California’s ABLE program now grounded for good
Source: Daily Pilot, 02-Jul-11
As of Friday, the John Wayne Airport hangar that housed ABLE’s three EC120 helicopters will become a storage space for the aircraft dubbed “Eagle,” which is jointly owned by Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. Both cities have dismantled the shared police helicopter program, thus ending a 15-year partnership. Both city councils decided to cut ABLE [...]
Indianapolis PD close to selling MD600 and restart ops with B206A
Source: HeliHub.com, 24-Apr-11
Local press reports suggest that Indianapolis Police are close to selling their MD600 with an overseas buyer inspecting it around now. This aviation unit ceased operations in October 2009 under budgetary pressure, putting its MD600 flagship, two Hughes 300s and an early Bell 206A into storage. A report in July 2010 cited public safety officials [...]
Dutch military cuts likely to include Cougar fleet
Source: HeliHub.com, 07-Apr-11
Over 5,000 people in the Dutch military, both service personnel and civil servants, are facing compulsory redundancies. The government is expected to announce on Friday how it plans to make savings of €1bn in its defence budget. Sources are suggesting that the job losses will affect all ranks. Defence minister Hans Hillen also plans to [...]
Escambia County Sheriff’s OH-58 to fly again thanks to $100K grant
Source: Pensacola News Journal, 30-Mar-11
Sheriff David Morgan announced Monday that a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Justice Program will allow the agency to restart its air unit on a temporary basis beginning this week. The unit, which flies two OH-58s, has been grounded since 1st March 2009 – see HeliHub.com story
Robinson is pulling out of economic turbulence
Source: LA Times, 28-Mar-11
Robinson Helicopter, known for its low-cost choppers, was nearly grounded by the recession but is poised to soar again with a new CEO, an expanded factory and a new model that’s generating buzz see full story
Recession-proof: Able Aerospace Services grows, plans aggressive expansion
Source: Able Aerospace Services, 08-Mar-11
While consistently maintaining its focus on helping operators reduce aircraft operating costs with safe, approved value-driven component repair, overhaul and replacement part (PMA) solutions, Able Aerospace Services is a company on the move. Even as Able closes out its most successful year to-date it has mapped out an aggressive plan to achieve 300 percent growth [...]
DeKalb County decimates police helicopter budget
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 27-Feb-11
All but emergency flights are now banned due to budgetary constraints
UK’s Norfolk Police to drop helicopter at end of March
Source: HeliHub.com, 17-Feb-11
The BBC is tonight reporting that Norfolk Police will stop using their leased Eurocopter AS355F2 Twin Squirrel at the end of the current fiscal year – 31st March 2011 – and that it is trying to buy a block of 220 hours a year from neighbouring force Suffolk Police. The vicarious benefit in doing this [...]
Costa Mesa Police helicopter cut – what next for ABLE?
Source: HeliHub.com, 16-Feb-11
Late Tuesday evening, the Costa Mesa city council voted 4 to 1 in favour of cutting its “Eagle One” police helicopter program and eliminating two jobs which paid a total of almost $275,000. Costa Mesa has been one of the two major partners with Newport Beach in the ABLE “AirBorne Law Enforcement” program, which operated [...]
Turbomeca Canada to lay off 70 employees
Source: Cyberpress, 25-Oct-10
Turbomeca is to lay off more than half of its employees, with 35 departing in January 2011 and another 35 in May.
Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling warns that 2011 will not be easy
Source: Aviation Business, 17-Oct-10
Addressing Australian media in Marseilles this week, Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling declared that 2011 will not be an easy year for the rotor industry in general.
Surviving the recession, by Frank Robinson
Source: HeliHub.com, 14-Oct-10
Robinson Helicopter Company “RHC” has no doubt been the number one success story of the light helicopter market in the last three decades, but it is this sector that demonstrates the greatest volatility when the going gets tough. In our interview with Frank last Friday, he described how the company went from the high of [...]
Mississippi County Aviation Unit has 50 hours left to fly
Source: KAIT, 05-Aug-10
The unit’s JetRanger comes close to needing its engine overhauled, with no budget in place to action that necessary move.
