Bell-Boeing awarded $40M for long-lead V-22 components
Source: US DoD, 17-May-13
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $40,013,000 modification to the previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-12-C-2001) to procure additional long-lead components associated with the manufacture and delivery of 19 Lot 18 MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (24.6 percent); Ridley Park, Pa. (19.2 percent), Amarillo, Texas [...]
Night Flight Concepts Launches Industry Specific NVIS Solution Programs
Source: Night Flight Concepts, 17-May-13
Night Flight Concepts, the premier provider of night vision solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of five new industry specific solutions programs. These new Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS) solutions include equipment, maintenance and training programs which have been adapted to support the specific operational and regulatory requirements for the following markets: • Emergency Medical Services and Search [...]
Breeze-Eastern to Design and Produce New Winch for MV-22
Source: Breeze-Eastern, 16-May-13
Breeze-Eastern Corporation (AMEX: BZC), the aerospace industry’s only dedicated hoist and winch specialist, has been selected by The Boeing Company to design, develop and produce a new cargo winch for the MV-22 Osprey. Breeze-Eastern will initially manufacture 18 winches, with first deliveries in 2014. “Breeze-Eastern is proud to bring this product to the U.S. Marine [...]
TAI shows R300 unmanned helicopter
Source: Flight Global, 16-May-13
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has unveiled the R300 unmanned helicopter, which it is aiming at meeting the requirements of the nation’s land forces and navy. (See Full Story)
FLIR Systems awarded $81M US Army contract
Source: FLIR Systems, Inc., 16-May-13
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today that it has been awarded a two year blanket purchase agreement from the U.S. Army to support the MEDEVAC program. The blanket purchase agreement is valued at $81 million and is for the Army MEDEVAC Mission Sensor (MMS) configuration of FLIR’s commercially developed military qualified Talon product, a [...]
Royal Canadian Air Force begins TigerEx 2013
Source: Royal Canadian Air Force, 16-May-13
Search and Rescue technicians, aircrew, maintainers, and other support personnel from 8 Wing Trenton today began an annual search and rescue exercise in Churchill, Manitoba, which will run from May 13-17. “Our Government is seized with improving our search and rescue system,”said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “Search and Rescue technicians harness [...]
Schiebel denies knowledge of Camcopter on Chinese warship
Source: Flight Global, 16-May-13
Austrian unmanned air vehicle manufacturer Schiebel says it has no knowledge of whether its Camcopter system has performed flights from a Chinese warship, despite apparent Japanese evidence of its use. (See Full Story)
Finmeccanica CFO says not expecting India to blacklist group
Source: Reuters, 16-May-13
Finmeccanica(SIFI.MI) is not expecting India to blacklist either the group or its helicopter unit AgustaWestland for the time being as a consequence of a corruption probe, Chief Financial Officer Gian Piero Cutillo said on Wednesday. (See Full Story)
Bell takes 407AH to SOFIC 2013
Source: Bell, 15-May-13
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today its participation in the annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) held May 14 to May 16 in Tampa, Fla. Bell Helicopter will feature an armed Bell 407 on static display, its first commercially qualified armed helicopter, a CV-22 model and 3-D interactive programs demonstrating [...]
Russian Helicopters detail their presence at HeliRussia 2013
Source: Russian Helicopters, 15-May-13
Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, will bring its current model range of civilian and military helicopters and give an insight into upcoming developments and its international projects at HeliRussia 2013, which takes place on 16-18 May 2013 at the Crocus [...]
Boeing awarded $18M contract modification for Apache long-lead parts
Source: US DoD, 15-May-13
Boeing, Mesa, Ariz., was awarded an $18,342,000 modification (P00005), to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-12-C-0055), for the procurement of long lead material for the Apache helicopter. The cumulative total face value of this contract is $218,567,308. Fiscal 2012 procurement funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is [...]
