2-Mar-2011
Force landed near a parking deck... Read more
1-Mar-2011Source: United Rotorcraft Solutions
United Rotorcraft Solutions (URS) recently completed an avionics upgrade on a Bell 407 for DS Aviation of Dallas, TX. The new helicopter was originally customized by URS and delivered to DS Aviation in early 2010. The customer wanted to incorporate the latest glass cockpit and brought the aircraft back to United Rotorcraft to perform the... Read more
1-Mar-2011Source: SkyTrac Systems
SkyTrac Systems is pleased to announce that the European Safety Agency (EASA) has issued installation approvals for its next generation automated flight following and satellite communications system on the following airframes: Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma Eurocopter EC 120 Eurocopter EC 135 Eurocopter EC 225 Bell 407 Bell 206 Steve Fuhr, VP and Director of... Read more
1-Mar-2011
Very heavy landing on long-line training flight. Helicopter ended up on starboard side with boom separated.... Read more
28-Feb-2011
Helicopter crashed on the beach, ending up on its side with boom separated. Sole occupant pilot was seriously injured, pulled from the wreckage by a passer-by and flown to Palmerston North Hospital. Pilot name reported as Jim Sherwin, aged 60... Read more
28-Feb-2011
Bird strike which caused windshield to shatter... Read more
24-Feb-2011Source: Becker Avionics
Bell Helicopter Tennessee (formally Edwards and Associates) recently delivered two new Bell 412EP Search and Rescue (SAR)/Fire Fighting helicopters to Japan with Becker Avionics’ DVCS6100 Digital Audio System installed. The DVCS6100 was chosen due to its unique ability to effectively manage and control multiple audio sources and cabin passenger positions in both helicopters. Becker’s Digital... Read more
24-Feb-2011
Main rotor struck tail boom during autorotation landing... Read more
23-Feb-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company has announced that its Lafayette, Louisiana facility has successfully achieved AS9100 Implementation and Certification. This certification confirms that the Lafayette quality management system (QMS) is certified for manufacturing composite panels and allows Lafayette to operate as an extension of the Bell Helicopter’s Fort Worth headquarters. “Achieving this... Read more
22-Feb-2011
Emergency landing on road during post-maintenance check flight. No injuries or damage... Read more
22-Feb-2011
Brown out at 30 to 40 ft during an NVG approach... Read more
21-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Further to our breaking story last week that two Agusta-Bell 206As had arrived at the Airwork facility at Caboolture, we can report that the toal package now appears to be six helicopters. The following Austrian codes, followed by their Agusta serials, have been reported there now:- 3C-JB (8128), 3C-JC (8130), 3C-JF (8133), 3C-JH (8135), 3C-JJ... Read more
21-Feb-2011Source: LaBarge
LaBarge, Inc. (NYSE Amex: LB), a provider of electronics manufacturing services (EMS), has received a $3.8 million contract from Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, to continue to produce electronic assemblies for the H-1 Upgrade Program for helicopters used by the U.S. Marine Corps. Just as the UH-1N is being rebuilt and redesigned... Read more
20-Feb-2011Source: Bell
ABU DHABI, UAE (February 21, 2011) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced the first delivery of a Bell 429 helicopter to a customer in the Middle East. The announcement took place at IDEX, the largest defense and security event in the region. The customer, Strong Aviation, is headquartered in Kuwait... Read more
18-Feb-2011
Brig. Gen. Alfredo Bocanegra Navia, the 48-year-old commander of the army’s 5th Brigade, and his aides (Lt. John Alexander Salcedo, Pvt. German Alfonso Ortiz) were traveling from brigade headquarters in Bucaramanga, Santander’s capital, to the town of Aguachica in neighboring Cesar province. Civilian pilot Jaime Landinez was also killed... Read more
17-Feb-2011Source: Bell
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 17, 2011) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been voted number one in product support by the readers of Professional Pilot magazine. With its largest lead and highest ranking of 7.96 out of a possible 10.0 since the awards inception, Bell Helicopter has earned this top honor... Read more
