Erickson Air-Crane Announces New $100M Revolving Credit Facility
Source: Erickson Air-Crane, 03-May-13
Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (NASDAQ:EAC), (“Erickson” or “the Company”), a leading global provider of aviation services to a diverse mix of commercial and government customers and the vertical manufacturer and operator of the powerful, heavy-lift helicopter, the Erickson S-64 Aircrane, announced today that it had entered into a new $100 million, five-year revolving credit facility with [...]
REACH receives FAA approval for GPS approaches in Oregon
Source: REACH Air, 19-Apr-13
REACH Air Medical Services (REACH) is pleased to announce approval from the FAA to use its own GPS approaches and routes, directly to hospitals and landing sites in Western Oregon. REACH is the first Helicopter Emergency Management Service (HEMS) program to commit assets to serve the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley. These areas are often [...]
Pacific Coast Avionics Receives Aspen Award
Source: Pacific Coast Avionics, 08-Apr-13
Pacific Coast Avionics Corporation Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Dewey Conroy, has announced that his firm has received its third consecutive annual award as an Aspen Elite Dealer. “To have received this award for the third consecutive year is an honor,” said Conroy. “Working with Aspen has been great every step of the way. [...]
Helicopter Transport Services to move from Corvallis
Source: Register Guard, 15-Feb-13
“We ran out of space in the existing facility we have, and we needed a place where we could expand and where we could own the land,” HTS operations manager Mark Pilon said. (see full story)
Oregon UH-1 operator for sale
Source: HeliHub.com, 15-Jan-13
Classifieds website Craigslist is currently hosting the following advert (here) “Timberline Air Service is a complete turn-key external load helicopter company that is currently operating Bell UH-1Ls. Timberline has been operating since 1983, the company includes complete ground support equipment, extensive spares inventory to support both UH-1Ls. Timberline has an excellent work history and potential [...]
Morning fire quickly extinguished at Erickson HQ
Source: The Dove, 21-Dec-12
Firefighters from Jackson County Fire District Three and Medford Fire and Rescue quickly put down a fire reported at 4:40 a.m. yesterday (Thursday 20th December) at Erickson Air Crane (see full story)
27-Nov-12 N163PJ Hughes 500D Sheridan, US-Oregon
27-Nov-12
Crashed into a truck during a Christmas tree lifting operation, injuring the pilot. The helicopter was left without blades and tail boom, and heavily damaged in the cabin area.
15-Nov-12 N2356T Robinson R22B Portland, US-Oregon
15-Nov-12
Emergency landing on sports field. No damage. Out by road to maintenance facility
Helicopter pilot commended for fire bucket rescue incident
Source: OPB, 13-Nov-12
An Oregon helicopter pilot who rescued a firefighter from the Pole Creek Fire this summer says he feared for his job after the incident. But a new Forest Service review commends both men for their quick thinking and decisive actions. (see full story) File photo
AirLink CCT appoints Program Manager in Oregon
Source: AirLink CCT, 31-Oct-12
Kevin Schitoskey, a recognized leader and dedicated clinician in the emergency air medical industry, has joined AirLink CCT in Bend to lead the team as Program Manager. He is committed to ensuring patients and community members are served with the utmost quality of care, by the highest level of medically trained staff, and in the [...]
Life Flight Network buys 12 C-MAC PM Video Laryngoscopes at AMTC 2012
Source: Life Flight Network, 29-Oct-12
Life Flight Network (LFN), an award-winning, not-for-profit air medical transport service with headquarters in Aurora, Oregon, announced the purchase of 12 Storz C-MAC PM “pocket monitor” video laryngoscopes at the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in the Washington State Convention Center. The ability for a critical care medical team to safely and quickly insert a [...]
Life Flight Network honoured as Best Large Non-Profit to work for in Oregon
Source: Life Flight Network, 07-Oct-12
Life Flight Network (LFN), a not-for-profit air medical transport service with headquarters in Aurora, Oregon, was honored as the Best Nonprofit to Work For in Oregon (large category) by Oregon Business magazine at an awards banquet in downtown Portland late last week. The statewide publication’s 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon project celebrates [...]
