6-Nov-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the delivery of two Bell 429s configured for Helicopter Emergency Services (HEMS), Search and Rescue (SAR) and Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) to the Delaware State Police aviation section. The milestone aircraft will join the Delaware State Police’s current fleet of Bell helicopters and be used... Read more
4-Nov-2014Source: Able Aerospace Services
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded Able Aerospace approval of a new tail rotor output shaft replacement part (PMA) for the Bell 407 aircraft. The FAA approved PMA option continues Able’s response to industry demand and further expands its deep bench of safe and reliable Bell 407 solutions. “Able has a long history of... Read more
3-Nov-2014Source: BMG
The Ministry of National Security and the Belize Defence Force have dreamed of it for several years and now it is a reality: the people of Belize will now benefit from at least one helicopter to be bought from a leading provider, Bell. See Full Story... Read more
3-Nov-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE:TXT) recognized Texas State Representative Jim Murphy this week with the Bell Helicopter Legislative Leadership Award. The award honors elected officials who have been supporters of the aerospace and defense industries and who have fostered an environment of economic growth in Texas. “Rep. Murphy understands the needs of his... Read more
1-Nov-2014
Night emergency landing into public park after bird strike broke chin window... Read more
30-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announces its participation in the fourth edition of Expodefensa in Bogota, Colombia from October 29 -31. Bell Helicopter will have a strong presence, featuring the Bell 407GT on static display. “We are very excited to have the Bell 407GT at Expodefensa to connect with both our military... Read more
30-Oct-2014Source: HeliHub.com
All air ambulance helicopters in England and Wales are funded by charitable contribution, and the launch of Britain’s first Bell 429 featured no shortage of important people from the county of Wiltshire. Dignitaries included no fewer than ten mayors from various towns and Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, the Queen’s official representative in the... Read more
29-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the sale of two Bell 407GXs to two North American sheriff aviation departments. One of the aircraft was purchased by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona, and the other by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s department in California. The two sheriff departments will use... Read more
27-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will showcase the newest product on its commercial line, the Bell 505 Jet Ranger XTM in parapublic configuration at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Orlando from October 25-28 in booth #1958. “The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X offers a highly configurable cabin with... Read more
23-Oct-2014
Port side cabin door separated and hit tail rotor. Landed with no further incident... Read more
23-Oct-2014
Substantially damaged. FAA website provides no further information at this time... Read more
22-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced a signed agreement with Zip Aviation for the sale of a Bell 407GX to be used for corporate transportation, charters, tours, transfers and aerial surveys. The aircraft will be equipped with a Quiet Cruise™ kit for reduced noise levels in cruise flight. “The Bell 407GX is perfect for our corporate... Read more
22-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will display the Bell 429 in corporate/VIP configuration at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) 2014 conference, held this year in Orlando, Florida from October 21 to 23. In addition, Italy-based Mecaer Aviation Group will be featuring a mockup of the Bell 429 MAGnificent interior inside the... Read more
21-Oct-2014Source: HeliHub.com
The helicopter industry is poorly represented this year at the NBAA convention, which opens today in Orlando, Florida. There is no direct representation from AgustaWestland, Airbus Helicopters, MD Helicopters or Sikorsky. Bell and Robinson are there, and both have helicopters on display. Bell has borrowed the black 429 they delivered a few months back to... Read more
21-Oct-2014Source: Newstimes
An increased demand for its products, including an exclusive contract from Bell Helicopter, has prompted GAR Electroforming to open its third facility in the city. See Full Story... Read more
21-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, (NYSE: TXT), announced it has approved HNZ Topflight (HNZ) as an Approved Flight Training Center for the purpose of offering Mountain Flight Training Courses on Bell Helicopter models. “HNZ is a very well-regarded training organization, well-known for its mountain flight training” said Ray Lamas, general manager, Global Customer Training... Read more
