16-Jan-2012Source: AAR
AAR Airlift, an operating unit of Chicago based AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR) reports that a helicopter carrying a crew of three employees was involved in an accident in Helmand Province, Afghanistan at approximately 10:45 a.m., local time, January 16, while conducting operations for the U.S. Department of Defense. The Company has confirmed that there were... Read more
16-Jan-2012
Helicopter of AAR Airlift crashed while operating for US Dept of Defense. 3 fatalities. Type/registration not known at this time.... Read more
29-Dec-2011
The aircraft experienced mechanical problems and the crew made a precautionary landing in accordance with standard emergency procedures. The crew was recovered unharmed and the aircraft was recovered to a local Forward Operating Base without incident.... Read more
27-Dec-2011Source: US Army
The U.S. Army is using a hybrid-type acquisition approach to develop a helicopter-like, Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing Unmanned Aerial System with a so-called ARGUS wide-area surveillance sensor suite designed to beam back information and images of the surrounding terrain, service officials said. Beginning in May or June of 2012, the Army will deploy three Boeing-built A160 Hummingbird Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing... Read more
23-Dec-2011Source: US Marine Corps
Unmanned systems have revolutionized combat aviation, providing a colossal advantage in the fight against terror with surveillance and close-air support. Recently, a detachment of Marines from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 in Afghanistan added aerial resupply to the list of UAV capabilities. The detachment completed its first unmanned aerial system cargo delivery in a... Read more
23-Dec-2011
Helicopter took gunfire from Taliban. No injuries. More local news is suggesting it was shot down with all killed.... Read more
21-Dec-2011Source: NATO
Flight instructors at Shindand Air Base have completed acceptance flights on six MD 530F Helicopters that will be used to train Afghan pilots. Each helicopter was flown in the local air space for one hour and all aircraft systems were checked to include radios, GPS, navigation systems, rotor tracking and overall airworthiness. Classes are scheduled... Read more
8-Dec-2011Source: NATO
Maintenance advisers recently certified the first Afghan Air Force flight line expediter at Kandahar Air Wing. A direct maintenance commander delegate on the flight line, an expediter is responsible for efficiently utilizing manning and resources to effectively execute the flight schedule agreed upon by both maintainers and operators. Advisers indicate the new capability will ensure... Read more
7-Dec-2011Source: US Navy
Just in time for the holidays, a member from Fire Scout Detachment Alpha returned here after an eight-month deployment in Afghanistan. Lt. Cmdr. Tom Williams, Alpha detachment’s assistant officer in charge, returned to Pax River mid-November after supporting Fire Scout’s first land-based deployment. Williams is not a returning individual augmentee, rather he is a Navy... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: AAR
AAR (NYSE: AIR) announced today that the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) has exercised two renewal options for AAR to provide airlift support in Afghanistan through October of 2012. The first option has a value of $99 million and is part of a task order awarded to AAR in October, 2010. The second option has... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: US Army
KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Calling for air medical evacuation on the battlefield is a skill required before it’s needed. For Indiana Guardsmen with the 4-19th Agribusiness Development Team and pilots from the Wyoming National Guard’s Company C, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, training on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Nov. 18, honed their proficiency for medevacs.... Read more
24-Nov-2011
An ISAF helicopter made a precautionary landing in eastern Afghanistan, Nov. 24. ISAF is still in the process of assessing the circumstances to determine more facts; however, initial reporting indicates that there was no enemy activity in the area. All crew members have recovered with no reported injuries. When the assessment is completed, details will... Read more
18-Nov-2011Source: US Air Force
Two Air Force maintainers currently deployed to Afghanistan are taking their more than 30 years of combined experience on rotary wing aircraft and passing off that knowledge to Afghan maintenance personnel in Herat, Afghanistan. Their mission is to train and advise their Afghan counterparts on the skill sets necessary to maintain and fix their MI-17... Read more
9-Nov-2011Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE:NOC) Fire Scout unmanned helicopter has improved ground commanders’ ability to see potential threats and increase fighting effectiveness in Afghanistan – prompting the U.S. Navy to extend the system’s service through most of next year. A team of U.S. Navy sailors and Northrop Grumman employees began their mission in May to gather... Read more
9-Nov-2011Source: Sikorsky