Indianapolis Police selling three helicopters to fund ongoing operations
Source: TheIndyChannel, 21-Jul-10
After exploring various options to fund air support operations, officials determined the best option would be to sell the police MD600 and two Hughes helicopters to free up money to operate the remaining aircraft.
PHI Air Medical closes New Mexico EMS base
20-Jul-10
PHI Air Medical cited the poor economy as its reason for last week’s closure. Former PHI paramedic Fernando Medina said some 13 employees at the base were notified that they were out of jobs.
NY&NJ Port Authority grounds its helicopter fleet over costs
Source: NY Daily News, 20-Jul-10
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey grounded its helicopter fleet Thursday, admitting that the $3.7 million it spends every year on security flyovers is a waste of money in tough times.
Bell’s Garrison Calls 2009 “Challenging”
Source: Rotor & Wing, 22-Feb-10
During his address to the media Saturday afternoon, John L. Garrison, president and CEO, Bell Helicopter said that the company enjoyed record operating earnings and cash generation under a “very challenging environment.”
Minimum bid met for Colorado Springs Police helicopter
Source: KRDO, 13-Feb-10
At least one potential buyer is making the minimum bid for 1 of 2 Colorado Springs police department helicopters grounded by budget cuts.
Indianapolis Metro Police grounds helicopters
Source: WTHR, 13-Feb-10
The three helicopters are the most expensive crime fighting tool for Metro. Right now the city doesn’t even have insurance on them
16% workforce reduction at Edwards & Associates
Source: TriCities, 12-Jan-10
Edwards & Associates in Piney Flats, Tenn. announced a “workforce reduction” Monday. Their parent company, Bell Helicopter based in Fort Worth Tx., cut nearly 16-percent of the plant’s 315 employees.
Colorado Springs decommissions Air Support Unit; Helicopters up for sale
Source: The Gazette, 24-Dec-09
The Colorado Springs Police Department has lost its wings. In a decommissioning ceremony Tuesday, the department bid farewell to its Air Support Unit, one police budget line on a list of many that were cut because of projected city budget shortfalls in 2010
Canadian aerospace in for rough patch, report says
Source: Globe & Mail, 02-Dec-09
Canada’s aerospace industry will see prices, production and profits all fall in 2010, with no real recovery until 2011, according to a report by the Conference Board of Canada.
RAF Valley to stop night time rescue flights in North Wales
Source: Daily Post, 05-Nov-09
Life-saving search and rescue helicopter crews from RAF Valley will halt night time rescues while new crews are trained up. The Ministry of Defence has announced a six week suspension to night shifts by 22 Squadron, with cover provided by neighbouring bases RAF Valley will close overnight from 15 November until 31 December.
Eurocopter announces the new SHAPE program
Source: Eurocopter, 26-Oct-09
In order to face the financial and economic crisis, Eurocopter has launched a new corporation program called SHAPE. This initiative is aimed at adapting the company to the new economic context, while maintaining sustainable growth and leadership in the market.
GKN shed 135 jobs at British helicopter plant
Source: BBC, 16-Oct-09
Manufacturing firm GKN Aerospace is to lose 135 jobs at its Yeovil site, due to the slump in aerospace orders. The losses represent more than a third of the GKN jobs on the site they share with helicopter maker Agusta Westland.
PWC Announces Workforce Reductions and Plant Closure
Source: Pratt & Whitney Canada, 03-Oct-09
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) will reduce its global workforce by approximately 250 employees by year’s end and close its facility on Auvergne Street in Longueuil, Quebec, by the end of 2010.
Specialist Aviation bucks the trend in its 25th Year
Source: Specialist Aviation Services, 19-Sep-09
UK based operator and support organisation Specialist Aviation Services is set for a bumper year, despite the current economic climate
Bell Helicopter parent’s CEO bullish on company’s future
Source: Star Telegram, 11-Sep-09
Textron has been pulled back from the financial precipice after slashing 10,000 jobs, including 135 corporate positions announced Wednesday, rapidly liquidating its loan portfolio and raising new capital, company officials told investors.
Corona to sell Police Bell 407 after recession grounding in 2008
Source: Press Enterprise, 04-Sep-09
Corona 1, the Corona Police Department crime-fighting helicopter, has a price of $900,000 after City Council members voted unanimously to sell it at their council meeting Wednesday. The city had paid about $950,000 for it in 2002, according to a city staff report.
