New E-HOTS support partnership consortium
Source: Eurocopter, 19-Jun-13
This solution – designated E-HOTS (Eurocopter Helicopter On Theatre Services) – consolidates the five partners’ expertise and pools their resources, providing a turnkey support package that covers an extensive range of services for rotorcraft in any deployed operation such as humanitarian and crisis relief missions, in conflict zones, and for oil and gas exploration. The [...]
Eurocopter and Ramco partner for cloud-based helicopter maintenance software
Source: Eurocopter, 19-Jun-13
Eurocopter today announced its global partnership with Ramco Systems, the global Aviation Software provider on cloud, mobile and tablets. Both companies will join forces to offer state-of-the-art helicopter maintenance software which will ease the life of operators and maintenance centers. This partnership agreement, formally signed at the 2013 Paris Air Show, enables Eurocopter and Ramco [...]
UK – MBE for AW101 Merlin pilot
Source: RAF, 19-Jun-13
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 [...]
NRC continues to search for low lead aviation fuel alternatives
Source: NRC, 19-Jun-13
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has announced a new project to assist in the development and testing of an alternative for low lead (100LL) aviation gasoline. The project, which is in response to concerns from the aviation industry over the replacement of 100LL with a no-lead alternative, will seek ways to reduce airborne [...]
Cassidian’s obstacle warning system certified for NH90
Source: Cassidian, 19-Jun-13
Having completed its final qualification review, Eurocopter has certified the MilOWS (Military Obstacle Warning System) for the NH90 military transport helicopter. The system was developed and built by Cassidian and is from the Sferion SferiSense range. There are now no further obstacles to delivering the 150 warning systems for the NH90 to the Bundeswehr and [...]
Selex ES HF communication systems get onboard V-22
Source: Selex ES, 19-Jun-13
Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, has been selected by Boeing Defense, Space & Security to supply its SRT-200 High-Frequency radio communication systems to the V-22 Osprey Program. This is the result of a challenging competition between the key worldwide players in the field, a further evidence that Selex ES know-how and portfolio leadership is unchallenged [...]
Astronics extends supply agreement with Rockwell Collins
Source: Astronics, 19-Jun-13
Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq:ATRO) (“Company”), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace and defense industries, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Luminescent Systems Canada Inc.(LSI Canada), has signed a long-term enterprise sourcing agreement withRockwell Collins. The agreement includes illuminated cockpit control panels, keyboards, display bezels and related assemblies that form an integral part of Rockwell Collins’advanced [...]
AAR Signs Partnering Agreement with Boeing to Support Royal Netherlands Air Force
Source: AAR, 19-Jun-13
AAR (NYSE: AIR) and the Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) have signed a formal partnering agreement that enables AAR to provide component maintenance, repair and overhaul support for Boeing rotorcraft owned and operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). The alliance focuses initially on components for the RNLAF’s fleet of Boeing Chinook CH-47s and Apache [...]
Ka-52 makes successful demonstration flight at Le Bourget
Source: Russian Helicopters, 19-Jun-13
The Russian helicopter Ka-52 Alligator, made a successful demonstration flight at the Le Bourget air show that opened outside Paris on Monday, June 17. A Russian Helicopters delegation said “the organisers of the air show particularly noted the flight of the Russian helicopter Ka-52 Alligator on the first day of the international air show in Le [...]
Ducommun receives Flow-on Black Hawk contract
Source: Ducommun, 18-Jun-13
Ducommun Incorporated today announced that it has received a multi-year contract from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), to continue to produce electromechanical assemblies for various models of the UH-60 BLACK HAWK helicopter. Ducommun LaBarge Technologies will produce the electromechanical assemblies at its Huntsville, Ark., facility through 2017. “We’re very pleased to support Sikorsky in meeting its [...]
North American and European customers signed for Turbomeca’s online BOOST service
Source: Turbomeca, 18-Jun-13
On the occasion of the International Exhibition of Aeronautics and Space of Paris in 2013, Turbomeca (Safran) has signed several cooperation agreements with the first customers to test its new range of integrated online services, BOOST ( Bank Of Online Services and Technologies), which will facilitate the operations of its customers. BOOST meet the basic needs of [...]