Sikorsky Aerospace Services today announced that the U.S. Department of State (DoS) has ordered three additional upgraded S-61 utility helicopters, bringing the total number purchased by DoS to 29 aircraft to date. Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) is the aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. “The S-61 helicopter is known... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: US DoD
Vertical de Aviacion, Ltd., Bogota, Columbia, is being awarded a $145,840,994 option year modification for rotary wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance, and supervision necessary to perform passenger and cargo air transportation services. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and the option will start Nov. 1, 2011, to be completed by Oct. 31, 2012. ... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: US DoD
AAR Airlift Group, Inc., Palm Bay, Fla., is being awarded a $99,369,772 option year modification for rotary wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance, and supervision necessary to perform passenger and cargo air transportation services. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and the option will start Nov. 1, 2011, to be completed by Oct. 31,... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: US DoD
Canadian Commercial Corp./Canadian Helicopters, Ltd., Ottawa, Canada, is being awarded a $65,873,112 option year modification for rotary wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance, and supervision necessary to perform passenger and cargo air transportation services. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and the option will start Nov. 1, 2011, to be completed by Oct. 31,... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: US DoD
Columbia Helicopters, Inc., Portland, Ore., is being awarded a $54,670,930 option year modification for rotary wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance, and supervision necessary to perform passenger and cargo air transportation services. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and the option will start Nov. 1, 2011, to be completed by Oct. 31, 2012. This... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: US DoD
Construction Helicopters, Inc., Howell, Mich., is being awarded a $29,254,456 option year modification for rotary wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance, and supervision necessary to perform passenger and cargo air transportation services. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and the option will start Nov. 1, 2011, to be completed by Oct. 31, 2012. This... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: US DoD
Evergreen Helicopters, Inc., McMinnville, Ore., is being awarded a $22,790,000 option year modification for rotary wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance, and supervision necessary to perform passenger and cargo air transportation services. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and the option will start Nov. 1, 2011, to be completed by Oct. 31, 2012. This... Read more
3-Nov-2011Source: USMC
Southwestern Afghanistan’s Helmand River Valley resembles a paradise in the midst of a seemingly endless expanse of rock and sand. Its beauty is misleading. The thin stretch of lush green farmland and densely-populated countryside has set the stage for some of the harshest fighting of the Afghan war. Patrol Base Alcatraz sits atop a sandy... Read more
20-Oct-2011Source: Shephard Group
Shortages of key components and difficulties in purchasing spare engines for AW101s have limited crew training and delayed preparations by the Danish Air Force to send a pair of aircraft to Helmand towards the end of 2012. (see full story)... Read more
15-Oct-2011Source: US DoD
An insurgent-fired rocket-propelled grenade was the primary cause of an Aug. 6 CH-47 helicopter crash in Afghanistan that killed 38 U.S. and Afghan forces, a U.S. Central Command investigation confirmed. Centcom officials released the results of the investigation yesterday. The investigation confirmed that the RPG, fired by a Taliban fighter, struck the helicopter’s aft rotor... Read more
14-Oct-2011
A maintenance team conducted an initial assessment and it appears that the forced landing was the result of a mechanical issue. No insurgent activity was reported during the landing.... Read more
8-Oct-2011Source: UK MoD
An Army officer is to receive the Air Force Cross for his ‘selflessness and extraordinary professionalism’ in piloting his Apache helicopter in dangerous situations to assist casualty rescue missions in Afghanistan. Captain Steven Jones, aged 32, an Apache pilot with the Army Air Corps, was flying his helicopter back to base after a day providing... Read more
7-Oct-2011Source: US Air Force
Four medics recently graduated at the Kandahar Air Wing from the first Afghan air force Basic Flight Medic course, boosting the Afghan medical response capability. According to medical professionals, the goal of the 40-hour course was to combine ground and flight medical training to produce a better-rounded medical professional. “The course was meant to be... Read more
6-Oct-2011Source: Kaman
The Marine Corps will deploy the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Kaman [NASDAQ-GS: KAMN] unmanned K-MAX® to Afghanistan next month. The decision follows the successful completion of a five-day Quick Reaction Assessment for the U.S. Navy’s Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. A formal report, released last week by Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force, confirmed that... Read more
