15-Dec-2010
Participants often willing to pay big bucks for guided access to pristine powder... Read more
15-Dec-2010Source: Russian Helicopters
(electronic translation from local language) Moscow, December 14, 2010 – JSC “Helicopters of Russia jointly with the Corporate University OAO Oboronprom holding a contest Helicopters XXI century”. It is open to students and university student teams (no more than three people), as well as workers holding enterprises “Helicopters of Russia”. Age of participants – 18-35... Read more
15-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Helicopters of Russia, a subsidiary of OAO Oboronprom, became the owner of 24.66% shares of OAO Kazan Helicopter Plant (KHP). This tactical move is actually to allow Oboronprom to reduce its shareholding 66.15% to 41.49%, according to Interfax. KHP manufactures helicopters Mi-8, Mi-17 light helicopters Ansat. The authorized capital of KHP is 154.6 million rubles... Read more
15-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Reports are reaching HeliHub.com today that Avicopter have signed sales contracts with two customers for their new AC311. There was no indication of how many aircraft were involved, or the identity of the local Chinese customers The AC311 is a six seat helicopter, and the design is akin to a mix between an AS350 and... Read more
15-Dec-2010Source: Pratt & Whitney Canada
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) announced today that it will invest more than $1 billion in research and development over the next five years to develop the next generation of high-performance aircraft engines. The investment includes a $300 million repayable contribution from the Government of Canada under the Strategic Aerospace and Defense Initiative (SADI) program.... Read more
15-Dec-2010
Reportedly on approach to land and crashed “from 200 ft”. Ground completely covered by snow, possible contributory factor... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: Gazette
The sole survivor of a 2008 Maryland State Police helicopter crash in District Heights has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the FAA, alleging negligence on the part of air traffic controllers.... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: State of Maranhão
[Electronic Translation of local language press release] Roseanna Sarney Governor delivery on Monday (13), the 15h, the Headquarters of the General Command of the Military Police (Rock), a model EC145 helicopter, equipped with high technology to enhance the operations of the Public Security Bureau in the fight crime across the Maranhão. The state is the... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
In response to media coverage suggesting that there may be no air ambulance service in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire by Christmas, the East Anglian Air Ambulance has moved to reassure the public that its enhanced service has in fact now been launched and will be ready to help those caught up in medical emergencies and accidents... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: Maritime & Coastguard Agency
At 18.44 pm on Saturday 11th December, Stornoway Coastguard rescue helicopter “Rescue 100” was scrambled by Stornoway Coastguard after they had received a request for assistance from the NHS. The helicopter was sent to evacuate a fifty seven year old lady who was being seen by a doctor, who requested that she be evacuated to... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: Oil & Gas UK
Oil & Gas UK and NATS, the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, today announced the world’s first operational use of wide area multilateration technology for tracking offshore flights. Helicopters in transit to and from oil and gas platforms in the North Sea are now visible to air traffic controllers from takeoff to landing, increasing... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: C-NLOPB
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) announced today early steps in an implementation strategy for the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry Phase I Report Recommendations. The report contains 29 recommendations. The C-NLOPB completed its review and accepts 27 of the 29 recommendations in full. Recommendation 12, which calls for an on-going ban on night... Read more
14-Dec-2010
Solo training flight, crashed and burst into flames. Pilot named as Mohd Sukri Osman, age 31, a policeman by profession... Read more
14-Dec-2010
Forced landing in Avenida Tiradentes, heavy enough for skids to splay out. Helicopter remained upright. helicopter was operating for Radio Eldorado, and neither occupant was injured – pilot reported as Andrew Smith, and reporter Flavio Perez... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Flightglobal
As Sikorsky launches production on the S-76D, the company has acknowledged that development setbacks have delayed first delivery by four years until 2012.... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: CHC