Erickson Air-Crane extends S64 contract in Afghanistan
Source: Erickson Air-Crane, 18-Jun-13
Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (NASDAQ: EAC) (“Erickson” or “the Company”), a leading global provider of aviation services to a diverse mix of commercial and government customers, and the vertically-integrated manufacturer and operator of the powerful heavy-lift Erickson S-64 Aircrane helicopter, announced today that it has won an extension to its prime contract with USTRANSCOM (U.S. Transportation [...]
AgustaWestland Training Academy Malaysia Introduces AW139 Full Flight Simulator
Source: AgustaWestland, 18-Jun-13
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that its Training Academy based in Malaysia (AWTA Malaysia) has introduced an AW139 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) Level D into its training courses. The Training Academy is located at Kuala Lumpur’s Subang – Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport and is part of AgustaWestland’s continued investment programme in [...]
Mauritanian Air Force Orders Two AW109 Powers
Source: AgustaWestland, 18-Jun-13
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce an order by the Mauritanian Air Force for two AW109 Power twin-engine helicopters that will be used for reconnaissance and border patrol missions. The two helicopters will be delivered by mid-2014 in a multi-role homeland security configuration. The contract also includes a comprehensive training and support package [...]
AgustaWestland Secures its First AW139 Order in Senegal
Source: AgustaWestland, 18-Jun-13
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce it has signed a contract for the sale of its first AW139 helicopter in Senegal. The contract, which marks the entrance of AgustaWestland helicopters in the regional market, includes in-country support services and training for both aircrew and maintainers. The helicopter will be operated by the Senegal [...]
Curtiss-Wright Controls awarded Surion contract
Source: Curtiss-Wright Controls, 18-Jun-13
Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. today announced that it has received a contract from Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) to supply its Rotor Ice Protection (RIPS), Windshield and Engine Anti Ice Controllers technology for use on the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH). The initial value of the contract is $5 million. Shipments of the products are scheduled to begin [...]
Curtiss-Wright Controls’ Data Acquisition & “Black Box” Technology to be used on unnamed new helicopter
Source: Curtiss-Wright Controls, 18-Jun-13
Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. today announced that it has received a contract from a leading helicopter manufacturer to supply rugged flight data recorders for use on a new multirole helicopter. Under the agreement,Curtiss-Wright Controls Avionics & Electronics (CWC-AE) division will provide its Data Acquisition Flight Recorder (DAFR) products, used to provide data acquisition and “black box” Accident Data [...]
Global Military Helicopter Modernisation, Upgrade and Retrofit Market 2013-2023
Source: Reportlinker, 18-Jun-13
Reportlinker announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Global Military Helicopter Modernisation, Upgrade and Retrofit Market 2013-2023 Report Details Helicopters are crucial to military operations. Rotorcraft can transport personnel and cargo, and often within areas not readily accessible to vehicles or fixed-wing aircraft. These can also provide aerial fire support [...]
AW139 tech pubs now available on tablets and smart phones
Source: AgustaWestland, 18-Jun-13
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it has extended the use its Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETP) for the AW139 to tablet devices and smart phones, through the web application Amerigo4Mobile©. This new IETP feature gives customers access to all the AW139’s Technical Publications through easy and fast web pages via AgustaWestland’s [...]
French Prime Minister visits Eurocopter at Paris Air Show
Source: Eurocopter, 17-Jun-13
During the Paris Air Show’s annual inauguration by the Prime Minister of France, Mr. Jean-Marc Ayrault took the time to stop by the Eurocopter booth this morning, making it to the static display just in time as a break in the morning thunderstorms allowed for a brief visit. He was greeted by Guillaume Faury, President [...]
Rockwell Collins launches HeliSure™ product line for helicopters
Source: Rockwell Collins, 17-Jun-13
At the Paris Air Show today, Rockwell Collins launched HeliSure, a family of products that will provide helicopter pilots with unprecedented situational awareness to help them meet the challenges of flying in increasingly congested and hazard-filled airspace. HeliSure delivers sensor data in real time through an intuitive user interface that features 3D visualization for information that [...]