Bell awarded $85M contract for FMS work in Iraq and Taiwan
Source: US DoD, 15-May-13
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee, foreign military sales (FMS) contract with a maximum value of $85,400,000 for engineering and technical support services. This FMS contract is in support of Iraq and Taiwan. Performance location and type of appropriation will be determined with each order. The bid was solicited through the [...]
Budget freezes US Army Armed Aerial Scout program
Source: HeliHub.com, 14-May-13
The US Army has issued the following statement on helicopter procurement as part of a wider statement on how it responds to cuts in the military budget. It refers to the lack of “viable candidates” for the US Army Armed Aerial Scout program, which we read as “No candiates falls within our newly-tightened Budget constraints” [...]
Goodrich awarded $48M contract for CH-47 fuel controls
Source: US DoD, 14-May-13
Goodrich Pump and Engine Control Systems, West Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract with a maximum value of $47,957,667 for the procurement of a maximum of 1,500 fuel controls applicable to the CH-47 helicopter. Fiscal 2013 Procurement funds in the amount of $2,364,200 are being obligated on this award. One bid was [...]
Bell appoints new MD of North America
Source: Bell, 14-May-13
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that Anthony Moreland will return to Bell Helicopter as managing director, North America. In this role, Moreland is responsible for all sales and marketing activities in the United States and Canada. “Anthony is a valuable addition to Bell Helicopter with extensive sales and marketing experience, [...]
Germany – Eurocopter to open new development centre tomorrow
Source: Eurocopter, 14-May-13
On May 15 Eurocopter celebrates the opening of its helicopter development center for around 900 engineers at its German site in Donauwörth – together with Prime Minister of Bavaria Horst Seehofer and further well-known characters from politics, industry and the media. The new building with a total floor area of 30,000 square meters brings together, [...]
Australia given an extra NH90 free to make up for delays
Source: Australian Aerospace, 10-May-13
Chief Executive Officer of Australian Aerospace, Dr. Jens Goennemann welcomed the signing of an agreement with the Commonwealth which, he said, will provide both the Army and Navy with not only a superior but also affordable military helicopter capability. He was commenting on an announcement by The Hon Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Defence and [...]
EFW awarded $11.8M contract for AH-1W Helmet Display Tracker Systems
Source: US DoD, 10-May-13
EFW, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an $11,837,950 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of the Helmet Display Tracker Systems (HDTS) in support of the AH-1W helicopters. This contract includes the manufacture and delivery of 11 P-kits, 65 A-kits, 11 installations, and non-recurring engineering and program support. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Fla. [...]
Turkish National Police orders two VVIP S92s
Source: Sikorsky, 09-May-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced it has delivered the first of two VIP S-92® helicopters to the Turkish National Police (TNP) for service to the Turkish Prime Ministry, under a contract signed in 2011. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). The new helicopters will support the Head of State function currently [...]
Kaman confirms New Zealand will buy ten SH-2G Super Seasprite
Source: Kaman, 09-May-13
Kaman Corp. KAMN +0.63% today announced that its subsidiary, Kaman Aerospace Corporation (Kaman), has entered into a $120 million contract with the New Zealand Ministry of Defence for the purchase of ten SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite aircraft, spare parts, a full mission flight simulator, and related logistics support. The contract is consistent with the previously announced [...]
Sikorsky awarded $11M contract for one UH-60M for Thailand
Source: US DoD, 09-May-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded an $11,377,277 modification (P00055), to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, foreign-military-sales contract (W58RGZ-12-C-0008), to procure one UH-60M aircraft and related equipment. This FMS contract is in support of Thailand. The cumulative total face value of this contract is $4,819,188,496. Fiscal 2013 Procurement funds are being obligated on this award. [...]
