19-Mar-2014Source: AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and NASA will co-host California Aerospace Week, March 24–26, in Sacramento, Calif. Featuring a mix of panels, exhibits, hearings and discussions, the event will focus on the importance of aerospace to California. A resolution will be introduced in the California State Senate on the afternoon of March... Read more
17-Mar-2014
Emergency night landing around 1.30am in stadium parking lot. Engineer called... Read more
13-Mar-2014Source: Alpenhorn News
Two military surplus UH-1Hs were offered to the county by the California Emergency Management Agency’s 1033 Excess Property Program. See full story... Read more
11-Mar-2014Source: The Republic
Sergio Patrick Rodriguez, 26, of Clovis, was accused of pointing a green laser 13 times more powerful than common pointers at a Fresno Police Department helicopter in 2012 See full story... Read more
10-Mar-2014Source: Daily Breeze
Frank Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter Co. in Torrance, has been selected for induction into the California Aviation Hall of Fame. See full story Photo from Aviation Legends dinner, February 2011... Read more
9-Mar-2014Source: HeliMX
Helicopter Maintenance magazine, the number one publication for helicopter maintenance professionals, announces that Derek Weeden has been selected as its 2013 Helicopter Mechanic of the Year Awardrecipient. Weeden is a helicopter mechanic for DynCorp International, working at the company’s McClellan, CA facility. He has 30 years experience working on helicopters. After serving for six years in the... Read more
5-Mar-2014Source: Metro Aviation
Metro Aviation is pleased to announce California Shock Trauma Air Rescue Ambulance (CALSTAR) as its co-launch customer for EC135 simulator training at the Helicopter Flight Training Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. CALSTAR recently signed a five-year training agreement utilizing the EC135 Level D Full Motion Simulator. “Safety is a priority for Metro and I can say that... Read more
27-Feb-2014Source: Ramona Patch
The Bell 407GX the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department wants to add to its aerial fleet could also support local fire departments with fire suppression efforts. See full story... Read more
26-Feb-2014Source: PAS MRO
PAS MRO has been approved by MD Helicopters as a repair source for anti-friction bearings for the MD Helicopter fleet. PAS MRO’s provides Level I (inspection) and Level II (overhaul) repair of anti-friction bearings for airframe, accessory & engines. The MDHI approval encompasses airframe and accessory bearing inspection, repair and overhaul. The MD Helicopter approval... Read more
25-Feb-2014Source: Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters Inc. announced Tuesday that it will hold its national CS3 Customer Service Symposium on Sept. 8-10 in Grapevine, Texas. The annual event is an opportunity for operators of Airbus Helicopters to get the latest safety and technical updates and meet with the company’s key customer support personnel and management. In addition to the... Read more
25-Feb-2014Source: Belfort
Belfort Instrument Company, one of the country’s oldest meteorological sensor and meteorological system manufactures, is in the process of obtaining a purchase order from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, Aero Bureau for a Belfort AWOS AV in support of their aviation department. The Belfort Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS AV) will provide the LA county... Read more
25-Feb-2014Source: Helinet
Helinet Technologies, an international provider of aviation technology solutions to the law enforcement, government and military markets, announced today its selection by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to develop and support a technology upgrade of the microwave downlink system utilized by the department’s Air Support Division (ASD). The existing downlink, which was also developed... Read more
16-Feb-2014Source: Adam Schiff
Almost six months after Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and other Los Angeles area lawmakers, including Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), sent a letter asking for a timeline to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Los Angeles Helicopter Noise Initiative, the agency finally responded to the Los Angeles lawmakers (letter can be found here). This comes on... Read more
6-Feb-2014Source: HeliHub.com
Four months after partner city Glendale signed it off, the City of Burbank Council last week confirmed their part of it as well. The proposal to Glendale Council had quoted a total cost of $2,712,980 while the equivalent paperwork from Burbank refers to $2,623,055 – for completeness, these figures need 9% sales tax added. The quoted figure... Read more
