aircraft now at the museum is officially a Piasecki H-21 Workhorse, serial number FR41 and was originally built in Pennsylvania for the French Army Air... Read more
1-Feb-2016Source: Exmouth Journal
Budleigh Salterton Town Council was asked to consider a site in the town for the emergency vehicles to land when it’s dark. See Full Story... Read more
29-Jan-2016Source: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
2016 marks the 25th anniversary of the vitally important emergency pre-hospital service provided by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. Throughout 2016, supported by corporate partner, M6Toll, the charity will be running a series of events and activities to celebrate 25 years of air ambulance operations across the Midlands and the impact the charity has made on... Read more
28-Jan-2016Source: Helicentre Aviation
Helicentre Aviation Academy is pleased to announce the award of a Commercial Helicopter Pilot / Flight Instructor Sponsorship as well as its annual Commercial Helicopter Pilot Scholarship, with a combined value in excess of £100,000. Since the launch of its Scholarships programme in 2012 the Academy has already invested over £250,000 into the training of... Read more
27-Jan-2016Source: HIOWAA
Last year Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) announced its commitment to full night flying capability, a major step for the charity as a leader in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). This week HIOWAA is pleased to announce that their enhanced model H135T3, specially equipped for night flying, has now arrived at the... Read more
25-Jan-2016Source: HeliHub.com
The second MD902 Explorer helicopter for London’s Air Ambulance has taken to the air on Friday 22nd January at Gloucestershire Airport on its first UK test flights with the appropriate registration G-LNDN. The helicopter arrived by road on 9th October in the lime green colour scheme of its previous owners – the Hamad Medical Corporation... Read more
25-Jan-2016Source: Bristow
A new era for the UK’s search and rescue (SAR) helicopter operations began January 1, 2016, when the Newquay and Prestwick SAR bases commenced operations, bringing military involvement to an end. A release issued by HM Coastguard to mark the occasion stated: “All of us at HM Coastguard have enormous respect for the search and... Read more
25-Jan-2016Source: The Helicopter Museum
The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset has entered a £3 million bid with the UK Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), to build new facilities for the collection and its visitors. The museum, which holds the world’s largest line-up of rotary-wing aircraft has set itself a £1 million fund raising target to match-fund a £2 million... Read more
22-Jan-2016Source: HeliOffshore
The offshore helicopter industry’s unrelenting commitment to safety has again been demonstrated with the launch of collaborative research in Aberdeen to further enhance pilot performance in the cockpit. A safety priority across the industry is to optimise the training and tools provided to offshore crews says Gretchen Haskins, chief executive officer of the global offshore... Read more
18-Jan-2016Source: Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
The rise is down to our new helicopter, a Eurocopter 135, which arrived at our base in Filton in October 2014. In 2015 HM65 and her crew attended 1,655 life-saving incidents across Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and parts of Wiltshire. This is an increase of 270 incidents compared to 2014, when we... Read more
17-Jan-2016Source: 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 (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 Enstrom 480 (G-IGHH), wire strike, Aldbury, Hertfordshire, 9... Read more
13-Jan-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Britain’s Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) has marked the completion of its first year operating as a stand-alone service, which has seen a 10.4% increase in missions. The WAA helicopter was called out to 537 incidents between 9th January 2015 and 8th January 2016, up from a total of 486 in calendar year 2014. Prior to... Read more
13-Jan-2016Source: DAAT
A ground-breaking collaboration between Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT) and Plymouth University has resulted in a new Master’s Degree course for Paramedic air crew aimed at making them amongst the highest qualified in the profession. The first module on the MSc Pre-hospital Critical Care/Transport and Retrieval degree started in early September and over a three... Read more
7-Jan-2016Source: LAA
Lord Beaverbrook visited us at our helipad last week in recognition of his support for the charity through the Beaverbrook Foundation. The Foundation, which supports charitable causes both in the UK and overseas, has generously committed to donate £20,000 per year for the next three years to our Institute of Pre-Hospital Care (“The Institute”). The... Read more