17-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Two Bell AB206 JetRangers were delivered by road to Airwork’s facility at Caboolture Airfield in Australia today. Coded 3C-JF and 3C-JM, these were previously operated by the Austrian Air Force and retired from service in 2009. Austria bought a total of 25 AB206/OH-58s, a first batch of 13 AB206A models, followed later by 12 OH-58Bs. ... Read more
16-Feb-2011Source: US DoD
General Electric Engine Services, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, is being awarded a $13,783,020 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-09-D-0008) for the repair of 15 T700-GE-401 engines and 36 T700-GE-401C engines for the AH-1Z and UH-1Y H-1 helicopters. Work will be performed in Winfield, Kan., and is expected to be completed in February 2012. ... Read more
15-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Helipark has been awarded the Platinum Seal, awarded by Bell to companies that achieve the highest standard of quality, the first time a South American company has achieved that accolade. Founded in 2002, Helipark has this year gone one better, after receiving a Gold Seal in last year’s assessment of Bell’s maintenance organisations. The Platinum... Read more
15-Feb-2011
Precautionary landing after bird strike... Read more
12-Feb-2011Source: Van Horn Aviation
Composite rotor blade manufacturer Van Horn Aviation (VHA) recently signed an offer to purchase on a 23,000+ sq. ft. facility in Tempe, Ariz., significantly expanding the company’s available manufacturing space compared to its current location. According to VHA president James R. Van Horn, the expansion is required to accommodate current and future rotor blade programs.... Read more
12-Feb-2011Source: Scott’s – Bell 47 Inc
Scott’s – Bell 47 Inc. (SB47) has provided an update to the marketplace on their progress as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) of the Model 47 helicopter and also announced their plans for HELI-EXPO 2011, March 5-8, in Orlando, Fla. “Ensuring good supply of quality, affordable spare parts to the existing Model 47 fleet has to... Read more
11-Feb-2011Source: Becker Avionics
Becker Avionics’ DVCS6100 Digital Audio System was recently selected by Mercy Flight Inc. of Buffalo, NY, for integration into their newly purchased Bell 429 light-twin helicopter and one of their existing BK117 EMS helicopters. The new aircraft will be delivered by Bell Helicopter Tennessee (formally Edwards and Associates) to Edwards and Associates during the first... Read more
11-Feb-2011Source: Bell
For the fourth consecutive year Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), hosted college students from universities around the United States. at its company-sponsored Engineering boot camps. This year, a total of 20 engineering students representing 11 different universities from across the country attended the boot camps. “Bell Helicopter has received an excellent response... Read more
10-Feb-2011
Crashed in mountainous region, pilot named as (José Gregorio Escalona) was killed in the impact... Read more
9-Feb-2011Source: DART Helicopter Services
DART Helicopter Services is pleased to announce that their affiliated partner, DART Aerospace Ltd., has received Transport Canada and EASA approvals for their Cargo Mirror mounted LED Pulse Lights Bell 204/205/210/212/214/412 model of aircraft. FAA approval is still pending. DART LED Pulse Lights install easily on any DART Dual Cargo Mirror and provide excellent forward... Read more
9-Feb-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) officially dedicated their newest flight hangar at the Military Aircraft Assembly and Delivery Center in Amarillo, TX for work specifically supporting the U.S. Army’s OH-58 Kiowa Warrior program. “We, at Bell Helicopter, are honored by the confidence and trust the U.S. Army, the Program Executive Officer of Army Aviation,... Read more
9-Feb-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has announced the first delivery of a Bell 429 helicopter to a customer in India. The announcement took place at the biennial Aero India air show where the company has the aircraft on display. The customer, Span Air, is headquartered in New Delhi and is one of... Read more
8-Feb-2011
The new medical airlift service, using two helicopters to ferry patients during emergencies to be implemented by the Health Ministry in Sabah later this year, will be the first of its kind in Malaysia.... Read more
7-Feb-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced the appointment of Jeffrey L. Angelos as Director, Commercial Sales for North America. Angelos will be responsible for planning and direction of sales, marketing and after sales support for the North American region. He will report directly to Larry D. Roberts, Senior Vice President, Commercial... Read more
