3-Sep-2013Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today new additions to its Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Effective immediately, Gunnar Kleveland will assume the role of senior vice president, Integrated Operations, Dr. Cathy Ferrie will serve as senior vice president, Engineering and Matt Hasik will take on the position of senior vice president, Commercial... Read more
2-Sep-2013Source: Heli Air
Heli Air, the UK’s largest onshore helicopter operator, is delighted to announce that following the recent acquisition of Scotia Helicopters, it has now launched Heli Air Scotland, based at Cumbernauld Airport midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Heli Air now has nine bases across the UK, including the recently opened operation at City Airport & Heliport,... Read more
1-Sep-2013Source: US DoD
Kollsman, Inc., Merrimack, N.H. is being awarded a $44,800,000 firm-fixed-price, five year requirements contract, to repair nine Weapon Repairable Assemblies on the Night Targeting System in support of the AH-1W Helicopter. Work will be performed at Merrimack, N.H., and is expected to be completed by September 2018. No funds are being obligated at the time... Read more
1-Sep-2013Source: Textron
The Tiltrotor Test Rig (TTR) Development Team comprised of NASA Ames Research Center, Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), and Triumph Aerospace Systems – Newport News (TASNN) will be honored with a 2013 NASA Group Achievement Award at the Ames Research Center’sannual NASA Agency Honor Awards ceremony on August 29. The Group Achievement Award is presented to selected groups who have... Read more
31-Aug-2013
68-year old man, named as Robert Davis, fell 30m from a winch harness and died while being winched on board after injuring his ankle. Press reports say he weighed between 120 – 140 kg, and this will be taken into account during the investigations.... Read more
31-Aug-2013
Force landing. No injuries... Read more
29-Aug-2013
Lost power – force landing in field... Read more
28-Aug-2013Source: US DoD
Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $33,996,000 firm-fixed-price contract for AN/AAQ-30 Target Sight Systems (TSS) and data. The TSS will be integrated into the AH-1Z Cobra Attack Helicopter and is part of the United States Marine Corps H-1 Upgrades Program for the remanufacture of legacy aircraft with state... Read more
28-Aug-2013
Force landing, substantial damage – skids completely collapsed and tail boom separated. Pilot with minor injuries and five passengers uninjured... Read more
25-Aug-2013Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
Bruce Champ, flight nurse for the East Liverpool Air Evac Lifeteam base, has been honored with the company’s 2013 Region 2 Flight Nurse of the Year award. Champ’s region consists of Air Evac Lifeteam bases in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and parts of Tennessee. The Flight Nurse of the Year is presented to the nurse... Read more
23-Aug-2013
Accident at a field near the Byeskeälven river northwest of Fällfors, Skellefteå, at midday earlier today. The pilot and his passenger both survived the accident, and they were later transported to hospitals in Skellefteå and Umeå. The helicopter, one of the oldest in Sweden, was destroyed in a post-impact fire. Additional reporting from Nordic Rotors... Read more
22-Aug-2013Source: Wellmont Health System
WellmontOne Air Transport has acquired a faster and more fuel-efficient helicopter that will provide additional safety measures and amenities to enhance the high-quality emergency care for which it has always received widespread respect. The snazzy Bell 407 went into service earlier this month and enables pilots and crew members to continue serving the region with... Read more
21-Aug-2013Source: KIMT
Attorneys for Med-Trans Corporation have filed a response in federal court to a lawsuit filed by the family of a victim of January’s Mercy Air Med helicopter crash. see full story Details of lawsuit in Globe Gazette report here HeliHub.com page for this accident – 02-Jan-13 N445MT Bell 407 Ventura, US-Iowa (3F) File photo... Read more
20-Aug-2013Source: Star Helicopters
Star Helicopters, a popular Southern California helicopter tour company, is once again the proud official tour operator of the Wings Wheel Rotor & Expo show. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, October 27 at the Los Alamitos Army Airfield, joint Forces Training Base. A portion of the proceeds from helicopter tours during the show... Read more