7-Jan-2016Source: Swindon Advertiser
There has been an increase in the number of calls-outs by Wiltshire Air Ambulance in the last year following the introduction of a new helicopter.See full story.... Read more
7-Jan-2016Source: Yorkshire
Mr Sunderland, 73, has been a Trustee of the life-saving Charity for over 12 years, with just over 9 of those as its Chairman, and has been responsible for some momentous changes at the YAA in recent years. Mr Sunderland commented “I am overwhelmed to have received this honour from Her Majesty The Queen –... Read more
5-Jan-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Cambridge based Aeromega have recently announced the addition of a Robinson R66 to their fleet. In a blog post, they have said that their customer Marfleet Civil Engineering have just purchased the helicopter and the owners have completed their R66 type ratings. They continue by announcing that Marfleet have agreed that G-RMAR can be added... Read more
5-Jan-2016Source: NHV
NHV, a fast growing international helicopter operator, pursues its development by rolling out its strategic plan to become a sizeable, alternative player. Finally after five years we established our new base in Aberdeen. NHV is proud to announce that two Airbus H175 helicopters will reinforce the Aberdeen’s fleet. Being present in Aberdeen is very important... Read more
4-Jan-2016Source: London's Air Ambulance
We are trialling a brain scanner in the pre-hospital environment, to detect on scene for potentially life-threatening head injuries. The Infrascanner works by detecting blood clots on the brain, allowing for earlier and more accurate diagnosis of potentially life-threatening injuries. Early diagnosis will speed up the patient’s access to any further treatment that they may... Read more
17-Dec-2015Source: Heli UK Expo
The second ‘Heli UK Leaders Round Table’ discussion took place at Sywell Aerodrome on 10th December 2015 The gathering involved Industry experts from the UK Helicopter Industry for a leaders round table discussion. The informal, off the record meeting was facilitated by Heli UK Expo & Avbuyer. The aim of the discussion was to raise... Read more
16-Dec-2015Source: Bond
Bond Offshore Helicopters, part of the Babcock Mission Critical Services business, has launched an entirely new service which will take passengers to offshore Oil and Gas facilities in the Northern North Sea from Aberdeen via new facilities at Sumburgh Airport, Shetland. Following an agreement with LoganAir, Bond now transport hundreds of passengers a week from... Read more
16-Dec-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Bristow Helicopters is all set for the opening of two more UK SAR bases, with the second Sikorsky S92 arriving at Prestwick on Sunday. This means that both Newquay and Prestwick have their compliment of aircraft – two S92s each at the present time – in preparation for live operations. The Sikorsky S92s at Prestwick... Read more
15-Dec-2015Source: U K CAA
Two significant improvements to the way the UK Civil Aviation Authority provides information to the public and its wide and diverse range of stakeholders have been made today with the launch of a new website and industry alerting system. The website provides a range of enhanced, easily accessible information. It is automatically optimised for mobile... Read more
14-Dec-2015Source: Reuters
Italy’s Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI) has not received any offer for the British arm of its helicopter business AgustaWestland and does not plan to sell it anyway, the aerospace and defense group’s chief executive, Mauro Moretti, said on Friday. See Full Story... Read more
14-Dec-2015Source: Gazette
A PROPOSED helicopter base in Almondsbury could have its planning permission quashed following a judicial review brought forward by nearby residents. See Full Story ... Read more
14-Dec-2015Source: Bond
Bond Offshore Helicopters – a Babcock Mission Critical Services business – has launched a new service today that allows sick or injured passengers, including those who can’t wear a lifejacket or survival suit, to be brought back to shore by helicopter. Previously people who were too ill to fly either had to wait offshore until... Read more
11-Dec-2015Source: OffShore Energy Today
Offshore Energy reported Thursday that North Sea helicopter pilots had indicated strong support for strike action if helicopter companies do not make serious improvements in the way they deal with job losses. See Full Story... Read more
10-Dec-2015Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Eurocopter (Deutschland) EC135 T2+ (G-SPAO), crashed in Glasgow City Centre, Scotland, on 29 November 2013... Read more
10-Dec-2015Source: KL.FM 96.7
The East Anglian Air Ambulance is celebrating it’s 15th birthday.See full story.... Read more
10-Dec-2015Source: Myhighplains
Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport extends Bell Helicopter’s lease for three more years with an option to renews that five more times in the future.See full story.... Read more
10-Dec-2015
CHC EC225 made emergency landing following warning light in cockpit. Helicopter was reported as 60 miles out east from Aberdeen to a rig when it turned round and returned to Aberdeen... Read more
8-Dec-2015Source: HeliHub.com
British training school Advance Helicopters have added a Robinson R66 to their fleet recently with a new customer-owned example delivered via Robinson dealer Heli Air. Serial 0631 is registered G-FLOE and in an all-black scheme, and is based with Advance at Shoreham Airport on Britain’s south coast. The R66 joins a varied fleet. Advance operates... Read more
8-Dec-2015Source: Starspeed
The new breed of helicopters coming out of manufacturers stables, are exciting state-of-the-art aircraft. The latest design, technology and engineering providing sleeker, more efficient and comparatively affordable machines; machines that are increasingly sophisticated, having a high level of automation. It’s all excellent news in increasing accessibility to helicopters as a means of transport, however while... Read more
8-Dec-2015Source: Vector
Vector Aerospace (www.vectoraerospace.com), a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, held a recognition ceremony on Friday 4th December to commemorate the last Depth maintenance event to be completed on a UK Armed Forces Lynx helicopter at the company’s Fleetlands site in Gosport. The event, which recognised the site’s 37-year support... Read more
7-Dec-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Boeing has confirmed delivery of the 14th Mk.6 Chinook to the UK’s Royal Air Force, taking its fleet to 60 aircraft. The event also coincided with the 35th anniversary of Chinook operations for the UK. “Since they were introduced into service in 1980, our Chinook fleet has played an integral supporting role for British forces and... Read more
3-Dec-2015Source: HeliHub.com
PDG Helicopters – based in Scotland – has this week started a new seven year contract to support of lighthouses around the coasts of UK and Ireland, the first time this has been flown as a single contract. Up to now there have been three separate contracts for the Corporation of Trinity House (covering England... Read more
3-Dec-2015Source: CAA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today announced that initial pilot training will now be possible in aircraft with national permit to fly certification if the pilot being trained is the owner, or a joint owner, of the aircraft being used. Today’s announcement builds on previous exemptions from the UK Air Navigation Order to... Read more
1-Dec-2015Source: Vector
Vector Aerospace (www.vectoraerospace.com), a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, is pleased to announce that its Fleetlands facility in Gosport, UK, was selected as the ‘Large Manufacturing Company of the Year’ at the 2015 Made in the South East Awards. The awards ceremony, which was held in Guildford on November... Read more
30-Nov-2015Source: TVAA
Thames Valley Air Ambulance has been awarded for the significant impact it has made to the region at the Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards, held in Reading on Thursday 19 November 2015. Winning ‘Charity of the Year’, sponsored by James Cowper Kreston, the Charity demonstrated to the judges outstanding achievement and service to its beneficiaries,... Read more
25-Nov-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) is progressing its plans to move onto a single base from where both helicopter operations and all charity functions can be run. WAA has confirmed they have submitted an Outline Planning Application to Wiltshire Council for its proposals at a 12.6 acre (5.1 hectare) site on land at Outmarsh Farm, Semington,... Read more
25-Nov-2015Source: 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
24-Nov-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Local press has confirmed the arrival of the second Sikorsky S92 at Newquay, ready for the new SAR base to open under the operation of Bristow Helicopters. As the UK SAR provision transitions from a mixture of civil and military over to a single dedicated civil contract, so Bristow is opening up bases over a... Read more
23-Nov-2015Source: Lincs and Notts
Almost 350 guests celebrated the best and brightest from the air ambulance community on Monday night at the National Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence 2015. Award hosts, BBC News presenter Sophie Long and Helicopter Heroes presenter Rav Wilding handed out 11 Awards to outstanding individuals and teams, whose stories were inspirational, astonishing and humbling. The... Read more
23-Nov-2015Source: LAA
