24-Sep-2019Source: Airbus Helicopters
[electronic translation] Airbus Helicopters has appointed Alexandre Ceccacci General Manager of his own customer assistance center in Italy. The appointment of Alexandre Ceccacci follows the recent acquisition by Airbus of Aersud Helicopters, historical distributor of Airbus Helicopters in Italy. Airbus has thus consolidated the its presence in an important market that currently has 250 Airbus helicopters... Read more
22-Jul-2019Source: Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters has strengthened its footprint in Italy with the acquisition of its distributor and 50-year partner Aersud Elicotteri. Headquartered in the North of Italy, near the city of Verona, Aersud has played a key role in the development of the country’s helicopter market. It has successfully increased Airbus Helicopters’ market share in Italy, particularly... Read more
19-Jun-2019Source: Leonardo
Leonardo announced new signed contracts for five additional AW139s to the Italian National Fire Corps (Vigili del Fuoco, part of Ministry of the Interior), including integrated logistic support and training for crews and technicians. The orders, valued at over €75 million, add to the previously purchased three units, with two already delivered this year. The... Read more
17-Jun-2019Source: Kopter
In March 2019, Kopter transferred its third prototype (P3) together with a team composed of 20 flight test engineers, pilots and mechanics to Sicily to set up an additional flight test base in Pozzallo. Pozzallo provides the perfect operational conditions to conduct the SH09 intensive flight test campaign needed in the frame of certification. It... Read more
3-Jun-2019Source: Marenco
P3 has been flying in Pozzallo, Sicily, since March and has completed its first block of flight tests. An average flying rate of 9 flights per week has been achieved with P3, which is already going successfully through its first scheduled inspection without any major findings. The performed flights, which involved a series of manoeuvres... Read more
18-Feb-2019Source: Leonardo
Leonardo opened today its new facility in Pisa (Italy) dedicated to the development and production of the AWHERO Rotary Unmanned Air System (RUAS). During the official ceremony, also attended by national and local authorities and representatives from the industry, the first pre-production aircraft was also officially unveiled. Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo said: “I am... Read more
25-Jan-2019
Mid-air crash between AS350B2 I-EDIC and a Jodel D140 fixed wing F-PMGV, resulting in seven fatalities between the total of nine on board the two aircraft. Helicopter pilot was named here as Maurizio Scarpelli, accompanied by mountain guide Frank Henssler and three others, one of whom survived. In the fixed wing were four people, the French instructor named... Read more
15-Nov-2018Source: HeliHub.com
Italy is planning on cutting €450 million from their 2019 planned defence spending in order to help support tax and social welfare cuts. A detailed plan will be released in the coming days but for now they have revealed that the money will be coming from suspending their purchases on NH-90 aircraft for both the... Read more
13-Nov-2018Source: Leonardo
Leonardo announced the signing of a contract with Italy’s Guardia di Finanza for 22 new generation AW169M twin engine helicopters. The contract, valued at 280 million euro, includes a comprehensive support and training package which could be further extended with optional services valued at an additional 100 million euro. Deliveries are expected to start in... Read more
16-Jan-2018Source: HeliHub.com
Leonardo, together with SEA Prime, has planned to open a new AW109 and AW139 maintenance facility at Linate Airport, Italy. This is part of Leonardo’s plan to provide support services around the world, reports Business Airport International. ... Read more
12-Dec-2017Source: Leonardo
Leonardo announced today further orders for its AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter for public service and security operations in Italy, with contracts for eight aircraft valued at approximately 112 million euro. The Italian Coast Guard has signed a contract for two AW139s to perform search and rescue missions, with deliveries to be completed by the... Read more
10-Oct-2017Source: Milestone Aviation
Milestone Aviation Group Limited (Milestone), the global leader in helicopter leasing, announced today that it has entered an agreement to lease two AW169 helicopters to Alidaunia S.R.L. of Italy, to support their emergency medical services (“HEMS”) in Italy. Alidaunia has provided HEMS services in Italy for more than 20 years and Milestone is proud to... Read more
29-May-2017Source: HeliHub.com
The Israeli Ministry of Defence has entered into negotiations with the Italian Ministry of Defence in order to purchase AW-119 training helicopters from Italy’s Leonardo. The new helicopters will replace their current Bell 206 training aircraft, which they bought in 1970. Bell and Airbus are also competing for the contract, offering GXP-407s and H-125s respectively.... Read more
10-May-2017
