11-Aug-2010Source: MI Live
If convicted, the Detroit resident who made the prank call could face up to six-years in prison, a $250,000 fine and liability for the full cost of the Coast Guard operation.... Read more
11-Aug-2010Source: HeliHub.com
The Royal Danish Air Force has announced that it is ready to dispose of its Sea King fleet, more recently superceded by AgustaWestland AW101s after the Sikorsky-built fleet completed an impressive 45 years in service. The last operational flight was on 16th June this year, as reported on HeliHub.com here. Two Danish Sea Kings were... Read more
11-Aug-2010Source: Royal Navy
Members of 829 Naval Air Squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose took part in exercises and training with the French Navy in Toulon recently. Also known as the “Kingfishersâ€, 829 Squadron usually provides Merlin helicopters for operations from Type 23 Frigates, such as HMS Sutherland, HMS Westminster, HMS Richmond and for ships of... Read more
11-Aug-2010
Fire reported on board. Fire extinguished and helicopter landed safely... Read more
10-Aug-2010Source: The Age
THE battle for a billion-dollar contract to supply navy helicopters has turned nasty, with one of the two bidders accusing Defence of giving the rival company preferential treatment.... Read more
10-Aug-2010Source: Indian-Military.org
A new report by India’s national audit watchdog has thrown fresh and damning light on how HAL dealt with a flight control phenomenon that has given its chopper division real nightmares over the last few years — cyclic saturation.... Read more
10-Aug-2010Source: Wired
The Boeing A160T Hummingbird was photographed in Belize, where it was test flying a tree-penetrating Darpa radar called FORESTER. Locals were given a heads-up thanks to a press release from the U.S. Embassy.... Read more
10-Aug-2010Source: The Olympian
Boeing has notified its unions in its Pennsylvania helicopter plant that it is seeking proposals from outside suppliers to build the aft pylon on the twin-engine helicopter.... Read more
7-Aug-2010Source: Orange County Register
The Boeing Co. will close its A160 unmanned helicopter facility in Irvine by the end of 2011 and transfer the work to Mesa, Ariz.... Read more
7-Aug-2010Source: US DoD
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Aug. 3 a $35,252,210 firm-fixed-price contract for three UH-60M aircraft for the Mexico Navy and three auxiliary power units inlet barrier filter kits for the UH-60M. Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012. One bid was solicited... Read more
7-Aug-2010Source: US DoD
The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pa., was awarded on Aug. 3 a $5,672,833 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The purpose of this delivery order modification is to perform 27,310 hours of engineering services support of CH-47F unique items identification candidates, non-recurring engineering. Work is to be performed in Ridley Park, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Jan.... Read more
7-Aug-2010Source: Vector Aerospace
Vector Aerospace Corporation (Vector -Â www.vectoraerospace.com) is receiving a tremendous show of support from members of the international SEA KINGâ„¢ / S61 operator and support community in preparing for the 2010 International Sea King Maintenance Symposium (www.seakingsymposium2010.com). Hosted by Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services-United Kingdom from September 28th-30th, 2010 in Portsmouth, England; event registration is proceeding as... Read more
7-Aug-2010Source: DSCA
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of contractor logistics support for various helicopters for an estimated cost of $152 million. The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of two years of contractor logistics support for Mi-17 Helicopters and two years of logistics support... Read more
6-Aug-2010
The Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that is already taking disciplinary action against the helicopter pilots concerned... Read more
6-Aug-2010Source: US Navy
A Ukrainian navy KA-27 Helix helicopter from Saki Naval Air Base in Ukraine, conducts deck land qualifications with the guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) during exercise Sea Breeze 2010. Sea Breeze is an annual multinational exercise designed to strengthen maritime partnerships in the Black Sea region in the spirit of partnership for peace. (U.S.... Read more
6-Aug-2010Source: Hindustan Times
The Comptroller and Auditor General has revealed that 90% of material used in the Dhruv’s manufacture is imported. The intention had been that the project should have been at least 50% indigenous.... Read more
6-Aug-2010Source: DSCA
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Colombia of 9 UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $162 million. The Government of Colombia has requested a possible sale of 9 UH-60L BLACK HAWK Helicopters (1 for Colombian... Read more
5-Aug-2010