Last night we collected two key awards at the Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence 2015. Our life-saving dispatch app, developed in partnership with EE and Mubaloo, won the ‘Innovation’ category and Consultant, Dr Gareth Grier, won ‘Doctor of the Year’. We were also runner up in three other categories. Air ambulances from across the UK... Read more
20-Nov-2015Source: Lincs And Notts
A new Chief Executive Officer will soon be leading the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust. Karen Jobling will soon take over the helm of our Charity. Our long serving CEO, Peter Aldrick, who has overseen the successful expansion and development of the life-saving service during the past 16 years, will retire in mid-January... Read more
18-Nov-2015Source: FlightSafety
FlightSafety announces that it now offers a new comprehensive Search and Rescue training course for pilots who fly the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. It is available at FlightSafety’s Learning Centers in West Palm Beach, Florida and at the Farnborough airport in the United Kingdom. “Pilots who fly the Sikorsky S-92 will benefit from FlightSafety’s new scenario-based,... Read more
18-Nov-2015Source: Airbus
Airbus Helicopters, the UK’s leading turbine helicopter company, has received funding from the Department for Business Innovations and Skills (BIS) for two separate projects: one supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the other through Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI). These projects, the first time Airbus Helicopters has participated in UK Government-led industrial... Read more
18-Nov-2015Source: Erickson
It was not just Konecranes engineering expertise that came under the spotlight recently, but also its logistical capabilities. And it all centred on the world’s leading lifting equipment manufacturer transporting an under-running double girder crane spanning 36 metres from its crane-manufacturing site in East Kilbride to Aberdeen Airport. Once onsite, the two tonne capacity crane... Read more
16-Nov-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Aviation Specialties Unlimited and UK operator Specialist Aviation Services have obtained UK CAA approval for the use of White Phosphor night vision goggles on the MD Explorer. ASU president Jim Winkel says this is the first UK CAA approval for the use of White Phosphor NVGs. ASU expects demand to increase as more UK operators... Read more
16-Nov-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Bond Offshore Helicopters has reduced its fleet at its Blackpool base, but continues to maintain operations supporting offshore rigs in the Irish Sea. Initially launched with a fleet of four N3 Dauphins, the base at Blackpool serves gas rigs between the English coast and the Isle of Man – an area often known as Morecambe... Read more
12-Nov-2015Source: Kent Online
Nearly 100 people have attended an exhibition showing plans for a new air ambulance base in Paddock Wood. See full story.... Read more
11-Nov-2015Source: CAA
Significant progress continues to be made to make regulation of the UK’s General Aviation (GA) sector more proportionate and evidence-based, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said today. In the sixth regular update to confirm its work in the area the CAA said that in the last 60 days it had: Helped balloon and glider... Read more
6-Nov-2015Source: Bristow
The first of two state of the art Sikorsky S-92 search and rescue helicopters has arrived at the new HM Coastguard base at Prestwick Airport, ready to begin operations in January 2016. The aircraft and the base are operated by Bristow Helicopters Ltd on behalf of HM Coastguard after the company was awarded the ten... Read more
6-Nov-2015Source: HELP Appeal
The HELP Appeal – the only charity in the country dedicated to delivering helicopter landing pads at all Major Trauma Centers and key A&E hospitals across England and Scotland – has pledged £1 million to Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) Charity’s new helipad appeal. A huge kick start to its fundraising campaign,... Read more
5-Nov-2015Source: CAA
The Minister of Investments and Development (MID) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Asset Issekeshev has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CAA International (CAAi), the State-to-State advisory arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA). Witnessed by British Prime Minister, David Cameron and Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, the MoU supports future collaboration... Read more
5-Nov-2015Source: Petrofac
Petrofac, Faroe Petroleum and Eni Hewett have established an innovative cost saving partnership to drive efficiencies and commercial synergies across their UK operations in the Southern North Sea. The tripartite agreement sees collaboration between Petrofac (Duty Holder) and the respective equity owners and operators of the Hewett, Schooner and Ketch gas fields to share logistics... Read more
5-Nov-2015Source: Devon & Cornwall Police,
