Simmonds Precision Products Inc., Vergennes, Vermont, is being awarded an $8,092,320 firm-fixed-price order (0008) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-11-G-0010) for the procurement of 32 Integrated Mechanical Diagnostic and Health Usage Monitoring System (IMD HUMS) kits in support of the H-1 production upgrades, AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircrafts. Work will be performed in Vergennes,… Read more »
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $32,493,960 firm-fixed-price contract for rotary wing blades. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. This is a 39-month base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Texas with a May 30, 2018, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of… Read more »
On a dark winter’s night, illuminated by runway lights, the first Puma HC Mark2 aircraft was loaded on to a single C17 transport aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire for the 3,608 mile journey to Kabul. Its departure came just days before the MOD announced that the new Puma, and the RAF’s latest version… Read more »
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today named Jeff Johnson, vice president, Business Development, Boeing Military Aircraft (BMA). He succeeds Tim Norgart, who recently retired from Boeing. Johnson will be based in St. Louis, Missouri, and report to BMA President Shelley Lavender. Johnson has been president of Boeing Middle East since March 2011, based in the… Read more »
Corporal Reid Bellamy achieved a significant milestone for his squadron – 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron – late last month. On February 24, 2015, the squadron’s commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Chris McKenna, presented CH-147F Chinook helicopter flight engineer (FE) wings to Corporal Bellamy. To earn his wings, Corporal Bellamy successfully completed operational cadre training for the new… Read more »
Colonel Patrick MacNamara, commanding officer of 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, invested the squadron’s new honorary colonel in a December 8, 2014, ceremony in Patricia Bay, British Columbia. Honorary Colonel Michael Sudul stepped into the position vacated by outgoing Honorary Colonel Jeffrey Morris, who served since 2009. Colonel Lise Bourgon, 12 Wing’s commander, presided over the… Read more »
Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, continues to supply helicopters across the Asia-Pacific region, including India. Over the past three years 189 commercial and military aircraft were delivered, which includes Rosoboron export contracts. In 2014 deliveries increased by 11% on 2012, and today more than 1,400 Russian-built helicopters operate in the region. “Over the… Read more »
MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI) announced today that it will attend the 2015 Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition at the Mashuri International Exhibition Centre, 17-21 March 2015. The MD Helicopters chalet and static display will feature the MD 530G, the mid-range model of the company’s new scout attack helicopter fleet. “MD Helicopters has delivered… Read more »
Airbus Defence and Space is joining forces with Huneed Technologies Co. Ltd., Incheon/Republic of Korea, to provide the new Korean Utility Helicopter “Surion” with advanced missile warning systems. The companies signed a cooperation agreement aiming at Huneed Technologies to produce core electronics components of Airbus Defence and Space’s MILDS missile warning system (MILDS = Missile… Read more »
Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad (BHIC) signed an agreement today to acquire a 30 percent share in the Airbus Helicopters Simulation Center in Malaysia. This joint venture agreement was signed by BHIC Chairman YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin and Philippe Monteux, Airbus Helicopters Senior Vice President for South East Asia & Pacific… Read more »
AgustaWestland announced today that its Training Academy in Malaysia will receive an AW139 Maintenance Trainer Simulator later this year. This will enable practical elements of AW139 airframe and avionics courses to be undertaken in Malaysia by customers in the region. The full aircraft maintenance trainer simulator enables students to undertake maintenance and fault finding tasks… Read more »
Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, will showcase its latest developments at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, LIMA 2015, which will be held on Malaysia’s Langkawi island from 17 to 21 March. Russian Helicopters will display its multirole Mi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters at LIMA-2015. Military models will also be centre-stage: together with… Read more »
Members of the 18th Medical Command Group conducted a four-day, medical first responder exercise for soldiers from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, March 11, 2015. Working in two-man teams, the RCAF soldiers simulated responding to a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief scenario where patients with medical needs were waiting. Each patient was assessed and treated as necessary,… Read more »
Friday, March 13, 2015 was an important date for the NH90 Caiman in France as it became a combat helicopter in its own right following the statement by the General Staff of the Navy of an initial operational capability of firing the torpedo MU90 . This is a major milestone for the torque capability FREMM / Cayman… Read more »