Eaton awarded $25M more for CH-47 hydraulic parts
Source: US DoD, 09-May-13
Eaton Aerospace, Jackson, Miss., was awarded a $25,021,735 modification (0002), to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract W58RGZ-13-D-0060, for the procurement of hydraulic parts in support of the CH-47. Fiscal 2013 Procurement funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
Boeing awarded $26M contract for AH-64E training/support for Saudi Arabia
Source: US DoD, 09-May-13
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $26,067,485 modification (P00007), to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, foreign military sales (FMS) contract W58RGZ-12-C-0089, for training and support of the Apache Block III helicopter program. This FMS contract is in support of Saudi Arabia. The cumulative total face value of this contract is $216,229,550. Fiscal 2013 Procurement [...]
US Marine Corps dismisses leaders of HMM-262 and HMM-364 squadrons
Source: Marine Corps Times, 08-May-13
The commanding officers of two Marine Corps helicopter squadrons were removed from their jobs in recent weeks after senior leaders lost confidence in them, Marine Corps Times has learned. (See Full Story)
Vector Aerospace opens multi-million dollar expansion in Alabama
Source: Vector Aerospace, 08-May-13
Vector Aerospace today announced the grand opening of its new hangar and office complex which adds 45,000 square feet to its existing Helicopter Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Andalusia. This expansion provides Vector with over 90,000 square feet of operations and support area and will allow Vector to service more than 20 aircraft [...]
New facilities opened at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant
Source: Helihub.com, 08-May-13
Russian manufacturer Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant – part of Russian Helicopters – has recently held the opening ceremony on a new building. The 1,400 sq.m two-storey facility is the administrative and production building for the final assembly shop The new building facilitates the expansion of production space for a second assembly line, as well as to [...]
OCCAR: Tiger Programme Contract Notice
Source: EDA, 07-May-13
OCCAR, EDA’s partner in developing European defence capabilities, manages the Tiger Helicopter programme on behalf of Germany, France and Spain. In a common approach towards personnel training, the German-French Tiger Helicopter Technical School (Deutsch-Französisches Ausbildungseinrichtung TIGER – DFAT) opened in 2003 in Fassberg, Germany. The mission of the School is to provide training to French [...]
V-22s delivered to USMC’s presidential squadron
Source: US Marine Corps, 07-May-13
The helicopter squadron responsible for carrying the President of the United States and his staff, Marine Helicopter Squadron One, received its first of 12 MV-22 Ospreys to be assigned to its fleet, April 5, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The Ospreys will conduct presidential support missions, which means these aircraft will carry presidential [...]
New Mexico National Guard transfer to UH-72A Lakota
Source: Las Cruces Sun-News, 07-May-13
Support for U.S. and New Mexico homeland security missions conducted by the New Mexico National Guard, and search and rescue operations throughout southern New Mexico, are about to get a significant boost. (See Full Story)
VMM-266R conducts MV-22B maintenance aboard USS Kearsarge
Source: US Marine Corps, 07-May-13
With the help of sailors assigned to the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted maintenance on MV-22B Ospreys on the flight deck of the Kearsarge’s flight deck, at sea, May 4, 2013. Due to the nature of being out at sea, it can be [...]
‘Phrogs’ retire as Corps transitions to Osprey
Source: US Marine Corps, 07-May-13
The Marine Corps has a long and storied history with the bird they affectionately call the “Phrog.” More than four decades have passed since the CH-46A Sea Knight entered the Corps’ arsenal, and now, 49 years later, the birds will be resting their wings as their last flights come to an end as the Corps [...]
US Navy seeks presidential helicopter replacement
Source: US Navy, 06-May-13
Today the Navy issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program (VXX). Proposals are due in 90 days with a goal to award a fixed-price incentive engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract, with production options, by mid-calendar year 2014. “Our acquisition approach includes a full and open competition to select a [...]
