Bell laying off 140 employees
Source: Star-Telegram, 03-May-13
Bell is laying off 140 employees at its Fort Worth plant in anticipation of reduced production of its V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft over the next several years. (See Full Story)
18-Apr-13 N495AE Bell 407 Waco, US-Texas
18-Apr-13
Bird strike, windscreen broken, landed without further incident, no injuries
Uniflight to maintain Houston Police Bell 412
Source: Uniflight LLC, 16-Apr-13
Uniflight LLC of Grand Prairie Texas is very pleased to announce the award of a contract by the Houston Texas Police Department to provide maintenance support for the department’s helicopters. The contract awarded to Uniflight is for one base year and two additional option years. The contract is for the support of Bell Helicopter 412 [...]
FlightSafety to offer Sikorsky S-76B training in Dallas
Source: FlightSafety International, 16-Apr-13
FlightSafety International is pleased to announce that it will offer training for the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter at its Learning Center in Dallas, Texas. The Sikorsky S-76B training program was previously located at FlightSafety’s West Palm Beach Learning Center. “We look forward to welcoming operators of the Sikorsky S-76B to the Dallas Center,” said Daniel MacLellan, [...]
Bell sponsors Ganassi Racing Team #1 Car
Source: Bell, 14-Apr-13
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will sponsor the Ganassi Racing Team #1 car driven by Jamie McMurray Saturday, April 13, at the NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. McMurray visited the Bell Helicopter Training Academy on April 11 for a cockpit simulator demonstration, meet and greet with Bell Helicopter employees, and flight [...]
Ribbon cutting for new Air Evac Lifeteam hanger
Source: Brownwood, 08-Apr-13
The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Air Evac Lifeteam on Tuesday, March 26, at their new hanger on Streckert Drive in Brownwood (see full story).
RSG Delivers Universal Gimbal Mount Design for AW139
Source: Rotorcraft Services Group, 08-Apr-13
Rotorcraft Services Group, Inc. (RSG), an industry leader in aircraft services and product development, announced the successful development of a Universal Gimbal Mount system for the AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter. The lightweight mount design was completed to satisfy the requirements of Nippon Housou Kyoukai (NHK), Japanese National Broadcasting Corporation for Electronic News Gathering (ENG) and digital [...]
Rio Grande Regional Hospital celebrates new helipad
Source: Rio Grande, 04-Apr-13
Rio Grande Regional Hospital (RGRH) celebrated the opening of the New Helicopter Landing Pad located next to the emergency entrance. RGRH and AirEvac LifeTeam, the country’s largest independently owned and operated air ambulance service with over 25 years of experience, are working together to provide prompt patient care and quality air transport. Rio Grande Regional [...]
01-Apr-13 N584PM Schweizer 333SP San Antonio, US-Texas
01-Apr-13
Precautionary landing in parking lot on night mission after warning light illuminated
26-Mar-13 N910WC Hughes OH-6A Caddo, US-Texas (1F)
26-Mar-13
Landed in pond instead of the nearby field as intended after gusty wind conditions experienced. Pilot escaped, but passenger killed, both aged 75 according to press reports
Bell endows professorship at West Texas A&M University
Source: West Texas A&M University, 21-Mar-13
Extract from a newsletter covering multiple stories Dr. Matthew Jackson was named the Bell Helicopter Professor of Engineering. His appointment will begin in 2013 and end in 2015. Dr. Jackson presented a current research project at the Endowed Professorships and Chairs Convocation on February 20, 2013. The School of Engineering and Computer Science would like [...]
TNT approves unscripted docu-drama “Life Flight”
Source: TNT, 13-Mar-13
TNT has greenlit Life Flight, a riveting unscripted docu-drama that follows air-ambulance teams as they race to save lives. TNT has ordered six episodes of the series, which is slated to launch in early 2014. Life Flight follows the dedicated teams from Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, where the Life Flight service was born. The series [...]
EC175 demo for offshore oil and gas industry
Source: Eurocopter, 12-Mar-13
Eurocopter and American Eurocopter are bringing a new EC175 helicopter, configured for offshore oil and gas industry transport, to the Houston area for demonstrations on Thursday and Friday, March 14-15. As part of the demonstration tour news media are invited to come see and fly in the EC175 on March 14 at Western Airways, 100 [...]