Bulgaria has already received 11 Cougar and 3 Panther helicopters, and has paid 60% of the entire deal – about EUR 240 M – which is the guarantee deposit. But they still owe BGN 175 M and Eurocopter is holding back 1 Cougar and 3 Panthers as a result... Read more
5-Aug-2010Source: Herald Sun
Australian Dept of Defence did not reveal the problem and did not announce that an MRH-90 helicopter on a routine flight from Brisbane to Townsville on Saturday was grounded at Mackay airport.... Read more
5-Aug-2010Source: DGA
France’s Directorate General for Armaments (DGA) has announed that the second of two EC225 helicotpers was delivered on July 23 to their Navy’s. These aircraft were ordered in December 2009 to replace recently retired Super Frelon helicopters. They will be implemented from the naval aviation base at Lanvéoc (Finistère) for marine safety duties including SAR.... Read more
5-Aug-2010Source: Times of Swaziland
Gert Stemmet, in his court papers, alleges that he entered into an oral agreement with the army, which was represented by Colonel Mdzue W. Khumalo, around October 2009 for the provision of mechanical services to the “fleet of helicopters” belonging to the army.... Read more
5-Aug-2010Source: Bloomberg
Sikorsky wants the Navy to suspend its request for bids and issue a new one that includes U.S. companies, according toa protest filed with the U.S. Government Accountability Office yesterday.... Read more
5-Aug-2010Source: AEX
LOM has been contracted by NATO in a deal amounted to 250 million CZK (US$13.3M).... Read more
5-Aug-2010
A budget of 9.366 billion expansion of Guarani (about US$ 1.9M) to repair two helicopters of the Armed Forces requested the Executive to Congress... Read more
5-Aug-2010Source: US Forces, Iraq
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region District (GRD) is managing the construction of the largest clear-span building in the Middle East, here at Taji Air Force Base. This MI-17 helicopter hangar spans 76 meters long (more than 240 ft.) without any intermediate supports and stands at 15 meters tall (50 ft.). It will... Read more
4-Aug-2010Source: Sikorsky
STRATFORD, Conn. — Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation announced today the successful completion of the CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Critical Design Review (CDR) event, signaling the program is ready to proceed to assembly, test and evaluation. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). The joint Sikorsky/Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) CH-53K helicopter... Read more
3-Aug-2010Source: Boeing
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa., Aug. 3, 2010 — The Boeing [NYSE: BA] CH-47F Chinook helicopter was fielded July 30 by the U.S. Army’s B Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. The 10th Mountain Division is the sixth Army unit to be trained and equipped with the... Read more
3-Aug-2010Source: NATO Training Mission
The Afghan Air Force performed its first Mi-17 Live Fire at the Kabul Military Training Center in Kabul on August 1, 2010. This was the first validation of the training syllabus from the Russian manuals for the Mi-17. Two helicopters performed live firing at the KMTC range, one Mi-17 and one Mi-35. Combined, the two... Read more
2-Aug-2010Source: Canadian Forces
COMOX, British Columbia – AgustaWestland is pleased to congratulate members of the Canadian Forces 442 Squadron based Canadian Forces Base Comox, British Columbia, for winning this year’s Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award for “Outstanding Courage or Devotion in the Air.†The winners were announced at the base by John Burley, Chairman of the London Guild... Read more
2-Aug-2010Source: US DoD
Lord Corporation, Erie, Pa. is being awarded a maximum $11,448,064 fixed price with economic price adjustment, sole source contract for helicopter parts. Â There are no other locations of performance. Â Using service is Army. Â There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Â The date of performance completion is September 12, 2010. Â The contracting activity is... Read more
2-Aug-2010Source: Examiner
Article praises “solid progress reports” and then centres around only 70% availability in Afghanistan... Read more
31-Jul-2010Source: EADS North America
Four U.S. Army UH-72A Lakotas arrived at the Pacific Ocean’s Kwajalein Atoll June 6, marking the latest overseas assignment for the EADS North America-built Light Utility Helicopter. These Lakotas will be used for transport and support missions at the Army’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, replacing aging UH-1 helicopters. Painted in high-visibility orange,... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: British Army
His Royal Highness Prince Charles presented Afghan service medals this week to members of 1st Regiment Army Air Corps (1 Regt AAC) who have recently been operating Lynx helicopters over Helmand. The Prince of Wales, who is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, visited 1 Regt AAC at their base in Germany. The Prince... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: US DoD