Iran reveals indigenous Bell 214 simulator
Source: Press TV, 06-May-13
The Iranian Army’s Ground Forces have unveiled a new indigenous simulator for Bell 214 helicopter, presenting the forces’ latest achievement in the simulation field. (See Full Story)
RAF confirms Chinook Display Team for 2013
Source: RAF, 03-May-13
The captain for 2013 will be Flight Lieutenant Paul Farmer. This will be his second year with the Display Team. This year’s Co-Pilot is Flight Lieutenant Gareth Allen, the Display Manager Flight Lieutenant Kyle Thomas and the Rear Crew are Sergeants Andy Caldwell and Steve Jones. The season this year will be made all the [...]
Italian Army Takes Delivery of Its First NH90 TTH
Source: Italian Army, 03-May-13
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the first NH90 TTH in FOC (Final Operational Capability) configuration for the Italian Army has been delivered today during an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland’s Venice Tessera plant in the presence of Gen. Giangiacomo Calligaris, Commander of Italian Army Aviation, and Gen. Francesco Langella, ARMAEREO. This [...]
Kiowa Warrior upgrades alter aircraft profile
Source: US Army, 02-May-13
The newly updated Kiowa Warrior aircraft, the OH-58F, made a ceremonial “first flight,” April 30, at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. With new cockpit and sensor modifications installed, the OH-58F represents the first major upgrade or modernization to the Kiowa Warrior in 20 years. The “cockpit and sensor upgrade program,” called CASUP, converts OH-58D Kiowa Warriors into [...]
HST trains aboard USS Rushmore
Source: US Navy, 02-May-13
When Marines need essential gear, vehicles or equipment in the field, they need it quickly. The helicopter support team, a group of landing support specialists, is called to support this vital mission. During the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s deployment, Marines assigned to Transportation Support Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 15th MEU, practiced the planning and [...]
Royal Air Force VIP flight reduced to one AW109E
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-May-13
UK’s Royal Air Force has reduced its fleet of VVIP AgustaWestland 109E Powers from two to one from the end of March 2013, two years after taking another of the original three away. The remaining aircraft is expected to fly 500 hours a year The unexpected move of serial ZR323 back to the UK civil [...]
World Helicopter-Championship Competitors Win Prestigious Award
Source: RAF, 01-May-13
On 23 April 2013 Squadron Leader Craig Finch, Lieutenant Jim Fraser RN, Flight Lieutenant Mark Lazenby and Flying Officer Ryan Stowe from the Defence Helicopter Flying School, RAF Shawbury, attended the Royal Aero Club’s awards ceremony held at the RAF Club in London. This is a very prestigiousannual event during which the Club presents awards [...]
New UH-72A Lakota production head named
Source: American Eurocopter, 01-May-13
Mike Spears has joined American Eurocopter as Senior Director, Lakota Production and Retrofit at its Columbus, Miss. production facility that produces theUH-72A Lakota helicopter. Spears replaces Fred Gerard, Senior Director of LUH Production, who is taking a leadership position with Airbus in Mobile, Ala. In his new position Spears will lead American Eurocopter’s team in continuing its record [...]
Portugal celebrates 50 years of the Alouette III
Source: Portuguese AF, 30-Apr-13
[Electronic translation] On April 20 was held in the premises of 552 Squadron”HORNETS”, based on the Air Base No. 11 , in Beja, the event commemorating the 50 years of operation of the helicopterALOUETTE III This event, which aimed to mark this milestone, brought together several generations of soldiers who worked and are working with the weapons system [...]
Upgraded US Navy MH-60S operational flight trainer re-enters service
Source: CAE, 30-Apr-13
CAE USA today announced that the United States Navy has declared an updated MH-60S “Sierra” operational flight trainer (OFT) as ready-for-training at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island near San Diego, California. This MH-60S OFT, originally manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was completely upgraded by CAE to add new technologies and ensure concurrency with other MH-60S [...]
Boeing awarded $36M Apache blade contract
Source: US DoD, 30-Apr-13
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $36,599,871 modification (No. 0013), to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-10-G-0006), to procure composite main rotor blades and associated support equipment for the Apache Block III configuration. Fiscal 2012 procurement contract funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the [...]