FAA approves Arlington Police’s drones
Source: Star Telegram, 11-Mar-13
The Arlington Police Department recently won approval from the federal government to fly two remote-control helicopters for public safety purposes ( see full story)
Bell offers early retirement to some employees
Source: Star-Telegram, 09-Mar-13
Bell Helicopter is making early retirement offers to employees age 55 and older as it moves to tighten its belt in the face of looming budget cuts in Washington. (see full story)
Bell lays off 15 hourly workers
Source: Sky Talk blog, 08-Mar-13
Fifteen hourly workers have been laid off at Bell Helicopter, a union official has confirmed. (see full story)
Groundbreaking ceremony today at DeSoto Heliport site
Source: City of Desoto, 08-Mar-13
The vision is becoming a reality thanks to a funding partnership between the City of DeSoto, DeSoto Economic Development Corporation, Texas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division and our fixed base operator, Sky Helicopters. They are partnering to construct a vertical flight facility in DeSoto. The project will include a 23,225 sq. ft. operator hangar, a [...]
Northwest Helicopters delivers UH-1H Plus to Travis County STAR Flight
Source: Northwest Helicopters, 07-Mar-13
Northwest Helicopters LLC today announced the sale of a Bell UH-1H Plus to Travis County STAR Flight, at the HELI-EXPO industry show in Las Vegas, NV. Included in the sale is the option for 1 additional aircraft, to perform fire suppression and support duties. The UH-1H Plus is powered by a 1,800 SHP T53-L-703 engine [...]
Conklin & de Decker introduce new seminar on operating costs
Source: Conklin & de Decker, 07-Mar-13
Conklin & de Decker recently announced a new addition to their seminar line-up titled Exploring Aircraft Operating Costs. The inaugural program will be held on May 14-15, 2013 in Dallas, Texas.This seminar was recently certified by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to be a Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) accepted program allowing attendees to receive [...]
Austin-Travis STAR Flight Rescue Saves Multiple Lives Utilizing NVG
Source: ASU, 28-Feb-13
Three STAR Flight EC145s spent several hours in the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 8 responding to distress calls and successfully rescuing 13 people from flood waters, caused by Tropical Storm Hermine, throughout the region around Austin, Texas. The rescue operation was the largest to date for the unit?s EC145s. “The weather conditions were [...]
Texas bans shooting immigrants from helicopters
Source: The Raw Story, 26-Feb-13
Officials in Texas announced on Thursday that State Troopers would no longer be allowed to open fire on suspects from helicopters after the recent killing of two immigrants (see full story)
EC175 arrives in US for demo tour and Heli-Expo
Source: HeliHub.com, 22-Feb-13
Eurocopter has air-freighted an EC175 into the US for a demo tour, but only provided teaser photos so far of a bold blue colour scheme it has added to the first production example. This aircraft first flew in early December – see First production EC175 flies The demonstration tour would be expected to visit all [...]
14-Feb-13 N337PW Bell OH-58A Pine Springs, US-Texas
14-Feb-13
Substantially damaged after tail rotor failure
Wild hogs beat two helicopters in a week
Source: HeliHub.com, 04-Feb-13
Low-level helicopter flying, engaged in doors-off ammunition-ready feral hog hunting has been a major factor in two helicopter accidents in the last seven days. Estimates vary between two and four million hogs across the US. These wild animals are responsible for significant damage to pastures, leading to losses on behalf of the land owners. This [...]
01-Feb-13 N3059Q Robinson R22 Gillett, US-Texas
01-Feb-13
Helicopter crashed while hunting feral hogs at low level, ending up on its port side. Two persons were injured in the crash which happened about 2:45pm local
Med-Trans appoints VP of Partner Development
Source: Med-Trans, 27-Jan-13
Med-Trans Corp., a leader in the air medical industry, announced today that Jana Williams has accepted the position of V.P. of Partner Development and will be working out of the Chicago area in addition to the corporate headquarters in Lewisville, Texas. Williams,a transformational leader, has been in EMS for more than 27 years. She most recently [...]
