9-Dec-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Late on Wednesday this week, a Sikorsky S92 from Cougar Helicopters completed its ferry flight from Newfoundland to Aberdeen in the UK. This delivery flight is the initial stage of the helicopter being leased to Bristow for operations on the North Sea. We are awaiting Cougar’s response to our enquiries regarding the length of the... Read more
9-Dec-2011Source: HeliHub.com
WPD Helicopter Unit have now registered their first EC135P1 as G-WPDB. Previously D-HAIT with German EMS operator ADAC, it is expected to be joined by sister ship G-WPDA from the same source within days. As recently as 22nd November, the helicopter was still in its ADAC yellow scheme at Bonn-Hangelar airport, but it is expected... Read more
9-Dec-2011Source: British Army
Army Apache crews are returning to the UK this week having completed a major exercise in the United States as part of the Apache Conversion To Role course. Exercise Crimson Eagle is a challenging two-month exercise, split between Naval Air Facility El Centro in California and the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field in Arizona.... Read more
7-Dec-2011Source: Cambridge Airport
Effective 2 January, Cambridge Aero Club will take over all the handling of most private General Aviation and helicopters at Cambridge Airport. The move follows the arrival of ExecuJet Europe, which takes over the Marshall Business Aviation FBO in an exclusive arrangement from 1 January to take responsibility for all arriving and departing business jets.  The... Read more
6-Dec-2011Source: Heli Air
Heli Air, the UK’s leading helicopter company is very pleased to confirm its new base at Thruxton Aerodrome. Shaun Byam heads-up the newly refurbished Heli Air facility, soon to be fully equipped with R22 and R44 helicopters for pilot training. Heli Air Thruxton at Hangar 2 within the aerodrome has full access to the huge... Read more
5-Dec-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Accountancy firm PKF, appointed as liquidators to Sterling Helicopters, have announced that they have disposed of Hangar 14 – the main hangar used by the now-defunct operator. Partner Matt Howard announced that Bond Air Services has bought the leasehold of hangar 14, which is next to the current air ambulance operation that they operate. PKF... Read more
30-Nov-2011Source: Multiflight
Multiflight’s desire to be as green as possible has seen the company sign up for an electricity supply from 100% renewable sources. “Multiflight is always looking at ways to be as green as possible and to do its bit for the environment and our new green electricity supply is the latest step towards this aim,â€... Read more
30-Nov-2011Source: Western Telegraph
The Wales Air Ambulance has received a massive lift with the news Valero’s Pembroke Refinery has donated £100,000 to the lifesaving charity, after it was elected “charity of the year” by employees (see full story)... Read more
30-Nov-2011Source: InCumbria
GNAA has so far sold more than 80,000 tickets for the fundraiser, which will be drawn on December 14. (see full story)... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: Evening Times
The heliport will move from its current base at Stobcross Road over the River Clyde to Govan (see full story). The heliport is base to the local police and air ambulance EC135 helicopters, apart from others.... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: Cobham
Cobham plc announces that Andy Stevens has informed the Board that he is unable to continue as Cobham’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) due to the recurrence of a long term serious back injury and has therefore decided to take early retirement. The Chairman, John Devaney, will temporarily assume the position of Executive Chairman while a... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: Oil & Gas UK
Oil & Gas UK welcomes the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report published on November 24 on the tragic crash of helicopter Flight 85N which took place off the Aberdeenshire coast on 1 April 2009. Robert Paterson, Oil & Gas UK’s health and safety director, said: “With today’s publication of the report, we remember, first... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: The Journal
Claire Jobling, an accountant by trade who worked for the Co-operative before spending five years at globally-successful Eutechnyx, has acquired Newcastle Airport-based Northumbria Helicopters for an undisclosed sum. (see full story)... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: Bristow
Bristow Helicopters Ltd. has appointed Ian Taylor as the company’s new quality and safety manager for its European business unit. With more than 20 years experience in the aviation industry, Taylor joins Bristow from its affiliate group FB Heliservices Ltd (FBH) where he held the same role. Taylor will relocate from Dubai to the company’s... Read more
28-Nov-2011Source: UK MoD
The Department for Transport has started the procurement process for a new UK-wide Search and Rescue helicopter service to be provided by civilian crews, it has been announced today. The Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, announced to Parliament in a written statement that she wished to inform the House of the Government’s intentions... Read more
25-Nov-2011Source: HeliHub.com
CHC yesterday registered a new Sikorsky S92 on the British Register as G-WNSA. Given their previous use of the G-SNSx series for Southern North Sea ops, it is assumed that the new S92 is for Western North Sea flights. The helicopter is fresh from the production line – ship #152 This is CHC’s fourth offshore... Read more