Canada spent $700,000 to undo renovations for delayed helicopter
Source: Globe and Mail, 30-Apr-13
The Department of National Defence was forced to spend $700,000 last year to undo portions of a $4-million renovation project on one of its frigates to deal with the delays in the H-92 project (see full story)
Jordanian Police sell three Bo105s
Source: HeliHub.com, 29-Apr-13
The Jordanian Police have recently sold a batch of three Eurocopter Bo105s to Oceania Aviation in New Zealand after retiring them from active use four years ago – we assume they have been in storage in the interim period. Each has now been put on the local ZK- register, with Oceania working initially on ZK-HVA [...]
LOM Praha awarded with $1.3M contract for Mi-17 pilot training
Source: LOM Praha, 29-Apr-13
LOM PRAHA, Czech Republic, has been awarded with a contract valued at (maximum) $ 1,3M for Mi-17 flight training of Polish Air Force pilots from 33rd Air Transportation Base in Powidz. The agreement focuses mainly on mastering of advanced operations including flying under IFR conditions at night. This contract is a result of the successful cooperation [...]
MH-XX deadline this week – first steps in replacing Seahawk
Source: US Navy, 29-Apr-13
Wednesday 1st May is the first stage set by the US Navy – a Request For Information, well ahead of anything like a Request For Proposals. The project is being referred to as MH-XX – “Marine Helicopter” to support MH-60 Seahawk helicopter recapitalization decisions. The text below from Solicitation AIR41022ST provides further details:- This announcement constitutes [...]
Helibras selects Safran Engineering Services as system integrator
Source: Safran Engineering Services, 29-Apr-13
Brazilian helicopter manufacturer Helibras, a subsidiary of Eurocopter, has selected Safran Engineering Services as the design authority to supply the installation design and full integration of multiple avionics communication and navigation systems, including a sophisticated new Glass Cockpit System from Sagem (Safran), as well as the integration of the auto-pilot system, for the modernization of [...]
KAI working on naval version of Surion
Source: KAI, 29-Apr-13
KAI, or Korea Aerospace Industries, Inc. develops the amphibious task helicopter for the Korea’s Marine Corps will run. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration(DAPA) announced on the 17th that it held its 66th defense project promotion committee and selected KAI as a priority negotiator for the development of the amphibious task helicopter system. The project, totaling [...]
Turbomeca makes first runs of “Clean Sky” TECH800 engine
Source: Turbomeca, 26-Apr-13
The official celebration of the first rotation of TECH800 turboshaft demonstrator took place on Friday 26 April, in Pau (France), in the presence of Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Transport and Vice-President of the European Commission, Eric Dautriat, Executive Director of Clean Sky, Jean-Paul Herteman, Chairman and CEO of Safran and Olivier Andries, Chairman and CEO [...]
Colorado National Guard to open new $39M training facility
Source: Colorado National Guard, 26-Apr-13
The Colorado Army National Guard will cut the ribbon at a new state-of-the-art aviation training facility at the Eagle County Airport near Gypsum, Colo., April 26 at 10:30 a.m. The $39 million facility will be the new home of the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site. The project provided an immense economic benefit to [...]
Eurocopter delivers 250th UH-72A Lakota to US Army
Source: EADS North America, 26-Apr-13
The U.S. Army has fielded the 250th UH-72A Lakota helicopter delivered to Army and National Guard units by EADS North America since 2006. Every Lakota — including an additional five produced for the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School — has been delivered on time and on budget, by an American workforce that is more than [...]
Bell awarded $14M rotor blade contract
Source: US DoD, 26-Apr-13
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $14,361,600 contract for main rotor blades. The award is a firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract. Location of performance is Texas, with a Dec. 31, 2015 performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2015 Navy funds. Defense [...]