FBI investigates fatal shooting from Texas DPS helicopter
27-Jan-13
A letter sent from the Texas Department of Public Safety to the state Attorney General on Wednesday confirms that the FBI is investigating a state trooper’s fatal shooting which lead to the death of two Guatemalan immigrants. (see full story) This is an update to a story we first ran on 1st January – Texas [...]
Rollins Brook Community Hospital to open helipad on Wednesday
Source: Lampasas Radio, 21-Jan-13
Rollins Brook Community Hospital will celebrate its new onsite helicopter landing pad at 3pm Wednesday, January 23 (see full story)
Jerry Trimble Helicopters opens in Texas
Source: Smithville Times, 18-Jan-13
From the company being founded in Oregon in 2007, and expanding into California, Jerry Trimble Helicopters has now opened at Smithville Crawford Municipal Airport in Texas (see full story)
17-Jan-13 N223MG Robinson R22 San Marcos, US-Texas
17-Jan-13
Hard landing on training flight. FAA report gives reg as N223GM which is not a valid registration. N223GM is assumed, based on it being the right helicopter type and registered to a Designated Pilot Examiner who leases 2+ R22s to Alamo Helicopters
Bell benefits from 10 year property tax abatement
Source: ABC7 Amarillo, 15-Jan-13
Amarillo City commissioners have approved a 10-year property tax abatement for a new military assembly center for Bell (see full story and video)
Property tax abatement entices Bell
Source: ABC7 Amarillo, 11-Jan-13
Amarillo City commissioners approved a 10-year property tax abatement for a new military assembly center for Bell (see full story)
East Texas Medical Center unveils two new EC135P2+
Source: East Texas Medical Center, 09-Jan-13
The East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System unveiled today two new emergency transport helicopters, valued at over $9 million, to provide patients in East Texas with critical, fast access to the region’s only level 1 trauma center at ETMC Tyler. The Eurocopter, EC135 P2+ helicopters will be stationed at ETMC Tyler and Titus Regional [...]
American Eurocopter appoints Senior HR Manager
Source: American Eurocopter, 06-Jan-13
American Eurocopter is pleased to announce the hiring of Kathy C. Hassenpflug as Senior Manager of Human Resources for its Texas operations. “We are pleased and excited to add a highly qualified veteran human resources professional like Kathy to our management team,” said Audrey Elliott, vice president of human resources for American Eurocopter. “She has [...]
Texas DPS faces questions on use of helicopter sharpshooter
Source: ACLU of Texas, 01-Jan-13
The ACLU of Texas Tuesday asked Attorney General Greg Abbott to compel the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to comply with open records requests about a DPS shooting of unarmed persons last October 25 that resulted in two fatalities. A sharpshooter fired several shots from a helicopter while in pursuit of a moving vehicle. [...]
29-Dec-12 N534MT Bell 407 Big Lake, US-Texas
29-Dec-12
Emergency landing, Tail boom sliced, damage to main blades. Helicopter remained upright. No Fire. Patient on board
24-Dec-12 McAllen, US-Texas (2 of 2)
24-Dec-12
Unidentified parked helicopter damaged by N489AE accident
24-Dec-12 N489AE Bell 407 McAllen, US-Texas
24-Dec-12
While in the hover, boom struck blade(s) of parked helicopter during a pedal turn
07-Dec-12 N574H Enstrom F28C Abilene, US-Texas
07-Dec-12
Engine failure on training flight. Emergency landing made with some damage to tail rotor. Pilot was instructor Robert Welch, 50 and student was aircraft owner Neil Overton, 41
YES Communications announces new business partnership
Source: YES Communications, 04-Dec-12
Kelley Parlier, Owner and President of Dallas, TX based YES Communications, Inc., has announced that Jim Kettles has joined the company as Vice President and part owner. Kettles is a longtime helicopter industry professional with almost 35 years of extensive flight operations, management, and sales expertise. Kettles’ experience includes comprehensive flight time in military and [...]
27-Nov-12 N28MP Hughes 500D Childress, US-Texas (1F)
27-Nov-12
Helicopter lost power while working at low level on powerlines for Cross Texas Transmission. Jonathan David Suhr, 23, was suspended 50 ft below the helicopter as part of this work and was certified dead a short time later.