Helicopter had started the day in Pisa, flying north and refuelling at Bolzano. On next leg to Salzburg it encountered some difficulties and one report suggests it was on fire before reaching the ground and burning out in a ravine. Sole occupant pilot fatally injured – reported as a 75 year old Austrian national... Read more
6-Apr-2017Source: Leonardo
On the occasion of the recent tour to Italy by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, Leonardo provided a modern AW139 helicopter to allow rapid transport between some of the trip’s main locations in comfort and with the highest safety standards. The aircraft was used on April 1st and 2nd for transportation purposes to... Read more
13-Mar-2017Source: Airbus Helicopters
On March 8, 2017, Aersud Elicotteri, Airbus Helicopters’ distributor for Italy, signed a contract for the purchase of two H125 rotorcrafts during the HAI Heli-Expo air show in Dallas, Texas. These helicopters will be tasked for aerial work missions and the deliveries are scheduled for early 2018. With this order, Aersud Elicotteri celebrates the 200th... Read more
10-Mar-2017Source: Vector Aerospace
Vector Aerospace (www.vectoraerospace.com), a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, has signed a two-year engine support contract with the Comando Generale della Guardia di Finanza (Italian Financial Police). The contract covers the maintenance, repair and overhaul of Rolls-Royce M250 engines installed on the agency’s fleet of NH500 light turbine helicopters,... Read more
9-Mar-2017Source: Trakka Systems
Trakka Systems is pleased to announce that Italian Guardia di Finanza have selected the TrakkaBeam A800 tactical searchlight for their new fleet of six AW139 multi-mission helicopters. “We are extremely pleased that the Trakkabeam has been chosen by Italy’s elite financial and customs police force, the Guardia di Finanza, for their very capable new fleet... Read more
2-Feb-2017Source: HeliHub.com
The Algerian Air Force has a contract for 14 Mi-26T2s from Russian Helicopters. The second batch of deliveries have been seen in Italy in late January. They hope to conclude the deliveries by the end of 2017, reports IT Web. They also have a contract for 42 Mi-28NE attack helicopters from Russian Helicopters.... Read more
5-Jan-2017Source: Leonardo-Finmeccanica
With the challenge of further improving of the technologies that are already saving many human lives today and the development of new operative and training solutions to make helicopter rescue more efficient and the deployment of rescue personnel safer, Leonardo-Finmeccanica together with the Italian National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e... Read more
4-Nov-2016Source: Mecaer
Italy based Mecaer Aviation Group (MAG) has rapidly grown to become a leading international provider of fully integrated landing gear systems for both the fixed and rotor wing markets. MAG is active across multiple sectors that include business, general aviation and high performance basic trainers. At this year’s NBAA convention, attendees can stop by the... Read more
12-Oct-2016Source: DART Aerospace
DART Aerospace expands its Approved Maintenance Center (AMC) network to Europe offering competitive aftermarket solutions. DART will hold a cocktail to celebrate the launch of this network expansion during Helitech International on booth 12C60, Tuesday October 11th at 15:00. You are invited! Helicopter operators and private owners in this region now have the option to... Read more
16-Sep-2016Source: AHS
Santino Pancotti, former technical lead for Agusta and AgustaWestland, passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2016. He was 75. Pancotti was born in Dec. 1940 and joined Agusta in 1958. Initially he worked on Bell 47s licensed from the Fort Worth manufacturer. As a junior designer, he worked on the development of the A102, A103,... Read more
9-Aug-2016Source: AgustaWestland
Leonardo-Finmeccanica has announced an order for additional two AW139 intermediate twin helicopters by the Italian Coast Guard. This latest contract will increase the customer’s fleet of AW139s to twelve. The AW139s will be used to perform a range of missions including maritime patrol, search and rescue (SAR), and emergency medical services. The latest order also... Read more
8-Aug-2016Source: AgustaWestland
Leonardo-Finmeccanica has confirmed that the first AW609 TiltRotor prototype has resumed flight testing in helicopter and airplane modes. Flight testing activities will continue to take place in Arlington, Texas, with plans to soon fly the AW609 to Philadelphia and ultimately relocate the aircraft at the company’s facilities in Italy. The third prototype, assembled and ground... Read more
31-May-2016Source: HeliHub.com
The Argentine military reported late last week that the Secretary of Logistics, Emergencies and Cultural Management, Walter Ceballos, had announced the purchase of twenty AB206 JetRangers while visiting Italy last week. The purchase includes ten GAU-17 machine guns and five stretcher units. During September and October of this year, nineteen of the twenty helicopters will... Read more
9-May-2016Source: HeliHub.com
The first Airbus H125 helicopter has arrived in Italy according to the blog of local enthusiast Damiano Gualdoni. Elitellina has taken delivery at their Sondrio base of serial number 8239 in an all-white scheme. It arrived on French test registration F-WTAG and has the eventual Italian registration I-MGIO covered over in tape. Jeremy Parkin –... Read more