07-Oct-12 N1577 Bell UH-1H Medford, US-Oregon
07-Oct-12
Emergency landing by fire-fighting helicopter. Pilot Cody Seeger (only person on board) not injured. The helicopter landed on its side in a forested hillside – trees surrounding the crash site may have softened the impact
Oregon company accused of providing phony helicopter parts to US military
Source: Corvallis Gazette-Times, 26-Sep-12
Court records made public Tuesday show that a new search of an Oregon defense contractor accused of providing phony helicopter and truck parts to the military was prompted by testimony from a purchasing agent who is helping investigators. (see full story)
Oregon Army National Guard receives first of four UH-72A
Source: Oregon Army National Guard, 24-Sep-12
The Oregon Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, C Company, 1-112 Aviation received the first of four new UH-72A Lakota helicopters during a roll-out ceremony at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Ore., Sept. 22. Three more are expected to arrive in November. The Lakota is the Army’s newest light utility helicopter and is replacing the OH-58 Kiowa [...]
Butte Falls unveils safer helicopter pad
Source: Mail-Tribune, 30-Jul-12
Emergency helicopter landings in Butte Falls, Oregon just got safer with the opening of a new landing area at the edge of town (see full story)
Work starts on $1.2M helipad at Grande Ronde Hospital
Source: Grande Ronde Hospital, 12-Jun-12
The construction of a helipad at Grande Ronde Hospital began recently. GRH Project Manager Tim Wilcox anticipates full completion of the three-phase project by summer’s end, adding that the majority of the $1.2 million price tag for the project utilizes local contractors, labor and construction supplies. “We estimate a completion date of August 31, 2012 [...]
Pacific Coast Avionics designated “Elite Distributor” by Avidyne
Source: Pacific Coast Avionics, 06-Jun-12
Dewey Conroy, Vice President and COO of Pacific Coast Avionics has announced that his firm has received the “Elite Distributor” designation from Avidyne Corporation for the second consecutive year. In making the announcement Conroy said, “We are very pleased and proud to be recognized by Avidyne as an Elite Distributor. Their product line is an [...]
Sacramento Police get free OH-58 from Yamhill County Sheriff
Source: Sacramento Bee, 30-May-12
The Bell OH-58 is being donated by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Department in Oregon, just north of Salem. It can no longer afford to have an air operations program. (see full story) File photo
Life Flight Network to open new base in Pendleton, Oregon
Source: Life Flight Network, 28-May-12
Life Flight Network (LFN), a not-for-profit air medical transport service in the Northwest and Intermountain West, announced today they will open a new helicopter base in Pendleton, Oregon on June 1, 2012. “Our decision to open a base in Pendleton follows dialogue with area healthcare professionals to confirm introducing our air medical capabilities into the [...]
Northwest MedStar Launches Alert App to Reduce Response Time
Source: Northwest MedStar, 25-May-12
There’s an app for that. Just launched, the new app places Northwest MedStar on alert when air transport may be needed. MedStar Alert, one of the first smartphone applications in the nation developed by a critical care transport provider for EMS providers, launched as part of EMS appreciation week celebrations. A free EMS application, MedStar [...]
Columbia Helicopters to diverisfy into military engine maintenance
Source: Columbia Helicopters, 23-May-12
Seeing a growing business opportunity in military helicopter engine repair services, Columbia Helicopters has built upon its long-time relationship with engine manufacturer Honeywell International, and is in the process of opening a second test cell at its Aurora, Oregon, maintenance base. Under its new agreement with Honeywell, which was finalized in March, 2012, Columbia Helicopters is now [...]
Columbia River Bar Pilots acquire AgustaWestland Grand New
Source: Daily Astorian, 23-May-12
The AW109SP is operated by Brim Aviation to whisk bar pilots to and from the Columbia River bar, where they board or disembark from incoming and outgoing vessels. (see full story). The particular aircraft is N361CR serial 22243. [File photo]
Jerry Trimble Helicopters to hold second annual touchdown auto contest
Source: Jerry Trimble Helicopters, 12-Apr-12
Jerry Trimble Helicopters (JTH) is looking forward to the 2nd Annual Touchdown Auto Rotation competition to be held at the McMinnville, OR airport on June 24, 2012. The competition will judged on: straight-in autos. Scoring is based on distance from the pre-established “spot”, technique and the slide distance, if any. Each pilot is allowed 2 [...]
Yamhill County dismantles helicopter program
Source: Yamhill Valley News-Register, 28-Feb-12
County sold the three nonflying OH-58A+ units on eBay in December and has now disposed of the fourth and last aircraft to Sacramento Police Dept (see full story) File photo
Doug Doty scholarship recipient announced
Source: Doug Doty Foundation, 24-Feb-12
The Doug Doty Vertical Flight Foundation and Hillsboro Aviation are pleased to announce this years recipient of the Doug Doty Memorial Scholarship for Turbine Transition, Mr. Cordell Walker. The Doug Doty Vertical Flight Foundation teamed up with Hillsboro Aviation to offer the non-profit foundation’s first Bell 206B3 JetRanger Scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is [...]