CHC Helicopter is pleased to announce that: Registration for the 2011 CHC Safety & Quality Summit is now open! To address the core issue of many aviation incidents and accidents, this year’s theme is “Corporate Responsibility vs. Personal Accountability: Two Sides of the Same Coin.†The Summit is taking place in downtown Vancouver at the... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
In the last few weeks, Spain’s National Police Force (“Cuerpo Nacional de PolicÃa”, CNP for short) have added three new Eurocopters to their fleet, two EC135P2+ and one AS332L2 – the latter being the largest helicopter they have ever operated. The three are listed below, together with their manufacturer’s serial numbers and local fleet number.... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the HeliHub.com “Register Updates†series, listing helicopters which have been added to a particular national register, removed from it or the listed owner has changed. Our coverage represents the majority of registration and owner changes within the global civilian helicopter fleet. Most updates are weekly or monthly, although some... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
In the last week, the Public Security department of Tocantins has taken delivery of its first helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350B3 from the local Helibras factory. This will be operated in partnership with the National Secretariat of Public Security (SENASP) and will be available to the Civil Police, Military Police and Fire Department. Secretary of Public... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the HeliHub.com “Complete Registers†series, listing every helicopter Currently registered in a particular country. While the majority of our updates continue to be focused on monthly or quarterly reviews of the registrations which have changed (added, removed, change of ownership etc), the “Complete Registers†series allows us to include... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Fosters Daily Democrat
FAA says it doesn’t have the authority to regulate the safety of aircraft operated by other federal agencies or state and local governments – and they (exception the military) generally don’t have the aviation expertise to do it themselves.... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Peoples Daily
The V750 unmanned helicopter, built with an engine that is the intellectual property of a Chinese company, will achieve mass production in Shandong. The prototype was shown in public at the previous Zhuhai International Air Show.... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: SEI Industries
Delta, Canada – SEI Industries Ltd. is proud to announce the delivery of the very first Bambi Torrentula® Bucket to the Brazilian Navy. The new BBT4453 (530USG/2000L) Bambi Bucket® will be operated with the Navy’s recently purchased Eurocopter Super Puma helicopter fleet for wildfire suppression in Brazil. Since 1999, the Bambi Torrentula product has been... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident of:- * Robinson R22B G-RIDL at Macclesfield, Cheshire on 15 November 2009 * Robinson R22B G-NWDC at Londonderry Eglinton Airfield on 8 August 2010 * Schweizer 269CBi G-LINX at Stalmine, Lancashire on 22 September 2009... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Aviation Law Monitor
In any type of rollover accident, the transmission can puncture the fuel tank. The fix is simple: instead of using a rigid fuel tank, use a soft bladder tank that won’t rupture.... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Nordic Rotors
The air ambulance company Scandinavian MediCopter started its EMS operations in Gällivare on 1st December. It took off on its first medical call at 17:02. The company will operate a Eurocopter AS 365 N3 Dauphin (SE-JIA) from the base at Vassaraträsk, near the town center. The previous operator, Norrlandsflyg AB, is now leaving Gällivare –... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Star Tribune
NTSB raised questions about a pilot’s decision to fly the rescue mission and whether the pilot was overworked before starting the mission, and it disclosed he was taking prescription medication for depression. Helihub.com accident report here... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Aeronautical Accessories
PINEY FLATS, Tenn. (December 13, 2010) – Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. has announced that it has developed new High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights to add to its existing family of lighting accessories. The company announced today that it will be offering the new supplemental type certificate (STC) certified HID Nightscanner® and HID Nightscanner® Plus lighting products... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
As police forces aim to be come more accountable to the residents of the area they serve, a number of those operating helicopters have launched a page on their website to list the tasks they fly – usually as a way of minimising noise complaints. These usually take the form of a table listing date,... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Brownsville Herald