20-Aug-2013Source: Hillsboro Aviation
Hillsboro Aviation is hosting an Aircraft Showcase next week featuring some of the leading names in aviation, including Bell Helicopter, Cessna and Garmin. The new Cessna 240 TTx and Cessna Caravan EX as well as Bell Helicopter’s 407 GX featuring the first FAA-certified Garmin G1000H integrated avionics installation in a helicopter will be on display... Read more
20-Aug-2013
4 POB injured in heavy landing due to loss of visual clues in brown-out conditions. EMS operation... Read more
16-Aug-2013
Agricultural ops, clipped wires, pilot Daniel Lee landed the helicopter with “moderate damage”, but reported back in service the next day... Read more
15-Aug-2013
During cruise, the pilot reported rough running and partial power loss. The pilot conducted an auto-rotation into the fields of Northcote High School... Read more
13-Aug-2013
Ditched near offshore rig – the pilot and two passengers had minor injuries and were airlifted to Thibodaux General Medical Center for treatment. Helicopter destroyed – see photo after recovery onto ship... Read more
12-Aug-2013
Lower chip detector plug was found out of the locked detent position and had slightly ?backed out? of the housing. This condition will cause a disruption of oil flow through the transmission oil pump and therefore a loss of oil pressure. Enroute from Page Municipal Airport (KPGA) to Kane County Hospital in Kanab, Utah... Read more
9-Aug-2013Source: Hawker Pacific
HeilHub.com editor note – we had already announced this tour yesterday, but without the details we now have available. Hawker Pacific have provided the following:- As the very first Bell 407GX helicopter touches down in Australia, Hawker Pacific – the leading aircraft sales and product support company in Asia, Pacific and the Middle East –... Read more
9-Aug-2013Source: Star-Telegram
Bell Helicopter and United Auto Workers Local 218 have reached tentative agreement on about 10 issues in contract negotiations but remain apart on employee pensions, overtime and healthcare, the two sides said. see full story... Read more
9-Aug-2013
During takeoff, the pilot lost control of the helicopter. To avoid another aircraft to his right, he turns left. The blades hit the ground and the helicopter came to rest on its starboard side... Read more
8-Aug-2013Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the delivery of the first Bell 407GX to be operated in Poland at the Konstancin airfield near Warsaw. This is the first of two Bell 407GXs to be delivered in Poland this month. “We are very pleased that interest in Bell Helicopter aircraft continues to grow in... Read more
8-Aug-2013Source: Latitude Technologies
Latitude Technologies is very pleased to announce that Coast to Coast Helicopters, one of Canada’s largest air fleet operators, has selected Latitude’s IONode FDM system for installation on a Bell 212 going into service for Coast to Coast subsidiary Mustang Helicopters based in Blackfalds, Alberta. The installation includes a Latitude SkyNode S200 Satcom voice, messaging, and... Read more
8-Aug-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Bell is currently taking a 407GX on a demo tour of Australia, supported by local company Hawker Pacific. Monday saw some press photos taken around Sydney, including this one over the iconic Opera House. Graham Stevens – HeliHub.com Australasia correspondent... Read more
8-Aug-2013Source: HeliHub.com
A helicopter operator in Papua New Guinea has suspended all flights in a particular area after a pilot and crew were held up and robbed by a gang. Heli Solutions will no longer fly in the Kagua district in PNG’s Southern Highlands after the incident which happned while they were on a task supporting the... Read more
8-Aug-2013
FAA report that this was on “hauling ops” but this video and the caption below suggest it was on firefighting work... Read more
7-Aug-2013
Emergency landing on the beach, no damage... Read more
6-Aug-2013Source: Metro Aviation
After 25 years, Metro Aviation will again be operating a Bell Helicopter product. The milestone is the result of the recent agreement with Tampa General Hospital’s (TGH) Aeromed program. Tampa General’s Aeromed program transports critically ill or injured patients from their 23 surrounding counties. Metro began operations on August 1. During the transition period, Aeromed... Read more
6-Aug-2013
Tail boom severed by main blades during take-off. Pilot reported here as Dick Sluke... Read more
5-Aug-2013Source: Simplex
