EC175 demo for offshore oil and gas industry
Source: Eurocopter, 12-Mar-13
Eurocopter and American Eurocopter are bringing a new EC175 helicopter, configured for offshore oil and gas industry transport, to the Houston area for demonstrations on Thursday and Friday, March 14-15. As part of the demonstration tour news media are invited to come see and fly in the EC175 on March 14 at Western Airways, 100 [...]
Transportes Aereos Pegaso Signs for Two EC155s
Source: Eurocopter, 08-Mar-13
On the final day of the Heli-Expo air show in Las Vegas, Mexican operator Transportes Aéreos Pegaso, the largest oil and gas transportation provider in the Gulf of Mexico, signed on for two EC155s. Live from the Eurocopter booth, Transportes Aéreos Pegaso CEO Enrique Zepeda and Eurocopter President and CEO Lutz Bertling celebrated the signature, [...]
All American Aviation to fly first AS350B3e on Gulf of Mexico
Source: American Eurocopter, 08-Mar-13
American Eurocopter is pleased to announce that All American Aviation LLC will be the first helicopter operator to provide offshore oil and gas transport service in the Gulf of Mexico using new Eurocopter AS350B3e AStar helicopters. All American has leased two AS350B3e aircraft from Rainier Heli International, an affiliate of Papillon Helicopters, and plans to [...]
Mexico’s ASESA signs for six S-76D
Source: Sikorsky, 07-Mar-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced the signing of a contract with ASESA (Aeroservicios Especializados, S.A. de C.V.), a Mexican helicopter service provider, for the purchase of six S-76D™ helicopters to serve the offshore oil transport mission. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), announced the sale at the 2013 Heli-Expo Industry Show. The sale [...]
Bristow awarded FAA STC for ADS-B Out solution on S76C
Source: Bristow Group, 05-Mar-13
Bristow Group Inc., a leading provider of helicopter services to the offshore energy industry, announced today that working with Aviation Design Management, it has been awarded an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for the installation of a fully rule compliant 1090ES DO-260B ADS-B Out solution for the Sikorsky S-76C+ and S-76C++ helicopters as the required first [...]
SkyCharts Releases First and Only iOS App for Helicopter Flight Charts
Source: SkyCharts, 04-Mar-13
SkyCharts LLC released the first available iOS mobile app of FAA navigational charts for helicopter pilots, SkyCharts Heli. This moving map has current aviation charts, including normal sectional & WAC merged charts, TAC & FLY charts and low en route charts. Users simply double tap anywhere on the maps to bring A/FD and instrument approaches. [...]
ASU completes second S-76C++ NVG conversion for PHi
Source: ASU, 02-Mar-13
ASU has completed their second night vision modification for a ASU aircraft owned and operated by PHI, Inc, headquartered in Lafayette, LA. The aircraft is a new aircraft that has been specifically designed to serve the oil and gas industry offshore. The aircraft is equipped with cardiac monitors with 12-lead EKG capability, transport ventilators and intravenous [...]
Transwest Helicopters to overhaul two Gulf of Mexico Bell 412s
Source: Transwest Helicopters, 03-Feb-13
Transwest Helicopters Ltd, who in October 2011 relocated from the Chilliwack Airport in Southwest British Columbia to the Oliver Airport in the Southern Interior, is pleased to announce that the company has won a contract to overhaul two Bell 412 helicopters at its brand new hangar facility in Oliver British Columbia Canada this winter. These [...]
RLC selects new SkyRouter to manage Gulf of Mexico fleet
Source: Blue Sky Network, 18-Dec-12
Blue Sky Network, a leading, global provider of satellite tracking and communication solutions for aviation, land, and marine, announced today that its fleet management portal, New SkyRouter, has been selected by RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico. New SkyRouter is a feature rich, cloud-based solution designed to enable constant connectivity with remotely dispersed mobile assets. [...]
