Portugal celebrates 50 years of the Alouette III
Source: Portuguese AF, 30-Apr-13
[Electronic translation] On April 20 was held in the premises of 552 Squadron”HORNETS”, based on the Air Base No. 11 , in Beja, the event commemorating the 50 years of operation of the helicopterALOUETTE III This event, which aimed to mark this milestone, brought together several generations of soldiers who worked and are working with the weapons system [...]
Guimbal extends warranty as one Cabri completes 2000 hours in 32 months
Source: HeliHub.com, 23-Apr-13
Swedish operator has completed 2000 hours on its Cabri SE-HJR (serial 1011) in just 32 months – an average of 62.5 hours per month. In conjunction with this achievement, Guimbal have now significant extended the warranty they offer on new aircraft from “500 hours or two years” to “1,000 hours or three years”, with the [...]
Helicopter Instructor Reaches Flying Milestone
Source: RAF, 23-Apr-13
A Qualified Helicopter Instructor with the Central Flying School (Helicopters) at RAF Shawbury has achieved a flying milestone in passing an incredible 6000 hours of flying. Flight Lieutenant Jim Hobkirk is a Qualified Helicopter Instructor with Central Flying School (Helicopters) at the unit. He spends his days training future Qualified Helicopter Instructor pilots on the [...]
ASU completes 100th BK117 Night Vision upgrade
Source: ASU, 22-Apr-13
Aviation Specialties Unlimited, (ASU) announced they have completed their 100th Night Vision cockpit modification on BK 117 Aircraft. This most recent lighting installation was completed at Helicopter Specialties in Janesville, Wisconsin. Helicopter Specialties is a helicopter completion center and performs maintenance, repair and overhauls. “Completing 100 NVIS lighting modifications for the BK 117 is a [...]
CALSTAR Transports 50,000th Patient
Source: CALSTAR, 19-Apr-13
january was a historic month for CALSTAR as we transported our 50,000th patient, CALSTAR CEO Lynn Malmstrom announced. “Surpassing 50,000 patient transports is a significant accomplishment and we would like to recognize our dedicated CALSTAR team members, past and present, as well as our many industry partners who have made it possible,” Malmstrom said. CALSTAR [...]
HMLA-167 celebrates 45 years of warfighting
Source: US Marine Corps, 12-Apr-13
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 celebrated its 45th birthday aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River with spirited competition, food and tunes at the air station soccer fields, March 28. The squadron participated in its own version of the Highland Games, an annual Scottish competition consisting of traditional Scottish athletic events. More than 10 [...]
Mi-24, Legendary Russian Attack Helicopter, Turns 40 This Year
Source: Russian Helicopters, 21-Mar-13
This year marks the 40th anniversary of production of the Mi-24, the first purpose-built Russian combat helicopter, at Rostov Helicopter Plant, today called Rostvertol, a Russian Helicopters company. The design of the Mi-24, a strike and transport helicopter was, was so successful that versions are still in use today: some 1,500 Mi-24s serve with the [...]
Avinco celebrates 10 years as pre-owned helicopter specialists
Source: Avinco, 18-Mar-13
Avinco experiences sustained growth and secures its leading position in the pre-owned helicopter sector through an extensive portfolio and solutions tailored to today’s market This year Avinco proudly celebrates its 10 year anniversary as one of the world’s leading pre-owned helicopter specialists. Avinco is a 20-strong company, with operations in Monaco, Ireland and Germany, complemented [...]
Global S-92 fleet passes 500,000 hours
Source: Sikorsky, 07-Mar-13
Serving customers around the world in missions as diverse as the countries flying it, the S-92® global helicopter fleet has surpassed 500,000 flight hours. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), celebrated the milestone at the 2013 Heli-Expo Industry Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The S-92 helicopter was conceived as a commercial aircraft [...]
Rolls-Royce delivers 31,000th M250 engine to Enstrom
Source: Rolls-Royce, 05-Mar-13
Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has delivered the 31,000th M250 engine to Enstrom Helicopter Corporation for installation in a 480B training helicopter destined for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. The Rolls-Royce M250 engine line has amassed an impressive 223 million flight hours over the past 50 years of operation and has been continuously [...]
