14-Nov-2024Source: Bell
Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced the completion of a major expansion to its Huntsville Office in Huntsville, Alabama. The expanded facility will enable Bell to provide briefing and conference space for its customers and the company. When Bell initially opened the Huntsville Office in 2018, the team envisioned the state-of-the-art facility... Read more
31-May-2024
U.S. Department of Defense, state and local officials celebrated the opening of the company’s new $18 million engineering facility, labs and demonstration center in Huntsville. The 122,000-square foot facility has space for 500 employees who will advance national security capabilities and drive innovation in North Alabama. “The crucial work being done here by our customers,... Read more
18-Apr-2024Source: HeliHub.com
The US Army has recently listed a historic Sikorsky R-5 on the GSA Auctions website. GSA (in full, General Services Administration) is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The specific helicopter carries a 1951 fiscal year serial of 51-24352,... Read more
16-May-2023Source: Lockheed Martin
This month, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) celebrates 60 years of driving growth and innovation from its Huntsville, Alabama campus. Lockheed Martin is committed to delivering proven results and high performance to support mission readiness for the U.S. Armed Forces and government agencies. The company has been trusted for decades in the Huntsville community, supporting U.S.... Read more
26-Oct-2021Source: Med-Trans
Children’s of Alabama has enhanced its ability to help sick children get the care they need. The hospital’s Critical Care Transport team recently added a new, state-of-the-art helicopter thanks to donations from the Monday Morning Quarterback Club. The helicopter, an Airbus H145, replaces the team’s previous helicopter, which had been in use since 2012. Jason... Read more
21-Oct-2020Source: Astronautics
Astronautics Corporation of America’s AFI4700 RoadRunner Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) was delivered to Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Fire Air Support Unit (ASU) recently when they accepted their first retrofitted Sikorsky HH-60L helicopter from Arista Aviation, located in Enterprise, Alabama. The RoadRunner EFIS is the cornerstone of an upgraded, state-of-the-art avionics package and instrument panel on... Read more
8-Oct-2020Source: Air Methods
Air Methods, the leading air medical service in the U.S., announced that its subsidiary, LifeSaver, has opened a new base in Evergreen, Ala., to provide emergency air medical services to the city and surrounding area. Other Alabama counties that will be served by the base include Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Butler, Wilcox, Monroe, Clarke, Baldwin, and... Read more
25-Dec-2019
A Survival Flight aircraft rolled onto its side on landing, after the pilot, Douglas Davis had an unconfirmed heart attack. There was no patient on-board at the time, the two crew members were uninjured, the pilot was later pronounced dead at the hospital.... Read more
12-Jun-2019Source: Air Methods
Air Methods is announcing it has joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s commercial provider networks. The agreement provides Blue Cross members with in-network access to medically necessary air transport services from Air Methods at agreed-upon rates. It also prevents members from being balance-billed for charges beyond those contracted rates. Blue Cross began offering... Read more
16-Apr-2019Source: HeliHub.com
Fire departments in eastern Alabama are raising concerns after the announcement that Air Methods will no longer be in service at their Rainbow City base. The nearest helicopter is Sylacauga, but fire officials are worried that the chances of a single helicopter being in use already will be high. Air Methods decided to close their... Read more
30-Jan-2019Source: HeliHub.com
All Air Evac bases in Alabama are now certified to have two units of blood and two units of plasma on board EMS flights and can set up an IV of blood in flight. Having started administering blood in flight will give the patient a better chance of survival. They are allowed to give blood... Read more
18-Aug-2017Source: HeliHub.com
Although Wiregrass Life Flight Dothan has been closed for two years due to Air Medical Resource Group, one of their partners, being sold out and shut down. But now it seems that a new service will arise. Now, Dothan’s Pilcher Ambulance Service and Haynes LifeFlight will partner together, hoping to open on September 1st, reports... Read more