Good news for Gulf of Mexico operators
Source: IEA, 13-Nov-12
The global energy map is changing in dramatic fashion, the International Energy Agency said as it launched the 2012 edition of the World Energy Outlook (WEO). The Agency’s flagship publication, released today in London, said these changes will recast expectations about the role of different countries, regions and fuels in the global energy system over the coming decades. “North [...]
Bristow selects FreeFlight Systems’ RANGR ADS-B Solution for GoM AW139 fleet
Source: FreeFlight Systems, 20-Aug-12
FreeFlight Systems announced today that Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS), a leading provider of helicopter services to the offshore energy industry, has selected FreeFlight Systems RANGR FDL-978TX ADS-B Out solution for its AW139 helicopters serving Bristow’s customers in the Gulf of Mexico. The FreeFlight Systems RANGR FDL-978TX system for the AW139 is the first certified, [...]
RLC awarded HAI Operator Safety Award for second consecutive year
Source: RLC, 16-Aug-12
RLC, the largest privately held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, has earned the Helicopter Association International (HAI) 2011 Operator Safety Award. The 2011 award marks the second year in a row RLC has been recognized by HAI for operator safety. The new award honors a total of over 115,000 accident-free flight hours over [...]
Era Group signs for five AW189s
Source: AgustaWestland, 11-Jul-12
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Era Group (“Era”) has signed a contract for five AW189 helicopters plus options. These aircraft will be used to perform long range offshore transport missions. Emilio Dalmasso, Senior Vice President Commercial Business Unit, AgustaWestland said “We are delighted to have signed this contract with Era, a [...]
RLC appoints VP of Human Resources
Source: RLC, 21-Jun-12
RLC, LLC today announced that Edie Hunt has joined the organization as Vice President Human Resources. She brings nearly 15 years of management and leadership experience in the field of human resources to her new role at RLC and has a proven track record in recruiting and retaining exceptional talent to facilitate company growth. As [...]
FreeFlight Systems and Chevron Receive STC for ADS-B solution
Source: FreeFlight Systems, 18-Jun-12
For First Rule-Compliant ADS-B Installation In GOMEX Helicopters Waco Texas, June 14, 2012, FreeFlight Systems, a leading NextGen avionics supplier, and Chevron Corporation announced today that FreeFlight Systems has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the first fully rule-compliant ADS-B solution for Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) helicopter operators. Developed using the FreeFlight Systems RANGR [...]
Pilot dies in PHi LongRanger accident in Gulf of Mexico
Source: HeliHub.com, 29-May-12
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches, [...]
Bristow LLC pilots ratify three year pay agreement
Source: OPEIU, 14-May-12
Oil service industry helicopter pilots in the Gulf of Mexico andAlaska, members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 107 employed by Bristow LLC, have voted to ratify a three-year agreement covering 235 pilots. The agreement comes after 18 months of negotiations and was ratified by 84.3 percent of the voting members. The secret [...]
S&P revises PHi outlook to stable from negative
Source: Standard & Poor, 30-Apr-12
Overview — U.S. aviation service provider PHI Inc.’s operating performance has improved materially over the last several quarters due to increased Gulf of Mexico activity and increased profitability in the company’s Air Medical segment. — We are revising the outlook on the company to stable from negative. We are affirming the ‘B+’ corporate credit rating. [...]
Sikorsky S76 down in Gulf of Mexico – all accounted for
Source: HeliHub.com, 18-Apr-12
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches, [...]
RLC appoints Director of Maintenance
Source: RLC, 17-Apr-12
RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, announced the appointment of Curtis Hudson as Director of Maintenance (DOM) of RLC. Hudson has been a vital team member at RLC for the past 18 years where he served in a variety of roles including his most recent position as Chief Inspector. His [...]
RLC President retires
Source: RLC, 26-Feb-12
RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, today announced the retirement of President, Rodger Bagwell. Dru Milke, who joined the company in September 2011 as CEO, will assume the role of President and CEO. During Bagwell’s tenure, RLC grew from a small Part 135 operator focused primarily on the refurbishment and [...]
