30-May-2011Source: CALSTAR
The BO105LS helicopter at the CALSTAR base in South Lake Tahoe has been installed with a $230,000 Super Lifter Kit, giving it enhanced aerodynamic performance, more speed, more efficiency and less vibration while in flight. For the few pilots who have had the opportunity to fly it, the BO105LS helicopter at the CALSTAR base in... Read more
29-May-2011
KCRA hired Shively in 1972 as a producer, but he began flying the traffic plane for its radio station two months after he arrived. Shively had received his license “on a lark,” and the station needed a new pilot. In 1979, KCRA bought the first news helicopter in Northern California, calling it LiveCopter 3... Read more
29-May-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Boeing has sent 60-day layoff notices to 21 workers at its plant in Irvine, a spokesman confirmed last Thursday. These are the first of up to 160 jobs moving to Mesa, Arizona this year as the facilty closes in Irvine. The company announced in August 2010 that they would be making this move due to... Read more
27-May-2011
Flight plan for the overdue helicopter had it going the 30 miles from Hayfork to Weaverville and then back to Hayfork Friday. Search crews found the helicopter’s wreckage and pilot’s body in a remote area around 3:15 p.m. Student pilot later named as registered owner Mor Applebaum.... Read more
26-May-2011Source: Modesto Bee
After being grounded for more than a year, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Air Support Unit will go back on patrol this weekend. Now it will be back in the air during peak hours Thursday through Saturday, thanks to funding from the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency... Read more
23-May-2011Source: Imperial Beach Patch
Imperial Beach residents met with U.S. Navy representatives, meeting first at a community center before moving to the corner of Iris Avenue and Fifth Street.  The meeting was held to discuss helicopter noise and its impact on neighborhoods adjacent to the Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach.... Read more
18-May-2011
The training flights by Sonoma Helicopter have prompted threats of a lawsuit from a group of residents demanding that Healdsburg City Hall halt the flights at the small, city-owned airport off rural Lytton Springs Road. Somona’s website indicate they operate R22 and R44 helicopters. File photo... Read more
18-May-2011
A police helicopter made an emergency landing on a soccer field near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after a warning light came on indicating a possible problem.  [Type not confirmed, but photo shows B206 in a parking lot – is this at the soccer field?]... Read more
15-May-2011
a warning light in the cockpit of another police helicopter with two officers aboard prompted the pilot to make a precautionary landing in a Home Depot parking lot about 2 a.m. That chopper landed near Western and Slauson avenues.... Read more
13-May-2011Source: NATA
This week, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), an environmental group located in San Francisco, Calif., has charged numerous aviation businesses in California, including aviation fuel suppliers and fixed base operators, with violating California state law for selling aviation gasoline, which contains lead. The notices indicate CEH’s intention to file a lawsuit under state law,... Read more
13-May-2011
Force landed in mountainous terrain, 35 miles from Fresno... Read more
11-May-2011Source: KTVU
Budget cuts grounded the Oakland Police Department’s helicopter almost two years ago, but the OPD chopper has been cleared to take to the air to once again help fight crime in the city.... Read more
10-May-2011Source: United Rotorcraft Solutions
United Rotorcraft Solutions (URS) recently delivered a customized Eurocopter EC135 to Land Sea Air Leasing Corporation. URS completed the EC135 with avionics and communications equipment consisting of the Garmin GNS530AW and GNS530W Comm/NAV/GPS, the Garmin GMX200 MFD, GTS820 Traffic System, GDL69A Data Link for XM Weather, a GMA347H Audio control with Marker Beacon to include... Read more
9-May-2011Source: Orange County Register
On July 1, the ABLE helicopter program run by Newport Beach and Costa Mesa ends as a result of Costa Mesa’s cost-cutting measures. Assets must be sold and the proceeds split between the two cities.... Read more
9-May-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Last week, American Eurocopter delivered the tenth AS350B2 to the Los Angeles County Sheriff Dept’s Aero Bureau out of a fleet of twelve on order. Â The Aero Bureau operates out of a large dedicated facility at Long Beach Airport. The twelve are registered N950LA through N962LA omitting N952LA.... Read more
4-May-2011
Chip light warning... Read more
27-Apr-2011Source: Orange County Register
Some neighbouring residents are unhappy with a proposal to station an Army reserve unit with eight Black Hawks at the Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos, CA... Read more
25-Apr-2011Source: REACH Air Medical Services
REACH Air Medical Services LLC announces the hiring of D. Brian Karr as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Karr will direct all finance, treasury, funding and accounting functions to assure the success of current and future business strategies for REACH. “REACH is pleased to welcome Brian Karr to our senior management team,†said Jim Adams, CEO... Read more