Two 407s and a Eurocopter were seized, having been exported from the U.S. to Guatemala and Canada were seized in Washington and Idaho states as federal investigators continue to locate assets of drug lord Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, a Matamoros native currently imprisoned in the US.... Read more
13-Dec-2010
During the cruise, the engine failed. The pilot conducted a forced landing. The passenger received serious injuries and the helicopter was seriously damaged.... Read more
12-Dec-2010Source: Carson Helicopters
Carson Helicopters has been an active participant in the NTSB investigation of the Weaverville crash of N612AZ and as such has not commented publicly during the investigation due to regulatory prohibitions. We have a strong commitment to all the people affected by this tragic accident and to current flight operators of the S61 helicopter to... Read more
12-Dec-2010Source: Juneau Empire
Specialist equipment hangs 150 feet from a helicopter and moves snow by emitting precise blasts using mixtures of oxygen and hydrogen. This will replace the need for moving snow with explosives.... Read more
12-Dec-2010Source: Columbus Dispatch
Judge Laurel A. Beatty sentenced Shapiro to 20 days in jail and 100 hours of community service.... Read more
12-Dec-2010Source: UT Lifestar
Representatives of UT LIFESTAR dedicated the newly constructed Sevier County base of operations during a partnership luncheon celebration at the base, located at the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge airport in Sevierville. The Sevier County base continues to be the most heavily utilized of the five bases of operation for UT LIFESTAR, the air medical transport service of The... Read more
11-Dec-2010Source: Canadian Helicopters
MONTREAL, December 10, 2010 – Canadian Helicopters Income Fund (CHL.UN) (the “Fundâ€) confirmed today its intention to complete on December 31, 2010, the conversion of the Fund from an income trust to a dividend paying corporation (the “Arrangementâ€) as further described in the Fund’s management information circular dated May 13, 2010. The completion of the... Read more
11-Dec-2010Source: Mercury News
William “Bill” Coultas of Cave Junction says the NTSB ignored his written and oral testimony that loss of power in an engine caused the crash of the S61... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: UN World Food Programme
KHARTOUM – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed the news that three Latvian men working as helicopter aircrew for the WFP United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, have been freed after more than a month in captivity. WFP said that the three Latvians, a pilot,... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: NTSB
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Public Meeting of December 7, 2010 (Information subject to editing) Aircraft Accident Report Crash During Takeoff of Carson Helicopters, Inc., Firefighting Helicopter Under Contract to the U.S. Forest Service, Sikorsky S-61N, N612AZ Near Weaverville, California August 5, 2008 NTSB/AAR-10/06 Stay Connected Receive Press releases by e-mail Subscribe to our RSS feeds This is... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: Eagle Pass Heliskiing
Eagle Pass Heliskiing announces a NEW executive management team and a new kind of heli-ski experience. The company offers the world’s best heli-ski destination experience – snow, terrain, service and quality in a safe and socially responsible manner. Eagle Pass offers boutique small group heliskiing as well as an ultra-luxurious private group heli-skiing option. The... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: Miami New Times
The Miami-Dade Police Department is poised to become the first large metro force to regularly use drones in its aerial missions. The department has a deal in place to buy a T-Hawk from defense firm Honeywell... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: TLH Heliskiing
TLH Heliskiing is ready to re-open for the winter heli-ski season this December 31st, complete with multi-million dollar renovations to the base lodge at Tyax Wilderness Resort . Gold Bridge, British Columbia, December 7, 2010 – TLH Heliskiing will open for the 2010/2011 winter heli-ski season this December 31st, 2010 with a New Years Eve... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: Eurocopter
Marignane, December 9, 2010 – Step 1 speed objective of 180 kts is attained ahead of schedule for this innovative rotary-wing aircraft. Eurocopter’s X3 high-speed hybrid helicopter demonstrator, which performed its maiden flight on September 6, 2010, has reached on November 29th the program’s Step 1 speed objective: attaining a true airspeed of 180 kts... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: Eurocopter Canada
Fort Erie, ON — Eurocopter Canada Limited (ECL) delivered the 600th helicopter today for the Canadian market to Héli-Inter Inc., a major helicopter charter company headquartered in St- Hubert, Quebec. The powerful Eurocopter AS350 B3 light helicopter will be flown primarily in Northern Quebec, supporting mineral exploration and development programs. “We are delighted to reach... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: HFI
