4-Jul-2013Source: HeliHub.com
The 20th Sikorsky S92 is expected to arrive at Aberdeen today or tomorrow for Bristow Helicopters as G-CHYG, having been freighted in to Prestwick Airport on an Antonov An124 yesterday. This will bring the Bristow UK fleet of the type to sixteen – four of the UK deliveries having been transferred onwards to Bristow’s Nigerian... Read more
3-Jul-2013Source: Phoenix Helicopters
The formula one championship came to Silverstone last weekend to a sell out British crowd. The Silverstone grand prix is one of the most popular rounds on the F1 calendar and is famous for its helicopter activity. Phoenix Helicopters have always had a busy weekend when the British GP comes around but this year was... Read more
3-Jul-2013Source: Oxford Airport
London Oxford Airport saw one of its busiest weekends so far this year as glorious sunshine ushered in the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The airport welcomed well over 300 movements, including 50 business jet flights on the Sunday, its highest peak so far this year. During the weekend it sold nearly 100,000 litres of... Read more
3-Jul-2013Source: BBC
Great Western Air Ambulance said its current helicopter is too old to land at the £500,000 helipad being built at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. see full story... Read more
3-Jul-2013Source: Essex & Herts Air Ambulance
On Wednesday 19th June 2013, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) hosted the 4th Aeromedical Conference at Ford Dunton, near Basildon in Essex, the largest automotive technical centre in the UK, which houses the main design team of Ford of Europe. The aim of this free conference was to give like-minded professionals the opportunity... Read more
2-Jul-2013Source: CIT
CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), a global leader in transportation finance, today announced that CIT Transportation Lending provided financing to Dublin-based Lease Corporation International (LCI) to acquire three AgustaWestland 139 helicopters. The aircraft are in offshore oil and gas configuration and are on lease to UK-based Bond Helicopters and Malaysia-based Weststar Aviation. CIT Transportation Lending... Read more
1-Jul-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Bristow Helicopters today restarts providing the SAR service from Stornoway in the UK’s Hebredies Islands a month after restarting at Sumburgh. Bristow was the original holder of this contract from 1993, before CHC won it in 2007. Over the last few years huge efforts have been put in to a new nationwide SAR contract with... Read more
1-Jul-2013Source: Telegraph & Argus
A Keighley firm has helped Multiflight overhaul its security operation, meaning high-profile visitors can continue using their base at Leeds-Bradford Airport see full story... Read more
28-Jun-2013Source: Helicentre Aviation
Helicentre Aviation have completed their first CPL(H) course on the Cabri G2. Captain Robert Foster passed his CPL(H) skill test on Monday and will shortly start working for the company as commercial helicopter pilot. The Cabri G2, which joined the fleet last September has been a great success flying over 600 hours, despite the winter’s... Read more
28-Jun-2013Source: US Air Force
The 352nd Special Operations Group resurrected a key capability when two CV-22B Ospreys touched down June 24 here. The Ospreys are the first of 10 slated to arrive as part of the 352nd SOG expansion, which will last through the end of 2014. The CV-22 fills part of the role previously accomplished by the MH-53... Read more
28-Jun-2013Source: Plymouth Herald
Patriot Aerospace, the main aviation company within the Rigby Group plc, has had outline discussions with airport leaseholder the Sutton Harbour Group to reopen Plymouth Airport as a Heliport. Patriot have a particular interest given they own British International who hold the Royal Navy FOST (Flag Officer Sea Training) contract operating two Dauphins see full story... Read more
27-Jun-2013Source: The Telegraph
Balfour Beatty has sold its 60% stake in Exeter International Airport to Patriot Aerospace after expectations of passenger growth were dashed by the UK’s recession and weak recovery. Patriot also owns Coventry Airport, British International and London Helicopter Centres. see full story... Read more
27-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
22 months after Sterling Helicopters went into liquidation, auction house Edward Symmons has put their two Eurocopter Bo105s up for auction. The pair are G-BFYA 1997-build with 8957 hours and airworthiness expired 25-May-09 G-EYNL 1979-build with 11,498 hours and airwothiness expired 10-Dec-11 We are not aware of the reason why it has taken so long... Read more
26-Jun-2013Source: Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Guests gathered at Filton airfield yesterday to celebrate the work of the Western Counties Air Operations Unit (WCAOU). WCAOU is a consortium comprising of Avon and Somerset and Gloucestershire Constabularies; delivering police air support to their respective communities. WCAOU will disband on 3rd July 2013 when it joins the National Police Air Service (NPAS). This... Read more