28-Jan-2014Source: Noozhawk
On the way to earning a degree in architecture, Taylor Nancarrow decided to give up college to start a helicopter tour business with a brand new R44 Raven I See full story... Read more
24-Jan-2014Source: Modesto Bee
Robert “Harry” Rogers and his wife, Wanda, founded Rogers Helicopters in 1962 in Clovis and stayed there for three decades before moving the operation to Fresno Yosemite International airport. See full story... Read more
21-Jan-2014Source: LA Times
A $1-trillion spending bill signed by President Obama on Friday requires the FAA to come up with regulations if voluntary efforts don’t work. See full story... Read more
20-Jan-2014
Precautionary landing in public park. Engineer called... Read more
9-Jan-2014Source: Universal Helicopters
Universal Helicopters (UHI) with locations in Arizona, Utah, Kansas, and California, is proud to announce that they are in their 10th year with no incident, accident, or crashes. Dr. Gordon A Jiroux, President and CEO of UHI, stated “with safety, quality and crash free flying as our primary focus each and every day, UHI is... Read more
20-Dec-2013Source: DTLA Rising
The revised Helipad Fire Code in LA will see less flat-topped buildings. HeliHub.com assumes the LAFD have found an easier way to extract people from a high-rise fire without using helicopters. See full story... Read more
9-Dec-2013
Helicopter was hovering low over orchards on a standard frost-mitigation operation. Problem at low level after the helicopter had been running for about 10 hours straight (bar fuel stops), and landed in crop with main blades striking tail boom on the way. Pilot Stephen Streeter.... Read more
27-Nov-2013Source: AHS
The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of AHS International will hold their Fifth Decennial AHS Aeromechanics Specialists’ Conference on January 22-24, 2014 at Holiday Inn at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, California. These conferences, held every 10 years since 1974, have documented remarkable scientific advances and engineering achievements in rotorcraft aeromechanics. The theme of the Fifth Decennial AHS Aeromechanics... Read more
26-Nov-2013Source: Group3 Aviation
Group3 Aviation, a Los Angeles helicopter tour company, recently added a new helicopter to its fleet. The addition to the fleet is a 206B JetRanger III helicopter, which will be used for charter flights, sightseeing and aerial photographs and filming. The Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter is capable of seating four passengers in addition to the... Read more
23-Nov-2013
Minor rotor blade damage on departure... Read more
20-Nov-2013
The donation from Fueling California, a nonprofit advocacy group for major fuel consumers, was presented Friday in a ceremony that included LBPD Chief Jim McDonnell See full story... Read more
12-Nov-2013Source: Stockton Record
REACH was fined nearly $33,000 last week by San Joaquin County officials for deviating from the county’s transport plan for trauma patients – in the same week the county renewed its agreement with the EMS operator. see full story... Read more
11-Nov-2013Source: PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) recently launched a supplemental safety program in the Bay Area: daily helicopter flights with trained spotters flying 500 feet above 106 miles of gas transmission pipeline from San Francisco to San Jose. PG&E is completing a special program of helicopter flyovers in the San Franciscoarea as part of the company’s focus on preventing... Read more
6-Nov-2013Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Leading Edge Aviation (LEA), a Bend, Oregon, based company, has just completed Initial Night Vision Goggle training for the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Air Operations Division. In early 2013, Leading Edge joined Night Flight Concepts as a training partner. Leading Edge holds 141 approved courses for Initial, Recurrent, and Instructor NVG Training. LEA... Read more
5-Nov-2013
Passenger opened door and jumped out over the ocean near Balboa Pier. Rescuers performed CPR on the beach but he was pronounced dead at hospital. The pilot’s father described in an interview how his son tried in vain to stop the other passenger jumping out. A suicide note was found later, and the deceased’s relatives... Read more
1-Nov-2013
Wire strike. Wire cut by fitted “wire strike protection system” and helicopter landed safely. Slight damage on nose where wire first struck, and port windshield broken.... Read more
30-Oct-2013Source: Rep. Adam Schiff