Milestone surpasses $1 Billion in leased helicopters
Source: Milestone Aviation Group, 05-Mar-13
Milestone Aviation Group, the global leader in helicopter leasing, announced today at Helicopter Association International’s Heli-Expo its portfolio of leased helicopters has surpassed $1 billion. Milestone is the first company ever to achieve this landmark. Since the company’s launch in August 2010, Milestone has closed more than 75 helicopter leases with 21 world-class operators in [...]
Maritime Helicopters celebrates 40 years in Alaska
Source: Maritime Helicopters, 22-Feb-13
Maritime Helicopters Inc. celebrates 40 years of service in Alaska this year. Starting with one leased helicopter in 1973, the family-owned business has steadily grown to become the only Bell Helicopter/Textron Service Center in Alaska. Maritime owns a fleet of Bell Jet Rangers, Long Rangers, and 407 models which support marine, petroleum, construction, and government [...]
100th pilot completes Bristow Academy Mountain Flying course
Source: Bristow Academy, 18-Feb-13
There’s a certain buzz these days in Carson City, Nevada—the sound of Bristow Academy Mountain Flying Training. On 23 May 2011 Bristow Academy began operating in the majestic Lake Tahoe region and hasn’t stopped since, training more than 100 pilots from a myriad of countries in high altitude operations. Military and police units have flocked [...]
JetNet details Heli-Expo involvement – and celebrates 25 years
Source: JetNet, 08-Feb-13
JETNET LLC, the world leader in aviation market intelligence, will exhibit at HAI Heli-Expo 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada and is celebrating 25 years of delivering professional aircraft research services. Their 2012 overview of the helicopter market, taken from their comprehensive global database of piston and turbine helicopters, reveals a market experiencing a slow but [...]
Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance flies milestone 14,000th mission
Source: TVACAA, 24-Jan-13
The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance reached another important landmark, flying its 14,000th mission to attend to a fallen horse rider out on the Lambourn Gallops. Sarah Williamson, Head of Fundraising for the Trust said: “Because of the rural location, Air Ambulance BOB received the ‘shout’ to Lambourn Gallops to assist a rider who [...]
Bond Air Services EC135 reaches 10,000 hours milestone
Source: Bond Air Services, 17-Jan-13
Bond Air Services (Bond) is proud to announce that one of the two helicopter air ambulances it operates on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has reached 10,000 flying hours. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC135T2i (registration G-SASA), reached this milestone transferring a maternity patient with abdominal pains from Cambeltown hospital to Crosshouse hospital in [...]
Bell delivers 100th H-1 to the US Marine Corps
Source: Bell, 17-Jan-13
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), today delivered the 100th of a planned total of 349 H-1 helicopters during a ceremony at its Amarillo Assembly Center. The US Marine Corps H-1 helicopter program is comprised of both the UH-1Y utility helicopter and the AH-1Z attack helicopter. John Garrison, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter said, “We are [...]
Snowy Hydro SouthCare approaches 5,000th mission
Source: Snowy Hydro SouthCare, 15-Jan-13
Canberra and the region’s local rescue helicopter service is fast approaching a milestone of 5,000 missions in its 15th year of operation. Snowy Hydro SouthCare expects to perform its 5,000th mission before the end of January. Since 1998 the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Aero-Medical Rescue Helicopter has been serving the ACT and surrounding region, extending as [...]
Royal Navy launches “60 years of SAR” at London Boat Show
Source: Royal Navy, 14-Jan-13
There is also the opportunity to get up close and personal with an Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC), as used by the Royal Marines. Measuring in at nine metres long and able to travel in excess of 35 knots, these craft were part of the Royal Navy’s commitment to keeping the public safe during the London [...]