6-Feb-2011
The UH-1 Huey has been a recognized symbol of the American military for half a century... Read more
6-Feb-2011Source: DSCA
The Yemen Air Force (YAF) took delivery of four utility helicopters from the United States under the 1206 program, on 16 January. Yemen received spares and associated tools for the Bell UH-1Hs, or Huey IIs, on 3 January. The delivery of this package comes exactly one hundred and ten days after the U.S. Government signed... Read more
4-Feb-2011Source: Donaldson
While thousands enjoy one of the sports world’s most popular annual events, air crews with the Dallas Police Department’s (DPD) Helicopter Unit will be patrolling the skies over this year’s Super Bowl. On every flight, while these airborne law enforcers carry out their vital public safety missions, Inlet Barrier Filters (IBFs) from Donaldson Aerospace &... Read more
3-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
In announcing the award to Rogerson Kratos of a contract to supply a cockpit display system, Bell have effectively released details on their Magellan project (see HeliHub.com report on this “secret program”, which cited an upgraded 412 as one of three possibilities). Bell’s press release stated that Rogerson would be supplying “the cockpit display system... Read more
3-Feb-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, A Textron Company, today awarded to Rogerson Kratos, A Rogerson Company, the cockpit display system for the Magellan 412 EP, a new commercial helicopter designed to meet operator’s current requirements, as well as future possible needs for foreign or U.S. military programs. Rogerson Kratos new cockpit display system is the most advanced available... Read more
2-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com’s correspondant in New Zealand has advised us that a recently registered Bell 429, the first of its type in the country, was noted test flying at Ardmore Airfield yesterday. The all black craft was completing compass swing tests prior to delivery to the customer. It has been registered to Advanced Flight Ltd at an... Read more
2-Feb-2011Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded a maximum $95,946,830 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for various assembly parts. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is Jan. 31, 2014. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal,... Read more
2-Feb-2011Source: Today's Zaman
see also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 25-Mar-09 TC-HEK Bell B206L4 Haci Omerli, Turkey (6F) File Photo... Read more
2-Feb-2011Source: US DoD
PKL Services, Inc.*, Poway, Calif., is being awarded a $15,918,581 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00421-09-C-0023) to exercise an option for organizational level maintenance on the following Marine Corps aircraft platforms: AH-1W, UH-1N, CH-53D/E, and CH-46E. Work will be performed in Camp Pendleton, Calif. (30 percent); New River, N.C. (25 percent); Iraq/Afghanistan (22... Read more
2-Feb-2011
New York’s WABC is updating Newscopter 7 to a Bell 407... Read more
2-Feb-2011
Helicopter was harvesting pine cones and descending to unload. At about 100ft agl, tail rotor authority was lost and the helicopter began to rotate. The main rotor contacted trees and the helicopter crashed on its left side. The pilot was the sole occupant and sustained minor injuries. CADAORS ref 2011C0421... Read more
31-Jan-2011Source: DART Helicopter Services
DART Helicopter Services and its subsidiary Geneva Aviation have completed an agreement with Flightcell® International, Ltd., that will enable commercial helicopter operators to install satellite telephone capabilities quickly and easily in rotorcraft. DART and Geneva Aviation have pending Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a Flightcell “Iridium†Satellite Phone... Read more
31-Jan-2011Source: Aerial Filmworks
The hit show “Hawaii Five-0†contracted Aerial Filmworks to provide the Cineflex V14HD and camera operators for the latest aerial scenes. The crew filmed on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. “The Cineflex allowed us to quickly film a number of sequences at a wide variety of locations,†states Mark Gerasimenko, one of Hawaii Five-O’s... Read more
31-Jan-2011Source: Donaldson