Prototype Engineering awarded $10M Black Hawk overhaul work
Source: US DoD, 25-Apr-13
Prototype Engineering Inc., Gardena, Calif., was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum value of $10,736,912 for the overhaul services in support of the UH-60 Black Hawk. Work location and type of appropriation will be determined with each order. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone [...]
Sikorsky sales down 7% as military cuts take their toll
Source: CT News, 25-Apr-13
Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft actually delivered more helicopters in the first quarter of this year than a year ago, but sales revenue was down 7 percent to $1.24 billion, the aircraft maker’s parent corporation reported Tuesday. (See Full Story)
Boeing awarded $19M more for Apache support
Source: US DoD, 25-Apr-13
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $19,633,750 modification (No. P00022), to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-09-C-0147), for the procurement Apache Block III AH-64D helicopters and related support. This contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales for Taiwan. The total cumulative face value of this contract is $624,462,536. Fiscal 2009 procurement contract [...]
Turbomeca buys Rolls-Royce out of RTM322 program
Source: Safran, 23-Apr-13
Safran (NYSE Euronext Paris: SAF) today announced that it has reached an agreement with Rolls-Royce to acquire Rolls-Royce’s 50% share in their joint RTM322 helicopter engine programme. Upon closing, Turbomeca (Safran’s world leading helicopter engine business) will assume global responsibility for the design, production, product support and services for the RTM322 engine, a 2,100-2,600 shp [...]
RAF Cosford Air Show Confirm Eye-Opening Helicopter Displays
Source: RAF, 23-Apr-13
The RAF Cosford 75th Anniversary Air Show team is excited to announce that a Chinook and an Apache helicopter from the MOD Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) will be coming to the event on Sunday 9th June. The Chinook helicopter, operated by the Royal Air Force primarily to support troop movements, will be joined by an [...]
Israel to become first V-22 export destination
Source: Star Telegram, 23-Apr-13
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced that Israel will be buying the V-22 (see full story)
Helicopter Instructor Reaches Flying Milestone
Source: RAF, 23-Apr-13
A Qualified Helicopter Instructor with the Central Flying School (Helicopters) at RAF Shawbury has achieved a flying milestone in passing an incredible 6000 hours of flying. Flight Lieutenant Jim Hobkirk is a Qualified Helicopter Instructor with Central Flying School (Helicopters) at the unit. He spends his days training future Qualified Helicopter Instructor pilots on the [...]
AgustaWestland and Embraer abandon JV talks
Source: Embraer, 22-Apr-13
Following the press release Jointly issued on 21st January 2013 related to the memorandum of understanding signed by Embraer SA and AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, the two companies announce today Their joint decision Negotiations to terminate without reaching an agreement for the establishment of a Joint Venture in Brazil.
Mexico orders six GrandNew for Presidential flight
Source: HeliHub.com, 22-Apr-13
Mexico has ordered six AgustaWestland AW109SP GrandNew helicopters for VVIP work in their Presidential flight. SEDENA (Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional), the government agency responsible for the Army and Air Force, says the total contracted value is 776 million pesos – about $63.1M at today’s prices. The Presidential fleet is tasked with flying the President [...]
Indian Air Force may have no VVIP helicopters after 2014
Source: Daily Mail India, 22-Apr-13
After February 2014, VVIPs may not be able to fly in an Indian Air Force helicopter, as there may not be a single one left in the IAF’s elite squadron, which ferries the Prime Minister, the President, senior ministers and other top dignitaries. (See full story)
Eurocopter delivers first Tiger HAD variant to the French military
Source: Eurocopter, 22-Apr-13
Eurocopter’s first production Tiger helicopter in the HAD attack configuration was delivered to France’s DGA armament procurement agency today for operation by French Army Aviation units, providing a highly capable combat weapon system that is tailored to the world’s evolving battlefield conditions. This milestone followed DGA qualification of the Tiger HAD version on April 10, [...]