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Mexico for UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $110 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 16, 2015. The… Read more »
Three new members will be inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), in ceremonies at the Hall of Fame Dinner during the AAAA Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday, March 30, 2015. The Army Aviation Hall of Fame honors those persons… Read more »
The French General Directorate for Armament (DGA) took delivery of 2 upgraded AS532 Cougar for the French Army Aviation on Friday the 13th March. Airbus Helicopters was awarded with an ambitious modernization program, by the French General Directorate for Armament, for the 26 Cougar aircraft that are operated by the French Army Aviation. The upgrade… Read more »
HABCO and Sikorsky have joined forces once again in displaying PinPoint tool control system (pictured) at the 2015 Heli-Expo. With Director of Sales, Daniel Franzese heading up the show on HABCO’s end, they were able to introduce a new, sleeker, streamlined version of the AeroVIEW™. Complete with a variety of customization options, from door configurations to… Read more »
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) officially accepted ownership of the new Seasprite SH-2G(I) helicopters from Kaman Aerospace in a ceremony at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Auckland this morning. There are three new Seasprites at Base Auckland and the remaining five will be delivered by September. The new SH-2G(I) replaces the SH-2G model… Read more »
United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a review of strategic alternatives for the corporation’s Sikorsky Aircraft business, including a potential tax-free spinoff. “As part of the portfolio review announced last December, we are exploring strategic options for Sikorsky to determine the best way to enhance its long-term… Read more »
With time to reflect following the end of Heli Expo, Andrew Drwiega gives a quick summary of some of the key points that were made by OEMs during the show. Now that the dust has settled from Heli Expo, Florida, for another year what, if anything, did we learn from the world’s biggest helicopter exposition?… Read more »
New upgrades to an old workhorse are bringing added capability to the California National Guard’s helicopter fleet. The Cal Guard has been replacing its aging CH-47D fleet, which consists of aircraft originally built in the 1960s and ’70s, with brand new, high-tech CH-47F Chinooks. The first of 12 new CH-47F Chinooks arrived at the Cal… Read more »
The U.S. Army Transportation Museum received a retired piece of modern history to add to their full aviation pavilion at Fort Eustis, Virginia, March 10, 2015. The museum welcomed a 30-year-old VH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, designed to transport VIPs throughout the Military District of Washington. David Hanselman, U.S. Army Transportation Museum… Read more »
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $241,701,155 modification (P00232) to contract W58RGZ-12-C-0008 to exercise option for a quantity of 22 UH-60M aircraft to support contingency operations. Fiscal 2015 other procurement funds in the amount of $241,701,155 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2016. Work will… Read more »
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded an $8,431,030 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0022) to exercise an option for delivery of one Bell 407 Analog Helicopter, and preservation and storage of seven aircraft in support of the endurance upgrade of the MQ-8C Fire Scout. Work will be performed in Ozark,… Read more »
An MP has claimed Westcountry defence manufacturer AgustaWestland was “cut out” of a £1 billion deal to build the Army’s next fleet of Apache helicopters. See Full Story
The U.S. Army’s recent order for an additional 41 UH-72A Lakota helicopters underscores the continuing value the Army places on the Lakota’s low cost multi-mission capabilities, high performance and reliability. It also validates the work done by Airbus Helicopters Inc. and Airbus Group Inc. to fulfil commitments made to the Army and the U.S. government…. Read more »
Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that its Defense Solution division will display a wide range of its industry leading COTS-based solutions designed for use on commercial and defense aerospace helicopter platforms at Heli-Expo 2015 (Booth# 5466) The broad range of highly engineered solutions displayed will include: • Air data and data acquisition avionics; • Rugged touchscreen LCD… Read more »
By Andrew Drwiega, Heli-Expo, Florida, USA Kaman Aerospace is nearing the threshold that would allow the company to reopen its K-Max K-1200 production line, says Terry Fogarty, general manager of Kaman’s UAS Group. “With deposits now over 75% of what we require we are now anticipating that this will go ahead.” Speaking at Heli-Expo to… Read more »
Helisim and SAAM Verspieren Group announced today at Heli-Expo their agreement offering significant insurance premium refunds for operators who perform recurrent flight training at the Helisim Training Academy and have an insurance contract handled by the SAAM Verspieren Group. Helisim – a subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters, Thales Training & Simulation and DCI (Defence Conseil International)… Read more »