Simplex® Aerospace announced today it has received FAA STC number SR02276SE for their latest agricultural spray system for the Bell 212 helicopter. The spray system, Simplex® Aerospace Model 204, is a next generation spray system integrating several of Simplex® Aerospace’s newly developed agricultural spray technologies. Simplex is the sole producer of FAA STC’d spray systems... Read more
4-Aug-2013
Crashed into Braga Ranch lettuce field near Chualar River Road in Gonzales after reported engine failure. Pilot Doug Walker was not injured. Helicopter ended up on its side, tail boom cut by main blades... Read more
3-Aug-2013
Emergency landing at Izmir Ataturk Stadium after suspected engine problems... Read more
2-Aug-2013Source: DynCorp International
DynCorp International’s (DI) DynAviation unit today announced that it is in the process of reconditioning, upgrading and modifying eight aircraft to enhance the Company’s future global operations and offering. The upgrade work on six UH-1 and two Mil Mi-17 helicopters that were previously used in various global locations, including the company’s operations in Afghanistan, is... Read more
2-Aug-2013Source: Community Impact
CareFlite has decided to keep its medical helicopter in Frisco, CareFlite’s vice president told the city of Frisco in a letter – see full story... Read more
2-Aug-2013Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum value of $7,738,885 for the advanced procurement of long lead materials in support of the low rate initial production of A-Kits for the Kiowa OH-58F model. Fiscal 2013 Procurement funds are being obligated on this award. One bid was solicited, with... Read more
1-Aug-2013Source: US DoD
PKL Services Inc., Poway, Calif., is being awarded a $16,300,156 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00421-09-C-0023) to exercise an option for reset organizational level maintenance services in support of Marine Corps AH-1W, UH-1N, CH-53D/E, and CH-46E platforms. Work will be performed in Camp Pendleton, Calif. (30 percent); Jacksonville, Fla. (25 percent); Iraq/Afghanistan (22... Read more
31-Jul-2013
Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira said that the Punjab government purchased the Bell 429 helicopter worth Rs.38 crore recently and alleged the process was “arbitrary, malafide, illegitimate and non transparent”. see full story FIle photo... Read more
31-Jul-2013Source: Star Telegram
Nearly two months after union workers rejected a final contract offer from Bell Helicopter, the two sides plan to restart negotiations this week. see full story... Read more
31-Jul-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Navy got its first look at the upgraded MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned system when Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) delivered its first MQ-8C system this month. Northrop Grumman is the Navy’s prime contractor for the MQ-8 Fire Scout program of record. The company delivered the first MQ-8C aircraft to the Navy in early July... Read more
31-Jul-2013Source: DSCA
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of 12 Bell 412 EP helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $300 million. The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of 12 Bell 412 EP helicopters equipped with Star... Read more
31-Jul-2013Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced that Jason Johnson has joined Bell Helicopter as director, Sales and Customer Support. In this role, Johnson is responsible for the Bell Helicopter Customer Support and Services (CSS) Sales and Customer Support activities worldwide. “We are very pleased to have Jason join our team,” said Eric... Read more
31-Jul-2013
During a practice auto rotation, the helicopter landed heavily.... Read more
31-Jul-2013
During aerial photography work at low level, the helicopter ditched onto the edge of a reef. The occupants were uninjured and the helicopter sustained substantial damage.... Read more
29-Jul-2013
Sheriff Rick Penning says the pilot, 48 year old Timothy Harmer from Boone was not injured as the helicopter he was operating for Vista Helicopter Service of Boone struck a Cornbelt Electric Powerline, which took out his tail-rotor and forced his landing in the cornfield... Read more
24-Jul-2013
Accident situation unknown. Helicopter operating on Disaster Relief Operations with Uttarakhand Government. Operator reported it was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi at about 1530 hrs. Later update said it was weather related. Fatalities named here as Pilot J. S. Dhaliwal and technician Abhay Ranjan... Read more
23-Jul-2013