Helicopter Foundation International (HFI) announces an easier way for the international community to navigate, search, and retrieve information. When visiting the HFI Web site, the international visitor can now utilize translation software that offers access in more than 50 different languages with just the click of a mouse. Visitors to the site will now be... Read more
10-Dec-2010Source: Bell
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 8, 2010) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced that the FAA has completed its review and approval of the Bell 429 Category A Helipad Flight Manual Supplement, following earlier approvals by EASA and Transport Canada. The finalization of the Category A Helipad Flight Manual Supplement validates... Read more
10-Dec-2010
Wire strike during low level patrol. Pilot Tim Kearns was flying in Isom with Mike Lasslo from Kentucky Power and Ed Toppings from United Coal.... Read more
10-Dec-2010
Made emergency landing after striking flock of birds on climbout from Trenton Airport... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: Bond Aviation Group
[This is the official press release from Bond. HeliHub.com ran the story “Northern Lighthouse Board upgrading to EC135 on 1st December” back on 24th November] Gloucestershire-based, Bond Aviation Group, one of Europe’s leading helicopter service providers, has been awarded a long-term contract with the Northern Lighthouse Board valued at £6.5m. Following a competitive tendering exercise,... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: NEMSPA
The National EMS Pilots Association is gathering feedback from helicopter EMS pilots on proposed regulations that may become the most far-reaching rules to date for the Air Medical industry. The survey is for active EMS helicopter pilots only. The FAA Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that addresses the safety of commercial helicopter operations is... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: Keystone Med-Flight
Keystone announced today that it has signed a distribution and license agreement with the mobile health care communication firm mVisum, Inc. This agreement authorizes Keystone to distribute and sell mVisum’s unique medical data transmission system for use on medically configured aircraft. mVisum’s technology provides the ability to send, review, and respond to diagnostic quality medical... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: Wings Wheels & Rotors
WWRE 2011 is an open house and family event sponsored by the Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce and the California National Guards Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB). All the activities will take place on the flightline on Los Alamitos Army Airfield (KSLI). Los Alamitos Army Airfield is the last remaining military airfield in the... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: Van Horn Aviation
TEMPE, Ariz., December 8, 2010 – Composite tail rotor blade manufacturer Van Horn Aviation (VHA) recently added two Canadian companies as authorized dealers for its composite tail rotor blades. AOG Heli Services (www.aogheliservices.com) based at Norman Rogers Airport in Kingston, Ontario, and Avialta Helicopter Maintenance Ltd. (www.avialta.com) based at Villeneuve Airport in Edmonton, Alberta, have... Read more
9-Dec-2010
R22 crashed in a steep sided valley while en route from Sospel to Avignon. French press named the deceased as Martin Rutty and Simon Lichtenstein... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
As the temperatures in Florida plummet, so helicopters are called in to fly low level over fields to minimise the chance of frost ruining the crop. Sadly, these operations brought no fewer than three casualties in one County earlier today. Robinson R44 N666SL clipped a post at Palm Beach Glades County Airport, Pahokee around 2am... Read more
9-Dec-2010
Heavy landing on shoreline and skid splayed out. Three passengers with minor injuries, two others have no injuries.... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Swiss Air Ambulance, known locally as Rega, has now upgraded all their mountain bases to the AgustaWestland Da Vinci, based on AW109SP model – the last two bases to upgrade were at Zweisimmen and Mollis. The crew of the helicopter base at Zweisimmen upgraded to an AW109SP Da Vinci last Saturday with a patient transfer... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: Sloane Helicopters
[HeliHub.com has already provided links to a press report on this operation. This press release provides a lot more detail than the press report] Sloane Helicopters Limited is pleased to announce the entry into service of the UK’s first Agusta EMS Grand, G-HEMZ, with the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, one of the busiest... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Russian Helicopters have recently started the formal process of obtaining certification for the Kamov Ka32A11BC in Brazil. They are expecting the issuing of the approval certificate in the second half of 2011. They believe that the process should be simplified by the fact that this model has already been certified by EASA and Transport Canada.... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: HFI