6-Jul-2017Source: HeliHub.com
Sikorsky’s Troy facility will soon be laying off roughly 160 employees due to a decline in the production of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. The Seahawk is the primary source of work for the facility and after meeting their customer’s requirements, production has slowed down. They have had to make the decision to let go employees to... Read more
4-May-2017Source: HeliHub.com
$5 million has been awarded to the family of Stacey Cernadas, a flight nurse who was killed in a Haynes LifeFlight helicopter crash in South Alabama. Metro Aviation has not admitted to any wrongdoing, as part of the settlement, reports AL. The crash occurred on 26 March, 2016. Three others that were killed were Pilot... Read more
7-Dec-2016Source: Med-Trans
Med-Trans Corporation, a national air medical transport leader, has based a Bell 407 GPX air ambulance helicopter in Baldwin County, Ala. in partnership with Medstar Emergency Medical Services. Flying with the name Medstar Air Care 1, Medstar EMS provides paramedics for the crews, while Med-Trans provides the helicopter, pilots and nurses. Medstar EMS is owned... Read more
17-Dec-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Shelby County deputies in Alabama will be patrolling from above this holiday season in a newly acquired ex-military surplus Bell TH-67 Creek helicopter. Deputies will be able to observe traffic, watch for suspicious activity, and deter criminal acts using the helicopter which has the same markings displayed on our patrol cars. Two deputies – a... Read more
23-Oct-2015
It was a dream of the Pilcher family for the better part of 50 years. Owners of Pilcher’s Dothan Ambulance Service, the family envisioned air transport to complement their ground service. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did eventually materialize. See full story... Read more
22-Sep-2015Source: Dothan Eagle
The landing of an emergency medical helicopter at Westgate Park Wednesday morning will signal the beginning of a new business venture in Dothan. See Full Story... Read more
4-Sep-2015Source: WSFA
Haynes Life Flight officials say just a year after cutting the ribbon on the company’s first base in the Wetumpka area, it’s expanding. The company announced Tuesday that it’s preparing to introduce a second helicopter and base, this one to service the Troy area. See Full Story... Read more
4-Sep-2015Source: Times Daily
Lauderdale County commissioners are considering a proposal that would provide air ambulance service for county employees and their families as part of their benefits package. See Full Story... Read more
13-Aug-2015Source: The Randolph Leader
Roanoke City Council heard a second presentation on a helicopter service from Brent Wilson, clinical base supervisor of Air Methods Corp., which flies the LifeSaver air ambulance, and Rebecca Lipham, flight nurse out of Carrollton. It was in a public hearing. See Full Story... Read more
3-Aug-2015
The pilot reported that when he was at 300 feet altitude and half a mile out on approach, the hydraulics to the controls went out and they became very stiff. He elected to continue the approach into the landing zone. During the landing touchdown, the heel of the left skid struck a berm, rocking the... Read more
17-Jul-2015Source: The Randolph Leader
The Roanoke City Council heard a presentation from Jason Monday, regional director of Air EVAC Lifeteam Monday in a public hearing, were impressed, and will probably take action in the Jan. 27 council meeting. See full story... Read more
16-Feb-2015Source: Rotor News
Ed DiCampli, HAI’s COO; Harold Summers, director of flight operations & technical services; and Brian Haggerty, deputy director of flight operations & technical services, took part in the biannual Technical Specialists’ Meeting on Airworthiness, Condition Based Maintenance (CBM), and Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) in Huntsville, Alabama, Feb. 9-11. The meeting, sponsored by The... Read more
16-Oct-2014
Main blades contacted tail boom on landing, helicopter destroyed... Read more
19-Aug-2014
Crashed on powerline patrol, killing both on board – 51-year-old pilot Matthew Wallace of Hiram, Georgia and 63-year-old David Carson of Tuscaloosa, Alabama who was employed by Alabama Power.... Read more
7-Aug-2014Source: WSFA
Haynes Ambulance has a new tool to transport patients to the hospital faster. “See Full Story“... Read more
28-Jul-2014Source: Teamsters