Harrison flight nurse completes 1,500 flights for Air Evac Lifeteam
Source: Newton County Times, 11-Jan-13
Boone County base flight nurse Lee Bailey recently completed his 1500th flight for Air Evac Lifeteam (see full story)
New Zealand’s Beck Helicopters celebrates 40 years
Source: Stratford Press, 21-Dec-12
Formed in 1972 to meet an increasing need for helicopter services in the province, Alan says the business has grown from a single Bell 47 helicopter, a small hangar and small staff base to one which now operates three Bell Iroquois and one Bell Jet Ranger helicopter across New Zealand and carries out maintenance on [...]
Irish military complete 100 EMS missions
17-Dec-12
The Air Ambulance Service based out of Custume Barracks in Athlone has performed over 100 missions since the service was established last June. (see full report)
Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant Turns 65
Source: Russian Helicopters, 13-Dec-12
Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, the world-famous designer and developer of helicopters including the Mi-8, Mi-24 and Mi-26 models, today celebrates its 65th anniversary. Distinguished engineer Mikhail Mil in 1947 was appointed head of an experimental design bureau that over time became one of the best helicopter design schools in the world. Today the traditions of [...]
South Wales Helimed reaches 8,000th Mission
Source: Wales Air Ambulance, 04-Dec-12
Wales Air Ambulance’s Swansea based air ambulance attended its 8,000th mission on the 28th November 2012. The service has now been in operation for 11 years from Fairwood Airport, Swansea, starting as a 5 day service which was launched on St David’s Day 2001. Wales Air Ambulance has since expanded to having three helicopters across Wales which [...]
General Dynamics delivers 1,000th OH-58D Kiowa Warrior mast housing
Source: General Dynamics, 28-Nov-12
General Dynamics Global Imaging Technologies has delivered the 1,000th precision-machined beryllium sensor housing to DRS Technologies, Inc. DRS integrates the sensor housings into the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS) for the U.S. Army’s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter. “We are very proud of the continued hard work and dedication exhibited by our employees on this project,” said [...]
Telecoms company Telus passes $1M barrier in STARS donations
25-Nov-12
The Telus logo was added to the STARS helicopter in a ceremony on Wednesday morning for surpassing the $1 million mark in giving to the charity. (see full story)
Fleet Readiness Center East delivers last H-46
Source: US Marine Corps, 15-Nov-12
The H-46 model “Phrog” helicopter has served the Marine Corps for nearly 50 years, but its era is drawing to a close. During a ceremony here Nov. 9, Fleet Readiness Center East sent off the last HH-46 helicopter it will service to Marine Transport Squadron 1. The helicopter is being replaced by the MV-22B Osprey, [...]
Turbomeca engines reach 400,000 hours on Citic Offshore fleet
Source: Turbomeca, 15-Nov-12
During the Air Show China, Turbomeca China (Safran group) and Citic Offshore Helicopter Co Ltd (COHC) celebrate the 400,000 cumulative operation hours of Turbomeca engines powering COHC fleet. Today, COHC is the biggest civil helicopter operator in South-east Asia. Lin Yang, Turbomeca China Customer Support & Sales Director, said: “COHC is one of our most [...]
Air Evac’s Jackson crew celebrates 5,000 safe flights
09-Nov-12
The pilots, flight nurses and paramedics who work at Tennessee’s first Air Evac station celebrated a major milestone — more than 5,000 missions flown safely. (see full story)
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter prepares for 7,000th mission
Source: Coffs Coast Advocate, 02-Nov-12
“Please don’t take us for granted” is the plea from Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter as it prepares to fly its 7000th mission. (see full story)
UK – 4,000th callout for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance
Source: IOW County Press, 22-Oct-12
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been called out on 4,000 emergencies since it was established five years ago. (see full story)
AgustaWestland marks 10 years of AW101 with Royal Canadian Air Force
Source: AgustaWestland, 10-Oct-12
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that its fleet of AW101 (formerly EH101) “Cormorant” search and rescue helicopters has achieved dual milestones of 10 years active service with the Royal Canadian Air Force and 50,000 operating hours. “Canada’s Cormorants are the benchmark for AW101s around the world,” said Jeremy Tracy, AgustaWestland’s Head of [...]