Brazil – ANAC approves locally-produced Level 4 simulator
Source: CTEx, 21-Apr-13
[electronic translation] The simulator helicopters SHEFE developed by Army Technology Center (CTEx), in partnership with SPECTRA, Brazilian technology company, has received the qualification Flight Training Device FTD Level 4 of the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). The certification aims to ensure the level of similarity with a real helicopter so that it is able to do [...]
Rockwell Collins awarded $85M contract for US Army tactical avionics
Source: US DoD, 21-Apr-13
Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a maximum $85,153,904 for procurement of eight different types of spare part items for radio receiving sets, low frequency automatic direction finders, and tactical navigation systems for Army helicopters. The award is a firm-fixed-price, sole-source, ID/IQ long term contract. Location of performance is Iowa with an [...]
All Metal Delivers to U.S. Coast Guard
Source: ALL METAL, 19-Apr-13
All Metal MS announced today that it delivered a customized line of solution driven “safety first” maintenance stands to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Elizabeth City, NC facility. These multi-purpose maintenance stands were designed for use when performing both routine maintenance and complete overhauls on the MH-65, and can be used on all models of the [...]
New Zealand buys the Seasprites Australia rejected
Source: Kaman, 19-Apr-13
Kaman Corp. (NYSE:KAMN) today announced that the New Zealand Cabinet has authorized the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) to enter into an approximately $120 million contract with Kaman Aerospace Corporation (Kaman) for the purchase of ten SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite aircraft, spare parts, a full mission flight simulator, and related logistics support. The MoD and [...]
Hungarian Defence Forces prepare for helicopter procurement
Source: Hungarian Government, 18-Apr-13
Decision on the helicopter procurement of the Hungarian Defence Forces can be taken at the start of the next term of government next year, the Minister of Defence said in the program “Ütköző” of Kossuth Radio on Friday, April 12. Minister Hende said that on taking office, the government had learnt that the renewal and [...]
South Korea orders 36 AH-64E Apache Guardians
Source: Yonhap, 18-Apr-13
South Korea on Wednesday selected Boeing’s AH-64E Apache Guardian to replace its aging Army helicopters, the Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration said (see full story)
PZL-Swidnik to modernise Polish Army W-3s
Source: Flight Global, 18-Apr-13
Poland’s armament inspectorate has chosen PZL-Swidnik to modernise the nation’s army aviation W-3 Sokol medical evacuation helicopters (see full story).
Sierra Nevada Corp awarded $8M contract for helicopter autonomous landing system
Source: US DoD, 18-Apr-13
Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nev., was awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum value of $8,000,000 for services in support of the helicopter autonomous landing system. Work location and type of appropriation will be determined with each order. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The Army Contracting Command, Fort [...]
Bell Q1 civil deliveries up, but revenues, backlog and profits down
Source: Textron, 17-Apr-13
Extract from the quarterly statement of parent company Textron reveals the following:- Bell revenues decreased $45 million, primarily the result of lower military unit deliveries and lower commercial aftermarket sales. Bell delivered 9 V-22’s and 6 H-1’s in the quarter, compared to 10 V-22’s and 7 H-1’s in last year’s first quarter and delivered 40 commercial [...]
Helibras announces EC225/EC725 simulator
Source: Helibras, 15-Apr-13
[electronic translation] Helibras announces during LAAD Defence & Security 2013 – International Exhibition of Defence and Security in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), the details of the construction of a training center and Simulators Flight helicopters EC725 and EC225, models being produced in company’s new hangar in Itajubá (MG). The new Training Center and Simulators Helibras [...]
India – Border force helicopter idle for 6 months looking for a pilot
Source: Hindustan Times, 15-Apr-13
A battle-ready BSF ‘Dhruv’ helicopter, deployed for undertaking sorties to aid anti-Naxal operations, is lying idle for close to six months in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur as authorities are not able to find a pilot to fly the machine (see full story). File photo