5-Oct-2011Source: US DoD
Evergreen Helicopters of Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded a $6,932,931 contract. The award will provide for the Air Transportation services throughout Afghanistan in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 25, 2012. Six bids were solicited, with six bids received.... Read more
28-Sep-2011Source: MD Helicopters
Mesa, Arizona September 27, 2011 – MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) a leading manufacturer of commercial and military helicopters has been awarded a $14,237,169 fixed-firm contract from the U.S. Army to provide logistics support operations of rotary wing primary training aircraft and flight training devices for the Afghan Air Force. All work will be performed in... Read more
28-Sep-2011
First Lt. Ryan K. Iannelli, died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd Marine Air Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, MCAS New River, N.C.... Read more
14-Sep-2011
In a ceremony punctuated with patriotic themes and commitments to save American jobs, the US Army on Tuesday took the keys to six helicopters to train Afghan pilots just days after they were manufactured in Mesa. (See full story). HeliHub.com ran the original story on this contract here – only the first six aircraft are... Read more
12-Sep-2011Source: U S Air Force
Capt. Jonathan Mulder, company commander, Company D, Task Force Lobos, 1st Air Cavalry Division, originally from South Holland, Ill., is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony Sept. 11. On the night of April 25, 2010, while assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Mulder was the air mission commander for an operation conducted in support... Read more
9-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
MD Helicopters, Inc., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $14,237,169 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to provide logistics support for operations of rotary wing primary training aircraft and flight training devices for the Afghan Air Force. Work will be performed in Shindand, Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date... Read more
31-Aug-2011Source: Rostvertol
On August 19 the Mi-26T Captain of Tver Vertical-T Air Company, Mr. Valeriy Likhachev, was awarded the Order of Friendship. Recently courage and professional skills of this pilot have been appreciated even in the US White House: Barack Obama expressed his thanks through the Embassy in Washington. Mr. Valeriy Likhachev was honoured with a high... Read more
30-Aug-2011Source: US Marine Corps
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 awarded 18 Marines with combat aircrew wings at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Aug. 26. The combat wings signify service in a combat environment, compared to the basic wings all aircrew receive when their initial training is complete. The crew chiefs of HMLA-267 who received their combat... Read more
29-Aug-2011Source: US Marine Corps
PATROL BASE WOLFPACK, Helmand province, Afghanistan — From this remote desert outpost just miles from the Pakistani border, two Marine Corps attack helicopters were heard before they were seen. “Four miles out,†shouted Capt. Orion Jones over the growing percussion of their blades. Jones’ Marines emptied out of their waiting heavy-lift helicopter, running with a... Read more
26-Aug-2011Source: NATO
Members of the Afghan Ministry of Interior’s Air Interdiction Unit met a major milestone today with the completion of their first fully-integrated counter narcotics operation alongside a coalition aircrew. The mission, originating from the Afghan Air Force compound in Kabul, was flown by Afghan AIU Special Forces pilots and—according to AIU officials—aimed at destroying illegal... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: DTI
Defense Technology Inc. announced today that they completed teaching one year of Mi-17 intermediate level maintenance training for the Afghan Air Force. Â Over thirty Afghan soldiers have now graduated from the class and are ready to lead maintenance teams in the field. Under the leadership of the USAF 440th Air Expeditionary Squadron, these classes were... Read more
23-Aug-2011Source: Canadian Forces
The Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) Air Wing officially ended its operations today at Kandahar Airfield in a ceremony attended by key leaders of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), as well as the Canadian Forces (CF) members currently deployed at Kandahar Airfield. This comes on the heels of the end of the CF’s combat... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: US Army
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Completing a construction project ahead of schedule is unusual in Afghanistan. Completing a 112,000-square-meter rotary wing apron four months early is equally remarkable, as it represents a significant milestone in the on-going expansion at Shindand Air Base. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working with the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Cornische Aviation and Maintenance