Police are to embark on a six-month trial of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones, in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset to aid officers in a number of policing matters including missing people searches and crime scene photography. Starting on the 2nd of November, police in Devon and Cornwall will be able to... Read more
5-Nov-2015Source: Energy Voice
Apprentices are the latest group to be affected by Bristow’s job cuts. See Full Story... Read more
29-Oct-2015Source: CAA
A helicopter pilot who illegally entered controlled airspace, causing disruption to flights at London Heathrow Airport, has been successfully prosecuted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Christopher Kiley was flying from Wycombe Air Park to Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire, when he entered the London Control Zone, without air traffic control clearance, just after 1pm on 30 April,... Read more
29-Oct-2015Source: QinetiQ
QinetiQ has signed a £5.2m contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to independently evaluate Boeing’s Digital Automatic Flight Control System upgrades to the Chinook helicopter. As Boeing conducts a series of upgrades to the aircraft, QinetiQ will provide independent technical evaluation and advice to the MOD Chinook Project Team. QinetiQ will work with... Read more
27-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com was the first media outlet to confirm that Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance were going to update from their Bo105 to the larger EC135 helicopter, in our article on 22nd September, the day after the EC135 was registered by the Civil Aviation Authority as G-SCAA. What we can now reveal is the colour scheme of... Read more
27-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
The new Airbus Helicopters H135 G-HIOW was delivered to Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance at Thruxton on Saturday 24th October, and is currently working alongside the previous EC135T2 G-KRNW – which in turn is better known for the time it spent in Cornwall. G-HIOW is seen photographed here (and © Copyright 2015) by Keith C... Read more
27-Oct-2015Source: Chinooks
The first Chinook helicopters and around 150 personnel moved to RAF Benson on Wednesday as the Chinook Operational Conversion Flight joined their Puma colleagues. The Chinook Operational Conversion Flight, which will eventually see 6 Chinook aircraft based at RAF Benson, joined the Puma Operational Conversion Flight to form the combined Puma and Chinook Operational Conversion... Read more
27-Oct-2015Source: Herts Air Ambulance
Christmas shoppers in Ware will be in for a treat from early December as Herts Air Ambulance opens the doors to its first Charity Shop, just in time for Christmas. The Charity Shop located at 3, High Street in Ware, will be a huge boost to the Charity – helping to ensure its life-saving helicopters... Read more
27-Oct-2015Source: Royal Navy
The Royal Navy achieved an historic milestone when HMS Lancaster’s Wildcat helicopter became the first rotary-wing aircraft to land at the island of St Helena’s new airport. Sitting 1,200 miles off the coast of African and 1,800 miles from South America, St Helena is one of the most remote islands in the world – but... Read more
26-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
We are hearing more and more that Bond will change its name to bring it in line with parent company Babcock. The onshore element Bond Air Services, along with Bond Offshore Helicopters, were both represented under the Babcock name at the recent Helitech International event in London, and Bond staff told us there that they... Read more
26-Oct-2015Source: UK fundraising
The Children’s Air Ambulance has launched a campaign to recruit regular donors to the charity using DRTV, its first use of TV. See Full Story... Read more
26-Oct-2015Source: Great Western
The GWAAC helicopter is celebrating one year of saving lives across Bristol, Bath, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and parts of Wiltshire. Our Eurocopter 135, callsign Helimed 65, arrived at our Filton base on 16th October 2014. To celebrate her first birthday we’re going to have a party! We’re planning to surprise our crew on... Read more
23-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Previously unannounced by AgustaWestland, it would appear that the Royal Air Force in the UK are soon to receive an AW109SP GrandNew. In a sneak photo here, we can see the full standard 32 Squadron colour scheme including RAF roundels, the British flag on the tail and the squadron crest just below the cabin windows.... Read more
22-Oct-2015Source: Bristow
The first of two state-of-the-art Sikorsky S-92 search and rescue helicopters has arrived at the new HM Coastguard base at Newquay Airport, ready to begin operations in January 2016. The aircraft and the base are operated by Bristow Helicopters Ltd on behalf of HM Coastguard after the company was awarded the ten year UK SAR... Read more