20-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, (NYSE: TXT), announced that Vit Pavelec will assume the role of the European Regional Sales Manager for the Customer Support and Services organization, responsible for overseeing the aftermarket sales activities within Europe. Pavelec will be based at the Bell Helicopter Prague facility. The announcement is one of several key... Read more
17-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), has announced today a signed agreement with Uralhelicom LLC for two Bell 407GXs to be used for utility and medical evacuation missions in the Primorsky government region in Russia. “The Bell 407 continues to be our most popular utility helicopter in Russia, making up over 50 percent... Read more
16-Oct-2014
Main blades contacted tail boom on landing, helicopter destroyed... Read more
15-Oct-2014Source: PALL
Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL) today announced the introduction of PB110D PUREair Dry Barrier Filters as FAA-PMA direct-fit replacements for competitor oil-wetted filters. The new product will be unveiled at Helitech International in Amsterdam, October 14-16. The PUREair Dry Barrier Filters extend the successful PUREair portfolio of products available from Pall and DART Aerospace. PUREair Dry Barrier... Read more
15-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announces today that Textron sister company, TRU Simulation + Training, will provide a high fidelity Flight Training Device (FTD) and Interactive Multi Media Instruction (IMI) virtual Maintenance Trainer for the Bell V-280 Valor™. “We are pleased TRU Simulation + Training is joining our growing team of aerospace... Read more
15-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announces today that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will be providing the nacelle structures for the 280 Valor™. “We are pleased IAI is joining our growing team of aerospace leaders and will be a part of the team investing in our next generation tiltrotor, the Bell V-280,” said... Read more
15-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), today announced a $1 million contribution to the National Museum of the United States Army. Bell Helicopter will sponsor its iconic Bell UH-1 Iroquois Utility Helicopter as the featured macro artifact of the Museum’s Vietnam War exhibit. Robert Hastings, Bell Helicopter’s Senior Vice President of Communications &... Read more
15-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announces it has made the first Bell 429 Wheeled Landing Gear (WLG) sale in Europe. The aircraft will also be outfitted with the world’s first Bell 429 MAGnificent luxury cabin interior created by Italy-based Mecaer Aviation Group (MAG). [Editor note – Bell have not announced the customer,... Read more
14-Oct-2014Source: Focus
24th Air Base in Krumovo expects 2 new Bell 206 helicopters and 2 more Cougar helicopters at the beginning of the following year,” said Brigadier General Zlatko Zlatev, commander of the air base, speaking for Radio FOCUS – Plovdiv. See Full Story... Read more
14-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today GE Aviation’s T64-GE-419 engine will power the Bell V-280 Valor demonstrator aircraft. The Bell V-280 Valor program has been selected to advance to build and fly an aircraft within the Joint Multi Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) initiative. JMR-TD is intended to reduce risk and inform... Read more
14-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will showcase Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust’s (WAACT) Bell 429 at Helitech International in Amsterdam from October 14-16. After delivery, the aircraft will become the first Bell 429 in the United Kingdom used for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). Additionally, this year, Bell Helicopter is also celebrating... Read more
13-Oct-2014Source: HeliHub.com
For almost ten years, the British county of Wiltshire has been host to an MD Explorer jointly operated by the Police and Air Ambulance – a relatively unusual British aviation industry phenomenon with a Governmental organisation working hand-in-hand with a charity. This arrangement draws to a close at the end of November, with the aircraft... Read more
13-Oct-2014Source: Trakka
Trakka Corp Pty Ltd is pleased to announce the Pennsylvania State Police have selected the Trakka A800 Tactical Helicopter Searchlight for the department’s six recently purchased Bell 407GX patrol helicopters. “We are pleased that the Pennsylvania State Police selected the Trakka A800 tactical searchlight to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania,” said David Cady, US Sales... Read more
13-Oct-2014Source: BLR
With EASA approval in hand, an increasing number of European operators are equipping their helicopters with the FastFin® Tail Rotor Enhancement and Stability System from BLR Aerospace. The company has delivered four systems to Agrarflug Helilift in Ahlen, Germany, two to Heli Austria, and four to the UK Ministry of Defence. The ten FastFin-equipped helicopters... Read more