26-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
National Grid, the British-based infrastructure company, has for some years owned and operated helicopters in their own right and not leased in this specialist skill. This began back in 1985 with the purchase of a new Eurocopter AS355F1 Twin Squirrel and has developed with later versions of the AS355. More recently, National Grid decided to... Read more
26-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Eurocopter has issued a statement to HeliHub.com after we requested further information on the accident on 19th June of G-ECUK, a very recently delivered AS350B3e helicopter. The statement says this – “Regarding the accident that occurred on June 19 near Oxford in the UK with an AS350 B3e, Eurocopter is, at this stage, not able... Read more
25-Jun-2013Source: KSS Air Ambulance
Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance has announced the arrival of its new helicopter. The newer version of the MD902 Explorer aircraft will replace the charity’s existing helicopter based at Redhill ready for night flying in late summer. In preparation for the 24-hour operation, the charity’s specialist doctor and paramedic crew have already begun to... Read more
24-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Heli Air are moving into Scotland with the purchase of Scotia Helicopters at Cumbernauld under the title “Heli Air Scotland”. Heli Air have been working with Scotia owner John Pearson for two years to reach agreement according to an article in The Herald which says that they were advised by Kytra Consulting. Headlining the new business as... Read more
24-Jun-2013Source: Offshore Energy Today
CHC will operate an AW139 out of Humberside Airport from November 2013, to support Centrica’s offshore activities, including the York and Rough platforms, as the operator relocates all flight operations from Yarmouth. – see full story... Read more
23-Jun-2013Source: Helicentre Aviation
Helicentre Aviation is delighted to announce the winners of the 2013 Professional Helicopter Pilot Scholarships following a selection process involving several weeks of interviews and presentations in front of a scholarship committee. The Commercial Pilot Scholarship has been awarded to Pierre Neyses from Germany, and the Flight Instructor Scholarship to Morgan Whiting from Leicestershire. “The... Read more
21-Jun-2013Source: Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Yorkshire’s helicopter heroes have airlifted their 5,000th patient. The landmark mission by Yorkshire Air Ambulance saw badly injured musician Chris Parr airlifted to hospital after a head-on road accident. Chris, a drummer with Huddersfield band State of Confusion, suffered broken ribs, a fractured breast bone and a fractured knee in the two-car smash at Marsden, near Huddersfield.... Read more
20-Jun-2013Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Starspeed Ltd. of the UK has signed a preliminary sales contract for a second AW169 light intermediate helicopter. The helicopter will be used to perform VIP transport missions in the United Kingdom. The order underlines the growing success of the AW169 in the UK and worldwide... Read more
19-Jun-2013Source: RAF
Squadron Leader Toby Sawbridge has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2013 for his services both to the Merlin Force and the wider community. Toby, a Merlin helicopter pilot who is currently the Second in Command of 28 (Army Co-operation) Squadron at RAF Benson, has been honoured for outstanding contribution to... Read more
19-Jun-2013
Multiple sources tell us that this AS350B3e crashed and written off at 7.39pm after reported tail rotor issues. This helicopter was delivered new to the owner less than two months ago.... Read more
18-Jun-2013Source: Assoc of Air Ambulances
On the 11th June 2013 Lord Howe, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Department for Health, while giving a speech to a reception held by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Air Ambulances (APPGAA), made reassurances,that the thousands of pounds wasted through the application of VAT on aviation fuel was being taken seriously and a potential solution was... Read more
18-Jun-2013Source: Sikorsky
Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced today the signing of an agreement with Vector Aerospace that appoints Vector’s United Kingdom facilities as authorized Customer Service Centres (CSC) to support Sikorsky S-76® helicopters. Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) is the aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). “Vector Aerospace is recognized in the... Read more
17-Jun-2013Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
The East Anglian Air Ambulance is delighted with today’s news that our Chairman Mr Andrew Egerton-Smith has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Andrew has been a driving force in the development, progress and innovation of the East Anglian Air Ambulance since its formation in 2000. It is his determination to provide an... Read more
15-Jun-2013Source: Scilly Today
MP Andrew George says he’s been told that the landing and helicopter service facilities are not up to standard. see full story... Read more