22-Nov-2011Source: Isle of Man.com
Fans of the TT Races will be able to get a different view of the track this year with the return of helicopter pleasure flights. (see full story)... Read more
21-Nov-2011Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accidents of:- Agusta A109A II, N2NR at Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland on 23 October 2010 Robinson R22 Beta, G-JERS at Cumbernauld Airport on 15 July 2011 Robinson R44 II Raven, G-GDJF at Skegness, Lincolnshire on 31 May 2011... Read more
21-Nov-2011Source: EDP
Bristow has Southern North Sea contracts with Shell, Conoco Phillips and BP which see an average of 480 flights a month from Norwich in the peak period, dropping to about 300 in the quieter winter season. (see full story)... Read more
18-Nov-2011Source: HeliHub.com
In an incredulous decision, Hambleton District Council has served an enforcement notice on Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) to move off Bagby Airfield due to noise issues – hands up those who genuinely think MD Explorers are noisy…Â YAA has also been served with a notice to dismantle its flight crew room, toilet and shower block.... Read more
18-Nov-2011Source: Hampshire & IOW Air Ambulance
A long awaited event for Southampton General Hospital, and for HIOWAA, took place today. Â The new Helipad, which has been built on the multi story car park, opened with the first landing by the HIOWAA aircraft. Â There were many people there to see it, including members of the Hampshire media, and individuals from both SGH... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: CAA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) have approved a joint policy on Performance-based Navigation (PBN) to be implemented across UK and Irish airspace. PBN relies on new technology such as global navigation satellite systems, instead of more traditional ground based beacons, to enable aircraft to navigate to very high... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: Insolvency Service
Three connected companies that operated a charity collection scam were last week closed down in the public interest by the High Court in London, following an investigation by Company Investigations of the Insolvency Service. The companies are Air Ambulance Support Community Interest Company (“Air Ambulance Support CICâ€), St Anthony (Trading Co) Ltd (formerly Air Ambulance... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: Cornish Guardian
BIH managing director, Tony Jones, said flights would continue from Penzance until June next year and the firm would continue to look for a site in West Cornwall. If necessary, flights would continue after that date from Newquay Cornwall airport to ensure the service was not disrupted.... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: Christie Digital Systems
The full flight simulation system at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in the UK, where training facilities for the RN Sea King helicopters are based, has upgraded its visual system technology with the new Christie Matrix StIM™ WUXGA DLP® LED projectors. The upgrade dramatically advances the capabilities of their training and simulation facilities, allowing... Read more
14-Nov-2011
Guernsey hopes to emulate the success of the Isle of Man’s aircraft register, which has become the eighth-largest business aircraft register in the world, only four years after its introduction. (see full story)... Read more
11-Nov-2011Source: Berg
Commercial law firm Berg has been instrumental in securing the downfall of Longmint Aviation Limited, part of the Longmint Group which together with the Erinaceous Group plc, acquired the various engineering and aviation companies at Fairoaks Airport in July 2007. Berg has secured a string of victories in order to recover sums due, and occupation... Read more
11-Nov-2011Source: Virtalis
The Defence Helicopter Flying School and its training service partner FB Heliservices recently installed three all new Helicopter Crew Reality (HCR) systems from Virtalis at RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley. Taking advantage of advances in computer graphics cards, tracking technologies and Head Mounted Displays (HMDs), the new HCR delivers greatly improved functionality. Group Captain Jock... Read more
10-Nov-2011Source: CAA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved temporary changes to controlled airspace in areas to the South West, South East and North East of the busy London Terminal Control Area during the London 2012 Olympics when there is expected to be a significant amount of additional air traffic movements. The changes announced today will... Read more
10-Nov-2011Source: CAA
Following a Ministry of Defence decision on the use of its Air Weapons Ranges, more airspace will be made available for general aviation flying, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced today. From the 1 November 2011, airspace restrictions designed to protect aircraft from munitions demolition work on Air Weapons Ranges, outside of the Danger... Read more
9-Nov-2011Source: UK MoD
The Royal Navy’s next-generation helicopter, the Wildcat, has landed on a ship at sea for the first time. On 7 November, the aircraft touched down on the flight deck of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) aviation trials ship Argus off England’s south coast, at the start of four weeks of tough trials for air and... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: Royal Air Force