5-May-2016Source: HeliHub.com
The change in a company name, or even a logo, is never something to be done lightly, as the loss of marketing mileage can be enormous. The internet search engine aspect is more important these days too. The loss of all the SEO capital built up in a company name and website address is not... Read more
8-Apr-2016Source: Reuters
An Italian appeals court sentenced former AgustaWestland director Giuseppe Orsi [pictured] to 4½ years in prison on Thursday for corruption and falsifying invoices, overturning a previous lower court ruling. while another former director Bruno Spagnolini was sentenced to 4 years in jail. See full story... Read more
4-Mar-2016Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is delighted to announce that the Bell 407 is continuing to gain traction in Italy with the sale of the first 407GXP to a private customer. “We are delighted with the traction that the Bell 407 is gaining in Italy,” said Roberto Farnese, Sales Director Western Europe, Bell... Read more
25-Feb-2016Source: Finmeccanica
Finmeccanica and the Italian Air Force celebrated today the entry into operational service of their first AgustaWestland AW101 helicopter, designated the HH-101A “CAESAR”, during an official ceremony at Cervia Air Base. A total of four HH-101A “CAESAR” helicopters, out of a total requirement of 15, have been delivered from the Finmeccanica Helicopter Division’s assembly line... Read more
31-Jan-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Italy’s Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard) have now received all six of their new batch of AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, replacing older Agusta-built Bell 412s. The last pair were delivered on Friday 22nd and Thursday 28th January to Sarzana using callsigns “Nemo 9” and “Nemo 10”. Guardia Costiera previously had four AW139s, delivered late 2010 and early... Read more
22-Jan-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Italian opertor Hoverfly has announced the opening of their sixth base at Nicelli airport in Venice. The location of this city, famous for its canals of course, puts destinations in Slovenia, and Croatis within easy reach as well as Austria. Hoverfly also has bases at Rome, Naples, Capri, Castiglione Fiorentino and Milan. In the coming... Read more
15-Jan-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Multinational operator INAER has ten AW169s on order from the factory in Italy, and the first of these is now in flight test. In our photo by Marco Bianchi, the helicopter is seen in the typical livery of Italian air ambulance operations. INAER is strong in that market in both Spain and France with a... Read more
30-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com are sad to report the fatal test flight accident in Italy of AgustaWestland AW609 prototype N609AG, killing test pilots Pietro Venanzi and Herb Moran. The pair are being praised in the Italian media for bringing the aircraft down in fields away from a town when it was widely reported as already being on fire... Read more
30-Oct-2015
We are seeing many reports in the Italian media of an AW609 accident with two fatalities – named here as Pietro Venanzi and Herbert Moran. “on fire in flight between Santhià and Tronzano, the province of Vercelli” seems to be the common link description at this time. ... Read more
27-Oct-2015
Emergency landing made in public park... Read more
22-Oct-2015Source: Selex
Selex ES, is now on board an Italian Army NH90 TTH. The helicopter has just been delivered to the Italian Ministry of Defence. The validation activity was managed in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Defence’s Direzione Armamenti Aeronautici e per l’Aeronavigabilità (ARMAEREO). LOAM, developed and manufactured by Selex ES at its Genoa site, is... Read more
14-Oct-2015Source: NH Industries
NHIndustries celebrated the delivery of the 250th NH90 military helicopter today. The event took place in Viterbo,Italy during the annual NH90 users conference in presence of Brigadier General Antonio Bettelli commander of Italian Army Aviation. “We are committed, at NHI, to delivering our helicopters on-time to our customers. The delivery of the 250th aircraft today... Read more
29-Sep-2015Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LOM Praha s.p. of the Czech Republic. Under the MoU the partners are paving the way for cooperation in the field of helicopter maintenance, training, servicing and support, as well as the designing and manufacturing of helicopter kits. The partnership would be firmly... Read more
15-Sep-2015Source: AgustaWestland
The Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland AW609 TiltRotor set a speed record on a 1000 km ‘point-to-point’ journey. The aircraft, with its unique combination of the turboprop airplane’s speed and helicopter’s take-off and landing capabilities, flew from its Yeovil facility in southwest England to its Cascina Costa facility near Milan, Italy, a distance of 1161 km (721 miles /... Read more
6-Sep-2015
Helicopter crashed heavily onto a sloping rock face, seriously injuring the pilot. The other two POB only had minor injuries... Read more