Thales helps Romanian Navy expand Puma ASW capability
Source: Thales, 17-Jun-13
Romanian helicopter manufacturer IAR Brasov has chosen Thales to supply TMS 2000 sonobuoy processors to equip IAR-330 Puma helicopters operated by the Romanian Navy. The processors will give the Romanian Navy a decisive anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability to detect submarines in the Black Sea, in particular as part of NATO missions. TMS 2000 processors offer [...]
September launch for Sikorsky’s Training Academy in Oklahoma
Source: Sikorsky, 17-Jun-13
Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) today announced that the Sikorsky Training Academy (STA) – located in Altus, Okla., USA – will open on Sept. 6, 2013. The academy will provide advanced flight and maintenance training and will initially focus on the needs of international military BLACK HAWK helicopter operators. SAS, the worldwide aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., implements [...]
Elbit launches Directional Infra-Red Countermeasure system for small helicopters
Source: Elbit Systems, 17-Jun-13
Elbit Systems will unveil at the 2013 Paris Airshow, its new mini-MUSIC™ system , the newest member of Elbit Systems’ family of Directional Infra-Red Countermeasure (DIRCM) systems, providing high-performance protection for all types of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft against heat seeking Ground to Air Missiles (MANPADS), mini-MUSIC™ is an advanced, flight-tested DIRCM system in a single [...]
Camcopter S-100 increases experience on French Navy patrol vessel
Source: Schiebel, 17-Jun-13
Since the OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) L´Adroit was officially made available to the French Navy in October 2011, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) was able to prove its highly efficient maritime capability repeatedly. The Gowind Class L’Adroit, build by DCNS, has been designed to operate, amongst other capabilities, a UAS, and by installing [...]
Paris Air Show – AgustaWestland launch show app
Source: AgustaWestland, 17-Jun-13
The AgustaWestland Paris Airshow App 2013 (AWPAS) provides visitors with a unique insight into the Company’s presence at one of the industry’s premium airshows. The app provides coverage of the main events at the show. Under the section “AW News”, you will find all the latest press releases and stories from AgustaWestland. For real-time news, [...]
Boeing to Streamline Royal Netherlands Air Force Rotorcraft Maintenance
Source: Boeing, 17-Jun-13
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) have signed the first-ever integrated contract for maintenance and spare parts for Chinook and Apache helicopters, which will save the Dutch military money and increase aircraft availability by merging two formerly separate supply chains. The $60 million Integrated Contractor Logistics Support (ICLS) contract will provide [...]
Boeing Receives Additional Aircraft Support Contract from US Navy
Source: Boeing, 17-Jun-13
Boeing [NYSE: BA] will continue to ensure the availability of U.S. aircraft including the F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier, EA-6B Prowler and V-22 Osprey through a $5.5 million U.S. Navy contract to maintain the Reconfigurable Transportable Consolidated Automated Support System (RTCASS). The U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force Special Operations use RTCASS – which Boeing also [...]
Paris Air Show – Russian Helicopters
Source: Russian Helicopters, 16-Jun-13
Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, will bring an exciting line up of commercial and military helicopters to the 50th Paris Air Show – Le Bourget 2013, including the latest Ka-62 and Mi-171A2 for the commercial market. In collaboration with Rosoboronexport, the Company plans the [...]
Paris Air Show – Cassidian presents its Tanan 300 compact VTOL Tactical UAS
Source: Cassidian, 16-Jun-13
TANANTM 300 Cassidian presents its TANANTM 300 new-generation compact VTOL Tactical UAS (Vertical Take-Off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial System) for maritime and land missions. Designed in close collaboration with potential customers in order to match their specific requirements, TANANTM 300 is a real ‘eye in the sky’ thanks to a full HD imagery chain and to its [...]