During aerial work, the engine failed and the pilot conducted a forced landing. The occupants were uninjured and the helicopter sustained substantial damage.... Read more
22-Jul-2013
According to a LVMPD press release, David Vanbuskirk “somehow became detached from the hoist line, falling into the canyon below.” The distance that the man fell is under investigation, but Sheriff Doug Gillespie later stated in a press conference that “it is clear that this was a non-survivable fall and he died on impact.” The... Read more
21-Jul-2013
Engine flamed out. The pilot autorotated into a clear area near a lake shoreline. As the helicopter began to settle the pilot rolled the helicopter onto its right side to clear the rotor blades from the fuselage. The pilot and passenger exited without injury. CADAORS 2013C2976... Read more
19-Jul-2013Source: Defence Suppliers
The Royal Australian Navy’s Retention and Motivation Initiative 2 program (RMI 2) has received a significant capability enhancement for its Bell 429 platform with the aircraft now upgraded to allow operations at an internal gross weight of 7,500lbs. see full story... Read more
18-Jul-2013Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com interviewed Heli-Charter’s Gary Slater at the weekend as he had a Bell 429 demonstrator aircraft in the static aircraft park at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Festival of Speed is the largest motoring garden party in the world – a unique summer weekend that brings together an impossibly heady mix of cars, stars... Read more
18-Jul-2013Source: Textron
Extract from Textron’s full Q2 statement Bell revenues decreased $31 million in the second quarter from the same period in the prior year, primarily reflecting the delivery of 44 commercial helicopters compared to 47 units in last year’s second quarter. Bell delivered 9 V-22 and 6 H-1 aircraft in the quarter, flat with last year’s second quarter... Read more
18-Jul-2013Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will showcase two aircraft at the 43rd annual Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s (ALEA) conference and exposition, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. July 17-20. Attendees will get an up close look at the Fairfax County Police Department’s Bell 429 and a Bell 407GX... Read more
16-Jul-2013Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded a $17,907,086 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for systems engineering and program management services in support of the H-1 upgrade program. This contract includes the manufacturing, testing and delivery of one H-1 main rotor gearbox test stand and one H-1 tail rotor/intermediate gearbox test stand, including the equipment,... Read more
16-Jul-2013
UH-1H crashed while performing seismographic operations at an oil drilling rig in the area. News report here states AJ Blain, 27, died in the crash, said Joyce Barnett, Dolores County, Colo., coroner... Read more
15-Jul-2013Source: Cobham
Cobham plc (‘Cobham’ or ‘the Group’) today announces that it has completed the acquisition of the 50% shareholding that it did not already own in FB Heliservices Ltd, FB Leasing Limited and FBS Limited (together ‘FBH’), from its long standing joint venture partner, Bristow Helicopters Limited (‘Bristow’). The transaction comprises cash consideration of £74 million... Read more
15-Jul-2013Source: Jakarta Globe
East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak said the helicopter will be used by the Indonesian military (TNI), which is tasked with patrolling the border. see full story File photo... Read more
11-Jul-2013Source: Dickinson Press
Spirit Lifeline is based on the grounds of the new St. Joseph’s Hospital and Health Center, which is under construction in west Dickinson. Though the hospital won’t be fully operation until the fall of 2014, the helicopter and its crew are already going strong. see full story The actual aircraft is N242MT, Bell 407 serial 54067... Read more
10-Jul-2013Source: Night Flight Concepts
Night Flight Concepts is pleased to announce an extended NVG inspectioncontract with Bell Helicopter. The Texas based Bell Helicopter manufactures a wide range of civil and military helicopters, as well as civil and military tilt-rotor craft. “The extension of the inspection contract ensures the accuracy and dependability of our equipment and provides assurance that all NVG equipment will... Read more
9-Jul-2013Source: Latitude Technologies