The Independent Review Board (IRB) has brought embezzlement charges against Harvey Jackson, the president of Local 1150, which represents Sikorsky Aircraft Teamsters at plants in Connecticut, Alabama, and Florida. The charges and investigative report are available here. Jackson is charged with using the union credit card to buy at least $13,000 worth of electronics for... Read more
7-Jul-2014Source: South East Sun
With only 50 aircraft currently on display, a massive $45M plan has been launched to bring many of the further 160 aircraft out of storage and onto public display. See full story... Read more
25-Jun-2014Source: Air Methods
Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq:AIRM), the global leader in air medical transportation, announced today that it acquired the four bases of Baptist LifeFlight, owned by Baptist Health Care (BHC) of Pensacola, Fla. The change is effective immediately, with continued service to three states along the Gulf Coast, including the Florida panhandle, southern Alabama up to Montgomery,... Read more
26-Mar-2014Source: Metro Aviation
Haynes Ambulance has partnered with Metro Aviation to introduce an air ambulance helicopter to their fleet. Haynes Ambulance, headquartered in Wetumpka, AL, has contracted with Metro for the completion and operation of an AS350. “We are excited to expand our ambulance services to now include air transport. There is certainly a need for an air... Read more
28-Jan-2014Source: Dothan First
Senator Richard Shelby paid a visit to Bell Helicopter as part of his statewide jobs and industry tour – taking a look at the quality of businesses, their products and how they affect the local economies. See full story... Read more
22-Jan-2014Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
Air Evac Lifeteam has made the decision to close its Elmore County air ambulance base in Wetumpka, AL effective today. Company President Seth Myers said low utilization of the service coupled with low reimbursement rates were major factors in the company’s decision to cease operations at the base which has been in service since April... Read more
21-Jan-2014
Landing accident after reported transmission issue. Skids collapsed, main blades chopped tail boom... Read more
29-Sep-2013Source: US Coast Guard
Pilot error was identified as the primary cause of the crash of a Mobile, Alabama-based MH-65 Dolphin helicopter that killed all four crew on board during a training flight over Mobile Bay, Ala., Feb. 28, 2012, according to a final action memo released here, Thursday. A lack of established flight manual procedures for inadvertently entering instrument flight conditions, and... Read more
11-Sep-2013Source: Air Methods
Effective September 3, 2013 Air Methods announced its LifeSaver 1 base in Birmingham, Alabama will no longer be in service. We recognize the storied history (35 years per this article, Ed) and invaluable contributions Life Saver 1 has made to the community for the last three decades and rest assured the decision to cease operations... Read more
10-Jul-2013Source: Dothan Eagle
Dothan Regional Airport officials recently signed a lease with an area helicopter company which will use one of the hangars formerly occupied by Pemco. see full report... Read more
29-Jun-2013
Pilot Milton Hearn (named here) seriously injured trying to land on road trailer in preparation to take helicopter for attention. Helicopter ended up on its side... Read more
11-Jun-2013Source: Brightwater Partners
Brightwater Partners, LLC, is pleased to announce that Billy Mitchell has been appointed as VP of Operations at two of their portfolio companies: OAS Aircraft Support and OAS’ Alabama-based sister company, Alabama Aircraft Support (AAS). Based in Lakeside, Arizona, OAS Aircraft Support was established in 2001 with a primary focus on the support of the... Read more
13-May-2013Source: Alabama Media Group
A helicopter tour and charter business continues to expand in the city with the council’s approval of a second heliport this week. (See Full Story)... Read more
8-May-2013Source: Vector Aerospace
Vector Aerospace today announced the grand opening of its new hangar and office complex which adds 45,000 square feet to its existing Helicopter Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Andalusia. This expansion provides Vector with over 90,000 square feet of operations and support area and will allow Vector to service more than 20 aircraft... Read more
1-May-2013Source: AL.com
MedFlight, the hospital’s air ambulance, is the first helicopter in the state of Alabama to carry blood on every flight (see full report)... Read more
24-Mar-2013
Door separated and struck rotors. FAA quotes this as N571LF which is incorrect as that is a fixed-wing registration [if it is an ..LF registration, then N209LF and N506LF are EC130s based in Alabama]... Read more