Cornische Aviation and Maintenance Limited, Sharjah, UAE announced they have won their protest against the US Army for improperly including sustainment in the contract for 21 Russian Mi-17 helicopters. In June 2011 the US Army issued a $367M sole source award to the Russian arms company Rosoboronexport for the purchase of 21 Mi-17 aircraft, initial... Read more
12-Aug-2011Source: US DoD
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of 30 servicemembers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. The following sailors assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed: Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32,... Read more
6-Aug-2011
30 members of the US military, a civilian interpreter and 7 Afghan soldiers died. Initial reports suggest it was shot down by Taliban forces... Read more
27-Jul-2011Source: HeliHub.com
British International have recently sold a third Sikorsky S61 this year to Vector Aerospace, this being serial 61721 and registered G-BCEA, Managing Director Tony Jones has confirmed to HeliHub.com. Previously operating on a military contract in the Falkland Islands, ‘EA had reached time for a major inspection and has thus been swapped with another example. ... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: US DoD
Columbia Helicopters, Inc. ofAurora, Ore., is being awarded a $17,065,000.00 task order for rotary wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools, material, maintenance and supervision necessary to perform passenger and cargo air transportation services. Work will be performed in Afghanistan and will start July 1, 2011 to be completed by Oct. 31, 2011. This contract was a... Read more
25-Jul-2011
ISAF helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan – reported by some as a Chinook hit by an RPG. As coalition rescue forces approached the crash site, they came under enemy fire. Coalition forces returned fire, with small arms, while working to secure the site of the crash. All passengers and crew members have been secured and... Read more
24-Jul-2011Source: US Marine Corps
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 transferred responsibility of providing aerial assault support to Marines and coalition troops on the ground in southwestern Afghanistan to VMM-162, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, July 18. With VMM-162 in place to support combat operations, the Marines of VMM-264, commanded by Lt. Col. Brian G. McAvoy, are now slated to return... Read more
24-Jul-2011Source: UK MoD
RAF Chinook helicopter crews recently travelled to the United States to train for Afghanistan in the heat and high-altitude terrain of southern California. A large proportion of the RAF Odiham-based force has rotated through US Naval Air Facility El Centro (NAFEC) in southern California in preparation for ongoing operations in Afghanistan. This deployment was a... Read more
24-Jul-2011Source: UK MoD
The Royal Navy’s Sea King Mk7 Force completed their 1,000th operational mission in Afghanistan this week Sea King helicopter squadrons from Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose have been operating from Camp Bastion since 2009 and have contributed to the confiscation of significant amounts of IED-making equipment, arms and drugs, and the detainment of suspected... Read more
19-Jul-2011Source: US Marine Corps
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghansitan – Deployed Marines and sailors gathered at the Regional Command Southwest Memorial Chapel on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, to honor the life of Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Dudley, July 18. Dudley fell to his death from an MV-22 Osprey while conducting combat operations in southwestern Afghanistan, July 7. “We will we commemorate his... Read more
19-Jul-2011Source: US Marine Corps
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Marines from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, celebrated the squadron’s two-year anniversary, July 1. HMLA-469 was created as part of the commandant’s “Grow the Force†initiative, which realigned Marine Corps aviation in addition to activation of three additional HMLA squadrons to the... Read more
19-Jul-2011Source: US Army
CAMP MARMAL, Afghanistan – Soldiers from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted a rare sling load operation July 6, utilizing a CH-47F Chinook helicopter to transport another Chinook helicopter from Camp Kunduz to Camp Marmal. Hovering over the airfield at Kunduz, the transporting Chinook helicopter gradually lowered. As a cloud of dust... Read more
7-Jul-2011
A NATO helicopter crashed Thursday in eastern Afghanistan but no one was hurt, the U.S.-led coalition said. The crew was recovered after the crash, which occurred in Parwan province.... Read more
7-Jul-2011
Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Dudley fell to his death from an MV-22 Osprey while conducting combat operations in southwestern Afghanistan... Read more
28-Jun-2011Source: UK MoD
The RAF’s youngest female pilot, Flying Officer Emma Atkinson, is currently training Afghanistan’s first female Air Force helicopter pilots in a small office tucked away in a corner of Kabul’s airport. The ‘Thunder Lab’ flight school is part of the NATO Air Training Command (Afghanistan) and the training given there is designed to help ease... Read more
23-Jun-2011