Latitude Technologies continues to push forward expanding the company’s portfolio of IONode™ Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) system STCs, announcing the addition of a Transport Canada STC for the IONode ION100 advanced data acquisition unit for Bell medium helicopters including the Bell 204, 205, 212, 214, and 412 model types. This is the first IONode standalone... Read more
9-Jul-2013
Crashed on night training flight. Pilot named as Ronald Helbert Vargas Terán (34), and crew were Amadeo César Loayza Mercado (33) and Carlos Alberto Cercado Pinares (42).... Read more
8-Jul-2013Source: West Central Tribune
“Having the Life Link III base in Willmar means improved response times, and faster transport for patients requiring critical or trauma care,” said Mike Schramm, chief executive of Rice Memorial Hospital. –see full story... Read more
7-Jul-2013
4 POB, three minor injuries, one serious injury. Crashed in open farm land... Read more
3-Jul-2013
Emergency landing on training flight, helicopter ended up on its side with the main rotorhead lying separated next to the wreck with the blades largely intact. Skids ripped off too. Tail boom separated at root. 2 POB – Lieutenant Colonel Ariful Bari to hospital and Major Nazrul Islam only needed first aid. Reg not yet confirmed... Read more
1-Jul-2013Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today an agreement for the supply of four Bell 407GX helicopters to CareFlite®, a nonprofit 501(c) 3 corporation providing fully integrated medical transport across North Texas. The aircraft will transport ill or injured patients to critical care facilities, serving more than 100 counties within a 150-mile radius of the... Read more
1-Jul-2013Source: Australian Helicopters
One of Australia’s leading suppliers of mission-critical helicopter services, Australian Helicopters (AHPL), has today commenced new contracts with both the Central Queensland Rescue Service (CQRS) and Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS) to support provision of emergency medical services to the Queensland Government. AHPL was selected as preferred supplier in March and will provide increased capability... Read more
1-Jul-2013
Wreckage reported sighting on 2nd July, the day after a Bell 206 was reported overdue. “The aircraft is missing and debris has washed ashore in Gull Lake.” CADORS 2013C2819... Read more
30-Jun-2013
Text book emergency landing in the Hudson river on a sightseeing trip. Floats deployed, helicopter landed on the water and remained upright. Pilot named as Michael Campbell, 22.... Read more
28-Jun-2013
Main rotor struck tail boom during autorotation landing... Read more
28-Jun-2013
Crew was practicing water-bucket drops at about 1 p.m. Friday when the helicopter crashed. It was sitting upright in about 3 feet of water with the tail boom damaged just forward of the tail rotor and the main blade tips showing signs of having struck something... Read more
26-Jun-2013Source: Nordic Rotors
HeliAir Sweden announced that the company will be adding an UH-1H Huey to its fleet. The aircraft has been flown to the company’s main base in Västerås, and it will now be incorporated in the fleet. The helicopter is replacing the Hughes 500 SE-JGE, which has recently been sold by the company. This new Huey is a... Read more
26-Jun-2013Source: HeliHub.com
National Grid, the British-based infrastructure company, has for some years owned and operated helicopters in their own right and not leased in this specialist skill. This began back in 1985 with the purchase of a new Eurocopter AS355F1 Twin Squirrel and has developed with later versions of the AS355. More recently, National Grid decided to... Read more
26-Jun-2013Source: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received an aircraft maintenance and logistics contract with an initial funding value of $5 million from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., to provide field and sustainment-level maintenance for U.S. Army helicopters. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will lead the Army’s Regional Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Central Operations at Fort... Read more
25-Jun-2013Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), and Tarrant County College (TCC) today announced an agreement through which TCC will purchase Bell Helicopter’s Military Programs Center facility at the Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The purchase of the 161,000-square-foot facility will enable TCC to expand its already successful aircraft maintenance programs currently offered at the college’s Northwest... Read more