India starts second AgustaWestland probe – this time for Army LUH program
15-Jun-13
CBI sources said the preliminary inquiry has been registered on the request of the Defence Ministry after it emerged that a Brigadier-level officer allegedly promised to help AgustaWestland swing the 197-helicopter deal. see full story
Bell to bring in contract workers
Source: Star Telegram, 15-Jun-13
Bell is expected to bring in contract workersbecause the company says machinists and other members of United Auto Workers Local 218 have refused to work overtime. see full story
Sikorsky awarded $244M for UH-60M helicopters
Source: US DoD, 15-Jun-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded a $244,863,014 modification (P00077), to a previously awarded, firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract (W58RGZ-12-C-0008), for the procurement of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. Fiscal 2013 procurement funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
@AgustaWestland has wobbly start in Twitter
Source: HeliHub.com, 14-Jun-13
AgustaWestland yesterday started out on Twitter – follow them at @AgustaWestland – but managed a fundamental spelling mistake on their second (of just two so far) tweets. Perhaps we should get them to write out 100 times “I mean tweeting, not twetting” ? Let’s hope this is a one-off oversight and that they use the [...]
US Army researchers chase helicopter performance gains
Source: US Army, 13-Jun-13
A new study by Army researchers looks at inserting carbon nanotubes into the structural design of helicopter rotor blades to improve performance. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory hopes this approach could lead to the design and fabrication of the next generation of rotor blades and fixed wings. Dr. Bryan Glaz, Dr. Jaret Riddick and Ed [...]
Longbow LLC receives $90M contract for Saudi Apache Radar Systems
Source: Longbow LLC, 13-Jun-13
The LONGBOW Limited Liability Company, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), received a $90.6 million contract to provide Saudi Arabia with LONGBOW Fire Control Radars (FCRs) for the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter. The contract award includes AH-64E LONGBOW FCRs, spares and support for the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command. The contract also includes [...]
Helisim and Eurocopter log 100,000th hour of simulator training for international customers
13-Jun-13
Helisim today celebrated the 100,000th hour milestone for flight simulator sessions with international customers, marking a key milestone in its training of pilots on Eurocopter helicopters that directly contributes to the safety of operators worldwide. The value of Helisim’s services is the highly realistic flight experience provided in its ground-based simulators, enabling pilots to encounter [...]
Helitech International conference program to explore industry future
Source: Helitech International, 13-Jun-13
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 [...]
Why is the X3′s speed an unofficial record?
Source: HeliHub.com, 13-Jun-13
Here in the HeliHub.com office, we’ve been wondering how Eurocopter have decided that the X3 speed is an “unofficial speed record”. What are they measuring it against? Who have they beaten? What makes it a record? The Eurocopter X3 is a hybrid aircraft which has vertical lift and hover capability, but features two massive tractor [...]
Bell-Boeing wins $4.9 Billion order for 99i Ospreys
Source: US DoD, 13-Jun-13
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $4,894,124,381 modification to definitize the previously awarded V-22 Lot 17 undefinitized contract action/Lot 18 advance acquisition contract to a fixed-price-incentive-fee, multiyear contract (N00019-12-C-2001). In addition, this modification provides for the manufacture and delivery of 92 MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft for the Marine Corps and 7 CV-22 [...]
Newpark Mats awarded $16M contract extension for helipad system
Source: US DoD, 13-Jun-13
Newpark Mats & Integrated Services LLC, The Woodland, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $16,043,571 modification (P0009) exercising the second option year period on contract (SPM8E6-11-D-0011) for facilities maintenance, rotary-wing aircraft Dura-Base Mat System. The contract is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract. Location of performance is Texas, with a July 10, 2014 performance completion date. [...]
Rolls-Royce awarded $7M for further AE1107 repair work
Source: US DoD, 13-Jun-13
Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $6,944,520 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-10-C-0020) to provide for 10 low power repairs of the AE1107 turboshaft engines for the Air Force variant of the CV-22 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. Work will be performed in Oakland, Calif. (70 percent) and Indianapolis, Ind. [...]