25-Apr-2011Source: LA Times
Los Angeles Police Department is investigating reports that a police helicopter struck by gunfire Sunday morning was fired on by more than one group of suspects.... Read more
24-Apr-2011
Helicopter shot at from the ground by an automatic weapon, and fuel tank reportedly struck. Emergency landing made at nearby Van Nuys airport without further incident... Read more
19-Apr-2011Source: LA Helicopters
In December 2010, LAH was awarded one of only eleven Rolls-Royce RR300 Service Centers worldwide. After completing a thorough application process which included a background check, site visit, and interview with the Rolls-Royce Regional Manager and a local Rolls-Royce representative, LAH was awarded the first repair station in the United States. Mark Thompson, Rolls-Royce Helicopter... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Aviation Unit is being honored for more than 10 years of safe flying while using night vision equipment to protect the public. In 1998, the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit increased its ability to run operations after sundown when it purchased four pairs of night vision goggles thanks to a special grant through... Read more
16-Apr-2011
Precautionary landing by Riverside County Sheriff helicopter. Both occupants fine.... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Miami Herald
A helicopter pilot’s failure to see a power line during a deer survey was the probable cause of a fatal crash in the Sierra foothills last year that killed four people, the National Transportation Safety Board reported.  See also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 05-Jan-10 N5016U Bell B206 nr Redinger Lake, US-California (4F) Drugs... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: Barger & Wolen
In two days in late March, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Sonoma County Superior Court dismissing separate claims by EMS operators seeking to obtain medical provider benefits under workers’ compensation without following the dictates of the California workers’ compensation system... Read more
12-Apr-2011Source: Donaldson
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), is helping the Air Operations Section of the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) meet the Department’s creed, “serving with courage, integrity and pride.†Donaldson has provided Inlet Barrier Filters (IBFs) for the Section’s newest in-service rotorcraft, two AgustaWestland 139 twin-engine medium helicopters.... Read more
11-Apr-2011Source: 10 News
On March 9, Billy Ortiz was filming home video while hiking in El Monte Park as the helicopter crew performing survey activities for SDG&E’s massive Sunrise Powerlink project flew overhead... Read more
7-Apr-2011Source: WABC
Sofitel Hotel in West Hollywood agrees not to pursue approval of their roof-top helipad which is approved for “emergency-0nly use”. This follows recent frequent use by Hollywood producer Ryan Kavanaugh caused adverse reaction from neighbours... Read more
6-Apr-2011
Tipped over onto its starboard side on take-off... Read more
31-Mar-2011Source: HOSC
A luncheon in honor of the 100th anniversary of naval aviation will be held May 10 sponsored by the Helicopter Officers’ Spouses’ Club (HOSC). This exciting celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at La Terrazza Ristorante, 1309 Orange Avenue and is open to everyone, civilian and military alike. The guest speaker... Read more
28-Mar-2011Source: Press-Enterprise
Sgt. Russ Shubert, who as a young officer landed a bullet-riddled helicopter after his partner had been shot... Read more
23-Mar-2011Source: Hollister Free Lance
Aris Helicopters has agreed to a lease with the City of Hollister to operate at the building formerly used by the Gavilan College aviation mechanic program. Aris has taken the 10,000 sq.ft facility on a two year lease with an option to extend a further three years.... Read more
22-Mar-2011Source: HeliHub.com
According to the Naval Safety Center, the sergeant died after he was pinned under a CH-53E helicopter after the landing gear collapsed when the landing gear pin was pulled. HeliHub.com adds a separate page for every reported incident, including details of the particular helicopter and links to online reports of the event. see 17-Mar-11 Sikorsky... Read more
20-Mar-2011Source: REACH Air Medical Services
REACH Air Medical Services, with headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA and bases of operation throughout California, as well as in Oregon and Texas, has earned the Diamond Certified® designation. Earning the rating of “highest in quality†came after being rated in a customer satisfaction survey performed by American Ratings Corporation. “Everyone at REACH is pleased... Read more
19-Mar-2011Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
Four additional squadrons will be based there by 2016... Read more
17-Mar-2011Source: Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is pleased to announce that the Ontario (CA) Police Department has ordered its third AS350 B2. The aircraft, which will enter service in late spring, will primarily be used for aerial patrol and special operations surveillance throughout the department’s service area in and around Ontario, California. The single-engine AS350 B2 offers the best... Read more