Turbomeca (Safran) companies across the world have finalized SBH (Support By the Hour) contracts with numerous operators flying a wide range of missions. During Heli-Expo 2015, Canadian operator Coast to Coast will sign a SBH contract with Turbomeca Canada covering the Arrius 1A engines in its AS 355 helicopters. At the end of 2014 Aiut… Read more »
Turbomeca (Safran) has developed the “Turbomeca Care Program” that will provide additional warranty solutions and conditions for its engines throughout their lifecycle and answer important operator needs. Since the end of 2014, new and enhanced warranty conditions have been introduced for all new and current civil engine models. The new warranty conditions include a 400-hour… Read more »
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is pleased to announce that the final 4 Enstrom 480B turbine training helicopters were accepted by the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. The aircraft were delivered by Aero Facility Co Ltd, Enstrom’s authorized sales representative in Japan. The 480B was originally selected by the JGSDF in 2010 to replace their fleet of… Read more »
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the sale of four Bell 429s configured for Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) and one Bell 412EPI configured for Search and Rescue (SAR) to the National Operations Centre, Air Division (NOCAD) in Trinidad and Tobago. The contract was signed by NOCAD Executive Director Mr. Garvin Heerah… Read more »
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), today announced the start of final assembly of the second S-97 RAIDER™ helicopter at the company’s Development Flight Center. Along with a team of industry suppliers, Sikorsky is developing two RAIDER™ prototypes to demonstrate the revolutionary new capabilities in improved maneuverability and flight speed…. Read more »
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded the company an $8 million contract for Phase 1 of the Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). The objective of DARPA’s ALIAS program is to develop and insert new automation into… Read more »
Andrew Drwiega of HeliHub.com listened to, then talked with, Lynn Tilton, CEO, MD Helicopters during her 10 Year Ownership Party in the exhibition halls during the opening day of Heli-Expo. Lynn Tilton is celebrating 10 years in charge of MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI), the old Hughes then McDonnell Douglas company. Using her investment company, Patriarch… Read more »
In 2014 Robinson produced 329 helicopters in contrast to the 523 helicopters of 2013. Kurt Robinson, company President, said this was due to the catching up on the backlog of R66s. The other reason involved the fact that over 70% of Robinson helicopters are produced outside the USA and that has to do with economies… Read more »
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) which, this year, is celebrating its 100th anniversary, is focused in 2015 on developing new filtration solutions for numerous civil and military rotorcraft programs. The company’s initiatives cover in-service, vertical-lift aircraft as well as the newest generation of civil and military helicopters. Donaldson is… Read more »
A good proportion of the industry still thinks “Eurocopter” and not “Airbus” and now they are changing all their product names. All the AS and EC prefixes are gone, to be replaced by H. So the EC135 becomes the H135, the AS350 is now the H350 and so on. That will be very confusing at… Read more »
BBA Aviation companies Dallas Airmotive and H+S Aviation are providing a one of a kind of experience at the 2015 Heli-Expo tradeshow by rebuilding an M250 helicopter engine at their booth. “We believe in demystifying the engine maintenance experience for customers. Re-assembling a helicopter engine at Heli-Expo allows our expert engine technicians to not only… Read more »
BBA Aviation companies Dallas Airmotive and H+S Aviation unveiled their expanded and enhanced global service network at this year’s Heli-Expo in Orlando Florida. Complementing the companies’ existing facilities in Dallas, Texas and Portsmouth, UK, H+S Aviation announced the opening of its new MRO facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE, while Dallas Airmotive announced the construction of… Read more »
StandardAero has introduced a new custom solution for operators of Rolls-Royce M250-C47 engines to improve starting performance by lowering starting temperatures on engines that are currently experiencing warm starting conditions. The solution, a custom overhauled Hydromechanical Unit (HMU), was designed by StandardAero engineers through continuous improvement efforts to optimize the performance of M250-C47 engines. “Our… Read more »
StandardAero has reached an agreement with Rolls-Royce to purchase additional helicopter engines to bolster its current rental pool to more than $10M in assets with 25 engines and over 70 modules. These rental engines provide operators with instantly available powerplants to minimize aircraft down time and maximize flight mission performance and availability. Over the past… Read more »
Vector Aerospace Corporation (“Vector Aerospace”), a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) services, is pleased to announce that Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services – North America (“HS-NA”) has been awarded a contract by the Royal Thai Navy (“RTN”) for the airframe refurbishment of one of the RTN’s Sikorsky S-76B aircraft including a complete… Read more »
