1-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Yesterday, Bond Offshore Helicopters registered their first AW139 helicopter with teh UK CAA – it is G-PERA which reflects it being contracted to the independent oil & gas company Perenco. Previously this company’s operations were supported by an AW139 from CHC. The AW139, which will be joined by a second prior to the contract start... Read more
31-Jan-2011Source: The Helicopter Museum
A new Exhibition is set to open next month at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare. ‘Developing An Archive’ will tell the story of how the famous aviation attraction has managed to gather a plethora of rotor craft documentation over the past 50 years and subsequently been able to build one of the largest archives on... Read more
29-Jan-2011Source: Essex Air Ambulance
We are delighted to announce that building work is now underway to bring the Essex operational airbase to Earls Colne Airfield! Over the last 9 months, having secured planning consent and an affordable building design, TJ Evers the appointed building contractor arrived on site in January to begin this exciting new chapter in the history of... Read more
29-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The British Civil Aviation Authority has reviewed and reduced the charges it levies on companies holding an Air Operators Certificate after representations from the British Helicopter Association among others. Previously, there were separate bandings for operators of 0-4 and those for 5-10 helicopters, with a big jump between the two making it very difficult for... Read more
28-Jan-2011Source: Flightglobal
Exercise involving Army Air Corps Lynx, RAF Merlin and Chinooks as well as Royal Navy Sea Kings – in view of operations starting in Afghanistan in April. This major pre-deployment exercise is being held on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire... Read more
28-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Two different news sources in the UK have tonight gone public with their investigations into the suspended British SAR privatisation deal. In Spring 2010, the UK Government announced that the Soteria consortium were the preferred bidders, and it was assumed that this just meant that the contractual aspects had to be sorted and some months... Read more
26-Jan-2011Source: Flightglobal
The UK’s requirement to modernise its training system for military helicopter crews has drawn initial bids from two contenders, industry sources say. A final RFP is scheduled for release in March, with this to require the companies to submit final bids. A decision is expected in late 2011 or early 2012... Read more
25-Jan-2011Source: Chester Chronicle
Joseph Standish, aged 27, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work.... Read more
24-Jan-2011Source: Boeing
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and its Boeing Defence UK subsidiary today announced that the Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support team has begun flight testing the first Chinook Mk4 helicopter for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first flight took place on Dec. 9 in Hampshire, England. “Project JULIUS, as the Mk4 program is known, will modernize the... Read more
24-Jan-2011Source: Manchester Evening News
Mobisir Ali, 23, fired the green-coloured light beam from a hotel window as the Greater Manchester Police helicopter was flying at 1,000ft over Oldham. Magistrates in the town were told the pilot lost his night vision and he was unable to see his instruments or the skyline for several seconds.... Read more
24-Jan-2011Source: BBC
Cdr Louis Wilson-Chalon, 44, from Yeovil, will now be in charge of 815 Squadron, based at RNAS Yeovilton. Mr Wilson-Chalon was inspired by his father who was a flight test engineer that helped to build the Lynx helicopter at Westland’s Yeovil factory more than 40 years ago.... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: BBC
Paul Weir, chief executive of the Great Western Air Ambulance, said the service was just breaking even at the moment, but that could change if the price of fuel continues to rise. They operate a Eurocopter Bo105... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: CAE
CAE today announced it has been awarded a series of military contracts for the defence forces of more than 12 countries valued at more than C$140 million. Among the contracts are: the design and manufacture of a C-130J weapon systems trainer and other training devices for Lockheed Martin; a contract from Boeing Training Systems and... Read more
19-Jan-2011Source: Cranfield University
Course date: 14-18 Mar 2011 Course overview The Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre is proud to offer a new course for transport accident investigators who may find themselves involved in the various legal processes including Coronial Inquiry, Public Inquiry, Fatal Accident Inquiry and both civil and criminal litigation. The course has been developed in... Read more
17-Jan-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) covering the second five year period of the 25-year Integrated Merlin Operational Support (IMOS) contract. The contract for the period 2011 to 2016 is valued at approximately £570 million. The IMOS contract provides a... Read more