14-Jun-2013Source: Gama Engineering
Gama Group, the global business aviation services provider, announced today that Fairoaks, UK based Gama Engineering Ltd has established its helicopter maintenance facility as the first choice service centre for Sikorsky S.76 operators. Harry Lees, Gama Engineering’s Managing Director gave the inaugural Helicopter Maintenance presentation at ROC2013, (the first Rotary Operators Conference held yesterday at... Read more
14-Jun-2013Source: Echo-News
BASILDON Hospital bosses were unaware the controversial Dry Street housing development would lead to the loss of a landing base for the Essex Air Ambulance. (See Full Story)... Read more
13-Jun-2013Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
A series of programmes filmed in the regional major trauma centre (MTC) at Addenbrooke’s hospital, begins on BBC 1 on 13 June. The series follows the complete journey of people who have suffered life threatening injuries, from the accident scene, through emergency treatment to recovery. Film crews were embedded in emergency teams including air ambulances,... Read more
13-Jun-2013Source: Helitech International
Building upon the resounding success of the conference held back in September 2011, Helitech International (formally Helitech) has firmly laid down its intentions and commitment to create a truly international rotorcraft event by addressing key issues during its three day conference. Taking place at ExCeL, London between 24 – 26 September, the conference will run alongside... Read more
13-Jun-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
11-Jun-2013Source: SaxonAir
Private air charter operator, SaxonAir Charter Ltd has chosen AeroTrac™ Aviation MRO Process Control software from TracWare Ltd to complement their Continuing Airworthiness Management functions and future Part-145 maintenance activities. Saxon Air’s primary criteria for choosing AeroTrac™ was the savings to be made in both cost and time by streamlining the technical, logistical, commercial and... Read more
11-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
The UK’s first Bell 429 arrived quietly into the UK in late May, and is being worked on by Bell’s UK representatives, Heli-Charter at Manston before it takes up its’ local registration G-RIDB. Last December Bell announced that National Grid had ordered a 429 for delivery in the first quarter of 2013, hardly a story... Read more
7-Jun-2013Source: Eurocopter UK
Eurocopter UK’s role in maintaining the United Kingdom’s military helicopter capabilities has been further expanded with the award of a three-year support contract for the fleet of 24 Royal Air Force Puma Mk2 helicopters being upgraded by the company to extend their life, enhance performance, mission capability and operational safety. The contract – valued at... Read more
7-Jun-2013Source: The Northern Echo
THE Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) has launched a new website to encourage supporters to share fundraising exploits. (See Full Stories)... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
UK Distributor for the Guimbal Cabri, Cotswold Helicopter Centre, has told HeliHub.com that the fifth, sixth and seventh Cabris are now on order for UK customers. With the third example delivered in recent days, this shows that the market for the composite-construction French design is growing fast. Back in February we announced that the fourth Cabri will... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: Press & Journal
Eurocopter has an uphill PR battle ahead of them – nearly nine out of 10 offshore workers have lost confidence in the model of helicopter involved in two North Sea ditchings last year. (see full story) NOTE other reports are sceptical of this article, saying the word ‘fear’ did not appear in the survey... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: BBC
A £7m hangar will be built at Newquay Airport in Cornwall by the firm behind the country’s new air search and rescue service (SAR). (See Full Story)... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: Lancashire Telegraph
THE chief executive of the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has left his post in unexplained circumstances. (See Full Story)... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: Gazette Series
The 25-square metre aluminium deck will sit four metres above the existing roof level of the hospital’s Queen’s Building and connect to the new ward block via a steel ramp leading to a new lift lobby. (See Full Story)... Read more
5-Jun-2013Source: CAA
The introduction of the new European regulations for pilot licensing has resulted in a significant amount of change for UK pilots in the past year and has also impacted the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) systems and processes. The result has been pilots and other stakeholders not receiving the level of service that we would hope... Read more
5-Jun-2013Source: Royal Air Force