Swedish pilot passes 30,000 hours
Source: Jämtlands Flyg, 09-Oct-12
On 9 September 2012, Jämtlands Flyg’s lead pilot Ulf Grinde made history by passing 30.000 hours airborne time. The astonishing milestone was achieved during a water sampling operation near Lake Uddjaure, south of Arjeplog. Ulf has gained slightly less than 8.000 hours in fixed-wing airplanes and the remaining 22.000 hours in helicopters. This flight time (airborne [...]
40,000 flight hour mark reached by Helidax
Source: DCI, 28-Sep-12
Helidax, a subsidiary of DCI and INAER, announces that it has exceeded 40,000 flight hours on EC120 Colibri aircraft, in their Calliope configuration, after 2 years of operation. Helidax is the first public-private partnership (PPP) launched by the French Ministry of Defense in 2008. This partnership concerns the supply of helicopter flight hours, for 22 [...]
Producer of Ka-32A11BC and Ka-226T celebrates 50th anniversary
Source: Russian Helicopters, 23-Sep-12
Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (KumAPP), part of Russian Helicopters and a producer of the Kamov Design Bureau’s distinctive coaxial-rotor civilian and military helicopters, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. KumAPP is one of the biggest industrial enterprises in Russia, and the main manufacturing centre for the advanced civilian and military helicopters developed by the Kamov Design [...]
American Eurocopter celebrates 200th US-built AS350
Source: American Eurocopter, 21-Sep-12
American Eurocopter held an event today at its Delivery Center in Grand Prairie to honor the 200th AS350® helicopter manufactured in the United States. The 200th aircraft, an AS350 B3e, was delivered to the Texas Department of Public Safety in April and was placed into service today. Members of the Texas DPS were on hand [...]
Turbomeca celebrates 35 years in Brazil and expand facilities
Source: Turbomeca, 06-Sep-12
Turbomeca do Brasil (Safran group), in Brazil since 1977, celebrates the expansion of icts site based in Xerém, Rio de Janeiro State . These new facilities will house the new assembly line and testing of the engine and Makila 2 of the Auxiliary Power Unit Saphir 20. These engines and units, designed for Both Civilian [...]
Boeing-built US Army Apache fleet exceeds 3,500,000 flight hours
Source: Boeing, 29-Aug-12
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Team Apache suppliers worldwide are applauding the news that the U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter fleet has surpassed 3.5 million flight hours. The Army’s aviation program office said that the milestone of endurance and reliability was reached in June as Apache crews flew combat missions in Afghanistan, participated in exercises in [...]
DLRAA fly 4,000th rescue mission in just 4½ years
Source: DLRAA, 30-Jul-12
Friday 13th is always a date that stands out, but last week’s date will be extra memorable for the crew of Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA), as they achieved a milestone rescue mission. On Friday, DLRAA attended their 4,000th rescue since the Charity started back in January 2008. From accidents up in the rural [...]
Sikorsky delivers 500th ‘M’ model Black Hawk
Source: Sikorsky, 19-Jul-12
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), and the U.S. Army today celebrated the delivery of the 500th H-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter. The deliveries to date comprise 400 UH-60M utility and 100 HH-60M MEDEVAC aircraft, the latter used exclusively as an air ambulance by the U.S. Army to rush wounded soldiers to field [...]
500th AW139 Goes to Weststar Aviation Services
Source: AgustaWestland, 13-Jul-12
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce it handed over the 500th AW139 to Weststar Aviation Services of Malaysia during a ceremony held at the Farnborough International Airshow today. The aircraft was accepted by Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, Group Managing Director of Weststar from Bruno Spagnolini, CEO, AgustaWestland. The 500th delivery comes [...]
500th AW139 for handover at Farnborough 2012
Source: HeliHub.com, 09-Jul-12
AgustaWestland have the 500th AW139 in the static park at Farnborough Air Show this week in the UK. For photo see this page on Airliners.net It is in the colours of Malaysian operator Weststar Aviation Services, with a large “500th” logo and we thus assume – in the absence of official PR from the manufacturer [...]