17-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Britain’s Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare is seeking volunteers to help them complete the restoration of Fairey Ultralight G-AOUJ. This two seat tip-jet helicopter with a gross weight of 817kg was developed just over fifty years ago, but cancelled after the UK military dropped their interest in it, and manufacturers Fairey found civil interest very muted... Read more
16-Jan-2011Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue does not refer to any helicopters and this update is included in HeliHub.com for completeness.... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: Manchester Evening News
Mobosir Ali, 23, of Newport Street, Oldham, has been charged with shining a light at an aircraft so as to endanger or distract the pilot.... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: Cornwall Air Ambulance
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is to have a prominent new role in the county as Patron of one of its vital emergency services. The Duchess will begin her new role as the figurehead of Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust (CAAT) this month. As the charity’s first official Patron, Her Royal Highness will lend her support... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: Telegraph
Soon after the Edinburgh-London journey began, passengers noticed the train was being “buzzed†and that a helicopter was flying low over it, criss-crossing its path. Some were so worried they immediately contacted the CAA, whilst others filmed what was happening on their mobile phones.... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: Aberdeen Press & Journal
Recently released accounts show turnover at £61.09 million for the year to 31st March 2010, up 13%, and pre-tax profits at £3.572 million, up 12%... Read more
6-Jan-2011Source: Yorkshire Evening Post
At about 5.55am last Saturday the pilot of the force chopper reported a laser being shone at the aircraft as it was flying over the Bramley area of Leeds.... Read more
6-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Frimley Park Hospital in the UK county of Surrey has given the go-ahead to a £20M project to build a new Accident & Emergency department including a roof-top helipad. When completed, this facility will avoid the delays associated with the current arrangement where air ambulances have to land at Kings International College and complete the... Read more
5-Jan-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
5-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
British helicopter company Heliair have launched a website specifically for Robinson R66 sales at R66Dealer.com – this may, in time, be merged into their main website, but it is currently intentionally stand-alone.Head of Marketing Brian Kane told HeliHub.com that Heli Air see the R66 as being “the best single engine turbine ever produced”, presumably based... Read more
4-Jan-2011
CHC AS332L2 landed safely at Aberdeen Airport after a full emergency was declared due to a warning light., which may have indicted gearbox temperature problems.... Read more
23-Dec-2010Source: TVACAA
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance (TVACAA), which serves Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire (BOB), was able to fly an extended 12 hour day for the period 5 July 2010 to 22 November 2010 and will continue to run a 10 hour day during the winter months. The... Read more
20-Dec-2010Source: BBC
A group of youths stopped an airborne ambulance crew from landing at an emergency call in Swansea by pelting the helicopter with snowballs.... Read more
20-Dec-2010Source: CAE
MONTREAL, QUEBEC and VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA–(Marketwire – Dec. 20, 2010) – CAE (NYSE:CAE)(TSX:CAE) and CHC Helicopter, a global leader in helicopter transportation for the offshore oil and gas industry, announced today that they have signed an agreement pursuant to which CAE will acquire CHC Helicopter’s helicopter flight training operations including four full-flight simulators located... Read more
17-Dec-2010Source: This is Hull & East Riding
Sgt Jenkins said the attempt to dazzle the helicopter pilot had serious implications. “Endangering an aircraft is an offence and carries a five-year prison sentence,” he added. “Unfortunately for us, their night vision equipment is often better than ours.”... Read more
17-Dec-2010Source: Reuters
“The preferred bidder has informed the Ministry of Defence within the last 48 hours that it has become aware of a possible issue in connection with its bid to provide the UK Search and Rescue capability”... Read more
15-Dec-2010Source: Shropshire star
Under the cloudof a recent national police aviation review which called for their unit to be closed permanently, the Dyfed-Powys police are now considering fixed wing options to save money.... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
In response to media coverage suggesting that there may be no air ambulance service in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire by Christmas, the East Anglian Air Ambulance has moved to reassure the public that its enhanced service has in fact now been launched and will be ready to help those caught up in medical emergencies and accidents... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: Maritime & Coastguard Agency
At 18.44 pm on Saturday 11th December, Stornoway Coastguard rescue helicopter “Rescue 100” was scrambled by Stornoway Coastguard after they had received a request for assistance from the NHS. The helicopter was sent to evacuate a fifty seven year old lady who was being seen by a doctor, who requested that she be evacuated to... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: Oil & Gas UK