Today, Representatives Adam Schiff, Henry Waxman, Brad Sherman, Karen Bass, Janice Hahn, Tony Cardenas and Alan Lowenthal, and Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta, to request that the agency release its schedule for completing the next steps identified in the FAA’s Report on the... Read more
24-Oct-2013Source: American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter’s EC135 is the market leader for light twin-engine helicopters in the air medical transport industry with more than 200 now in service and the number continues to climb. “Over the last 10 years, the EC135 has accounted for more than 80 percent of the light twin-engine helicopters delivered to the U.S. air medical... Read more
21-Oct-2013Source: American Eurocopter
Corporate Helicopters of San Diego has taken delivery of a new, customized EC155 helicopter equipped for Corporate and VIP transportation missions. The luxurious and powerful EC155 was purchased from American Eurocopter, which continues to provide a range of state of the art helicopters for business transportation. Corporate Helicopters, founded in 1990 by Ivor and Deann... Read more
18-Oct-2013Source: PHPA
In an email addressed to PHPA Members, Board member Edward Story aimed to encourage PHPA members to volunteer for their Working Groups. He reminded members that there have been two major meetings that the PHPA has had with the Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition (“LAAHNC”) in 2013, including one in February 12 at the VNY (Van Nuys Airport)... Read more
17-Oct-2013Source: AHS
Northern California helicopter maintenance and support company, Advanced Helicopter Services (AHS) has announced they will host a charity golf tournament onNovember 5, 2013 to support the Wounded Warrior Project. The upcoming tourney will take place in Brooks, California at the Yocha Dehe Golf Club, beginning at 9:00 am PST. Sponsorship opportunities are still available and information regarding... Read more
11-Oct-2013
Force landed in the desert due to smoke in the cabin. Pilot and two passengers got out OK. Helicopter consumed by fire... Read more
9-Oct-2013Source: REACH
REACH Air Medical Services (REACH) announces the expansion of their Southern California emergency helicopter service to include a fourth base in Oceanside, California. This aircraft will provide life‐saving 24/7 emergency medical helicopter service in partnership with the City of Oceanside Fire Department. Initially the helicopter is responding from a base located at the OceansideAirport. The... Read more
8-Oct-2013Source: Press-Enterprise
The heliport at the almost-open Temecula Valley Hospital will be moved because of safety concerns See full story... Read more
4-Oct-2013Source: HeliHub.com
The City Council of Glendale this week unanimously approved the disposal of the oldest MD520N in the City fleet, and its replacement with a new MD520N. according to a report in the Glendale News Express. Glendale operates a joint unit with neighbouring city Burbank. The older aircraft – N272BP, serial LN040, is being replaced as... Read more
1-Oct-2013Source: Component Control
Component Control announces that Pacific Southwest Instruments (PSI), an industry-leading aircraft instrument repair station for general aviation, corporate, commercial and rotorcraft, has selected Quantum ControlTM MRO management software to manage repair, overhaul and exchange services for a broad spectrum of supported flight systems. For over 30 years, PSI has maintained FAA and EASA Certified Repair... Read more
29-Sep-2013
Struck powerlines on agricultural operations, cutting power to around 500 homes. In ensuing manoeuvre, main blades cut tail boom. Pilot not injured... Read more
19-Sep-2013Source: REACH
In an ongoing program to modernize and upgrade its fleet of emergency air medical helicopters, REACH Air Medical Services has taken delivery of a new Eurocopter EC135 helicopter. The aircraft will be based at REACH’s Santa Rosa, CA base, known as REACH 1. The new aircraft will be the seventh EC135 for REACH, a 26-year-old... Read more
19-Sep-2013Source: Metro Aviation
Metro Aviation recently delivered the fifth Eurocopter EC135 to California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR). Metro will provide eight EC135’s as part of a comprehensive fleet upgrade and standardization plan for the helicopter emergency medical service. The Metro Headquarters in Shreveport, Louisiana is becoming a second home for most of the CALSTAR family, but the... Read more
16-Sep-2013Source: HeliHub.com
From the very close attention HeliHub.com gives to safety data, we have noticed a recent spate of accidents involving winching operations where the person being winched is the fatality. Check out these three 12-Sep-13 Sikorsky UH-60 Springville, US-California (1F) 57-year-old volunteer Shane Krogen fell about 50 feet from a helicopter during a marijuana-eradication effort in... Read more