12-Oct-2014Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter, Hurst, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,637,586 firm-fixed-price contract for aircraft transmission masts. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. This is a 43-month base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Texas with an Apr. 30, 2018, performance completion date. Using country is Taiwan. Type of appropriation is fiscal year... Read more
10-Oct-2014
Army helicopter with 4 POB. Tail boom chopped off just forward of the stabilizer, and at the root attachment. One of those on board was reported to be Major General José Matos de la Cruz, chief of the Army, who was unharmed. The other three on board – including director of Military Intelligence, Hichi Mercedes... Read more
9-Oct-2014Source: CAE
CAE today announced it has signed a series of civil aviation training solutions contracts worth more than C$200 million with airlines and aircraft operators in the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle-East. One of these orders is from Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East, who has purchased a... Read more
9-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will showcase the full scale Bell V-280 Valor mockup at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting and exposition, held at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. next week from October 13 – 15. Attendees will get an up-close look at the... Read more
8-Oct-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, (NYSE: TXT), announced Mr. Ray Lamas will lead their global pilot and technical training expansion efforts in a newly-developed role of general manager, Global Customer Training. Lamas will be responsible for the development and implementation of the Bell Helicopter Training Academy’s worldwide flight and technical training programs, including full... Read more
8-Oct-2014
The helicopter was allegedly downed by IS with a shoulder fired missile. One report says three fatalities... Read more
7-Oct-2014Source: Star Telegram
Bell Helicopter is laying off 320 employees, mostly in Fort Worth, as it continues adjusting to reduced defense spending, particularly on the V-22 Osprey. See Full Story... Read more
7-Oct-2014
The Bell 206 helicopter was conducting a passenger carrying charter flight with passengers and has collided with terrain on Mt Cook. The helicopter has rolled onto its side and there are two persons with serious injuries and two with minor injuries. One press report quotes the local Mayor saying that the helicopter was hovering close... Read more
4-Oct-2014
Accident on night EMS flight just one block short of its intended landing spot at United Regional Hospital in Wichita Falls, inbound from Waurika, OK. Patient (named here as 26-year-old Buddy Rhodes) killed in the accident, and the three crew named here as pilot Zechariah Smith, flight nurse Leslie Stewart and flight paramedic Erasmus J. Vandercolff... Read more
4-Oct-2014
Attempting to take off from a helicopter transport trailer in a cleared section of pine forest . For some reason the helicopter never made it fully airborne, and tipped over on its starboard side beside the trailer. Robert Dale Garzolini, pilot and owner of Terre Haute Helicopters, West Terre Haute, IN, was injured... Read more
3-Oct-2014Source: Tyler Star
Tyler County Commissioners renewed the county’s contract renewal for medical helicopter services with AirEvac Sept. 23 see full story... Read more
3-Oct-2014Source: Vector
Vector Aerospace Corporation (“Vector Aerospace”- www.vectoraerospace.com), one of the world’s leading independent providers of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, is pleased to announce the signing of a five (5) year agreement with Orange County Sheriff’s Department to conduct maintenance, repair and overhaul on their AS350 and UH-1H helicopters. “Signing this contract with Orange County... Read more
3-Oct-2014
Bird strike, penetrating the windshield, which shattered – causing only minor injury to the front-seat passenger. Note – wrongly reported elsewhere as N410TD. N409TD confirmed by FAA report and this news story which refers to the ATC call “zero nine tango delta”. pilot made an emergency landing at the West 30th St. HP... Read more
2-Oct-2014Source: The Examiner
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois — affectionately dubbed the Huey — arrived yesterday on the back of a semi-trailer and Scottsdale RSL president Bruce Scott said that it would be taken to a secure location while its new home was being built. See full story... Read more
2-Oct-2014
Low level pipeline patrol and “lost power”. Written off. On board were pilot Michael Orlowsky. 48, of West Plains, Missouri; Kevin Douglas Smothers, 44, of Minnesota; and Ronald Justin Dietz, 28, of Sinton. Orlowsky and Smothers were described as being in critical condition with no word on Dietz Halo Flight attended with a Bell 407... Read more
29-Sep-2014Source: DSCA