1-Mar-2013Source: AL.com
Gulf Shores welcomes second tour operator Corporate Aircraft Solutions, doing business as Oasis Services. (see full story)... Read more
15-Feb-2013Source: HAI
From February 11-13, the American Helicopter Society (AHS) Redstone Chapter, with sponsorship from HAI, hosted a Technical Specialists’ Meeting on Airworthiness, Condition Based Maintenance (CBM), and Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS) at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. HAI staffers Ed DiCampli, Harold Summers, and others from the HAI HUMS research team were instrumental in... Read more
11-Jan-2013Source: AL.com
Announced this week at the Team Apache annual government industry meeting at the Boeing facility in Arlington, Va., the AH-64E will be known as the “Guardian.” (see full story)... Read more
19-Dec-2012Source: AL.com
Jerri Thompson, manager of the Jack Edwards National Airport, informally broached the idea during Monday night’s City Council meeting telling leaders that the Airport Authority is in favor of the new business endeavor but is seeking input from the council before moving ahead. (see full story)... Read more
4-Dec-2012Source: Textron
Textron Systems and Bell Helicopter, Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) companies, announced today the opening of the Textron Systems Integration and Collaboration Lab and Bell Helicopter/AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manned/Unmanned Operations (MUMO) Capability Development Lab. Based at Textron Systems’ Huntsville, Ala., location, these labs combine live data feeds, high-fidelity simulated environments and field equipment to enable rapid... Read more
1-Nov-2012
Two injured in light helicopter accident... Read more
3-Jul-2012Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter continues its U.S. tour of the X3 high-speed hybrid helicopter today in Huntsville, Ala., where the aircraft will perform the first of several flight demonstrations for military leaders and aviators in several locations across the country. The X3 will demonstrate its unique flight characteristics, which include a cruise speed of 200 knots, high rates... Read more
19-Jun-2012Source: Business Council of Alabama
The Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network announced today that 14 Alabama companies have been named as finalists for the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year Awards. The winners will be announced at a luncheon on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at the RSA Activity Center in Montgomery following a keynote presentation by Alabama... Read more
28-May-2012Source: Clanton Advertiser
Chilton County Sheriff Kevin Davis acquired a plane and helicopter for the department to use. Ken Gilliland of B&G Flying Service Inc (which operates out of the Chilton County Airport) was named a reserve deputy, and will pilot and maintain the aircraft (see full story)... Read more
16-Apr-2012Source: HeliHub.com
The Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama is expected to take delivery of a Mil Mi-24 Hind gunship helicopter this week. It is one of two ex-Soviet exhibits due this spring, the other being an Antonov AN-2 Colt fixed wing. See also http://southernmuseumofflight.org/ William P Johnson – HeliHub.com US correspondent... Read more
10-Apr-2012Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter and Textron Systems operating unit AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, both Textron Inc. companies (NYSE: TXT), have teamed to develop a Manned Unmanned Operations (MUMO) Capability Development Laboratory in Huntsville, AL. to enable a software and hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) development test capability using operationally relevant systems specific to manned unmanned teaming. This MUMO Capability Development... Read more
28-Mar-2012
While en route to a medical emergency at Steele, LifeSaver 1 from Birmingham was struck by a goose and landed in the parking lot at Margaret Elementary School. ** NOTE ** Registration is assumed from operator website. Â The FAA repors code “LSV1” which refers to “LifeSaver 1” and recent photos on the LifeSaver 1 facebook... Read more
5-Mar-2012Source: US Army
The top leadership from the Program Executive Office for Aviation, along with project officers for the Project Office for Armed Scout Helicopter’s Kiowa Warrior Product Office, announced Tuesday that three OH-58F Kiowa Warriors will be built at an Army facility in the Huntsville area. Maj. Gen. Tim Crosby, the program executive officer for aviation, and... Read more