Star-Telegram’s loss is American Eurocopter’s gain
Source: HeliHub.com, 25-Nov-12
Respected journalist Bob Cox has posted his last story on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he has led coverage of the aerospace and defence industries for 13 years – more recently via the SkyTalk blog. Effective Monday 26th November, Bob is going to work for American Eurocopter in Grand Prairie as senior manager of communications [...]
Jury finds defect in Eurocopter AS350B3 Flight Control System
Source: YES Communications, 19-Nov-12
On Friday, November 16, 2012, an El Paso, Texas jury found a defective flight control component caused the fatal crash of a U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopter on May 22, 2007. The crash killed the pilot and critically injured the other crewmember. The two-week trial centered on claims by the pilot’s [...]
Two temporary helipads approved for US Grand Prix
Source: YNN, 12-Nov-12
Two temporary helipads were approved for use during next weekend’s United States Grand Prix. Officials with the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport approved the stops at 901 South MoPac Expressway, near Barton Skyway, and 300 South Congress Avenue. (see full story)
Fort Worth/Dallas weather seminar for pilots
Source: HAI, 09-Nov-12
Part aviation meteorology and part aviation weather resources, the seminar will cover two parts: low-level wind shear, turbulence, icing, and other issues critical to pilots; and web resources and smartphone apps – including a discussion about radar interpretation. Who should attend? Fixed-wing pilots and helicopter pilots who want another tool to help better understand the [...]
DeSoto Parish Sheriff acquires R44 from DeSoto County Sheriff
22-Oct-12
The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office has a new weapon to help fight crime. The Sheriff recently bought a Robinson R44 Helicopter from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office in Mississippi. (see full story)
Bell breaks ground on new global HQ
Source: Bell, 15-Oct-12
As predicted by HeliHub.com 24 hours ago, courtesy of the Star-Telegram….. Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), has commenced construction for its new global headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. Governor Rick Perry, U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and Mayor Betsy Price joined John Garrison, President [...]
Air Medical Group expands HQ on air ambulance demand
Source: Dallas Business News, 15-Oct-12
Lewisville-based Air Medical Group Holdings Inc., a national helicopter ambulance company, plans to more than double its headquarters as it relocates within the city limits. (see full story)
Bell to break ground on new headquarters
Source: Star-Telegram, 15-Oct-12
Bell Helicopter breaks ground on a new headquarters and administration building, part of the $235 million modernization of its aging east Fort Worth headquarters complex (see full story)
11-Oct-12 N474FA Robinson R44 Luckenbach, US-Texas (3F)
11-Oct-12
Circumstances not known. 3 fatalities – pilot Chester Monroe (35) and passengers Rusty Aaron (26) and Kaci Fairchild (29)
Texas – Travis County to acquire UH-1H for fighting fires
Source: My Fox Austin, 10-Oct-12
Travis County Commissioners approved a $2.4 million fire-fighting helicopter as part of its 2013 budget on Tuesday. Travis County Emergency Services has long requested the funds for an aircraft dedicated to fight fires. (see full story) File photo
Bell to balance military cuts with civil expansion in Amarillo
Source: HeliHub.com, 30-Sep-12
Bell have announced that building the new 525 Relentless in Amarillo will add 100 jobs. However, the military is looking at defence cuts, and it is feasible that this will mean workers transferring from military work to civilian. A reduction in force can also not be ruled out – Bell are just waiting to see [...]
Travis County to purchase firefighting UH-1H
Source: HeliHub.com, 30-Sep-12
Travis County in Texas has announced it will buy a military-surplus Bell UH-1H primarily for fighting wildfires. The helicopter will undergo a full refurbishment and fit-out as soon as the purchase order is signed. It would be expected to become operational in 3-6 months thereafter. The County already operates three EC145s for air ambulance and [...]
Austin Helicopter Tours opens for business
Source: HeliHub.com, 30-Sep-12
Stacy and Randy Riggs, owners of Alamo Helicopter Tours of San Antonio are expanding to a second Texan city with the launch of Austin Helicopter Tours. They open for business on 1st October from Bud Dryden Airport, which is about four miles north east of the main Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Initially focusing on the tour [...]