A helicopter Instructor with No 660 Squadron on the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury has gained an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. On 27 March 2011, at the Yeovil Half Marathon, Lieutenant Jim Fraser RN broke a Guinness World Recordâ„¢ by running a half marathon whilst wearing a respirator. He... Read more
3-Nov-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Following a recent incident to the first Guimbal G2 Cabri in the UK, Helicopteres Guimbal has issued the following statement via HeliHub.com:- We at Helicopteres Guimbal are saddened to announce that two days after receiving its Certificate of Airworthiness from the CAA, the first Cabri in the UK had an incident that will delay its... Read more
3-Nov-2011Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
The East Anglian Air Ambulance has awarded a contract to aviation company Bond Air Services for two new aircraft which will provide the region with the most advanced air ambulance fleet in the UK. Both aircraft will also, for the first time, be capable of night flying, bringing the prospect that the life-saving air ambulance... Read more
2-Nov-2011Source: Virtual Simulation Systems
Australian company Virtual Simulation Systems (VSS) has completed installation of two Complete Aircrew Training Systems (CATS) at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in the United Kingdom. The CATS simulators will be used by AgustaWestland (AW) as part of a contract to deliver whole crew tactics training. CATS will provide AW with the ability to teach a range of... Read more
1-Nov-2011Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the HeliHub.com “Register Updates†series, listing helicopters which have been added to a particular national register, removed from it or the listed owner has changed. Our coverage represents the majority of registration and owner changes within the global civilian helicopter fleet. Most updates are weekly or monthly, although some... Read more
31-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The UK helicopter industry has for some while been watching the Longmint companies, which are known to be in trading difficulties. We have already reported on the liquidation of Sterling Helicopters Ltd 8th August 2011, and we can now report the next stage – the liquidation of Longmint Aviation Ltd. Longmint Group Ltd is a... Read more
31-Oct-2011Source: Midlands Air Ambulance
M6toll is continuing its long term support of Midlands Air Ambulance charity by donating the funds necessary to purchase desperately needed flight suits for the air crew. Midland Expressway Limited has generously covered the £10,000 expense as part of their promise to support the charity for a further three years. The business has faithfully supported... Read more
28-Oct-2011Source: BBA Aviation
Graham Evitt has been appointed Rolls-Royce M250 Regional Sales Manager at H+S Aviation, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) company. He will be responsible for selling engine, accessory and component repair and overhaul services for Rolls-Royce M250® engines operating in Europe. “Graham has been involved with our M250 program for more than 20... Read more
28-Oct-2011Source: Flightglobal
The British Army has identified a need to incorporate several enhancements to its Westland/Boeing Apache AH1 attack helicopters, if the type is to be used again in the maritime role debuted during NATO’s Unified Protector campaign over Libya. (see full story)... Read more
28-Oct-2011Source: WNAA
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) Pilot Richard Craske flew his 3000th mission in Warwickshire on Friday 14 October 2011. A woman in her 40s was injured while exercising a horse on a long rein, or lunging, in the Shipston-on-Stour area. The crew were called because of initial concerns about possible head and back injuries.... Read more
27-Oct-2011Source: GAPAN
Army Air Corps Apache attack helicopter crews have been nominated for no less than four of the top awards, reflecting the gruelling nature of their operations in Afghanistan. The Attack Helicopter Force have been awarded the Johnston Memorial Trophy were commended for the sustained effort by the entire ‘UK Team Apache’ in making the Apache... Read more
27-Oct-2011Source: GAPAN
The Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award will be presented to the crew of a Royal Navy Lynx helicopter from HMS Chatham for the successful rescue in May last year of 23 crew from the container ship ‘MV Dubai Moon’ in the Northern Indian Ocean. Caught in a tropical cylone, the merchant ship was rolling heavily... Read more
26-Oct-2011Source: Royal Navy
We opened our 2011 display season at the Duxford Spring air show in May, so it is fitting to end at the same venue. Nearby residents of Duxford airfield will agree that we disturbed a wonderfully peaceful autumnal Sunday afternoon with our distinctive slapping blades and high-pitched gas-turbine engines, but we’re sure that the spectators... Read more
26-Oct-2011
The damage to the helicopter is limited to the tail and landing gear structure. The rotor blades and the transmission suffered no damage from the hard landing at a high rate of yaw.... Read more
25-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The UK CAA yesterday issued all the necessary documentation for the Guimbal Cabri G2, making it fully certified for use in the UK. Local distributor Cotswold Helicopter Centre, who had a very positive response to this new type at Helitech recently, tell HeliHub.com that they are starting type ratings on their demonstrator next week. They... Read more