An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopter crashed in south Afghanistan on Thursday, a press release from the NATO-led ISAF said on Friday. Given the location of troops, it was likely a US Military helicopter... Read more
17-Jun-2011Source: US Navy
The Navy’s Fire Scout is proving its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability during its first land-based deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The Fire Scout, managed by Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air Systems program office (PMA-266), deployed in late April to CENTCOM in response to a DoD ISR... Read more
15-Jun-2011
Helicopter ended up on its port side with the tail boom broken... Read more
13-Jun-2011Source: US Marine Corps
CAMP DWYER, Afghansitan – The commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 received a phone call from his higher headquarters in May. More attack helicopters were needed to support Marines and their coalition partners in southwestern Afghanistan in preparation of the fighting season. Within a few weeks of receiving that phone call, the... Read more
12-Jun-2011
Landing accident with 4 POB – no injuries and only light damage to the helicopter.... Read more
10-Jun-2011
The pilot of a French Army Gazelle died when his helicopter crashed in poor weather conditions. Victim later named as Lieutenant Matthew Gaudin, 37... Read more
5-Jun-2011
A NATO spokesman in eastern Afghanistan said the helicopter in Sunday’s crash went down in the Sabari District of Khost Province, a mountainous area near the Pakistan border, where insurgent activity has been among the heaviest this spring. Deceased later named as Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth R. White, 35, of Fort Collins, Colo., and Chief... Read more
30-May-2011
An Australian Army Officer (later named as Marcus Case) was killed when an Australian Chinook Helicopter crashed while undertaking a re-supply mission in Zabul Province.... Read more
29-May-2011
An ISAF helicopter made a precautionary landing in southern Afghanistan today. The landing site has been secured and all personnel are accounted for. There are no casualties as a result of the precautionary landing. There are no reports of enemy fire in the area.... Read more
26-May-2011
Fort Hood Chief Warrant Officer Christopher R. Thibodeau, 28, of Chesterland, Ohio, died in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of injuries he suffered when his helicopter crashed during combat operations, the military said. Thibodeau was assigned to Fort Hood’s 1st Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade.... Read more
20-May-2011Source: US Marine Corps
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – The Vipers of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 are scheduled to transfer their responsibility of providing close air support in Regional Command Southwest to HMLA-267, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, May 19. Following their seven-month deployment in southwestern Afghanistan, the Marines of HMLA-169 are scheduled to return home to Marine Corps... Read more
18-May-2011Source: US Marine Corps
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan –Canadian and U.S. forces safely recovered a downed Canadian Forces CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel mission in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, May 17. Utilizing a trio CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461, with assistance from 2nd Marine Logistics Group’s helicopter support team, the... Read more
16-May-2011
Four Canadian soldiers were injured, one of them seriously, when a Chinook helicopter crashed on landing under moonlight in a remote part of Panjwaii district in southern Afghanistan early Monday morning... Read more
13-May-2011
A medical evacuation helicopter, marked with the universally recognized Red Cross symbol, came under attack by insurgents yesterday while medical providers attempted to recover a wounded service member in Sangin District, Helmand province.... Read more
12-May-2011Source: US Marine Corps
USS KEARSARGE, At Sea – More than 1,000 Marines and sailors assigned to 26th Marine Expeditionary will redeploy to home stations in eastern North Carolina, May 12, after almost nine months deployed aboard the ships of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group. Deploying in August of last year, one month earlier than scheduled, 26th MEU delivered... Read more
11-May-2011
Crashed into a tree in Paroon, Nuristan, while four helicopters were landing inside a compound of National Directorate of Security, Nuristan governor Jamaluddin Badr said... Read more
9-May-2011Source: US Air Force
Seven Afghan Mi-17 instructors graduated from the first Mi-17 “Train the Trainer” upgrade course May 4 taught by AAF and U.S. Air Force instructors at the Afghanistan Premier Flight Training Center here. “Afghan aircrew instructors are pivotal to growing independent combat flying forces, ultimately leading to a self sustaining air force,” said Maj. Sam Kraemer, who... Read more
9-May-2011Source: Royal Navy
Since the beginning of the conflict in Afghanistan, the Royal Navy has played a significant role in operations. Today there are three Naval Air Squadrons, two Commando Units and a great number of support personnel based at Camp Bastion. The Sea King Mk 4’s from 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) have been heavily... Read more