27-Aug-2015Source: Fox News
Italy’s civil aviation authority has suspended the license of the helicopter pilot who flew low over Rome to drop flower petals during the over-the-top funeral of a purported local crime boss that has outraged city residents. See Full Story... Read more
26-Aug-2015Source: INAER
The latest evolution of the well-known helicopter EC145 of Airbus Helicopters, the H145 model, made its debut these days at INAER’s EMS base in Pieve di Cadore, officially entering into service for SUEM 118 of Belluno. The official ceremony of inauguration was organised on August 10th at the EMS base in Pieve, at the presence... Read more
26-Aug-2015
Winch cable broke after hitting a powerline during a HEMS winching operation; doctor Riccardo Bolognini and paramedic Roberto Marconiwere dropped from about 5 meters, and were taken to a hospital with multiple injuries. There was no damage to the helicopter itself... Read more
21-Aug-2015
During fire fighting activities, the helicopter, equipped with bambi bucket, immediately after the first water drop experienced control problems. Trying an emergency landing in a nearby area 1 km away, the helicopter in the final phase of the flight, started an abrupt spin and crashed. Helicopter was on contract to Forest Service of Sardinia. Only... Read more
31-Jul-2015
Hit mountain, and subsequent crash killed all three on board – pilot Folini Augustine, engineer Stefano Olcelli, and flight engineer Marco Gianatti... Read more
29-Jul-2015
Helicopter written off in agricultural accident... Read more
9-Jul-2015Source: EDA
The latest flying event organised as part of the Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP) was successfully conducted from 22 June to 3 July in Viterbo, Italy. More than 1000 personnel and 30 helicopters from seven countries attended this multinational training, the largest of its kind organised in Europe this year. Over the course of Italian Blade... Read more
7-Jul-2015Source: AgustaWestland
On 18th June, HeliHub.com ran the story Guardia Costiera increases AW139 fleet On 6th July, AgustaWestland issued the following press release AgustaWestland announced today a major milestone in the modernization of the Italian Coast Guard’s helicopter fleet, with the delivery of three further AW139 intermediate twin aircraft and an order for two more aircraft. The... Read more
6-Jul-2015Source: finmeccanica
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups and reference player in the naval shipbuilding industry, and Finmeccanica, Italy’s leading manufacturer in the high technology sector, have been awarded the contract for the construction and equipment of one multipurpose amphibious unit (LHD) for the Italian Navy. The total value of the contract is over €1.1... Read more
18-Jun-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Italy’s Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard) are in the process of expanding their fleet of AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, replacing older Agusta-built Bell 412s. Two AW139s were delivered recently and Robert Swan from Freelance Aerospace Writers alerted us to the pair test flying from Sarzana using callsigns “Nemo 5” and “Nemo 6”. Four more are due, two... Read more
16-Jun-2015Source: EDA
Italian Blade 2015, the 8th training event organised under the framework of the European Defence Agency’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), will start on 22 June in Viterbo, Italy. Gathering about 40 helicopters from seven different countries, it will be one of the largest exercises organised since the establishment of the HEP. Aircraft from Austria, Belgium,... Read more
30-Apr-2015Source: entrol
The entrol H21 simulator, based on the Bell 412, has been certified as FNPT II MCC by ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority). Thanks to this entrol has expanded its portfolio of simulators by adding one of the most famous helicopters in the world. The entrol H21, purchased by Heli Protection, recreates in detail the Bell... Read more
17-Mar-2015
Heavy landing on snow, damaging the helicopter. two pilots and two technicians on board were not seriously injured. Army code EI-351... Read more
4-Mar-2015Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the sale of a Bell 407GX to Italy-based, Elicompany. The aircraft, configured for corporate and VIP transport and charter, will be the first Bell 407GX to operate in Italy, and was the first sale conducted by Bell Helicopter’s new office in Milan, Italy. The aircraft... Read more
8-Feb-2015
Caught by gust of wind on mountain landing – leading to loss of control and impacting terrain and injuring the pilot and two heliskiers... Read more
23-Jan-2015
Training flight, accident while hover taxying... Read more
15-Jan-2015Source: Babcock
Following the acquisition of Avincis Group (Avincis) by Babcock International Group PLC (the Group) in May 2014, the process to integrate the business into the Group has progressed well and it is therefore appropriate to reflect this by taking the Babcock name. Avincis will therefore now become Babcock Mission Critical Services (Babcock). The local companies... Read more
6-Jan-2015