Hillsboro Aviation buys new Bell 407GX
Source: Hillsboro Aviation, 22-Feb-12
At the opening of HELI-EXPO, Hillsboro Aviation, the only Bell Independent Representative in the United States, placed an order for a new 2012 Bell 407GX for sale to a prospective customer in the western U.S. “The popularity of the 407 within our sales territory has gained tremendous momentum since the introduction of the GX last [...]
Life Flight Network to open new Oregon base
Source: Life Flight Network, 16-Feb-12
February 15, 2012 – Aurora, OR… Life Flight Network, a not-for-profit air medical transport service in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West, announced today they will open a new helicopter base in Redmond, Oregon on February 22, 2012. “Our decision to open a base in Redmond follows substantial research and dialogue with area healthcare professionals [...]
Columbia River Bar Pilots set to receive a GrandNew
Source: AgustaWestland, 15-Feb-12
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the GrandNew light twin engine helicopter has been selected as the platform of choice by the Columbia River Bar Pilots in Oregon, USA. The GrandNew will replace the existing AW109 Power helicopter that has served as their transport since the early 2000’s. The GrandNew helicopter will [...]
Leading Edge first to offer flight training in G500H equipped R44
Source: Leading Edge Aviation, 14-Feb-12
With STC in hand, Leading Edge Aviation is the first flight school in the US to offer instruction in a Garmin G500H equipped R44 helicopter. The glass cockpit installation offers higher level of safety, reliability and is a powerful tool in preparing students for success in the industry. Leading Edge now offers instruction using traditional [...]
Life Flight Network orders 15 AW119Ke Helicopters
Source: AgustaWestland, 13-Feb-12
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce Life Flight Network has signed a contract for 15 AW119Ke helicopters to meet its future air medical helicopter transport requirements. The contract was signed today by Michael Griffiths, Life Flight Network’s CEO, and Bruno Spagnolini, AgustaWestland’s CEO during a ceremony held at Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas. Aircraft [...]
Hillsboro Aviation makes purchase to grow Bell service
Source: Hillsboro Aviation, 12-Feb-12
To expand its parts sales capabilities and its support of Bell medium helicopters, Hillsboro Aviation has purchased the tooling and equipment of the Heli-Trade Corporation and is offering for sale its complete line of parts, Bell 205 fuselages and STCs. Founded in 1957, Heli-Trade Corporation has been the worldwide industry leader in maximizing safety and [...]
National Park Service will be able to ban helicopters at Crater Lake
Source: HTR News, 11-Feb-12
The National Park Service will have the power to ban helicopter flights over Crater Lake without having to go through so much red tape. Oregon Democrats Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley inserted a provision giving that power to the park service into a FAA bill that Congress passed this week. The bill is [...]
Columbia Helicopters opens T55 engine testing facility
Source: Columbia Helicopters, 24-Jan-12
Columbia Helicopters is pleased to announce the official opening of their new turbine engine testing facility. The $4 million project will allow the company to work on a wider variety of turbine helicopter engines, and will result in the addition of several new customers. The new facility, commonly called an engine test cell, is specifically [...]
Jerry Trimble Helicopters student receives flight training scholarship
Source: Jerry Trimble Helicopters, 03-Jan-12
Jerry Trimble Helicopters (JTH) is proud to announce that Jessica Ward has received the Robinson Safety Course Scholarship offered by the Whirly-Girls. The Robinson Safety Course is a 3-day course conducted by the factory in Torrance, CA and includes both flight and ground training. Jessica began training at JTH in the summer of 2010 and [...]
Columbia Helicopters identifies key to growth
Source: Columbia Helicopters, 30-Dec-11
“Our pursuit of commercial, and military helicopter maintenance and operational contracts in new areas has resulted in our ability to grow and hire more people,” said Michael Fahey, President of the Aurora, Oregon-based company. “At the same time, we are continually developing new contracts with our global petroleum and logging customers. Columbia Helicopters owns, operates, [...]
REACH Air Medical Services expands through merger
Source: REACH, 06-Dec-11
REACH Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight announce the merger of the two privately-held companies, creating the most comprehensive network of medical air and ground transportation in the Western United States. REACH, with 13 helicopter bases and one airplane base, and Cal-Ore, with two airplane and two ground ambulance bases, have been collaborators in [...]