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $13,803,372 firm-fixed-price modification to exercise an option to a previously awarded delivery order placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-07-G-0008 for the procurement of 107 swashplate actuators and 137 flaperon actuators for the MV-22 and CV-22 aircraft. Work will be performed in New York, N.Y., and... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: Precision Systems
Precision Systems Inc announced that the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) has purchased new Rotor Azimuth Processors for a U.S. Army aviation modernization program. These units are designed as test equipment to provide high resolution rotor azimuth regardless of rotor speed. Stress on the airframe, main rotor torsion bar and rotor blades along with blade... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: Eurocopter
The EC665 Tiger HAP (combat support) helicopter received its operational certification from NATO for the Afghan theater of operations in August 2009, just seven months after the final operational standard qualification was issued by government agencies in December 2008. The fleet of three EC665 Tiger HAPs, operated by the French Army’s 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment,... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: Aviation Explorer
For the first time in the history of the Russian armed forces, ten Mi-28N helicopters were involved in tactical flight manoeuvres together... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: Sikorsky
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – Sikorsky Innovations, the technology development organization of Sikorsky Aircraft, today officially introduced “Project Firefly,†an all-electric helicopter technology demonstrator, at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture exhibition. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). The Firefly Technology Demonstration Aircraft at EAA is part of the world symposium on electric... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: Barents Observer
Finland will replace the five Agusta-Bell 412s currently operated by its Border Guard with four new helicopters. Given they have replaced B206s with AW119s, it would appear that AgustaWestland AW139s are quite likely contenders... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: Fokker
Fokker Aerostructures and Boeing Rotorcraft Systems have reached an agreement to develop and produce the Forward Avionics Bays for the AH-64D Apache Block III helicopters The Forward Avionics Bays (FABs), mounted on both sides of the Apache helicopters, form the housings for the aircraft’s avionics systems. The Block III FAB is based on a new... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: Economic Times
The Defence Ministry has cancelled a tender for hiring eight helicopters for transport and evacuation operations after going through the year-long selection process.... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: Royal Air Force
After several weeks providing support to troops on the ground in Helmand province, the Merlin helicopter crews from 28 (Army Cooperation) Squadron’s B Flight, based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, are coming home. B Flight arrived at Bastion Airfield in late May 2010. Following multiple detachments in Iraq over the past five years, this was... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: This is Bristol
Having run the event for 20 years on the seafront at Weston-super-Mare, organisers are facing higher costs. Additinally, both North Somerset Council (on which event director Elfan ap Rees is a councillor) and the local Weston Parish Council have withdrawn their sponsorship.... Read more
30-Jul-2010Source: British Army
Army helicopter pilots, ground crew and technicians who have served in Afghanistan were presented with campaign medals by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales yesterday. 3 Regiment Army Air Corps (3 AAC), based at Wattisham Flying Station, Suffolk, was also awarded the Honorary Freedom of St Edmundsbury, at the presentation in Bury St Edmunds.... Read more
29-Jul-2010Source: Aviation Week
The key issue, since late last year, has been the recognition that helicopters due for delivery this year in an interim standard would not meet the anticipated performance level.... Read more
29-Jul-2010Source: Flightglobal
Australia has discovered that an engine failure on an NH90 transport helicopter was caused by the compressor blades fracturing after coming into contact with the engine casing.... Read more
29-Jul-2010Source: Connecticut Post
It’s not official, but a Sikorsky experimental aircraft is the fastest aircraft of its type in the world, achieving a top speed of 225 knots, or 259Â mph.... Read more
28-Jul-2010Source: UK MoD
Royal Navy Sea King helicopter pilots and their crews from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) have been training for their deployment to Afghanistan in the Californian desert. The pilots and aircrew from 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons have been undergoing environmental qualification training at the Naval Air Facility El Centro, just north of the... Read more