Era Helicopters orders seven EC135s
Source: American Eurocopter, 15-Feb-12
From Eurocopter booth #1917 at the 2012 Heli-Expo, Era Helicopters and American Eurocopter announced Era’s acquisition of seven EC135® helicopters. With this purchase, Era’s fleet will include 17 EC135s. “Era and American Eurocopter are committed to aviation excellence by incorporating the latest technology aircraft and training in order to provide the highest levels of safety [...]
Two executive appointments at RLC
Source: RLC, 06-Dec-11
RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, today announced key appointments in finance and business development. Joan McCarthy has been named CFO, bringing the company extensive expertise in management and accounting including more than 15 years of experience in the offshore oil and gas service industry. Travis Latiolais, RLC’s newly-named Vice President of Business [...]
Gulf of Mexico operations claim 139 lives in 27 years
Source: Johns Hopkins University, 25-Nov-11
A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy finds that helicopters that service the drilling platforms and vessels in the Gulf of Mexico crash on average more than six times per year resulting in an average of 5 deaths per year. From 1983 to 2009, 178 crashes resulted [...]
RLC signs four year contract with FlightSafety International
Source: RLC, 17-Nov-11
RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, today announced it has signed a four-year contract with FlightSafety International, the world’s leading aviation training company and provider of flight simulators and advanced flight training devices used by the aviation industry, governments and military agencies worldwide. This agreement extends a relationship between RLC [...]
RLC wins HAI Safety Award
Source: RLC, 21-Sep-11
RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, today announced it has earned the Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) 2010 Operator Safety Award. This coveted honor is bestowed upon helicopter operators who operated without accident in the previous year. HAI acknowledged RLC for its outstanding 2010 safety record of 72,000+ accident-free flight hours. [...]
RLC appoints new CEO, COO and VP Operations
Source: RLC, 15-Sep-11
Today RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, announced the appointment of Dru Milke as CEO of RLC. Milke brings RLC a wealth of domestic and international management experience and a proven track record in both the offshore rotorcraft services and oil and gas industries. The company also recently named Larry [...]
Private equity house invests in RLC
Source: RLC, 15-Sep-11
RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator for the oil & gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, today announced that it has secured a strategic investment from Sankaty Advisors, one of the nation’s leading private managers of fixed income and credit instruments. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Broussard, Louisiana, RLC [...]
Rotorcraft Leasing Company rebrands as RLC
Source: RLC, 15-Sep-11
Today in conjunction with the announcement of a strategic investment from Sankaty Advisors and a number of key leadership team appointments, helicopter services provider RLC unveiled a fresh corporate brand identity including a new logo, tagline and redesigned website. As part of this evolution, the company, previously known as Rotorcraft Leasing Company, has standardized on [...]
Gulf of Mexico 1983-2009 = 178 crashes, 139 deaths
Source: UPI, 12-Sep-11
Helicopters servicing drilling platforms and ships in the Gulf of Mexico crash on average six times per year, mostly from mechanical failure, a report says.
PHI accuses Sikorsky of withholding S76C accident report
Source: Houston Chronicle, 31-Aug-11
In a court filing last Friday, PHI Inc. claims Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. withheld a report by one of its lead engineers because his analysis concluded Sikorsky’s faulty design caused its helicopter to crash near Morgan City. (see full story)
Seacor announces IPO to hive off Era Helicopters
Source: Seacor Holdings, 02-Aug-11
Era Group Inc. (“Era”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc. CKH -0.41% (“SEACOR”), one of the largest helicopter operators in the world, today announced that it has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its Class A common stock. The shares to be [...]
PHi chooses AW139s and Signs Long-Term Engine Service Agreement for PT6C-67C Engines
Source: Pratt & Whitney Canada, 06-Mar-11
PHI Inc (NASDAQ: PHII, PHIIK), a leading provider of helicopter transportation and related services to a diverse customer group that includes the oil and gas industries, has purchased 10 AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s (P&WC’s) PT6C-67C engines. As well, PHI has signed a long-term Engine Service Agreement for the repair and [...]