North Colorado Med Evac celebrates 30 years
Source: Banner Health, 02-Jul-12
North Colorado Med Evac is celebrating 30 years and more than 20,000 successful flights serving communities in northeastern Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. The Med Evac crew has planned a celebration event that is open to the public on Saturday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greeley Central High School field, 1515 [...]
NYPD AW119 fleet achieves 20,000 hour milestone
Source: AgustaWestland, 27-Jun-12
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the AW119 helicopter fleet operated by the New York Police Department is the worldwide law enforcement fleet leader, having achieved over 20,000 flying hours on the fleet and more than 6,000 on their fleet leader. New York Police Department is among the largest US law enforcement [...]
Hawaii’s first helicopter operator celebrates 50 years
26-Jun-12
A blessing and dedication was held Thursday at the Lihu‘e Airport Heliport, officiated by Lady Ipo Kahaunaele-Ferreira of Ke Akua Mana Church. (see full story) The company’s website has a great page on its history – from which the following early photo comes – Jack Harter on the left in this shot standing next to [...]
Boeing delivers the 100th modified CH-47F Chinook
Source: Boeing, 25-Jun-12
Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the 100th modified CH-47F Chinook helicopter to the U.S. Army today in a ceremony at the company’s modification center in Millville. “The Boeing Millville team is proud to have delivered 100 modified Chinooks to the Army on time, using efficient, cost-saving processes,” said Peri Widener, Boeing vice president of Rotorcraft Support. [...]
Calstar nurse celebrates 25 years of service
15-Jun-12
This month, Rose Gaither marks her 25th year as a flight nurse. At 57, she is the longest flying flight nurse at CalSTAR (see full story)
Happy 70th birthday to US Army Aviation
Source: Huntsville Times, 08-Jun-12
According to the Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker, Ala., it was on this date that aircraft supporting artillery and ground troops became an “organic” part of the service, rather than a piece of the Air Corps and later Army Air Force missions, which often focused on strategic operations such as bombing targets behind enemy [...]
Indiana – LifeFlight celebrates 30 years
Source: Evansville Courier & Press, 31-May-12
LifeFlight, the medical helicopter program based at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville, turned 30 on Tuesday. During that time, the air ambulance has made more than 10,000 patient transports. (see full story)
Midlands Air Ambulance celebrates 21 years
Source: Midlands Air Ambulance, 28-May-12
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is celebrating its 21stanniversary this week! Monday, May 21st marked 21 years of life saving missions for the rapid response service and the charity would like to say thank you for all the local support received over the last 21 years, ensuring the service has remained operational. The charity completed its first airlift [...]
Portugal’s 751 Squadron passes landmark 2,751 rescues
Source: HeliHub.com, 24-May-12
Portugal’s 751 Squadron, responsible for the country’s SAR helicopters, had achieved a milestone 2,751 rescues. The key rescue was made in the Azores chain of islands in the Atlantic on 20th May when they transported a pregnant woman from the island of Graciosa to a hospital at Angra do HeroÃsmo on the island of Terceira. [...]
UH-72A Lakota fleet hits 100,000 flight hour milestone
Source: EADS North America, 23-May-12
The U.S. Army’s fleet of 219 UH-72A Lakota helicopters surpassed the 100,000 flight hour milestone during operations on May 10. The 100,000 flight hour aircraft, configured for Opposing Force training missions, was flown by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jason Lacrosse and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christopher Ezell of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center’s Falcon Observer/Controller-Trainer [...]
Afghanistan – Two unmanned K-Max deliver 1,000,000 pounds of cargo in four months
Source: Lockheed Martin, 17-May-12
Two unmanned K-MAX helicopters have delivered more than one million pounds in less than four months in support of the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan and will remain in theater until September on a deployment extension. The aircraft, a joint effort by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Kaman Aerospace (NYSE: KAMN), is the first unmanned helicopter to deliver cargo [...]
Irish Coast Guard record 10 years of SAR from Waterford
Source: Irish Government, 14-May-12
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar TD today congratulated the Irish Coast Guard as they mark the 10th anniversary of the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter base at Waterford Airport (Thursday, May 10). Speaking today, the Minister said: “For the past decade the helicopter team at the Waterford Coast Guard base [...]