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Lebanon for Huey II rotary wing aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $180 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on September 17, 2014.... Read more
29-Sep-2014
Precautionary landing after rotor blades struck a wire on the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir William Alexander... Read more
25-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) announced Heli-Securite has taken delivery of the first VIP Bell 429 in France. The aircraft will be on display at the Monaco Yacht Show on the Yacht Voyager in berth T40 from September 24-27. Starting this month, the VIP Bell 429 will be used for corporate transport... Read more
25-Sep-2014Source: Meggitt
Meggitt PLC ( “Meggitt” or “the Group”), a leading international company specialising in high performance components and sub-systems for the aerospace, defence and energy markets, announces that Meggitt Sensing Systems has been selected by Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc company, to provide gearbox oil level monitoring and chip detection systems for the new 525 Relentless... Read more
25-Sep-2014
Crashed in unknown circumstances... Read more
23-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will showcase two aircraft at the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC), opening today at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. Attendees will get an up close look at two non-profit organization’s aircraft, including HALO Flight’s Bell 429, which was purchased last year at the show, and... Read more
23-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), has announced new customer commitments for fourteen new Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters in the region, with nine coming during the 8th Africa Aerospace and Defense (AAD) show in Tshwane, South Africa. Bell Helicopter has worked with National Airways Corporation (NAC), its independent representative in South... Read more
23-Sep-2014Source: Becker Avionics
Becker Avionics is pleased to announce that another Bell Helicopter 429 light-twin, operated by HALO-Flight Inc. (Corpus Christi, Texas), has been equipped with the popular Becker DVCS Digital Audio System. HALO-Flight’s Bell 429 will be on display at the Bell Helicopter booth (#923) at the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in Nashville, TN, September 22-24.... Read more
23-Sep-2014
Crashed into heavy wooded area and wreckage not found until 05-Oct-14. Pilot David Guerra had reported loss of power and autorotated into the jungle... Read more
19-Sep-2014Source: Wysong
Wysong Enterprises, Inc., (Wysong) announced the company delivered a Bell Helicopter 407GX to Med-Trans Corporation prior to the Air Medical Transport Conference. This is the first 407GX in Med-Trans extensive fleet across the United States.Med-Trans is one of the world’s largest operators of Bell 407s with approximately 40 in their fleet. “We have worked on... Read more
18-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter and Textron Systems, both businesses of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), will showcase a range of products for European customers during their first appearance at NATO Days, September 20-21 in the Czech Republic. The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command will feature the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey in static and dynamic display. This follows... Read more
18-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), has announced it will showcase the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X for the first time at the 8th Africa Aerospace and Defense (AAD) in Tshwane, South Africa from September 17-19. “We are excited about having such a great opportunity to expand our presence in Africa and allow... Read more
18-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced it held a regional Safety Symposium for rotorcraft pilots and technicians in Prague, Czech Republic at the Prague Marriott Hotel. Introduced in 2013, Bell Helicopter’s safety symposiums are designed to promote safety practices and applications that maintainers and operators can easily implement into their daily work.... Read more
16-Sep-2014
Initial reports coming in. Witnesses say they heard a “loud crack” shortly be fire the helicopter started descending rapidly. The helicopter took off from Dechmont, near Livingston in West Lothian and was due to land at Humberside Airport for refuelling before flying on to Gamston, presumably en route it’s home base at Manston. It had... Read more
14-Sep-2014
During the approach to a confined landing area, the pilot was alerted to an object to the left of the helicopter and while manoeuvring to avoid this object, the main rotor and tail rotor struck a tree. The pilot conducted a missed approach and after the subsequent landing, assessed the damage as minor and elected... Read more
13-Sep-2014
Repositioning to another landing spot after dropping off 3 passengers when it suffered a tail rotor strike and hard landing. CADORS 2014P1608... Read more