Bell detail Paris Air Show presence
Source: Bell, 13-Jun-13
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will display a number of aircraft and share program updates at the 2013 Paris Air Show, one of the largest aviation trade shows in the world, held at Le Bourget Exhibition Centre June 17-23. Demonstration flights will highlight two industry-leading Bell aircraft, the Bell 429 and Bell [...]
Turbomeca claims share of Eurocopter X3 speed record
Source: Turbomeca, 13-Jun-13
Following the Eurocopter publication, the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca joint-venture is pleased to announce that the RTM322 engine has contributed to aviation history in achieving a speed record of 255 knots during level flight, on the Eurocopter twin-engine X3 hybrid helicopter. The RTM322, a state-of-the-art design & architecture engine family combines power and growth potential. The RTM322 01/9a variant powering the [...]
Boeing Receives US Army Contract for Up to 215 Chinooks
Source: Boeing Defense, Space & Security, 12-Jun-13
In an agreement that will save the U.S. government more than $800 million, the Army and Boeing (NYSE: BA) have signed a $4 billion multi-year contract for 177 CH-47F Chinook helicopters, with the Army holding options that could increase its total buy to 215 aircraft. Deliveries from the agreement, which is a cost-effective alternative to [...]
Union rejects Bell’s latest contract offer
Source: my Foxdfw, 12-Jun-13
Union workers at Bell Helicopter have rejected the company’s last and final contract offer by a vote of 85 to 15 percent. The vote took place at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth. The contract expires at midnight Sunday. The union says the management’s latest offer would eliminate 200 jobs. (See Full Story)
International SAR 2013 – Conference Chairman’s report
Source: Tangent Link, 11-Jun-13
Chairmans report by Terry Loughran, Rear Admiral CB FRAeS, Conference Chairman. Tangent Link’s decision to return to the topic of Search & Rescue was perfectly timed as reflected in the response from the 132 attendees from 20 Nations, 24 exhibitors and enthusiastic sponsorship from AVINCIS and Airborne Technologies. The inevitable link with air capabilities, [...]
First European Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course
Source: Tangent Link, 10-Jun-13
FOURTEEN STUDENTS from Germany and Sweden together with four observers from Austria and Hungary participated in the first European Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course (EHTIC) which was successfully organised in two parts. The classroom and simulator phase took place from 08 – 28 April in the UK (RAF Linton-on-Ouse) and the life flying phase was hosted [...]
Hundreds rally at American Eurocopter to urge for UH-72A funding
Source: American Eurocopter, 10-Jun-13
U.S. Representatives Joe Barton and Marc Veasey joined leaders of American Eurocopter, EADS North America and Turbomeca at a rally Friday to call on Congress to restore funding for the Army’s UH-72A Lakota helicopter in the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. The rally took place at EADS North America’s American Eurocopter facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, [...]
CAE breaks ground on new training centre in Brunei
Source: CAE, 10-Jun-13
The Government of Brunei Darussalam, represented by the Ministry of Finance; the Brunei Economic Development Board (‘BEDB’) and CAE today held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially celebrate the construction of the new CAE Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre (MPTC) in Rimba. The groundbreaking, marked by a ceremonial concrete pouring for the first footing, was attended by [...]
RAF awards Eurocopter UK three year Puma Mk2 fleet support contract
Source: Eurocopter UK, 07-Jun-13
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 [...]
AVX Aircraft Company Selected at Category 1 competitor for JMR-TD
Source: AVX Aircraft Company, 07-Jun-13
AVX officials announced that AVX Aircraft Company’s submission for the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator has been selected by the U.S. Army as a category one proposal. AVX is now in negotiations with the Army. JMR TD contracts are expected to be awarded by mid- September 2013. The AVX proposal offers the capabilities the Army wants [...]
Panama takes delivery of fifth and sixth AW139s
Source: HeliHub.com, 06-Jun-13
The Panamanian Navy has just taken delivery of the last two AW139s of an order for six which they placed in 2010. With the first pair delivered in January 2013 and the second pair following in April, this marks the completion of the order. They formed part of a larger deal with AgustaWestland’s parent company [...]