Omaha Police Dept helicopter unit reprieved to end of year at least
Source: Omaha World-Herald, 28-Aug-09
Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle decided Thursday against grounding the city’s police helicopters, instead signing off on cuts elsewhere in the Police Department’s budget.
Bell Helicopter lays off 30 Tarrant County workers
24-Aug-09
“In response to a reduction in demand for commercial aircraft, we had to adjust our work force and cut 42 hourly positions in our production facilities,” said Thomas Dolney, a Bell spokesman.
KUTV takes news helicopter out of service
Source: Salt Lake Tribune, 20-Aug-09
The local CBS affiliate, to save on leasing fees and the cost of storing it in a hanger, did not renew its lease with the helicopter, said General Manager David Phillips. “I’d much rather lose that than people. These are tough times.”
Omaha Mayor Proposes Budget Cuts That Would Halt Police Helicopter Use
Source: Nebraska State Paper, 11-Aug-09
Bell Helicopter cuts 150 more workers at its Quebec plant amid weak demand
Source: Canadian Business, 24-Jul-09
JSfirm Helping 1,000’s of Aviation Job Seekers “Create Aviation Opportunities”
Source: Vertical, 20-Jul-09
EagleMed closes base at Guymon, Oklahoma
Source: MyHighPlains, 16-Jul-09
The city of Guymon no longer has a medical helicopter readily available. EagleMed left its base in Guymon, OK with only a days notice about a month ago.
Mining drives expansion at Ontario operator Forest Helicopters
Source: Northern Ontario Business, 08-Jul-09
City of San Bernardino police helicopter grounded by budget cuts
Source: Press-Enterprise, 30-Jun-09
V-22: Affordability Issues Made Worse by Economic Crisis for Foreign Buyers
Source: Rotorhub, 17-Jun-09
Eurocopter South Africa expands in anticipation of post-recession market
Source: Engineering News, 26-May-09
Erickson Air-Crane lays off 14 workers
Source: Mail Tribune, 20-May-09
Continued soft global demand for wood products has led Erickson Air-Crane to lay off 14 employees from its logging support department.
Budget proposal would remove funding for Connecticut’s Life Star helicopter
Source: Mansfield Today, 03-Apr-09
Bristow announces 10% workforce reduction
Source: Bristow Helicopters, 23-Mar-09
Capital expenditures are being carefully evaluated and prioritized; Management salaries have been frozen; and Staffing levels and compensation structures are being reviewed to ensure that the Company is properly sized to meet customers’ needs.
JSfirm launches program to help downsizing companies ease their employees’ transitions
Source: Vertical, 16-Mar-09
AgustaWestland joins Philadelphia’s local economic stimulus program
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, 06-Mar-09
Placer County helicopter decision remains in midair after budget talks
Source: Granite Bay Press-Tribune, 26-Feb-09
Hartford Hospital may be forced to cut Life Star helicopter fleet
Source: Hartford Courant, 25-Feb-09
Collective Caution But Industry Leaders Stare Unblinking At Economic Crisis
Source: Rotorhub, 23-Feb-09
Bertling Believes Eurocopter Still Strongly Positioned to Face Down Effects of Recession
Source: Rotorhub, 21-Feb-09
Speaking exclusively to rotorhub.com on the eve of the annual Heli Expo in Los Angeles, CA, Lutz Bertling said that despite the economic recession gripping Europe and the USA, Eurocopter’s exposure to its US business the strong US dollar was less than 10% of the company’s annual turnover, and therefore was manageable.
Eastern Atlantic Helicopters Increases Sales & Profitability – Despite Hard Times
Source: Vertical Magazine, 20-Feb-09
Unexpected Expenses Put Colorado Springs Police Dept Helicopters Back on Chopping Block
Source: KRDO, 18-Feb-09
CHC Group Company Heli-One To Shed Up To 60 Jobs
Source: BBC, 17-Feb-09
Heli-One, a subsidiary of CHC Helicopter Corporation, has been hit by an “industry-wide downturn in activity”. The company said it regretted that between 50 and 60 jobs would be affected.