The RAF’s Merlin helicopter fleet has finished operations in Afghanistan after providing nearly 4 years of continuous front line support. The Merlins have flown more than 18,000 hours in the dust and heat of Helmand – moving more than 7,900 tonnes of kit and stores and transporting over 130,000 personnel during that time. The Merlin... Read more
5-Jun-2013
Scottish Air Ambulance EC135 ferrying a sick patient from a remote island to a mainland hospital was forced to divert to an airport after the pilot spotted doctors having a barbecue near the helipad. (see full story)... Read more
4-Jun-2013Source: Signature Flight Support
Signature Flight Support announces it has recommenced handling of all helicopter traffic into London Gatwick Airport, coinciding with the reopening of the helicopter aiming point (HAP) by the airport in May 2013. The opening of the HAP will enable commercial and business aviation operators to once again land helicopters at Gatwick without having to request... Read more
4-Jun-2013Source: Ex-Im Bank
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is providing a $187.4 million guarantee of a capital-markets bond to finance the export of Sikorsky S-92® helicopters to The Milestone Aviation Group Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland. The transaction is Ex-Im Bank’s largest financing of U.S.-manufactured commercial helicopter exports and the agency’s first support of these... Read more
4-Jun-2013Source: Newcastle International Airport
A brand new £1million, state-of-the-art, offshore training centre was unveiled today at Newcastle International Airport, which will see up to 6,000 offshore workers trained every year in emergency fire fighting. The world-class facility has been developed by Offshore Training Newcastle (OTN) – a unique partnership of three of the North East’s leading training organisations: AIS,... Read more
3-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Bristow Helicopters has restarted providing the SAR service from Sumburgh Airport in the UK’s Shetland Islands from Saturday 1st June. Bristow was the original holder of this contract from 1993, before CHC won it in 2007. Over the last few years huge efforts have been put in to a new nationwide SAR contract with the... Read more
3-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
The third Guimbal Cabri imported to the UK – and the first for a private owner – arrived on Friday after a delivery flight from the factory at Aix en Provence in France. Following inspection by the UK CAA due this Wednesday, and its subsequent issue of a UK Certificate of Airworthiness, the helicopter will... Read more
31-May-2013Source: The Air Ambulance Service
The Air Ambulance Service’s paramedics will now be able to administer even more advanced care when they’re out and about at accidents and emergencies across the county. The Air Ambulance Service runs two Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS); Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance. Combined the two services attend... Read more
30-May-2013Source: Heli UK Expo
Attend a special presentation about this new event during AeroExpo UK on Friday 31st May or Saturday 1st June at 11:00am in the Club Room within the Aviator Hotel. Should you like to talk us any other time during the event you can call Astrid + 44 (0) 7557 381 064 or Alex + 44... Read more
29-May-2013Source: The Herald Scotland
Four hero pilots who saved the lives of 29 oil workers after two helicopter ditchings off the coast of Scotland have been shortlisted for a prestigious flying award. (See Full Story)... Read more
28-May-2013Source: CHC
CHC Helicopter, the world’s largest helicopter services company, has launched an advanced engineering apprenticeship scheme to foster the next generation of engineering talent. CHC has joined forces with Resource Group’s Part 147 approved training organisation, LRTT, to develop the apprenticeship programme which will see 35 young people expected to join CHC’s UK and Dutch operations... Read more
28-May-2013Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
More lives will be saved across the eastern region now that a dedicated air ambulance has made history and been granted permission to fly helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) missions at night. Following 18 months of demanding hard work from the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) and its aircraft operator Bond Air Services, the Charity... Read more
23-May-2013Source: BBC News
Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) is based at Perth Airport and will supplement the work of the Scottish Ambulance Service. (See Full Story)... Read more
23-May-2013
Precautionary landing after technical issue with VVIPs on board -Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall... Read more
22-May-2013Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce the sale of the fourth AW139 intermediate twin helicopter for corporate transport in the UK & Ireland. This latest sale continues the success of the AW139 in the UK & Ireland corporate helicopter market in the last two years. The helicopter will be delivered in 2014 to... Read more
21-May-2013Source: UK MoD