14-Sep-2013
The R66 is being paid for entirely out of federal asset forfeiture funds, so the Council’s decision was more around the ongoing maintenance costs. See full story... Read more
13-Sep-2013
Emergency landing on hillside. Helicopter needed roading out for repair. The helicopter was en route to a brush fire in the city of La Verne... Read more
12-Sep-2013
57-year-old volunteer Shane Krogen fell about 50 feet from a helicopter during a marijuana-eradication effort in Tulare County and died... Read more
11-Sep-2013
Substantially damaged in force landing on road... Read more
3-Sep-2013Source: Stanford News
The helicopter ordinarily lands on the Stanford Hospital’s rooftop. Elevator renovations at the hospital are forcing the relocation, which is expected to last until the end of November. See full story... Read more
3-Sep-2013Source: Erickson Air-Crane
Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated EAC -0.71% , a leading global provider of aviation services to a diverse mix of commercial and government customers, and the vertically-integrated manufacturer and operator of the powerful heavy-lift Erickson S-64 Aircrane helicopter, announced today that it has signed a contract with Los Angeles County. The contract, which has an annual value of approximately $2.7... Read more
28-Aug-2013
Emergency night landing in school field after experiencing unusual rotor blade vibration. Attended to by engineer next day on site. Pilot named by CBS47 as Johnny Reyes... Read more
20-Aug-2013Source: Star Helicopters
Star Helicopters, a popular Southern California helicopter tour company, is once again the proud official tour operator of the Wings Wheel Rotor & Expo show. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, October 27 at the Los Alamitos Army Airfield, joint Forces Training Base. A portion of the proceeds from helicopter tours during the show... Read more
16-Aug-2013Source: U-T San Diego
Under the five-year agreement with REACH Air Medical Service, the company will build a concrete helipad at the city’s fire training center at 110 Jones Road and will also pay Oceanside about $48,000 each year to rent space at the site. see full story... Read more
7-Aug-2013Source: IHST
The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) will host its seventh worldwide helicopter symposium for safety professionals on Feb. 27-28, 2014, in Anaheim, Calif., immediately following the close of Heli-Expo 2014. The symposium will focus on the importance of helicopter pilot self-discipline and personal responsibility. In addition to international aviation safety experts participating on panels during... Read more
4-Aug-2013
Crashed into Braga Ranch lettuce field near Chualar River Road in Gonzales after reported engine failure. Pilot Doug Walker was not injured. Helicopter ended up on its side, tail boom cut by main blades... Read more
17-Jul-2013Source: American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter has teamed up with the Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division in an unprecedented training program to enhance the safety and efficiency of the LAPD helicopter flight operations. As part of its ongoing customer support commitment American Eurocopter will recognize the LAPD Air Support Division at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s 43rd... Read more
9-Jul-2013Source: HAI
Housing for HELI-EXPO 2014 will open tomorrow, July 10, at 1:00 pm EDT. Once again, Connections Housing will be our official housing and reservations coordinator. Make your reservations online tomorrow at www.rotor.org/housing. Helpful Information and Printable Forms Map of Hotels Hotels At-A-Glance Hotel information Hotel amenities chart Individual reservation form Group reservation form Questions? Contact Connections Housing at 404-842-0000, 877-254-HELI (4354)... Read more
8-Jul-2013Source: PHPA
PHPA has been working all ‘levers’ available to us on your behalf to keep open the LAX Heliport. LAWA staff is threatening to close it. We need your help! As you know, LAWA Staff attempted to de-certify the heliport in March and April – quietly and without public notice. It appears that we stopped the... Read more
3-Jul-2013Source: Sandel Avionics
Sandel Avionics, Inc., a global leader in compact, integrated display systems technologies, today announced it has received the prestigious 2013 Innovation Award by the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) in the Technology category. The Innovation Awards was created with the vision to honor and acknowledge the people and organizations that continue to stretch boundaries and... Read more