27-Jul-2010Source: HeliHub.com
British operator Tiger Helicopters are to lease two AB206 JetRangers from Castle Air. The lease commences 1st October 2010 for an initial period of two years, with each JetRanger expected to fly 1,000 hours during that time on an intensive training contract. Tiger are providing ab initio training for Algerian military pilots who will then... Read more
27-Jul-2010Source: UK MoD
After nearly two months of being operational in Afghanistan, the world’s fastest helicopter, the Lynx Mark 9A, has proved to be a vital boost to the UK’s battlefield capability. The crews from the Army Air Corps that fly the aircraft say it has massively enhanced capability, as it is light and agile and perfect for... Read more
26-Jul-2010
Contracts were signed on 22nd July for six Mi-171Sh Hip transport and two Mi-35P Hind attack helicopters... Read more
26-Jul-2010Source: Royal Navy
HMS Ocean is currently participating in Exercise Kearsarge – a US led exercise being conducted off the coast of North Carolina, in support of the deployment training package for the United States Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group. As a result, the Royal Navy’s largest helicopter carrier has been operating with some of the US Marine Corp’s... Read more
26-Jul-2010
Trials are underway for an Indian Air Force order for 22 attack helicopters with two contenders in the fray – the US’ Boeing AH-64D Apache and Russia’s Mi-28.... Read more
24-Jul-2010Source: Koninklkijke Luchmacht
(electronic translation from the Dutch press release) The second NH90 helicopter arrived yesterday afternoon at Maritime Air Station De Kooy. Defence purchased this helicopter type to replace both the Lynx maritime helicopters and the AB-412 rescue helicopters. The Operational Test & Evaluation (OT & E) team flew the aircraft from Italy to the Netherlands. The... Read more
23-Jul-2010Source: The Hindu
Two more Chetak helicopters would be added in the next few months.... Read more
23-Jul-2010Source: HeliDays
International HeliDays 2010 will launch this year at midday on Friday 23rd July with a demonstration of helicopter in flight refuelling by the US Air Force over the bay at Weston-super-Mare. Following the demonstration the USAF Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopter will land on the Beach Lawns where it will be on static display... Read more
23-Jul-2010Source: Rockwell Collins
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, recently delivered the first AW101 helicopter featuring Rockwell Collins latest generation cockpit display system. This new cockpit first flew on the AW101 in October 2009 and achieved Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) certification in June 2010. “This new cockpit display system provides pilots with enhanced situational awareness while decreasing their workload,” said... Read more
23-Jul-2010Source: Shephard
AgustaWestland is displaying one of the first A109 LUH (NZ) TrainingLight Utility Helicopters for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) at Farnborough... Read more
23-Jul-2010Source: Eurocopter
Australian Aerospace Limited, which assembles the Army’s and Navy’s MRH90 helicopters in Brisbane, has welcomed the imminent return to flying operations by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) world leading and most advanced multi-role helicopter. The ADF announced today that the MRH90s will recommence flying operations later this week. The ADF ceased flying their MRH90 fleet... Read more
23-Jul-2010Source: Aero Dynamix
Aero Dynamix, Inc., your only true one-stop-shop for Night Vision Systems is proud to be a full line distributor of L-3 M949 Generation III Night Vision Goggles including the L-3 M949 Infinity line. L-3 M949 Infinity NVGs are manufactured to the highest quality standards and meet all specifications of DO-275 with Class “B†filters. They... Read more
23-Jul-2010Source: Defense News
Boeing is still working to improve the V-22 Osprey to keep dust, dirt and other debris out of the tilt-rotor’s engines.... Read more
22-Jul-2010Source: El Universo
Ecuador’s Defense Minister Javier Ponce announced that the country will buy seven Gazelle helicopters to reinforce the Army’s operations on the border with Colombia... Read more
22-Jul-2010Source: Defense News
The military equivalent of an iPad for pilots’ mission planning will be among the features included in the avionics upgrade of 46 Royal Air Force Chinooks to the Mk.4 standard, said Peter Hitchcock, Avionics VP at Thales UK... Read more
22-Jul-2010Source: Aviation Specialties Unlimited
Irish Defense Forces Air Coprs based at Casement Aerodome, Baldonnel Co. Dublin Ireland recently completed Night Vision Goggle Training conducted by Aviation Specialties Unlimited, (ASU). The Irish Air Corps chose ASU as their sole source provider for 21 sets of ITT F4949 Night Vision Goggles and Pilot and Crewmember Training. The Air Corps operates four... Read more