25-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
German motoring and EMS operator ADAC has sold two of its early ambulance-role Eurocopter EC135s to a British operator. The two EC135P1s will be the first P1 models on the UK register – prior to serial 0501 being imported for the West Midlands Police, every 135 in the UK had had Turbomeca power, and by... Read more
24-Oct-2011Source: Elite Helicopters
We are delighted to announce the arrival of the latest addition to our fleet of training aircraft at Goodwood. G-DOGI is a Robinson R22 Beta and now has joined us to support our Private and Commercial Pilot’s Licence training programmes. The aircraft will be permanently based at Goodwood, and has been bought in to satisfy... Read more
21-Oct-2011Source: Reading Post
MD500E owner Jeremy Paxton can use his revolving helicopter pad for ‘recreational sumo wrestling’ but not landing his helicopter, say council planners. Mr Paxton built the revolving pad in his garden so he could rotate his helicopter and take off into the wind, but did so without planning permission and had to apply to the... Read more
21-Oct-2011
The Ministry of Defence has begun an investigation after Ann Duffield and her husband, the former jockey George Duffield, complained after the Chinook swooped low over their animals. Mrs Duffield said the pilot had shown no regard for the safety of horses and riders as it flew near her stables. (Full story)... Read more
20-Oct-2011Source: SaxonAir
SaxonAir are now selling helicopter flight gift vouchers from £125 inc. A unique gift for someone special and a wonderful way to see the beautiful Norfolk broads. Take off from Norwich Airport in our EC120 helicopter for an unforgettable experience and a bird’s eye view of beautiful Norfolk, Norwich and the stunning East Anglia coastline. All vouchers are printed on quality card and... Read more
17-Oct-2011Source: Total Heliski
Following the success in 2010 of the world’s first consumer HeliSki Show, the team at Total HeliSki will host the 2011 event at the 5-Star Andaz Hyatt Hotel near Liverpool Street Station from 6.00pm on Thursday, 3rd November. Tickets are priced at £25 and can be purchased online at www.amiando.com/heliskishow. Space at this select event... Read more
16-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Shipleys, auditors have filed documents with Companies House – the government department looking after company administration – resigning as auditors to each company in the UK’s Longmint Group. Some of the companies in this group are already in liquidation, but others, such as Fast Helicopters, are still trading. The simply worded letter states “Pursuant to... Read more
14-Oct-2011Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accidents of:- MD 900 Explorer, G-SASH at Leeds-Bradford on 11th June 2011 Eurocopter EC225 LP Super Puma, G-REDU on North Sea rig on 18th February 2009... Read more
14-Oct-2011Source: CAA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a consultation on its Scheme of Charges for 2012/13. The CAA said it welcomed all comments on its proposed charges for the new financial year, which are due to take effect on 1 April 2012. The consultation will close on 21 December 2011. The CAA said it... Read more
14-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Oil giant BP has announced that they will proceed with a new £4.5 Billion oil project west of the Shetland Islands off the north east Scottish coast of the uK. The BP-operated scheme is an extension of the existing Clair oil field, and will also include investment by fellow oil firms Shell, ConocoPhillips and Chevron.... Read more
13-Oct-2011Source: Helicentre Aviation
Helicentre Aviaiton are pleased to announce that we will be launching our one-day turbine technical course on Saturday 22nd October 2011. The course will be conducted by Darren Hopper, a senior engineer with a leading maintenance company in the UK, and many years of experience in maintaining turbine engines. The course will focus on the... Read more
10-Oct-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that a full scale mock-up of the  all new AW169 twin engine light intermediate helicopter is being exhibited in London this week (10th to 14th October), in front of the UK Department for Business, Innovation & Skills headquarters in Victoria Street. The 4.5 ton AW169, launched in... Read more
10-Oct-2011Source: David Laws MP
David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, today commented on the news that AgustaWestland has announced plans to cut up to 375 jobs at its Yeovil business, and at other UK sites. The job cuts are principally at the management level and in corporate functions, with the numbers of staff engaged in actual aircraft production remaining... Read more
10-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
CHC has transferred an AW139 across the North Sea – from their Netherlands fleet to their UK fleet. PH-EUC has been registered on Friday on the British register as G-SNSB. The “SNS” in the registration refers to Southern North Sea and joins another AW139 G-SNSA with those initials. [File photo] Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com... Read more
8-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The United Kingdom now has an R66 fleet of four. This follows HeliAir’s delivery of serial 0041 as N66MV to a private owner in Cheshire just prior to Helitech last week. The helicopter was present at Duxford on the second day of the event. Between the two UK distributors – the other one being Sloane... Read more
8-Oct-2011Source: UK MoD