25-Jun-2013Source: Helinet Technologies
Helinet Technologies, an international provider of aviation technology solutions to the law enforcement, government and military markets, announced today the deployment of an integrated video downlink solution for the Hawthorne Police Department (HPD) in the City Of Hawthorne, California. The new system enables HPD to transmit live, HD images from the Department’s MD 500E helicopter to multiple, ground-based... Read more
24-Jun-2013Source: Donaldson
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), congratulates long-time customer PJ Helicopters for developing world-class precision-lift services over its more than 40 years of operations. The success of Red Bluff, Calif.-based PJ Helicopters is supported by Donaldson’s Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) systems. The IBFs protect the safety, performance and reliability of seven turbine helicopter... Read more
24-Jun-2013
Landed close to a highway and suffered unknown damage... Read more
19-Jun-2013
Precautionary landing on a logging road... Read more
17-Jun-2013Source: UC Davis
Under the watchful eye of news media and area winegrape growers, a remote-controlled helicopter, fitted with a spray applicator system, was field tested today over a vineyard in the heart of the famed Napa Valley by engineers at the University of California, Davis, and Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA. For 20 years, the small motorcyle-sized helicopter,... Read more
12-Jun-2013Source: CBS Los Angeles
A Southland lawmaker will hold a public hearing Monday night to discuss a recent government report on helicopter noise across Los Angeles County. (See Full Story)... Read more
12-Jun-2013Source: Altadenablog
The Pasadena Police Department Air Operations will hold its annual open house at the Altadena heliport on Saturday, June 29, from 11 AM-2 PM. (See Full Story)... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: US Forest Service
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today that the agency will begin night helicopter wildfire suppression operations this season in Southern California. “The re-introduction of Forest Service night helicopter firefighting operations in Southern California further establishes the agency’s commitment to protect lives and property in the region,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. ... Read more
6-Jun-2013
Pilot experienced mechanical issue, made immediate heavy landing, bounced and fell onto its side. Four POB minor injuries only.... Read more
3-Jun-2013Source: SF Gate
A federal report released on Friday advises against issuing regulations to limit low-flying helicopters to cut down on chopper noise over the Los Angeles Basin.(See Full Story)... Read more
3-Jun-2013Source: Long Beach patch
St. Mary’s Medical Center on Wednesday celebrated what will soon be a new emergency medical transport helicopter that will serve critically injured patients in the Long Beach area and on Catalina Island. (See Full Story)... Read more
31-May-2013Source: Philly
The mother of a man killed when a helicopter crashed during a shoot for a reality television show has claimed in a wrongful death lawsuit that the aircraft’s operators and producers negligently operated the helicopter. (See Full Story) – and see also the HeliHub.com page for this accident here... Read more
29-May-2013Source: YES Communications, Inc.
YES Communications, Inc. (YES) has announced the recent signing of a new contract extension with Advanced Helicopter Services (AHS), based in Woodland, California. Specializing in helicopter repair, maintenance overhaul, and extensive support services, AHS continues to expand market presence with new and innovative product offerings for a broad range of aircraft. YES Communications specializes in... Read more
28-May-2013Source: Ventura County Star
Aspen Helicopters, based at the Oxnard Airport, has acquired a new firefighting aircraft that will be used this fire season. (See Full Story)... Read more
22-May-2013Source: REACH
In an ongoing program to modernize and upgrade its fleet of emergency air medical helicopters, REACH Air Medical Services has taken delivery of a new Eurocopter EC135 helicopter. The aircraft will be based at REACH’s Concord, CA base, known as REACH 3. The new aircraft will be the sixth EC135 for REACH, a 26-year-old emergency... Read more
22-May-2013Source: Union-Tribune
An air ambulance service that answers Oceanside emergency trauma calls out of Carlsbad’s McClellan-Palomar Airport is angling to raise its profile in the city after a rival company came up with a proposal to operate a similar service out of Oceanside’s Municipal Airport. (See Full Story)... Read more