12-Sep-2014
Operated by Airwest Helicopters for Cochise County Sheriff. Main blades chopped tail boom and skids splayed out in heavy landing. Two POB were listed as pilot Larry Pucci and the observer Officer Justin Dannels (the son of Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels)... Read more
11-Sep-2014
Sole occupant pilot injured in crash – helicopter was on survey work for Greenriver Energy... Read more
8-Sep-2014Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded a $41,776,269 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of three UH-1Y flight training devices, one AH-1Z flight training device, aircraft and/or trainer driven revisions, aircraft common operational equipment, provisioned spares, associated technical data required for operational and maintenance support, and three months of initial operation evaluation period... Read more
5-Sep-2014Source: Air Methods
United Rotorcraft, an Air Methods Division (Nasdaq: AIRM), recently delivered a Bell 429 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Helicopter to HALO-Flight in Corpus Christi, Texas, equipped with a customized medical interior. The aircraft completion took place at the Bell Helicopters facility in Piney Flats, Tenn. and is slated to enter service September 2014. “Our life saving... Read more
5-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) has announced the Federal Aviation Administration has approved a new flight manual supplement for high and hot operations (FMS-12) for the Bell 407. This supplement allows operators the ability to improve hover in ground effect (HIGE) and hover out of ground effect (HOGE) with increased payload in... Read more
5-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced its Aeronautical AccessoriesTM brand is now a distributor for several new products from the Helifab product line. The products fit a variety of Bell Helicopter aircraft and improve the versatility and capability of these aircraft. The cabin area cargo net is designed to secure cargo in... Read more
4-Sep-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), has announced the delivery of three commercial aircraft to customers in Russia. A VIP-configured Bell 407GX and a Bell 429 have been delivered to two private customers in the region to perform corporate transportation, while a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Bell 407GX operated by Helidrive has... Read more
30-Aug-2014
Damaged in heavy landing only 30m from take-off point on sightseeing flight. Passengers named as Janice Mitchel, Elizabeth Hamilton, William Leur, Elizabeth Benevides, Debbie Lonechamps and Stephanie Black all walked from the crash site unaided... Read more
28-Aug-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter commenced construction of its facility in Lafayette, LA, where the company will assemble its newest commercial helicopter, the Bell 505 Jet Ranger XTM. Governor Bobby Jindal, Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel and others joined Bell Helicopter’s President and CEO, John Garrison, to commemorate the occasion today at the Lafayette Regional Airport. The new... Read more
27-Aug-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, (NYSE: TXT), announced the Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA) has received Part 147 facility organizational approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This authorization allows the BTA to conduct theory and practical training in China for the Bell 206, Bell 407, Bell 412 and Bell 429 product... Read more
27-Aug-2014Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced its Aeronautical AccessoriesTM brand is now a distributor of a Donaldson Inducer Vent Filter (IVF) for the Bell 407/407GX product lines. The IVF filter helps prevent erosion of the engine impeller. The IVF draws in contaminated air above 96 percent N1 (high and hot performance conditions)... Read more
21-Aug-2014Source: Bell
The Bell 525 Relentless is ready to revolutionize the helicopter industry as the world’s first fly-by-wire (FBW) commercial helicopter. Thanks to years of experience developing fly-by-wire systems, Bell Helicopter has channeled this expertise into creating a new standard for pilot controls. FBW technology replaces the traditional manual flight controls with a digital interface that provides... Read more
20-Aug-2014Source: US DoD
L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Mississippi, is being awarded a $13,744,643 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-13-D-0007) to provide logistics services for aircraft availability of 96 TH-57 aircraft. Services to be provided include pre-flighting and fueling of the aircraft, as well as safe for flight release for designated missions. Work will... Read more
20-Aug-2014Source: Defense News
Though the US Army has yet to make a formal announcement, according to reports the Sikorsky-Boeing team and Bell Helicopter Textron have been selected for government-funded Joint Multi-Role (JMR) program technology demonstrations. See Full Story... Read more