Vector Aerospace Corporation (Vector Aerospace), a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, is pleased to announce Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services – North America (HS-NA) with the assistance of their local representatives, Naher Trading, has signed a contract to provide the Colombian Air Force with Pratt & Whitney PT6T and JT15D… Read more »
Andrew Drwiega of HeliHub.com talked to Mick Maurer, President, Sikorsky Aircraft Andrew Drwiega (AD): What are you expecting in terms of growth from the regions around the world? Mick Maurer (MM): We look at the US market which is our anchor customer [the Department of Defense in particular] which helps us into other world markets…. Read more »
A primary provider of private firefighting and rescue services in South Korea had one of its key helicopters safely back in service in less than one-half the expected time following routine inspection and maintenance performed by Heli-One. Heli-One is a segment of CHC Helicopter, the operating company of CHC Group Ltd. (NYSE:HELI). National 119 was… Read more »
Some 850 BLR Aerospace FastFin® Tail Rotor Enhancement and Stability Systems are now operating in 30 nations worldwide, elevating the performance of Bell Medium helicopters and helping a wide range of operators improve mission effectiveness. More than half of all FastFin Systems are operating in North America, followed by Latin America (20 percent) and Asia… Read more »
AgustaWestland announced today the launch of a dedicated ‘App’ for its Skyflight mission planning system. Customers are now able to download the Skyflight app from the Apple App Store and install onto their iPad, enabling access to the Skyflight web service. The proven Skyflight multi-helicopter flight and mission planning system has been designed by AgustaWestland… Read more »
AgustaWestland today announced that the Honorable Tom Ridge has joined AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation’s Board of Directors. Ridge, the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania and the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has significant public and private sector expertise that will allow him to take an active role in advocating for and raising the… Read more »
AgustaWestland announced today the launch of the new My Order E-commerce service. One year after the launch of the Leonardo portal, the company is now ready to introduce a brand new platform, a completely new service that will enable worldwide operators to request quotations and to evaluate the availability of spare parts at AgustaWestland’s warehouse,… Read more »
AgustaWestland announced today the launch of the new online training section of its Leonardo Customer Portal. Designated Leonardo for Training, the new dedicated section provides quick and simplified access to AgustaWestland’s training services. Benefits of Leonardo for Training to customers include an easy and effective search for and access to courses, simple and rapid personal… Read more »
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and H. N. Burns Engineering Corp. have agreed to collaborate on technology that enhances military helicopter pilots’ ability to fly in low visibility conditions caused by weather, dust or other obstructions. Known as degraded visual environments (DVE), the blinding conditions are a primary cause of major helicopter accidents. “Overcoming DVE challenges requires… Read more »
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced the sale of 15 Bell 407GXs to the Mexican Air Force (FAM) with deliveries to begin this year. The aircraft will be configured for a variety of parapublic missions. “We are extremely pleased to provide the Mexican Air Force with such a high performing and reliable aircraft,” said… Read more »
Members of the Malaysian armed forces, alongside Malaysian and U.S. government officials, observed a theater security cooperation event with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit here Feb. 27. The amphibious air-ground demonstration provided an opportunity for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and MAF to build relationships and pave the way for future exercises in Malaysia. … Read more »
As the military rotorcraft market enters a downturn, Forecast International sees a strong niche in the medium/heavy military rotorcraft sector with over 5,300 units expected to be produced in the next 10 years. The company’s new study “The Market for Medium/Heavy Military Rotorcraft” reports that, during the 2015-2024 forecast period, the value of production will… Read more »
Moog Inc., East Aurora, New York, is being awarded a $71,339,972 three year requirements contract for the repair of multiple components used on the V-22 aircraft in support of both MV-22 (Marines) and CV-22 (Air Force). Work will be performed in East Aurora, New York, and work is expected to be completed by Feb. 26,… Read more »
Marine Helicopter Support Co., Trevose, Pennsylvania, is being awarded a $1,999,812,283 fixed-price performance based logistics requirements contract for 1,710 weapon replaceable assemblies/shop replaceable assemblies’ components in support of the H-60 aircraft. This effort will encompass the repair, modification, overhaul and replacement of hardware, including manufacturing of new material, as well as storage, requisition processing, obsolescence… Read more »
An aerospace industry staple for more than 50 years, today’s Staco Systems is aggressively working to expand its presence in helicopter cockpits everywhere with custom solutions and smaller, more durable products that are ideally suited for the rotorcraft operating environment. The company will display and discuss its illuminated panels, subsystems, switches, and data entry solutions… Read more »