An Army officer is to receive the Air Force Cross for his ‘selflessness and extraordinary professionalism’ in piloting his Apache helicopter in dangerous situations to assist casualty rescue missions in Afghanistan. Captain Steven Jones, aged 32, an Apache pilot with the Army Air Corps, was flying his helicopter back to base after a day providing... Read more
8-Oct-2011Source: Humberside Police
A potential disaster was averted by Humberside Police after a vehicle was left abandoned on a railway line in Hull. The incident happened on the afternoon of Monday 03 October at when a car was requested to stop on Witty Street in the city by a police patrol on the ground and failed to do... Read more
8-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Leeds-based Multiflight has already completed the conversion of three AS365N2 Dauphins and handed them all over one-by-one to Great North Air Ambulance. The third of these was handed over to GNAA’s Grahame Pickering at the recent Helitech 2011 event. Multlflight are now to convert a fourth Dauphin to full EMS specifications, to serve as both... Read more
7-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
AgustaWestland has today announced that up to 375 jobs are to go in the UK with a company “restructuring” mainly in management and corporate roles in Yeovil and Farnborough, Hampshire. This is the result of tightening military budgets and the effects of the global recession on the commercial sector. The company employs almost 3,600 people... Read more
6-Oct-2011Source: Royal Navy
Leading Aircrewman Sarah Christenson from 820 Naval Air Squadron, a Merlin helicopter squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, has become the first ever female to successfully complete the helicopter fast-roping instructors course. Fast-roping is a technique used to deploy lightly-equipped troops rapidly into confined areas where helicopters cannot land. The technique involves the... Read more
5-Oct-2011Source: Elite Helicopters
Our students, clients, instructors and admin staff were invited to view the new Guimbal Cabri G2 2-seat helicopter at Helitech this week, and everybody was supremely impressed with this wonderful new aircraft. So much so, that we have arranged with the UK distributor to bring the Cabri to Goodwood in the very near future, where... Read more
4-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
In the last few weeks Eurocopter UK has sold not one but two Eurocopter EC120s, both of which have been stored for over three years awaiting a purchaser. Serial 1536 was yesterday registered to Eurocopter UK on the British register as G-CGYL, but arrived at their Oxford base in primer finish by May 2008. The... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the HeliHub.com “Register Updates†series, listing helicopters which have been added to a particular national register, removed from it or the listed owner has changed. Our coverage represents the majority of registration and owner changes within the global civilian helicopter fleet. Most updates are weekly or monthly, although some... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: Royal Navy
The Navy’s largest and most powerful helicopter is celebrating ten years on the front line – as aircrew at Culdrose have been given a chance to glimpse into the future of the Merlin. A prototype of the Merlin Mk2 made its debut at the Cornish air station – which has been home to the first... Read more
30-Sep-2011Source: Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force Puma helicopter officially celebrates its 40th anniversary today; with the first aircraft having undertaken its first operational flight on 29th September 1971. Video of Puma in Action The Puma helicopter, currently serving with 33 and 230 Squadrons at RAF Benson, has seen stalwart Service over its forty year career, deploying on... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: Gama Engineering
Gama Engineering Ltd’s appointment as a distributor Cobham’s HeliSAS Autopilot and Stability Augmentation System offers European helicopter operators an opportunity to introduce a new standard in flight safety. HeliSAS replaces old analogue systems with a significantly lighter autopilot system that reduces pilot workload and increases helicopter stability. HeliSAS is already FAA certified and EASA validation... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: Gama Engineering
Gama Group company Lees Avionics Ltd have completed the acquisition of the trade and assets of Mann Aviation Group Engineering Ltd to create a new force to support the engineering and certification needs of corporate, regional, general aviation aircraft and helicopter operators. The Gama Group today announced the formation of Gama Engineering Ltd. Established at... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter’s latest high-fidelity helicopter training device, the EC225 simulator at its new North Sea Service Centre in Aberdeen, Scotland offers unmatched training opportunities for helicopter pilots who fly in the challenging off-shore environment for the oil and gas industry, as well as for crews performing search and rescue missions. This simulator which has demonstrated more... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: Multiflight
The third Dauphin helicopter bought from Multiflight by the Great North Air Ambulance Service was officially handed over to the charity at Helitech 2011 today, Wednesday September 28th. Multiflight Managing Director Steve Borrowdale made the official hand over to GNAAS Chief Executive Graham Pickering today at Helitech 2011, the largest dedicated helicopter event in Europe.... Read more