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company (NYSE:DCI), is helping a sheriff’s office safeguard thousands of citizens by protecting the department’s law enforcement helicopter from damaging debris and contaminants with a Donaldson Inlet Barrier Filter. Few rotorcraft cover a more beautiful and challenging territory than “Henry-1,†the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Bell 407. With... Read more
28-Jan-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has announced that the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) has awarded the Bell 429 helicopter Brazilian certification. This approval follows certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada (TC) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). “This certification clears the way for the... Read more
28-Jan-2011
Precautionary landing on school field after warning light illuminated. Timed at 3.30am local... Read more
27-Jan-2011Source: Heliworks
Heliworks, Inc., a Part 145 Repair Station based in Pensacola, Fla., and specializing in structural repair and rebuilds of Bell helicopters, recently completed rebuilds of two TH-67 (Bell 206B3) helicopters for the U.S. Army. According to Heliworks president Stephen Simpson, the implementation of Quantum Control aviation enterprise resource planning (ERP) software mid-way through the rebuild... Read more
26-Jan-2011Source: World Bulletin
A recent report prepared by the State Audit Institution (DDK) on a 2009 helicopter accident that killed six people, including Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin YazıcıoÄŸlu, has found the deaths “suspicious.â€Â HeliHub.com page for this accident is here. File photo... Read more
26-Jan-2011Source: Textron
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) today reported 2010 fourth quarter income of $0.19 per share, compared to a loss of $0.23 per share in the fourth quarter of 2009. Excluding special charges, the company reported income from continuing operations of $0.33 per share, up from $0.15 per share in the fourth quarter of 2009. Revenues were... Read more
25-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Amarillo College officials are to be presented with a state grant from the Texas Workforce Commission of more than $160,000 to support a Bell training program. The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday on the second floor of the College Union Building on their Washington Street Campus. Texas Workforce Commission’s Chairman Tom Pauken is... Read more
25-Jan-2011Source: SK Logistics
SK Logistics was recently awarded an exclusive use helicopter contract supporting DOD agencies at Eglin and Tyndall Air Force Bases. The contract was awarded in December 2010 and will be active for six months. Department of Defense agencies under this contract will be utilizing SK Logistics’ helicopter for prescribed burning, fire suppression and numerous other... Read more
25-Jan-2011Source: GKN Aerospace
Following a recent and detailed assessment of the business, Bell Helicopter has awarded GKN Aerospace in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK, the coveted ‘Premier Supplier’ rating. Bell Helicopter has only awarded this to approximately 10% of its suppliers and GKN Aerospace is the first ever UK-based supplier to receive the award. This accolade... Read more
23-Jan-2011Source: Taipei Times
National Airborne Service Corps has abandoned its UH-1 upgrade project and will instead take on charge 15 of the 60 UH-60 Black Hawks currently being procured (see HeliHub.com story on that order)... Read more
21-Jan-2011Source: Helihub.com
Bell has issued an internal memo officially telling employees of the Magellan program, “formerly known as Project X”. Evidently still mostly under wraps, nothing is given away as to the size of the helicopter or its capabilities, and we expect Bell to expand on this at the upcoming Heli-Expo in Orlando in early March. A... Read more
20-Jan-2011
Pilot was Scott Finlayson, rescued safely and briefly hospitalised.... Read more
19-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Maritime Helicopters has purchased a new 407 that will be available for charter in 2011. This aircraft is a 2007 model with just 119 hours total time on the airframe It is uniquely configured with the Chelton 3D Synthetic Vision EFIS glass cockpit, including “Highway in the Skyâ€, Radar Altimeter/TCAS/Terrain Monitoring/Map Overlays and multiple other... Read more
18-Jan-2011Source: ISAF
KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan. 18, 2011) — Coalition forces in western Kandahar province completed Operation Aero Hunter Jan. 13. The operation consisted of two phases. The first part was a patrol to flush insurgents out of a village. The second, to implement a series of snap vehicle checkpoints along Route 1 near Forward Operating Base Ramrod.... Read more