During fire fighting operation, pilot experienced problems on the tail rotor and landed safely – another report suggests the cable holding the water bucket (empty at the time) contacted the tail rotor. Damages found on tail rotor and tail boom.... Read more
10-Dec-2014Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland announced today that HoverFly of Italy has signed a contract for an AW169 light intermediate twin engine helicopter to perform passenger transport missions plus a comprehensive package of support and training services. This aircraft will replace an ageing AS365 helicopter providing the operator with greater mission capability and the latest safety features. The AW169... Read more
9-Dec-2014Source: HeliHub.com
AgustaWestland is completing the Italian State Police order for eight AW139s around now. From the first delivery in May 2013 , the last three examples have all been test flying recently from the factory at Vergiate and other AW139s in the same production sequence have been delivered in recent weeks. Our research team have put... Read more
16-Nov-2014Source: HeliHub.com
The first Robinson R66 Turbine has arrived in Italy with Elifriulia, who have enjoyed considerable success over the years selling R22 and R44s in the country. The helicopter is serial #0554 and will be registered I-RSIX Mornington Sanford Aviation are assisting Elifriulia with the introduction of the R66 in Italy and getting this first example... Read more
24-Oct-2014
During take off (aerial work ops) in a mountain and wooded area, the main rotor hit a tree. Damages to the main blades, to the tail boom and the tail rotor.... Read more
2-Oct-2014Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that the Italian Army has taken delivery of its first two ICH-47F Chinook helicopters during an official ceremony held at Vergiate plant (Italy) today. The ceremony was attended by the Italian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Claudio Graziano, the Director of ARMAEREO Lt. General Domenico Esposito and representatives from the... Read more
21-Sep-2014
Fell onto port side during landing... Read more
18-Aug-2014
Main rotor blade strike in mountainous region during rescue. Helicopter landed safely with main blade tips suffering the most damage... Read more
8-Aug-2014
Crashed into mountain during a thunderstorm killing pilot Domenico Praiale (55) and passenger Sara Piredda Piras (29). Local reports suggest poor visibility due to fog and clouds. Helicopter was original an SA318 Alouette but had been extensively modified and was classed as a homebuild... Read more
6-Aug-2014Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the Italian Air Force for training services aimed at further strengthening their already well-established cooperation through the future set up of joint training services. The agreement follows the Letter of Intent signed earlier this year in March. The partners intend to co-develop... Read more
27-Jul-2014
Firefighting reconnaissance flight from Fassinoro. Helicopter encountered difficulties and emergency landing procedure made – but hit a low level cable shortly prior to intended landing point. One killed in crash, second died during recovery operation. Third and last occupant flown to hospital.... Read more
16-Jul-2014Source: Airbus Helicopters
The enhanced EC135 T3/P3 version of Airbus Helicopters’ EC135 twin-engine rotorcraft demonstrated its improved performance – especially in high-and-hot operating conditions – during a three-day demonstration event in the Italian Dolomites. Operating from the facilities of Helicopters Italia near the city of Trento, the helicopter conducted 14 customer and operator flights last week, confirming the... Read more
16-Jul-2014Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that Terna SpA of Italy has placed an order for one AW109 Power light twin helicopter. The aircraft, which will perform electricity infrastructure monitoring in Italy, will be delivered in 2015. The AW109 Power was chosen after a rigorous and demanding evaluation process by the customer thanks to its outstanding... Read more
16-Jul-2014Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that Elitaliana has signed a preliminary sales contract for two AW109 Trekker light twin engine helicopters. Ordered in Emergency Medical Service configuration, the AW109 Trekkers will support Elitaliana’s expansion plans which includes operating from new bases in Italy and abroad, in addition to the ones already located in the Lazio... Read more
2-Jul-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the opening of a new branch in Milan, Italy. Effective immediately, Roberto Farnese will assume the role of Regional Sales Manager (RSM) in of the new office, responsible for overseeing marketing and sales activities within Southern Europe. “We are pleased to welcome the newest member... Read more
23-Jun-2014Source: Finmeccanica
The Board of Directors of Finmeccanica, convened today under the chairmanship of Gianni De Gennaro, approved the guidelines to implement the new Group Organizational and Operating Model. The Model, illustrated to the Board of Directors by the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Mauro Moretti, encompasses in the new perimeter operating companies, 100% owned by... Read more