New helicopter training program starts at BBCC in January
Source: Big Bend Community College, 30-Nov-11
A partnership between Big Bend Community College and Inland Helicopters of Spokane will provide opportunities for students to become helicopter pilots while earning an associates degree. The new helicopter pilot training program begins in January of 2012. “This is another example of the type of public/private partnerships we must establish to create new programs in [...]
14-Nov-11 N16HA Bell B206 Woodburn, US-Oregon
14-Nov-11
Crashed while lifting Christmas trees, pilot injured
Erickson Air-Crane lays off 20% of workforce
Source: Ashland Daily Tidings, 03-Nov-11
Erickson Air-Crane has said it is laying off 119 workers from its global staff, almost all from the 600 employees working at Central Point in Oregon (see full story)
New helipads for Florence Municipal Airport
Source: HeliHub.com, 25-Sep-11
Florence Municipal Airport in Oregon has started a $913,000 project to reconfigure and expand the terminal apron. This will improve function and conformance with the FAA design standards, in addition to relocating the existing fueling area and providing new parking positions for aircraft. A new helicopter pad and parking area is also being constructed. “These [...]
27-Jul-11 N808LF Eurocopter AS350B3 Troutdale, US-Oregon
27-Jul-11
Precautionary landing revealed missing drive shaft cover
Transfer of command at Coast Guard Group/Air Station North Bend
Source: US Coast Guard, 24-Jul-11
Capt. Mark E. Reynolds relieved Capt. Scott A. Kitchen of command of U.S. Coast Guard Group/Air Station North Bend, Ore., during a change-of-command ceremony on Friday, July 22, 2011, at 11 a.m. The ceremony was held at Group/Air Station North Bend, located at 2000 Connecticut Avenue, North Bend. Capt. Kitchen, who assumed command of Group/Air Station [...]
Jerry Trimble Helicopters first annual touchdown auto contest a success
02-Jul-11
Stott wins fulldown autorotation contest by a slide Jerry Trimble Helicopters first annual touchdown auto contest a success! McMinnville, OR June 27, 2011: Jerry Trimble Helicopters (JTH) held their first annual touchdown autorotation competition at the McMinnville airport on June 26, 2011. Twelve helicopter pilots competed in the event with Mark Stott, a JTH flight [...]
Universal Avionics appoints Western Region Marketing Manager
Source: Universal Avionics, 21-Jun-11
Universal Avionics is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Potter as Western Region Marketing Manager. Mr. Potter will be responsible for the overall growth and development of Universal Avionics product sales in the Western U.S. region, which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. Mr. Carroll will be based in the Los Angeles vicinity. [...]
Jerry Trimble Helicopters announces Auto Rotation competition
Source: Jerry Trimble Helicopters, 18-May-11
Jerry Trimble Helicopters is pleased to announce the First Annual Touchdown Auto Rotation Competition being held at the McMinnville Airport on Sunday, June 26. The event corresponds to the Lions Club Fly-in/Drive-in pancake breakfast. The competition will be broken down into 2 categories: straight-in autos or 180° autos. Pilots will have the choice to enter [...]
Oregon nurseries explore unmanned drone technology to monitor fields
Source: Oregon State University, 06-May-11
ORVALLIS, Ore. – It fits in the back of a pickup and looks like a hobby helicopter, but the aerial remote sensing system under investigation in the Willamette Valley soars high above traditional inventory methods of nurseries and Christmas tree farms. Starting this year, a team of researchers from Oregon State University, the University of [...]
Dept of Interior and US Forest Service close La Grande Airtanker Base
Source: US Forest Service, 01-May-11
The La Grande Airtanker Base is closed due to significant damage to various taxi routes including the apron. The Airtanker Base shall remain closed to all airtanker operations until repairs are completed. Forest and Regional Fire and Aviation staff consulted with the National Aviation staff prior to closing the Airtanker Base. A portion of the [...]
Columbia Helicopters starts construction on T55-714 engine test cell
Source: Columbia Helicopters, 08-Apr-11
Columbia Helicopters (CHI), a 26-year operator of the Model 234 aircraft (the civilian version of the CH47 Chinook), has broken ground for the expansion of its T55 engine maintenance capabilities to include a T55-714 engine test cell. The test cell is located at the company’s maintenance headquarters at Aurora, Oregon. This expansion will add T55-714 [...]