18-Jan-2011Source: WCF Courier
see also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 23-Jul-10 N40TA Bell B206 New Hampton, US-Mississippi [file photo]... Read more
16-Jan-2011Source: KCRG
see also HeliHub.com report – 28-Jul-10 N275RA Bell B206 St.Olaf, US-Iowa... Read more
16-Jan-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been awarded a 10-year, $640M (CAN) support services contract for the Canadian Forces CH146 Griffon fleet. This contract, known as the CH146 Optimized Weapon System Support (OWSS) contract includes aspects of management services, engineering and technical publications, aircraft maintenance services and spare and consumable parts. The... Read more
16-Jan-2011Source: Aviation Week
A decade after first flight, the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z attack helicopter finally graduated from a turbulent operational evaluation and is being readied for its first shipboard deployment.... Read more
16-Jan-2011Source: News Channel 10
Bell Helicopter has added another hangar to their assembly and delivery center. A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday afternoon.... Read more
15-Jan-2011
Main blades severed tail boom during autorotation on training flight... Read more
14-Jan-2011
Reportedly developed mechanical difficulties and crashed into a coconut tree while landing... Read more
13-Jan-2011Source: Dominican Today
see also HeliHub.com page for this accident at – 09-Jan-11 N926MF Bell 427 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (File photo)... Read more
11-Jan-2011Source: DART Helicopter Services
DART Helicopter Services’ announces that their subsidiary partner Apical Industries has received FAA approval or their new Cable Cutters Kits for Bell 407 model helicopters. Transport Canada and EASA approvals are pending. The Apical Cable Cutters Kits provide a means of protecting the helicopter during a wire strike by providing the capability to cut a... Read more
11-Jan-2011Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced the recent sale of two Bell 407 helicopters to PHI, one of the world’s leading helicopter services companies, for use in the transportation of oil and gas workers in the Gulf of Mexico. PHI, known industry wide for the relentless pursuit of safe and reliable... Read more
11-Jan-2011
TV reporting helico0pter for WCVB – Boston’s Channel 5. Warning light came on and pilot made immediate emergency landing. No damage to helicopter. Pilot Michael Young employed buy Helicopters Inc, and photographer Karen Lippert of WCVB were aboard.... Read more
10-Jan-2011
Television stations cited the military as saying officials had reached the wreckage, but fog covered the area. It was a Bell UH-1 on a night training mission... Read more
9-Jan-2011
Crew reported as pilot Osvaldo Perez Feliz and copilot Mario Rivas, neither badly hurt. The helicopter is often used privately by Dominican Republic opposition leader, Miguel Vargas, and was only 1.5 miles out from 1.5 miles from Higüero Airport on a flight to La Romana to pick him up.... Read more
7-Jan-2011Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $13,548,330 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-10-C-0035) to exercise an option for system engineering and program management for the oversight of production efforts in support of H-1 helicopters upgrade program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected... Read more
7-Jan-2011Source: US DoD
Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $48,981,414 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-07-C-0060) for the procurement of 24 AE1107C engines for the Air Force CV-22 aircraft (14 spares and 10 Lot 15 installs). Work will be performed in Oakland, Calif. (70 percent), and Indianapolis, Ind. (30 percent), and is expected to... Read more
6-Jan-2011Source: News and Sentinel
Federal Law Enforcement Support Office prevented Washington County Sheriff selling the helicopters and instructed them to hand them to Marion County, who should pick them up January 13. They are belived to be N381WC (ex US Army 70-15208) and N575WC (ex 70-15387)... Read more
6-Jan-2011
NTSB report noted that an autopsy revealed traces of an antihistamine and an opiate on the body of pilot Dennis Donovan, aged 70. See also HeliHub.com accident report page – 05-Jan-10 N5016U Bell B206 nr Redinger Lake, US-California (4F)... Read more