Oil & Gas UK and NATS, the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, today announced the world’s first operational use of wide area multilateration technology for tracking offshore flights. Helicopters in transit to and from oil and gas platforms in the North Sea are now visible to air traffic controllers from takeoff to landing, increasing... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident of:- * Robinson R22B G-RIDL at Macclesfield, Cheshire on 15 November 2009 * Robinson R22B G-NWDC at Londonderry Eglinton Airfield on 8 August 2010 * Schweizer 269CBi G-LINX at Stalmine, Lancashire on 22 September 2009... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
As police forces aim to be come more accountable to the residents of the area they serve, a number of those operating helicopters have launched a page on their website to list the tasks they fly – usually as a way of minimising noise complaints. These usually take the form of a table listing date,... Read more
12-Dec-2010Source: Royal Navy
857 Naval Air Squadron has handed over responsibility for Sea King airborne surveillance and control duties in Helmand province, Afghanistan, to 854 Naval Air Squadron. Both squadrons are based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose and take it in turns to deploy to Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan. Commander Pat Douglas, the Sea King Force... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: Bond Aviation Group
[This is the official press release from Bond. HeliHub.com ran the story “Northern Lighthouse Board upgrading to EC135 on 1st December” back on 24th November] Gloucestershire-based, Bond Aviation Group, one of Europe’s leading helicopter service providers, has been awarded a long-term contract with the Northern Lighthouse Board valued at £6.5m. Following a competitive tendering exercise,... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: Sloane Helicopters
[HeliHub.com has already provided links to a press report on this operation. This press release provides a lot more detail than the press report] Sloane Helicopters Limited is pleased to announce the entry into service of the UK’s first Agusta EMS Grand, G-HEMZ, with the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, one of the busiest... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
The East Anglian Air Ambulance has moved its Western operational base to Cambridge Airport as it launches an enhanced and more sustainable service which it believes will help save more lives across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The charity has worked closely with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) in developing the new service... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: Lycoming
Lycoming Engines, a division of Avco Corporation, has added Airpart Supply Ltd., located at Wycombe Air Park near London’s Heathrow Airport, to its worldwide distributor network. Founded in 1984, Airpart Supply Ltd. is an independent, privately owned United Kingdom based company supplying parts, components and services to airline, regional, corporate and general aviation aircraft. Its... Read more
7-Dec-2010Source: Sloane Helicopters
Sloane Helicopters is pleased to announce that it is providing one A109 Power EMS to Magpas, the Emergency Medical Charity, for the Magpas Helimedix to fill in an operational gap into the Air Ambulance services operating from RAF Wyton. The aircraft is equipped with the standard EMS factory fit and with customised oxygen and radio... Read more
6-Dec-2010Source: Channel 4
DLRAA has upgraded from a 109E Power to a brand new 109S Grand... Read more
5-Dec-2010
Heavy landing by student pilot while hover taxying after door opened in flight.... Read more
1-Dec-2010Source: 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
1-Dec-2010Source: PremiAir
PremiAir Global, the aircraft sales and brokerage specialist and part of UK aviation services business PremiAir, has appointed two new Aircraft Sales Managers – Craig Lammiman and Gordon Potter – as it moves to focus increased activity on the fixed wing pre-owned business aircraft market in addition to its well established executive helicopter services. The... Read more
1-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Cornwall Air Ambulance has won planning permission for a new operational base on the boundary of Newquay Cornwall Airport. The location is currently just outside the airport’s security fence, but the plans call for a fence move to ensure the new helipad continues to be airside. Positioned just south of the “piano keys” of Runway... Read more
30-Nov-2010Source: PremiAir
PremiAir, one of the UK’s leading private aviation charter companies, is making its debut at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes during 7-10 December. Reinforcing its presence, PremiAir Group Managing Director, David McRobert will participate as a panelist in the prestigious annual travel industry leaders’ forum which takes place on 6 December, the... Read more
30-Nov-2010Source: RAF
From Benson to Bastion – today the Royal Air Force Merlin Force marked their first anniversary on Operation HERRICK. Following transportation to Afghanistan, re-assembly and pre-flight checks, the Merlin Force officially declared that they were ready for operational flying on the front line a full year ago. The Merlins have spent those twelve months transporting... Read more