Senator Ron Wyden proposes ban on helicopter tours over Crater Lake
Source: Senator Ron Wyden, 21-Feb-11
Friday, February 18, 2011 Washington, D.C. – With the Senate passage of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill late last night, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced several provisions that will benefit Oregon, including improved commercial air service between western states and Washington, D.C., protecting Crater Lake from air tour flyovers, increasing testing sites for [...]
FAA training contract won by Leading Edge Aviation
Source: Leading Edge Aviation, 10-Jan-11
Leading Edge Aviation (LEA), a Bend, Oregon based helicopter flight school, has been selected through the solicitation and award process to provide helicopter flight training to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Certification and Inspector Pilots. The contract was awarded based on Leading Edge Aviation’s high standards of performance in their flight training program. “This contract [...]
31-Dec-10 N438RC MD Helicopters MD500E Eugene, US-Oregon
31-Dec-10
Bird strike to tail rotor at 1800 ft during training flight. Landed safely
15-Nov-10 N155PH Hughes 369D Salem, US-Oregon
15-Nov-10
Helicopter was flying low on underslung load operations lifting bundles of trees from growing location to trucks bound for Texas. 1POB, named as Tim Smith, 41
Wide range of potential federal charges await Kustom Products
Source: The World, 29-Oct-10
Federal investigators contend the company sold knock-off parts to the Defense Department, including nonconforming helicopter parts for the Kentucky Army National Guard.
Oregon company Kustom Products is target of helicopter parts probe
Source: AP, 19-Oct-10
Federal agents allege they have evidence an Oregon defense contractor sold phony replacement parts to the military that could cause attack helicopters to crash.
Hillsboro Aviation offers onsite avionics installations
Source: Hillsboro Aviation, 13-Sep-10
Hillsboro Aviation, a leading provider of helicopter avionics services, is pleased to announce the availability of custom on-site installations for owners and operators of Bell helicopters. Hillsboro Aviation can save customers travel time, fuel expense and associated ferry costs by traveling to the customer’s facility and performing the installation and required documentation. Custom upgrades can [...]
Personal pronoun costs Mercy Flights $30,000
Source: Mail Tribune, 01-Sep-10
Mercy Flights was taken to task because it used the word “our” as in “our medical helicopter,” and “our helicopter”.
FAA Proposes $580,000 Civil Penalty Against Hillsboro Aviation
Source: FAA, 16-Aug-10
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $580,000 civil penalty against Hillsboro Aviation, Inc., of Hillsboro, Ore., for allegedly performing improper repairs, deliberately falsifying maintenance records and operating a helicopter in a reckless manner. The FAA alleges that Hillsboro mechanics used incorrect parts and an unqualified individual to make repairs to a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter. The FAA [...]
Alan Dahm to Retire from Hillsboro Aviation After 53 Years in the Aviation Parts Industry
Source: Hillsboro Aviation, 25-Jun-10
Hillsboro Aviation would like to congratulate Alan Dahm on his upcoming retirement after nearly 53 years of employment as an aviation parts professional. When Alan’s last day of work arrives on June 30, 2010, he will be ending an amazing aviation career that began in the parts department at Flightcraft, Inc. in Portland in 1957. [...]
Expanded helicopter training now available at Leading Edge Aviation
Source: Leading Edge Aviation, 17-Jun-10
Leading Edge Aviation (LEA), a Bend, Oregon based helicopter flight school, and Central Oregon Community College (COCC) announce the approval of their new Advanced Helicopter Training Course by the Oregon Department of Education and Department of Veteran Affairs This new course expands the existing degree program to include Turbine Transition, Night Vision Goggle (NVG), External [...]
Leading Edge Aviation announces post 9-11 GI Bill flight training growth
Source: Leading Edge Aviation, 14-May-10
Leading Edge Aviation (LEA), a Bend, Oregon based helicopter company, is one of the first helicopter flight schools in the country to provide a college program for students utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill. LEA has partnered with Central Oregon Community College (COCC) for the past three years, offering degree programs with professional helicopter pilot [...]
Erickson Air-Crane to go public with $75M IPO
Source: Daily Markets, 13-May-10
Erickson Air-Crane Inc. filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering of up to $75 million shares of its common stock. Click on the “Daily Markets” link for a press story, or here for the full SEC form S-1
Bill would give Crater Lake National Park say over helicopters
Source: Washington Examiner, 26-Mar-10
The National Park Service would get special authority to decide if Leading Edge Aviation can fly tours over Crater Lake under legislation passed by the U.S. Senate on Monday.