Boeing to reduce Philadelphia workforce
Source: UAW Local 1069, 06-Jun-13
In a letter to the union members he represents, Chris Owens, President of UAW Local 1069 says… Brothers and Sisters, As your president, it has been my pleasure to bring you good news on many occasions in the past. Sadly, I have to confirm that the Boeing Company has come to this leadership and announced that they [...]
First Tiger HAD delivered to French Army
Source: French Army, 06-Jun-13
[electronic translation] The first helicopter Tiger HAD version (for Helicopter Support Destruction), was delivered to the base of the light aircraft of the Army in Le Cannet des Maures in the Var. On this occasion, the Army General Bertrand Ract Madouxlaan, Chief of Staff of the Army, boarded the new Tiger and welcomed this important event, ”the [...]
250th UH-72A Lakota in operation with US Army with Becker Avionics
Source: Becker Avionics, 06-Jun-13
With the recent delivery of the U.S. Army’s 250th UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) aircraft by EADS North America/Eurocopter, the program is just over two-thirds complete, and remains on schedule and within budget. Nevertheless, there have been some recent changes to the Lakota program due to Department of Defense budget pressures. In Fiscal Year [...]
Kaman Board of Directors Declares Dividend
Source: Kaman, 06-Jun-13
The Kaman Corporation board of directors today declared a regular quarterly dividend of 16 cents per common share. The dividend will be paid on July 2, 2013 to shareholders of record on June 18, 2013. About Kaman Corporation Kaman Corporation, founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut conducts [...]
New commanding officer at CGAS Borinquen
Source: US Coast Guard, 06-Jun-13
Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen received a new commanding officer Tuesday morning during the unit’s change of command ceremony at the base aircraft hangar in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Captain Patricia A. McFetridge, Air Station Borinquen’s new Commanding Officer, assumed command of the Coast Guard’s only aviation unit in the Caribbean, which is responsible for conducting [...]
Bell V-280 Valor™ Selected for Army’s JMR-TD Program
Source: Bell, 05-Jun-13
Bell announced that the Bell V-280 Valor™, its third generation tiltrotor design, has been selected by the U.S. Army for the Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) program. The Army is expected to award JMR-TD contracts by September 2013, with first flight scheduled for 2017. “The Bell V-280 Valor will provide the Army’s most sought-after capability with [...]
RAF Merlin helicopters end Afghan operations
Source: Royal Air Force, 05-Jun-13
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 [...]
Turbomeca and HeliDax celebrate 50,000 flight hours for the Arrius 2F
Source: Turbomeca, 04-Jun-13
During one ceremony Organized by HeliDax, Turbomeca (Safran) Announced That icts Arrius 2F engines Have reached 50,000 flight hours on the 36 single-engine EC120 helicopters operated by HeliDax. Made available to EALAT ( French Army Helicopter Pilot Training School ) Thesis aircraft are to be used falling on the basic training of future helicopter pilots [...]
Eurocopter’s German production lines working normally
Source: HeliHub.com, 04-Jun-13
Further to our earlier report which pointed out internet photos suggesting flooding at Eurocopter’s German centre at Donauworth, we can now confirm that the production lines are not affected at all. The staff and visitors vehicle parking area is flooded, as that lies a metre lower and does not drain very well – and potentially [...]
Eurocopter factory in Germany flooded?
Source: HeliHub.com, 04-Jun-13
Following severe weather in southern and eastern Europe in recent days, many areas are flooded. We have found this photo on Instagram which purportedly shows the Eurocopter factory at Donauworth in Germany surrounded by water. We are trying to verify how much the factory and production lines are affected – our principal contact at Eurocopter [...]
American Eurocopter Rally to Restore Funds for UH-72 Program
Source: American Eurocopter, 04-Jun-13
America Eurocopter will hold a rally Friday at 10:30 a.m. as part of a campaign to urge Congress to restore Fiscal Year 2014 funding for the Army UH-72A Lakota helicopter. Area public officials as well as executives of American Eurocopter and EADS North America will speak at this approximately one-hour event. Lunch will be served [...]