30-Sep-12 N144CF AgustaWestland AW109E Eastland, US-Texas
30-Sep-12
Pilot tried to divert to a local airport because of limited visibility due to bad weather. Helicopter crashed in open field and was extensively damaged. All three “minor to moderate” injuries – Pilot Scott Wallace and medics Teresa Campbell and Rhett Drahe.
30-Sep-12 N8341W Robinson R44 Nocona, US-Texas
30-Sep-12
Crashed into Lake Nocona, 3 POB – pilot was reportedly the owner Darren Fenoglio, with passengers Josh Walterscheid and Derrick Morse. Helicopter sank in lake. One report stated pilot only had a student certificate and thus not allowed to carry passengers
American Eurocopter celebrates 200th US-built AS350
Source: American Eurocopter, 21-Sep-12
American Eurocopter held an event today at its Delivery Center in Grand Prairie to honor the 200th AS350® helicopter manufactured in the United States. The 200th aircraft, an AS350 B3e, was delivered to the Texas Department of Public Safety in April and was placed into service today. Members of the Texas DPS were on hand [...]
19-Sep-12 N94735 Hiller UH-12B Walnut Springs, US-Texas
19-Sep-12
Pilot Gregory Rumohr, 51, of Rio Vista in Johnson County, was uninjured in the accident which was reported due to engine failure
18-Sep-12 N957R Robinson R44 Slaton, US-Texas
18-Sep-12
Pilot lost control in the hover, helicopter crashed and burnt out
10-Sep-12 N281RG Robinson R22 Crosby, US-Texas (2F)
10-Sep-12
Helicopter crashed and burnt out. Both occupants killed – later named here as Christopher John Yeager, 40, the pilot of Houston and Joyce Ann Ates, 60, a photographer from Midwest City, Oklahoma.
New Helicopter Hangar for Pecos County
Source: KOSA, 03-Sep-12
The hangar is about 3,400 sq. ft. including the office area, restroom, equipment storage room and hangar area for helicopter. (see full story)
13-Aug-12 N28AE Bell 206L3 Burnet, US-Texas
13-Aug-12
Tail rotor struck wire on approach after crew were distracted by vehicle on ground potentially entering landing zone. Landed without further incident
07-Aug-12 N409SB Bell 214ST Avalon, US-Texas
07-Aug-12
Landed in a field and rolled onto its side. Helicopter was on a test flight – reportedly for development of the main rotor system for the Bell 525 Relentless
05-Aug-12 N429PH Bell 407 San Antonio, US-Texas
05-Aug-12
Damaged skid and had to make emergency landing on mattresses to minimise damage
24-Jul-12 N455MH Eurocopter EC145 Houston, US-Texas
24-Jul-12
Post flight check found engine cowling missing
Amarillo City Commission gives Bell $5 Million
Source: Amarillo Globe News, 19-Jul-12
During a meeting Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved a $5-million Amarillo Economic Development Corp. incentive package for a Bell Helicopter expansion to bring manufacturing of the company’s newest civilian craft — the 525 Relentless — and 100 jobs to the city. (see full story)
Metro Aviation to feature latest Texas DPS completion at ALEA
Source: Metro Aviation, 12-Jul-12
Metro Aviation will be exhibiting again this year during the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) 42nd Annual Conference and Exposition at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center from 11-14 JUL 2012. The company will be featuring their latest AS350B3 law enforcement completion provided to the Texas Department of Public Safety Aviation Section. The aircraft is the first [...]
NativeAir adds EMS base in El Paso, Texas
Source: KTSM Television, 04-Jul-12
The NativeAir emergency response team wants to get the word out to local hospitals, local firefighters and emergency responders. They’re ready and waiting to respond to an emergency and just a phone call away. (see full story)
Austin Police request funds for a Eurocopter AS350B3
Source: HeliHub.com, 22-Jun-12
Austin Police Department have put a funds request in to the City Council for $3,745,000 to buy a new Eurocopter AS350B3 – and the request will be heard at their scheduled meeting on 28th June at Austin City Hall. The paperwork submitted indicates that this is ostensibly to replace their 1969-vintage Bell OH-58A. There is [...]