Helicopter Foundation International (HFI) is pleased to announce that the deadline to apply for the 2011 series of scholarships has been extended to December 31, 2010. HFI scholarships are designed to answer the need for qualified helicopter pilots and maintenance technicians, and to provide further training for safety managers and other professionals in the safety... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
The East Anglian Air Ambulance has moved its Western operational base to Cambridge Airport as it launches an enhanced and more sustainable service which it believes will help save more lives across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The charity has worked closely with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) in developing the new service... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: StandardAero
StandardAero announced today that it has signed Mirabel Heli Support, Inc., in Mirabel, Quebec, as an Authorized Support Center for Turbine Engine MRO. The agreement is for one year and includes optional one-year extensions at the end of each expiry date. “Today’s announcement establishes a three-fold strategic alliance between the end operator, StandardAero, and Mirabel... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: KDRV
The NTSB stated that Carson Helicopters deliberately withheld information on the aircraft’s safety specifications. Those actions “included the intentional alteration of weight documents and performance charts and the use of unapproved performance calculations”... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: Lycoming
Lycoming Engines, a division of Avco Corporation, has added Airpart Supply Ltd., located at Wycombe Air Park near London’s Heathrow Airport, to its worldwide distributor network. Founded in 1984, Airpart Supply Ltd. is an independent, privately owned United Kingdom based company supplying parts, components and services to airline, regional, corporate and general aviation aircraft. Its... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: HAI
The Federal Aviation Administration’s final rule on Aircraft Re-Registration and Renewal of Aircraft Registration, which was published on July 20, 2010, requires re-registration of aircraft every three years. To allow an orderly process for re-registration, the final rule established a three-year phase-in schedule for re-registration of all aircraft, based on the month in which the... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: KRCR
Kevin Wayne Foster, 39, of Shasta Lake, and a 16-year-old teen were booked into the Shasta County jail Monday evening after Sheriff’s Department officials said they had flashed a green laser at a CHP helicopter.... Read more
8-Dec-2010
The helicopter was carrying six security officers, two inmates, an official from the country’s organized crime investigation unit, and two pilots. Local reports differ on the number of fatalities, some saying 3, others 4, others 7. Weather was apparently a factor... Read more
8-Dec-2010
NTSB officials said the pilot, identified as Jerry Freeman, 53, of Miami, told investigators he had been flying since 3 a.m. and was tired when he crashed. FAA reports the person suffered serious, but not life-threatening, injuries Helicopter was involved in low-level operations to keep frost from forming on crops... Read more
8-Dec-2010
Pilot reported as Alfred Morrison (53) Heavy landing in corn field and helicopter ended up on its side. Helicopter was involved in low-level operations to keep frost from forming on crops... Read more
8-Dec-2010
Tail rotor hit post on take-off after refuelling. Accident timed between 1 and 2am. Pilot reported as William Harward (53), and passenger James Wyatt. Helicopter was involved in low-level operations to keep frost from forming on crops... Read more
7-Dec-2010Source: United Rotorcraft Solutions
DECATUR, TX, DECEMBER 7, 2010: United Rotorcraft Solutions (URS) delivered a completed Eurocopter AS350B2 to Veracity Aviation of New Braunfels, TX. The helicopter was outfitted with a full VIP leather interior to include a quick-change rear bench from three seats with arm rests to four seats and includes a CD Player, AM/FM radio and MP3... Read more
7-Dec-2010Source: Sloane Helicopters
Sloane Helicopters is pleased to announce that it is providing one A109 Power EMS to Magpas, the Emergency Medical Charity, for the Magpas Helimedix to fill in an operational gap into the Air Ambulance services operating from RAF Wyton. The aircraft is equipped with the standard EMS factory fit and with customised oxygen and radio... Read more
7-Dec-2010Source: Russian Helicopters
[HeliHub.com ran a story on the sale of these helicopters prior to Russian Helicopters issuing this press release] The Russian multi-role Mi-171A1, manufactured by the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, a subsidiary of the Russian Helicopters holding company, won the tender of Brazil national oil company Petrobras to operate in the Amazon Basin. Brazilian operators bid in... Read more