Mercy Air Care celebrates 25 years helping Sioux City
Source: Sioux City Journal, 09-May-12
Launched in 1987 with a LongRanger, and progressing to a BK117, Mercy Air Care in Sioux City now flies an EC135 (see full story)
Germany – “Christoph 5″ flies 50,000th mission
Source: Christoph 5, 08-May-12
(electronic translation) On 2 May started the rescue helicopter “Christoph 5″ on his 611th Use this year. In the space Speyer, a 32-year-old man had contracted when handling methylated spirits severe burns on face and body. After the emergency medical first aid on the spot he was in a helicopter in the center of the burn victims brought BG [...]
UK – SAR Training Unit celebrates 50 years
Source: Royal Air Force, 06-May-12
For the past half century Royal Air Force search and rescue helicopter crews trained by an RAF Valley based unit have saved countless lives. On station to rescue downed arcrew military helicopter crews have been there to pluck to safety all in peril. With search and rescue being, by it’s very nature, often extremely dangerous [...]
Garmin passes milestone: 100th Million product sold
Source: Garmin, 02-May-12
Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced that it has sold more than 100 million of its products to motorists, pilots, boaters, runners, cyclists, golfers, hikers, hunters, and geocachers – who all depend on Garmin to help show the way. “This is a tremendous milestone for Garmin. In just 23 [...]
Russia’s Golden Eagles helicopter pilots group celebrates 20 years
Source: Russian Helicopters, 30-Apr-12
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Golden Eagles, the pilots group that is the symbolic calling card of the Russian helicopter industry. Based at the Russian Army’s Flight Training Centre in Torzhok, the Golden Eagles are one of the few helicopter pilots groups anywhere in the world to perform flight acrobatics in both the [...]
Eurocopter delivers 500th EC145
Source: Eurocopter, 30-Apr-12
The 500th EC145 helicopter was delivered by Eurocopter today, marking a new milestone for this twin-engine workhorse rotorcraft that continues in high-rate production for international customers. Eurocopter’s 500th EC145, along with the 501st production helicopter, were provided to Transportes Aereos Pegaso, which is the largest Mexican operator in the Gulf of Mexico. Pegaso already operates [...]
ASU surpasses 4,500 Night Vision System sales globally
Source: ASU, 27-Apr-12
Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) have now sold more than 4,500 night vision aviation systems worldwide. This gives ASU more aviation systems sales to civilian operators than any supplier in the world. “I can remember when the thought of night vision systems in the civil market was just a luxurious dream,” said ASU’s founder and HAI [...]
Becker delivers 1,000th Digital Voice System
Source: Becker Avionics, 27-Apr-12
Becker Avionics reached a significant operational and sales milestone last month when the company delivered its 1,000th Digital Voice Communication System (DVCS) since introducing the leading edge Digital Audio System family. The unit was delivered to Bell Helicopter-Textron for completion on the Westchester County Police Bell 407GX airborne law enforcement patrol helicopter. “We are very [...]
40 years and PAMA is still climbing!
Source: PAMA, 25-Apr-12
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association was established at its first national convention in Pittsburgh back in 1972. Forty years ago. In the 80′s PAMA introduced IA renewal seminars into its National Convention. It also started its monthly newsletter which later was published in Cygnus/AMT magazine. In the 90′s PAMA was approved by the FAA to [...]
UK – 845 Naval Air Squadron celebrates 50 years
Source: Royal Navy, 24-Apr-12
The celebrations were held on 17th April to tie in with the RNAS Yeovilton Air Day launch, which in turn will commemorate 30 years since the Falklands Conflict. After being welcomed by Commander (Cdr) James Newton DFC, 845’s current Commanding Officer, the guests received an insight into what the squadron has been up to in [...]
Specialist Aviation celebrates 100,000 MD Explorer hours
Source: Specialist Aviation Services, 18-Apr-12
Specialist Aviation Services (SAS), the UK based emergency services and utility operator, is celebrating this week having achieved 100,000 flying hours with the MD 902 Explorer. The group is the largest operator of MD902 Explorers in the world and first introduced the type into the UK in 1998 as a dual-roled Police and Air Ambulance [...]