1-Mar-2012
Hard landing on training flight... Read more
6-Feb-2012Source: Gadsden Times
LifeSaver’s parent Air Methods has upgraded the helicopter at their Rainbow City base to a Bell 407 (see full story). LifeSaver is part of the Omniflight division.... Read more
30-Jan-2012Source: Troy Messenger
The Troy Sikorsky facility wasn’t immune to economic setbacks as more than 50 employees were laid off from their jobs Thursday. Sikorsky said the cuts came as part of a restructuring plan announced in October and November of last year. (see full story)... Read more
24-Jan-2012Source: HeliHub.com
It sounds a bit like a couple of children playing – “you take me to court and I’ll take you to court in return”, but we’re sure that these two organisations are taking their legal stance very seriously. The current situations are:- In December, Vector took Bell to Alabama Middle Court (case ref 2:11-cv-01071) alleging... Read more
12-Dec-2011
Damaged in hangar prior to being put into service. Fixed wing aircraft manoevred and struck helicopter twice, causing two long scratches, which are reported as “relatively minor” were then covered up using a marker pen. All activity caught on hangar video surveillance. Gadsden Police on the case... Read more
28-Oct-2011Source: Nordic Rotors
A piece of military helicopter history was written this week as the first Swedish UH-60M Black Hawk pilots were graduated at the US Army Aviation Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama. The first four pilots passed their final check-rides on Wednesday, and thereby became the very first Black Hawk pilots in Sweden. A total of 15... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: Harris
Harris Corporation has opened a new office at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. to support the communications and information technology needs of a diverse range of U.S. Army programs.  The Huntsville site is the fourth new Harris office opened in 2011 in direct support of U.S. Army requirements. The other offices are in Texas, Maryland andFlorida. In Huntsville, senior Harris management, employees and... Read more
13-Sep-2011Source: Chronicle
Police are accusing a teenager of trying to steal a medical helicopter shortly after it landed at Citizens Baptist Medical Center. (See full story)... Read more
13-Sep-2011Source: ESCC
“The Alabama Aviation Center in Ozark, a unit of Enterprise State Community College, has formed a partnership with Bell Helicopter-Ozark to develop the Aviation Maintenance Training Program,” says Dr. Nancy Chandler, ESCC president. “This program provides paid, part-time work experiences where AAC students can gain practical skills and knowledge while they complete their Associate in... Read more
12-Sep-2011Source: World Record Helicopter Team
From: The World Record Helicopter Team & USA Academy Of Aviation Inc. French Valley Airport ( F70) Murrieta, Ca. Tel 951-551 6592- 951-600 2883. when: In September 2011. From Where: From Brown Airport, San Diego- to Savannah Hilton Head, GA, and back. Departure Time will be 6 o’clock AM. What is the current record and... Read more
12-Aug-2011Source: WAFF 48 News
Leaders at Redstone Arsenal celebrated the grand opening of the U.S. Army’s Rotary Wings Center. The 127,000 square foot facility is the Army’s primary facility for aircraft that are ready to test. The Aviation Flight Test Directorate is bringing nearly 400 Army and civilian personnel to Huntsville from Fort Rucker, Alabama. (Full story)... Read more
10-Aug-2011Source: FlightSafety
FlightSafety International is pleased to announce that Mitch Alexander has been promoted to Manager of the company’s Learning Center in Daleville, Alabama. “Mitch’s proven leadership experience, in-depth knowledge of training center operations, and commitment to provide our Customers with high quality training programs and services, made him the ideal choice for this important role.†said... Read more
28-Apr-2011
Instructor killed, Dutch student unnijured. Helicopter apparently struck the cable for the Davis Ferry that is strung across the Alabama River... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Randolph Leader
Air Evac is not attached to a specific hospital and is subsidized by the community through membership, which is like a form of insurance. Flights cost approximately $19,000-$20,000 with insurance covering only about half. Patients are asked to set up a payment plan for the remainder of the bill.... Read more
19-Mar-2011
Engine failure in flight, heavy landing, ended up on its side... Read more
2-Mar-2011
Force landed near a parking deck... Read more