Rolls-Royce awarded $8.4M more to support V-22 engines
Source: US DoD, 03-Jun-13
Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded an $8,419,280 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-10-C-0020) for additional engineering services of up to 11,020 flight hours for the MV-22 fleet aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the east and west coast Marine Expeditionary Units deployments. Work will be performed in Oakland, Calif. [...]
Final MH-60J to MH-60T conversion begins for US Coast Guard
Source: US Coast Guard, 31-May-13
The Coast Guard’s H-60 Conversion Project, which modernizes the Service’s legacy fleet of H-60J Jayhawks to the upgraded MH-60T configuration, recently achieved three major milestones, project officials said. On March 15, 2013, the last MH-60J pilot completed training to transition to the MH-60T; on May 2, the last MH-60J air station completed the transition to [...]
Mississippians call on Congress to restore funds for UH-72A program
Source: American Eurocopter, 31-May-13
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper and U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee joined leaders of EADS North America and American Eurocopter at a rally Thursday to call on Congress to restore funding for the Army’s UH-72A Lakota helicopter in the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. The rally took place at EADS [...]
Three bidders remain for Australia’s military training plans
Source: Australian Government, 31-May-13
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly today announced that three Tenderers have been selected to progress Project Air 9000 Phase 7 which will provide a new helicopter aircrew training system to meet the future rotary wing training needs of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). AIR 9000 Phase 7 [...]
New Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 unit to help fight Maoists
Source: Vancouver Desi, 31-May-13
The anti-Maoist operations in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh are set to be augmented with the air force putting in place a squadron of its latest Mi-17 V-5 helicopters in Nagpur for the assistance of security forces. (See Full Story)
First European Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course Delivered Successfully
Source: EDA, 31-May-13
The aim of course is to give selected European helicopter aircrew tactical depth and expertise, leading to an enhanced awareness of helicopter tactics and employment and multi-national integration. At the end of the course graduates are adept at imparting tactical instruction during training and on operations and are also competent in providing helicopter tactical advice [...]
Huge Potential for Helicopter Usage in India
Source: HAL, 31-May-13
Keeping in line with the national policy of acquiring indigenous capabilities and self reliance HAL took initiative to organise a one-day seminar on “Future trends on Helicopter technologies” here today. Speaking on the occasion renowned aerospace scientist Prof Roddam Narasimha called for pragmatic policies to meet the strategic vision in the helicopter manufacturing and technology. [...]
Air Methods Successfully Renews DoD CARB Approval
Source: Air Methods, 31-May-13
Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq: AIRM), the global leader in air medical transportation, today announced that it has received U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Commercial Airlift Review Board (CARB) approval to continue participation in the DOD Air Transport Program. Conducted by the DOD Commercial Airlift Division, the CARB audit continuously monitors and oversees commercial air carriers [...]
Sikorsky contracted for four CH-53K prototypes at $435M
Source: US DoD, 31-May-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $435,315,279 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-06-C-0081) to procure four CH-53K System Demonstration Test Article aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn. (17 percent); West Palm Beach, Fla. (17 percent); Wichita, Kan.(15 percent); Salt Lake City, Utah (10 percent); St. Louis, Mo. (4 [...]
Second VIP Sokol delivered to Polish Air Force
Source: PZL-Świdnik, 30-May-13
PZL-Świdnik, an AgustaWestland company, is pleased to announce it has delivered the second W-3WA Sokol helicopter in VIP configuration to the Polish Air Force as part of a contract signed in 2011 for five aircraft. The first W-3WA Sokol was handed over four months ago and the remaining aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by [...]
France orders 34 NH90 helicopters from NHIndustries
Source: Reuters, 30-May-13
NHIndustries is 62.5 percent owned by EADS (EAD.PA) helicopter unit Eurocopter, 32 percent owned by Italian defence group Finmeccanica’s (SIFI.MI) AgustaWestland unit and 5.5 percent owned by Stork Fokker. (See Full Story)