Shell considers move to non-airport base to avoid $1.5M tax at Scholes
Source: Galveston Daily News, 22-Feb-11
Shell pays about $1.5M annually in taxes by using Scholes International Airport. These are imposed on passengers flying on large helicopters such as S-92s and S-76s, which PHI operates at Scholes. To avoid the tax, Shell has asked PHI to move its base from the island to a non-airport field in Alvin. Click on the [...]
Gulf of Mexico ADS-B Avionics Forum to be held at Heli-Expo 2011
Source: HAI, 15-Feb-11
HAI is pleased to announce a Gulf of Mexico ADS-B avionics forum will be held at HELI-EXPO 2011 in Orlando, Fla. on Tuesday, March 8, from 1:00pm-3:00pm in Room S230 A & B of the Orange County Convention Center. The forum will include helicopter operators, avionics and airframe manufacturers and the FAA, with discussion focused on [...]
PHI show commitment to Scholes International Airport
Source: Galveston Daily News, 14-Feb-11
Corporate officers with PHI have grounded whirling rumors that they planned to move longtime operations from the island to the mainland. PHI has about nine helicopters at Scholes International Airport to shuttle crews to and from offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
NBC Nightly News features ADS-B in Gulf of Mexico
Source: HAI, 04-Jan-11
NBC Nightly News recently aired a report on the FAA’s Next-Generation Air Traffic System that featured the pioneering application of that system’s backbone, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), for helicopter operations in the Gulf of Mexico. “The FAA is touting a revolutionary system that it says will overhaul air traffic control across America, making the nation’s [...]
PHi and Bristow fight new Louisiana state law
Source: 3TheAdvocate, 03-Dec-10
PHI and Bristow argue in a federal lawsuit filed last week in Lafayette that the law is an improper and unnecessary intrusion by the state into the realm of aviation regulation, which is generally handled by the federal government.
Chevron orders two Bell 429s for Gulf of Mexico ops
Source: Bell, 22-Nov-10
FORT WORTH, TX. (November 22, 2010) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced the sale of two (2) 429 helicopters to Chevron, one of the largest integrated energy companies in the world. The aircraft will be servicing Chevron’s oil & gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico with deliveries planned in [...]
WSI enhances Gulf of Mexico capabilities for helicopter operators
Source: WSI, 15-Oct-10
WSI (Weather Services International) today announced that its award-winning Pilotbrief Online flight service has added US Mineral Management Service (MMS) Blocks and Platforms, as well as new weather hazard analysis features focused on the Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) for rotorcraft operators. ”WSI Pilotbrief has always offered best-in-class global weather decision support for pilots in one [...]
Platform worker sues PHi after being struck by lightning
Source: Louisiana Record, 18-Aug-10
Mississippi resident is suing a helicopter courier service for insisting to transport him in severe and dangerous weather.
Coulson offers helicopter for Gulf cleanup
Source: Alberni Valley Times, 10-Aug-10
Coulson Group president Wayne Coulson travelled to ther State of Louisiana to discuss using the company’s aerial grapple technology, according to chief operating officer Jim Messer.
Era and Priority 1 Air Rescue establish JV SAR training centre
Source: Era Helicopters, 17-Jul-10
Era Helicopters and Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR) announced today they have launched a joint Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) Training School – the first ever established in North America solely dedicated to train commercial, law enforcement and foreign military aviation professionals and their aircrews in performing Helicopter SAR and HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Service). The [...]
EMS Aviation FLEET™ tracking system leads rescuers to birds caught in GoM oil spill
Source: EMS Aviation, 09-Jul-10
EMS Aviation, a division of mobile connectivity leader EMS Technologies, Inc., announced today that its FLEET tracking system is being used by Florida-based Heliworks Inc. to help rescue birds endangered by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Contracted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to search for affected birds and lead rescuers [...]