17-Mar-2011
Mechanic became trapped under the sponson of a CH-53E after the landing gear collapsed when the landing-gear pin was pulled before takeoff. Marine was later named as Sgt. Alexis Fontalvo... Read more
13-Mar-2011
Involved in lifting task putting aircon unit on roof. Helicopter crashed, colliding with building and causing building to catch fire.... Read more
7-Mar-2011
pilot made a “precautionary†landing around 9:35 a.m after an engine warning light switched... Read more
5-Mar-2011
Wheels up landing. Helicopter had been shuttling that day between Santa Maria, Santa Barbara and an offshore platform called “Harvest”, some 15 miles SW of Lompoc.... Read more
4-Mar-2011Source: Flight Design
Tulare County is situated about a hundred miles north of Los Angeles near California’s Sequoia National Forest. Facing the same budget constraints as many localities, Tulare County Sheriff Department Captain David Williams chose a Light-Sport Aircraft to perform patrol duties. He ordered a Flight Design CTLS. According to David Castellon writing for the Visalia Times-Delta... Read more
3-Mar-2011Source: Helinet
Helinet Technologies, an international provider of aviation technology solutions to the law enforcement, government and military markets, announced today its selection by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) to develop and support a comprehensive microwave downlink system for the Department’s new fleet of 14 patrol helicopters. Created in partnership with the LASD’s Aero Bureau,... Read more
2-Mar-2011Source: HeliHub.com
In the last month, San Jose has proposed temporarily grounding its helicopter to save money, Costa Mesa has stopped flying, Long Beach is looking to downgrade to cheaper helicopters, and now it’s the turn of Fresno. The city operates two Eurocopter EC120s, as shown in the photo below The City of Fresno is cutting back... Read more
27-Feb-2011Source: CBS San Francisco
A proposal would ground the San Jose Police Department’s helicopter for at least a year because of the city’s $110 million budget deficit.... Read more
26-Feb-2011
Hard landing in an orchard... Read more
23-Feb-2011
L.A. County sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker said the pilots were conducting a training exercise “simulating a hydraulic failure” when the Eurocopter AS350 went down.... Read more
17-Feb-2011Source: Long Beach Post
A 34-year old Long Beach woman has been arrested for pointing lasers at Police and Sheriff helicopters while they conducted a search for suspects in an unrelated incident in January. Kelly Ann Smith has been charged with two felony counts of discharging a laser at an aircraft.... Read more
16-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Late Tuesday evening, the Costa Mesa city council voted 4 to 1 in favour of cutting its “Eagle One” police helicopter program and eliminating two jobs which paid a total of almost $275,000. Costa Mesa has been one of the two major partners with Newport Beach in the ABLE “AirBorne Law Enforcement” program, which operated... Read more
12-Feb-2011
Tail rotor strike... Read more
11-Feb-2011Source: Record Searchlight
Kevin Wayne Foster was ordered to stand trial on two felony and two misdemeanor counts stemming from the potentially dangerous Dec. 6 helicopter incident. If convicted, Foster faces about 4 years 8 months in prison, said Shasta County Deputy District Attorney Craig Omura.... Read more
8-Feb-2011Source: Orange County Register
The police helicopter program jointly run by Costa Mesa and Newport Beach is on the chopping block at the request of two members of the Costa Mesa City Council. Councilmen Gary Monahan and Jim Righeimer are calling on the council to pull out of the Airborne Law Enforcement (ABLE) program to save money.... Read more
4-Feb-2011
Helicopter working on stringing new powerlines. One serious injury, one “minor to moderate” injury.... Read more
3-Feb-2011Source: Daily Breeze
The committee, made up of residents, aviation experts and government officials, recommended modifying three established helicopter routes in and out of the airport. The idea was to move the routes farther away from residential areas as well as increase the helicopter flying altitudes to reduce noise. Torrance is the base of Robinson Helicopter Co... Read more
1-Feb-2011Source: Cobham
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has announced the selection of Cobham to supply Synthetic Vision Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) for their fleet of Eurocopter and Bell helicopters. LAPD is the largest municipal airborne law enforcement operation in the world and serves a population base of four million. Operating a fleet of nineteen patrol helicopters in... Read more
31-Jan-2011Source: Contra Costa Times
Police officials want to buy the helicopters from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at a cost of up to $3.5M. The City Council will decide whether to approve the purchase at its Tuesday meeting. The city purchased the current EC130s, for $5.7M in 2001... Read more
31-Jan-2011Source: Mountain Democrat
