UC Davis demo unmanned helicopter spraying vineyards
Source: Wines & Vines, 09-Jan-13
Professors at the University of California, Davis, recently demonstrated an unmanned helicopter that could have numerous vineyard uses including spraying liquid and granular pesticides, seeding cover crops and sensing and implementing precision agriculture. (see full story)
Florida – Brevard County buys two AS350B3e for mosquito control
Source: American Eurocopter, 31-Oct-12
American Eurocopter today announced Brevard County, Florida, has purchased two AS350 B3e helicopters. The aircraft will be utilized for mosquito control, firefighting and herbicide application throughout the county, which is located along Florida’s east coast, replacing an AS350 B3 and two 206Bs currently being used. “We carefully considered our options before making the purchase,” said [...]
South Florida Water Mgt District seeks aerial application proposals
Source: HAI, 26-Jun-12
The Procurement Bureau of the South Florida Water Management District, B-1 Building, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33406, will receive sealed proposals up to the 2:30 p.m. opening time on July 26, 2012 for the spraying of aquatic, ditchbank and invasive vegetation by helicopter and provide aerial flight services for site inspection [...]
Ownership change at Farm & Forest Helicopter Service
Source: Wilbur-Ellis, 01-Jun-12
Wilbur-Ellis Company, a recognized leader in the distribution and marketing of crop protection, seed and nutritional products, announced today that it acquired the assets of Farm & Forest Helicopter Service, Inc., based in Napavine, Wash. Farm & Forest has been servicing the forestry, nursery and Christmas tree businesses in Oregon and Washington since 1964. The [...]
Enstrom 480B spray system certified in China
Source: Enstrom, 10-Apr-12
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation and Isolair Inc. recently received Chinese certification for the Innovator II 3900-480 spray system. The lightweight system fits all Enstrom 480 and 480B models, and can be quickly installed or removed for ease of use. The launch customer in China for the Isolair spray system was long time Enstrom customer Wuhan Helicopters, [...]
HAI Aerial Applications Committee seeks new members
Source: HAI, 04-Feb-12
The mission of HAI’s Aerial Application Committee is to promote the use of helicopters and enhance helicopter safety in the agriculture industry; forestry, right-of-way, mosquito abatement and production agriculture. This committee currently has three vacancies. If you have experience and wish to share it, and take part in this worthy mission, come visit the committee [...]
SB47 at NAAA with refurbished 47G-2A
Source: Scotts Bell 47, 02-Dec-11
Scott’s – Bell 47, Inc. will be exhibiting a refurbished 47G-2A at the NAAA (National Agricultural Aviation Association) Convention Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada Dec 6-7. This helicopter, operated by sister company Scott’s Helicopter Services, Inc., is an example of the quality of refurbishment that SB47 hopes to offer to the marketplace in the [...]
Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia says carbon tax will hinder aviation
Source: Brisbane Times, 24-Jul-11
The Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia, which represents the aviation companies involved in firefighting, crop spraying and oil-spill clean-ups, warned the carbon tax was a “direct attack” on the industry for “absolutely no benefit”. Adding six cents a litre to aviation fuel, chief execctive Philip Hurst said that companies will struggle with the price hike [...]
Australian Farmfest event features unmanned agricultural helicopters
Source: Stock & Land, 16-Jun-11
Yamaha’s Liam Quigley believes there is “a strong role” for the Rmax to be used anywhere for work that is “dull, dirty or dangerous” using a small spray boom to treat 7.7m wide swaths on each pass across a paddock. See article
Simplex Manufacturing acquires Heli-Ap granular spreader
Source: Simplex, 08-May-11
Simplex Manufacturing of Portland Oregon have announced that they have acquired the granular spreader product line from Heli- Ap. Simplex will build the full line of spreader at their Portland, Oregon headquarters. The new Simplex GS250 30 cubic ft. spreader weighs in at an industry low 90 lbs while the Simplex GS400 55cubic ft. spreader [...]
Iraq orders seven AS350B3s for agricultural missions
Source: Eurocopter, 01-Nov-10
Marignane, France, October 31, 2010: Eurocopter today signed an agreement for the supply of seven AS350 B3 Ecureuil helicopters to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture for crop spraying missions over vast fields of date palm trees – which provide a major source of agricultural revenue for the country. Deliveries of these single-engine workhorse rotary-wing aircraft [...]
Victoria government reviews farm helicopter rules
Source: Weekly Times, 09-Sep-10
The Victorian Government has launched a rapid-fire review of restrictive planning laws limiting the use of helicopters on farms.