One hundred years ago, a Utah farmer confronted a salesman with a tractor from his company that put the farmer’s livelihood at risk. It would not run. After an overhaul failed to fix the problem, the Bull Tractor salesman came up with a solution: a filter that blocked dust from the engine and kept that… Read more »
Breeze Eastern Corporation (NYSE MKT: BZC), the aerospace industry’s only dedicated hoist and winch specialist, is completing initial system development and is on track to flight test and begin qualification on its MissionView™ Situational Awareness System in the next several months. The MissionView System is designed with integrated sensors that wirelessly transmit real-time color video… Read more »
On a sunny, winter morning, with the last of the morning’s frost dissipating into fog, U.S. troopers and Polish infantrymen met at the edge of the airfield here to await the UH-60 Black Hawk’s arrival and the beginning of medical evacuation training. This is the latest in weeks of training between Dragoons assigned to K… Read more »
The American Small Business League (ASBL) is accusing the Pentagon of trying to cover-up trillions of dollars in fraud in a federal case over data submitted to the 25-year-old Comprehensive Subcontracting Plan Test Program (CSPTP). In August 2013 under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the ASBL requested the most recent comprehensive subcontracting plan that Sikorsky Aviation Corporation submitted to the… Read more »
Six pilots and 10 maintenance technicians from the Royal Thai Army have successfully completed training to fly and maintain the UH-72A Lakota, the initial group of Thai pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians that will be trained to operate Lakotas for Thailand. The Thai pilots and technicians were honored Friday in a graduation ceremony at Airbus… Read more »
Five MV-22 Ospreys flew over 2,200 nautical miles to participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2015 Feb. 7-21, and in the process, marked the first time the Osprey has been refueled by the U.S. Air Force KC-10 aircraft in-flight. The Ospreys traveled from Clark Air Base, the Philippines to Utapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Kingdom of… Read more »
The high-profile presence of Airbus Helicopters at Heli-Expo 2015 will confirm the company’s leadership role, with its unveiling of the all-new X4 rotorcraft and a rollout of the industry’s most comprehensive customer services coverage. These developments are aligned with the company’s transformation plan, which has been implemented to provide highly efficient helicopter solutions for customers… Read more »
Airbus Defence and Space has joined forces with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) of the Australian Ministry of Defence to improve the protection of wide-body aircraft and helicopters. In a joint development program they upgraded Airbus Defence and Space’s proven MILDS AN/AAR-60 Block II Missile Approach Warning system with a HFI (Hostile Fire… Read more »
The United Arab Emirates armed forces have signed a 732 million dirham ($200 million) contract with AgustaWestland to buy 9 AW139 helicopters, a spokesman for a UAE defence organisation said on Tuesday. See Full Story
Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $591,245,165 modification (P00003) to fixed-price-incentive contract W58RGZ-14-C-0018 to acquire 35 AH-64E Apache helicopters under the full rate production of Lot 5. Fiscal 2015 other procurement funds in the amount of $105,616,400 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2015. Work will… Read more »
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $50,095,510 three year firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the repair of four weapons replaceable assemblies in support of the H-1 Legacy helicopter, including the right hand and left hand stub wings, gearboxes and main rotor blades. Work will be performed in Hurst, Texas, and work… Read more »
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is being awarded a $25,848,612 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for engineering sustainment and integrated logistics services in support of MQ-8 operational, vendor, maintenance-related and laboratory support software. Services to be provided include analysis of engineering change proposals, development of plans of action and milestones, laboratory facility studies and analysis,… Read more »
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $6,800,000 undefinitized contract action for the repair of AH-1W helicopter transmissions. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and work will be completed by October 2016. Fiscal 2015 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $3,332,000 will be obligated at the time… Read more »
[electronic translation] DCI announces the opening of a brand new helicopter training International Centre (ITC-H) recorded in Dax located in the Drivers French Military Training Schools (Dax and Luc-en-Provence). The ITC-H curriculum are taught in English or French and in partnership with Light Aviation Army (ALT) and HeliDax. This new training center meets the high demand… Read more »
[electronic translation] In the incident with a NH90 on 19 June 2014 in Termez / Uzbekistan occurred in connection with the engine stagnation in triggering the fire extinguishing system of the engine to a short circuit in the overhead Control Panel. To this end, the company announced AIRBUS Helicopter the Ministry of Defense and the… Read more »