Pacific Crest Heli-Guides in partnership with HeliTahoe has officially added heliskiing to the world-class skiing and snowboarding options available to guests visiting Lake Tahoe.... Read more
28-Jan-2011Source: KRON4
The pilot radioed for police who launched a search helicopter. The pilot of that helicopter says someone pointed a laser at him as well. That allowed officers on board to target a location for the laser... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: Hangar One Avionics
Hangar One Avionics, a division of Schubach Aviation specializing in repairs and installation services for government and private aircraft, has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) to transform its new fleet of 14 Eurocopter AS 350 B2 helicopters into mission-ready aircraft. Per the contract, Hangar One will... Read more
19-Jan-2011Source: Spectrum Aeromed
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) Air Operations Section contracted Spectrum Aeromed to design, engineer and install a custom carry-on medical device stand for their Agusta Westland 139 multi-mission helicopters. The Spectrum Aeromed design and engineering team collaborated with the LAFD’s special missions staff to get a better understanding of how this proposed unit was... Read more
17-Jan-2011Source: Falbrook Bonsall Village News
When the Sheriff’s Department launched its ASTREA (Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies) helicopter the morning of Dec. 26, many area residents said they had difficulty understanding what officers were saying through the aircraft’s PA system.... Read more
6-Jan-2011
NTSB report noted that an autopsy revealed traces of an antihistamine and an opiate on the body of pilot Dennis Donovan, aged 70. See also HeliHub.com accident report page – 05-Jan-10 N5016U Bell B206 nr Redinger Lake, US-California (4F)... Read more
23-Dec-2010Source: Jerry Trimble Helicopters
Jerry Trimble Helicopters (JTH) is proud to announce the opening of their winter flight training base in Thermal, CA (TRM). JTH decided to move one of their R-22 Beta II’s to a warmer locale for winter flying. Jerry Trimble, owner, stated “We felt it would be fun for our customers to provide a different training... Read more
22-Dec-2010Source: Sacramento Bee
California Shock Trauma Air Rescue on Wednesday began providing emergency helicopter transport service to the Sacramento Valley from its headquarters at McClellan Park.... Read more
16-Dec-2010
Emergency landing following carbon monoxide warning illumination... Read more
12-Dec-2010Source: Carson Helicopters
Carson Helicopters has been an active participant in the NTSB investigation of the Weaverville crash of N612AZ and as such has not commented publicly during the investigation due to regulatory prohibitions. We have a strong commitment to all the people affected by this tragic accident and to current flight operators of the S61 helicopter to... Read more
11-Dec-2010Source: Mercury News
William “Bill” Coultas of Cave Junction says the NTSB ignored his written and oral testimony that loss of power in an engine caused the crash of the S61... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: Wings Wheels & Rotors
WWRE 2011 is an open house and family event sponsored by the Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce and the California National Guards Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB). All the activities will take place on the flightline on Los Alamitos Army Airfield (KSLI). Los Alamitos Army Airfield is the last remaining military airfield in the... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: KRCR
Kevin Wayne Foster, 39, of Shasta Lake, and a 16-year-old teen were booked into the Shasta County jail Monday evening after Sheriff’s Department officials said they had flashed a green laser at a CHP helicopter.... Read more
24-Nov-2010Source: Gazettes
According to Lt. Richard Rocchi of the Long Beach Police Dept, it may not be too long before the unit receives two well-maintained used Eurocopter AS350B2 helicopters from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.... Read more
23-Nov-2010
Bird strike broke canopy, emergency landing made in school field.... Read more
15-Nov-2010Source: Mid-Continent Instruments
VAN NUYS, Calif. – Mid-Continent Instruments proudly announces the 20th anniversary of its West Coast facility. The full-service repair station, including overhaul, repair, exchange and distribution, has been strategically located at the Van Nuys Airport for two decades, expanding from its beginnings in a 500-square-foot building to its current 15,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. The West Coast... Read more
12-Nov-2010
News reporting helicopter made emergency landing at Whiteman Field, Pacoima. Tail boom hti ground and broke off in autorotation. Cabin landed upright on skids, 2POB OK (Pilot Derek Bell and cameraman Chris Haug)... Read more
5-Nov-2010
On landing at the hospital, fuel sprayed over the 11 persons in the landing area... Read more
2-Nov-2010Source: Kern County Sheriff
On October 25, 2010, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit received the coveted “Excellence in Police Aviation Unit Award†in Orlando Florida at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference. This award is given by the leadership of the IACP through the efforts of their Aviation Committee and through the... Read more