29-Nov-2010Source: HeliHub.com
This past Thursday, Cornwall Air Ambulance have recorded their 22,000th mission in their 23 years of operation, airlifting a 30 year old woman from Penzance to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. Cornwall Air Ambulance flies a Eurocopter EC135T2 covering a county of nearly 1,400 square miles and a population approaching 550,000. Jutting out to... Read more
29-Nov-2010Source: BBC
Fire chiefs have said it would be quicker and more efficient to fly in specialist teams to road crashes. But the Fire Brigades Union said the plan was “a folly” with some firefighters facing redundancy.... Read more
24-Nov-2010
Based in Northumbria but also providing EMS services in Cumbria... Read more
24-Nov-2010
National organisation for private pilots and others. Organisers of UK Championships... Read more
24-Nov-2010
Non-exclusive sales representative for Sikorsky S76 and S92 in UK, Eire, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal & Switzerland... Read more
24-Nov-2010
Sample data only – AgustaWestland and Robinson dealer for UK and Eire... Read more
24-Nov-2010
Sample data only – AgustaWestland and Robinson dealer for UK and Eire... Read more
24-Nov-2010Source: HeliHub.com
The Northern Lighthouse Board’s (NLB) experience with helicopter support has revolved around a Eurocopter Bo105 for many years. With the current contract expiring on 30th November, they took the opportunity to revisit what helicopter type was used. A feasibility study was undertaken prior to the tendering exercise to establish what type of helicopter was needed... Read more
23-Nov-2010Source: Multiflight
The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) has launched the second of two Dauphin Eurocopter AS 365 N2 helicopters it has bought from Multiflight. Both of the Dauphin helicopters will be managed and crewed by Multiflight. The first Dauphin bought from Multiflight was launched into service by GNAAS earlier this year. Multiflight Managing Director Steve... Read more
22-Nov-2010Source: Cambridge News
Use of the £600,000 facility, on land south of the Rosie maternity hospital, will be limited to the hours between 7am and 9pm. The only aspect standing in the way now is to secure the funding. Photo shows the local air ambulance... Read more
22-Nov-2010Source: Kent Business
The estimated journey time between touchdown at Biggin Hill and arrival at the stadium could be as short as 40 minutes.... Read more
22-Nov-2010Source: Coventry Telegraph
Grants came from three trusts, General Charities of the City of Coventry, Stratford Town Trust and the Soroptimist International of Rugby Charitable Trust, to improve working areas at the operational base.... Read more
22-Nov-2010
The East Anglian Air Ambulance has announced that the charity’s Chief Executive Simon Gray will be leaving the charity at the end of January 2011. Andrew Egerton-Smith, Chairman of the charity’s board of trustees, commented: “We’re hugely indebted to Simon for the commitment he has shown to making the charity one of the most effective... Read more
22-Nov-2010Source: BAE Systems
BAE Systems has delivered the first order of a new helmet-mounted optical sighting system to the Royal Navy, addressing a mission-critical need for increased air door gunner situational awareness on helicopters. BAE Systems, prime contractor for the Lynx PT, earlier this month delivered 12 Q-Sightâ„¢ Gunner Remote Sighting Systems (GRSS) that are qualified for use... Read more
21-Nov-2010Source: Virtual Simulation Systems
The UK Ministry of Defence has signed a deal with Australian based company, Virtual Simulation Systems (VSS, established by the founder of the popular VBS series of software, David Lagettie) for the lease of a Complete Aircrew Training System (CATS) for up to 3 years. The system will be delivered to the Army Air Corps’... Read more
19-Nov-2010Source: Shephard
The future make-up of the UK’s military helicopter fleet remains unclear following the release of the government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) as acquisition officials mull over its ramifications.... Read more
19-Nov-2010
The number of cases of pilots being dazzled by laser pens increased across the UK to 737 in 2009 compared with just 29 in 2007.... Read more
18-Nov-2010Source: Shephard
The Royal Navy (RN) is carrying out an operational evaluation of a new helmet-mounted optical sighting system that will be issued to Lynx Mk8 helicopter door gunners.... Read more
18-Nov-2010Source: Shephard
The commander of the UK’s Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) says his organisation is facing a challenging time over the next decade.... Read more
16-Nov-2010Source: Financial Times
A recommendation to the Treasury proposes pressing ahead with the Soteria consortium, comprising Thales UK, Royal Bank of Scotland and CHC, a helicopter operator, which was chosen as preferred bidder in February. A decision is expected in the next fortnight.... Read more
16-Nov-2010Source: This is Grimsby
Advances over their earlier MD Explorer include bigger fuel tank, Nightsun, Night Vision Goggles, and others.... Read more
16-Nov-2010Source: HeliHub.com
An unannounced new Sikorsky S76C++ was registered four weeks ago in the UK as G-PACO and has been operating from City Airport in Manchester, also known as Barton. The registered owner of this helicopter with the UK CAA is Cardinal Helicopter Services (IOM) Ltd, with a private address given in the Isle of Man –... Read more