Lakota fleet of 200+ approaches 100K flight hours
Source: US Army, 16-Apr-12
The Army’s newest aircraft, the UH-72A Lakota, is approaching 100,000 flight hours, and maintains one of the highest mission-capable rates among Army aircraft. The Army expects to buy a total of 345 of the aircraft, and the service has just taken delivery of 209 so far. “The real success story for us: it’s been on [...]
UK: 1,000 Missions Flown for Herts Air Ambulance
Source: Herts Air Ambulance, 15-Apr-12
More lives are being saved in Hertfordshire thanks to the Herts Air Ambulance (HAA). Since its launch in November 2008 this vital Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) has flown over 1,000 life-saving missions. The landmark call-out was on Thursday 12th April where the aircraft was despatched to provide critical care to a patient in cardiac [...]
First UK pilot goes solo on Guimbal Cabri
Source: HeliHub.com, 27-Mar-12
Cotswold Helicopter Centre, the UK distributor for the Guimbal Cabri, has achieved the milestone of the first UK student pilot to solo on the French two-seat helicopter. On Friday 23rd March, Craig Davies – a company director aged 48 – made history in the Cabri G2 G-UIMB, achieving his solo after the legal minimum of [...]
AAG celebrates 40,000 safe flying hour milestone
Source: Sikorsky, 27-Mar-12
Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), the East Coast’s premier executive helicopter service, is celebrating its achievement of more than 40,000 hours of safe flying in its fleet of Sikorsky S-76® helicopters. The company’s achievement encompasses more than 17 years of operating the S-76 helicopter. “Forty-thousand safe flying hours is an exceptional achievement for our entire AAG [...]
NAC details its milestones with Robinson Helicopter Co
Source: National Airways, 20-Mar-12
National Airways Corporation became a Robinson dealer in 1990 and was instrumental in bringing Robinson helicopters to South Africa. One of the first appointed dealers in the region, NAC took delivery of their first R22 in late 1990. Twenty one years later, NAC has proven to be an integral member of the Robinson dealer network. [...]
9,000th image filed in HeliHub.com gallery
Source: HeliHub.com, 19-Mar-12
HeliHub.com is having increasing success with its “Gallery” feature, recording over 9,000 images in its main Gallery, and around 210 photographers have joined as members of the Gallery. The Flickr gallery provides users of HeliHub.com the opportunity to upload their own photos, and the early success is demonstrating just how valuable this will become over [...]
Helidax exceeds 30,000 flight hours on EC120
Source: Groiupe DCI, 02-Mar-12
Helidax, a subsidiary of DCI and INAER, announces that it has exceeded 30,000 flight hours on EC120 Colibri aircraft, in less than 2 years of operation. Helidax is the first public-private partnership (PPP) launched by the French Ministry of Defense in 2008. This partnership concerns the supply of helicopter flight hours, for 22 years, to [...]
EADS North America delivers 200th UH-72A Lakota
Source: EADS North America, 02-Mar-12
EADS North America delivered the 200th UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) today to the U.S. Army during a ceremony at the company’s American Eurocopter production facility in Columbus, Miss. “Today marks another significant milestone for the Lakota program — the only DoD program of this size and scope to remain 100 percent on schedule [...]
UK pilot achieves 10,000 Robinson R22 hours and counting
Source: Helicentre Aviation, 27-Feb-12
Congratulations to Captain Geoff Day who cracked open the bubbly on reaching his 10,000th hour in the R22 today! 10,000 hours is an incredible number of flight hours to achieve, but we’re not talking total time, his grand total is now around 23,000 hours on helicopters! The flight took place this afternoon – an instructional [...]
GAMA celebrates 10 Years as international association
Source: GAMA, 24-Feb-12
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) celebrated ten years as an international association today at its annual “State of the Industry” press conference. GAMA first incorporated manufacturing companies based outside of the United States in 2002. Most general aviation aircraft flying in the world today were built by GAMA member companies. “Since opening our doors [...]