The 100-pound (45kg) Hellfire precision missile is Apache’s primary weapon. Used by crews in Afghanistan, it also proved itself repeatedly during the Libya campaign when Apaches flew from the deck of HMS Ocean against Colonel Gaddafi’s forces. Its successful use in Afghanistan and in training has reduced UK stocks of the missiles, which is why... Read more
20-May-2013Source: HeliHub.com
British operator Castle Air is in the process of opening a second base at Biggin Hill Airport on the south-east outskirts of London. Given their current location at Liskeard in Cornwall is 250 miles away from the country’s capital, and very much in one corner of the island, the location would appear a logical one... Read more
16-May-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Bristow Helicopters have now completed their three month training period with their new SAR Sikorsky S92s. Accordingly the three newly delivered helicopters have now been moved from Inverness to Sumburgh ready for the start of operations on 1st June 2013. The “Gap SAR” contract, an interim period until Bristow’s nationwide SAR contract comes into force... Read more
15-May-2013Source: London’s Air Ambulance
FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America is providing our charity, with £100k worth of support over four years. Last month one of FirstGroup’s brand new hybrid buses, which is one of 23 which has just entered service in Essex, went head to head with our aircraft at RAF Northolt to... Read more
15-May-2013Source: Scunthorpe Telegraph
Residents interested in the proposed development of a new Search And Rescue (SAR) helicopter base at Humberside Airport are being invited to find out more about the plans at a drop-in community exhibition. (See Full Story)... Read more
14-May-2013Source: Offshore Energy Today
The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA), with assistance from the Civil Aviation Authority, carried out an audit of Ekofisk 2/4-L facility on 4 – 5 April 2013. (See Full Story)... Read more
13-May-2013Source: Patriot Aerospace
Patriot Aerospace has acquired the interests of British International Helicopter Services (BIH), making the aviation group the UK’s largest domestically owned helicopter operator. The deal will see Sir Peter Rigby’s aviation company take over BIH’s military support contracts in the UK and overseas. Representing a significant move towards realising the group’s plan to create a... Read more
10-May-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is in a state of flux at present with a combination of issues all happening at the same time. Their older MD Explorer G-SASH went in for its annual in mid March, and needs a new flexbeam in the rotor system to make it airworthy again. However, MD Helicopters have told... Read more
10-May-2013Source: Multiflight
A Dauphin AS365N2 helicopter air ambulance owned and operated by Multiflight is currently providing vital cover for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) service. The helicopter is being used as a replacement aircraft whilst one of the two YAA MD902 Explorers is having its planned mandatory annual service. “Multiflight is pleased to be able to offer... Read more
9-May-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 Applied Drilling Technology International (ADTI). The new contract, worth approximately £14m, is to provide crew-change flights for the well management specialist. Services are due to begin early... Read more
9-May-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
9-May-2013Source: CAA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today announced that Mike Barnard has been appointed as General Aviation (GA) Programme Manager. Mike’s main role will be leading a programme to develop and implement policy on how the CAA regulates the GA sector in the future to ensure it is safe and the regulation is proportionate. Building... Read more
7-May-2013Source: Shropshire Star
A businessman who was left clinging to life in the wreckage of a horror helicopter crash in Shropshire has shown his gratitude to the air ambulance service that saved him. (See Full Story)... Read more
3-May-2013Source: HeliHub.com
The BHA have told us that their current Chairman Brian Humphries CBE, FRAeS is to retire on 1st June. He will be succeeded by Sir Christopher Coville KCB BA FCIPD FRAeS RAF. Sir Christopher served in the RAF as a fighter pilot, qualified on the Gazelle and Whirlwind and was a past Chairman of Westland... Read more
3-May-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Devon & Cornwall Police’s air support unit have joined Twitter and can be found @DCP_Helicopter. However, this move may be short-lived as the gradual nationalisation of law enforcement aviation across England and Wales under the “NPAS” (National Police Air Service) banner has seen various units adopt new Twitter identities involving the NPAS name. Time will... Read more
3-May-2013Source: RAF
The captain for 2013 will be Flight Lieutenant Paul Farmer. This will be his second year with the Display Team. This year’s Co-Pilot is Flight Lieutenant Gareth Allen, the Display Manager Flight Lieutenant Kyle Thomas and the Rear Crew are Sergeants Andy Caldwell and Steve Jones. The season this year will be made all the... Read more
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