Era Helicopters and Priority 1 Air Rescue Announce Louisiana SAR Service
Source: Era Helicopters, 06-Jul-10
Era Helicopters LLC (Era) announced today the launch of a Search and Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (SAR/EMS) operation from its base located in Fourchon, Louisiana. Together, Era and Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR) will offer FAA-approved, full-service SAR/EMS capability and turnkey solutions to offshore Oil & Gas companies located in the Gulf of Mexico [...]
16 Lakotas supporting Gulf of Mexico oil spill response
Source: EADS, 30-Jun-10
Sixteen U.S. Army National Guard UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters are operating in the Gulf Coast region to support oil spill monitoring and response missions known as Operation Deepwater Horizon. The sixteen Lakotas are assigned to Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida Army National Guard units who are providing observation, command and control and general aviation [...]
FAA responds to Gulf of Mexico story about Temporary Flight Restrictions
Source: FAA, 18-Jun-10
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today’s story by the Associated Press contains a number of inaccuracies with regard to the government’s oversight of flyovers in and around the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Since May 28th, the FAA has approved every request to fly over the area – more than 176 requests. While the temporary [...]
Bristow provides update on Gulf of Mexico operations
Source: Bristow, 10-Jun-10
Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS) today provided an update on the impact of the ongoing deepwater oil spill and the recently announced 180-day moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico (the “Drilling Moratorium”) on its activity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. “While we expect that the Drilling Moratorium will have a near [...]
Columbia Helicopters deploys second BV107 to GOM oil spill
Source: Columbia Helicopters, 03-Jun-10
Columbia Helicopters is pleased to announce the deployment of a second heavy-lift helicopter to Louisiana to assist with efforts in preventing the further spread of the Gulf oil spill. The helicopters will also assist with clean-up operations already underway. Working currently under contract to British Petroleum (BP), the two Columbia 107-II helicopters will carry sandbags [...]
Acadian plays a key role in an oil rig explosion off Louisiana
Source: Acadian Air Med, 23-Apr-10
Acadian’s Air Med, the One Gulf Offshore Emergency Call Center and Acadian Ambulance played a key role in rescue efforts after Tuesday’s oil rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana, transporting 18 of the workers injured in the blast to local New Orleans area and Alabama hospitals. Eleven people are still missing after the massive [...]
Broadpoint partners with SandRidge and FAA for Gulf of Mexico communications
Source: Broadpoint, 20-Mar-10
Broadpoint, an industry leader in telecommunications and network solutions, has announced its contract with SandRidge Energy to provide critical offshore aviation communications to the Federal Aviation Administration. Using Broadpoint’s expansive digital communications network, the Federal Aviation Administration was able to successfully upgrade critical airspace communications equipment, located on offshore oil platforms owned by SandRidge Energy, [...]
Gulf of Mexico controllers start to use ADS-B technology
Source: FAA, 12-Jan-10
WASHINGTON — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced today that Houston air traffic controllers are beginning to use an improved satellite-based system – Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) — to more efficiently and safely separate and manage aircraft flying over the Gulf of Mexico. “Safety is our highest priority at the U.S. Department of [...]
VIH Cougar Helicopters Takes Delivery Of An AW139
Source: AgustaWestland, 12-Jan-10
AgustaWestland , a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the VIH Cougar Helicopters Inc. of USA has taken delivery of an AW139 medium twin helicopter during an official ceremony recently held at Vergiate plant (Italy). This 12 seat-configured helicopter will be operated for offshore transport missions in the Gulf of Mexico. Emilio Dalmasso, Senior [...]
Pilot sues after trip and fall from helicopter
Source: South East Texas Record, 26-Sep-09
A helicopter pilot has filed suit against the owners of a platform and the company that maintains the platform, alleging he tripped while attempting to get out of a helicopter.
Aircraft in Gulf of Mexico to be tracked using satellites
Source: AP, 15-Sep-09
Air traffic controllers will begin using satellite technology in December to track aircraft flying over the Gulf of Mexico, a significant milestone in the government’s program to replace the nation’s radar-based air traffic system, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Monday.
