Safety News

Sikorsky Launches Safety Enhancement Program with PHi and Outerlink

Sikorsky Launches Safety Enhancement Program with PHi and Outerlink

8-Mar-2017Source: Sikorsky

Sikorsky, PHI Inc. and Outerlink Global Solutions, a Metro Aviation company, today announced that the S-92® helicopter has demonstrated the ability to transmit in-flight, real-time Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) data to PHI’s operations control center. The announcement came at the 2017 Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo show. With this new capability, PHI operators can... Read more

HeliOffshore is award finalist in Safety Innovation catgory

HeliOffshore is award finalist in Safety Innovation catgory

6-Mar-2017Source: HeliOffshore

The offshore helicopter industry’s collaboration for safety was recognised today at the Aviation Week 60th Annual Laureate Awards. HeliOffshore was a finalist in the Safety Innovation category, which was won by Jaiwon Shin, NASA Associate Administrator for Aeronautics. Mr. Shin’s award recognised his leadership in developing a compelling strategy to guide U.S. civil aviation research.... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – February 2017

UK AAIB Bulletin – February 2017

17-Feb-2017Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Westland Scout AH1 (G-BYRX), control restriction, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, 29 December 2015 Robinson R66 (N166MG), heavy landing, private site, Stowe, Buckinghamshire, 15 August 2016... Read more

IHST Global Survey Highlights Safety Strengths and Weaknesses

IHST Global Survey Highlights Safety Strengths and Weaknesses

6-Feb-2017Source: IHST

The International Helicopter Safety Team (www.IHST.org) has compiled data from its second annual survey of civil helicopter operators located in key regions around the world in order to gain a broader understanding of where safety initiatives are being implemented. The IHST’s worldwide regional teams have analyzed more than 1,000 helicopter accidents and have concluded that... Read more

HUMS: Safety Alert

HUMS: Safety Alert

3-Feb-2017Source: Allan Blake for HeliHub.com

The recent “near miss” that occurred on a rig landing by S92A G-WNSR on December 28th 2016 is the latest in a series of major incidents that appear to have been caused by the accelerated deterioration of critical components, this time in the tail rotor bearing assembly (Air Accident Investigations Branch “AAIB” Special Bulletin S1/2017,... Read more

First ever EASA and CAAC joint Conference

First ever EASA and CAAC joint Conference

31-Jan-2017Source: EASA

This year for the first time, EASA and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) are organising the CAAC-EASA Aviation Safety Conference. The aim of this first edition is to broaden the bilateral dialogue, by bringing together authorities and the wider European and Chinese aviation industry to discuss current issues, as well as future trends... Read more

Aviation Safety Experts Will Gather for 2nd Helicopter Infrastructure Summit

Aviation Safety Experts Will Gather for 2nd Helicopter Infrastructure Summit

30-Jan-2017Source: USHST

More than 50 aviation safety leaders from industry and government will gather Feb. 16-17 in Washington DC for the 2017 USHST Infrastructure Summit.  The conference, which was initially launched last year, focuses on discussions about the future of helicopter infrastructure within the realm of the low altitude environment of the National Airspace System. The Summit... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – January 2017

UK AAIB Bulletin – January 2017

17-Jan-2017Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Robinson R44 (G-RFUN), helicopter landed heavily and rolled onto its side, near Crowden, Glossop, Derbyshire, 5 August 2016 Robinson R44 II (G-SAIG) and Spitfire IXT (G-CCCA), contact between aircraft on the active runway, Lashenden (Headcorn) Aerodrome,... Read more

FAA Investigation of Fuel Fed Fires

FAA Investigation of Fuel Fed Fires

17-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com

The FAA has been investigating fuel systems after the Flight for Life AS-350 crash last year, where the fuel-fed fire contributed to the pilot’s death and seriously injured the flight nurse. The results show that fuel systems that abide by 1994 federal standards, could eliminate injuries caused by fires in survivable accidents. The problem is that... Read more

CHC Safety and Quality Summit 2017 calls for papers

CHC Safety and Quality Summit 2017 calls for papers

16-Jan-2017Source: CHC

The formal call for papers is officially out for the 2017 CHC Safety & Quality Summit, focusing on the theme “Can we truly manage all of the risk: what if the barriers are not as robust as we think?” In its 12 year history, the Summit has grown to become an industry-leading aviation safety event.... Read more

Perfect storm – Sikorsky grounds S92

Perfect storm – Sikorsky grounds S92

10-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com

Follow a recent landing incident on a North Sea rig, the BBC is reporting that Sikorsky has grounded the S92 pending certain checks.  A British CHC machine, registered G-WNSR, had a problem when landing on the West Franklin helideck on 28th December, resulting in large gouges out of the helideck surface as shown in photos... Read more

Australian safety board seeks software vendors to automate occurrence reporting process

Australian safety board seeks software vendors to automate occurrence reporting process

9-Jan-2017Source: ATSB

Aircraft operators and organisations involved in aviation safety will soon have access to a new method of submitting written notifications to the ATSB of aviation safety matters. This method will allow operators and organisations to report out of their own safety management systems or reporting software and directly transfer accident and incident notifications to the... Read more

FAA Issues Final Rule on Small Airplane Safety Certification Standards

FAA Issues Final Rule on Small Airplane Safety Certification Standards

5-Jan-2017Source: FAA

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today issued a final rule that overhauls the airworthiness standards for small general aviation airplanes. This innovative rule will reduce the time it takes to move safety enhancing technologies for small airplanes into the marketplace and will also reduce costs for the aviation industry. “Aviation manufacturing... Read more

Indian Operators Campaign for Increase in Minimum Altitude

Indian Operators Campaign for Increase in Minimum Altitude

2-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com

The lack of implementation of the 2015 Directorate General of Civil Aviation proposal of increasing the height at which helicopters are allowed to fly over Mumbai and Navi Mumbai has helicopter pilots and operators very upset. They met on Tuesday to discuss the issue. The increase from 500 to 1000 feet was scheduled in August... Read more

HeliHub.com takes a Christmas break

HeliHub.com takes a Christmas break

23-Dec-2016Source: HeliHub.com

The team at HeliHub.com would like to wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2017. This is the time of the year we celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus, and we reflect on what that means to us and how it should direct the lives we live.   We trust many of... Read more

Honeywell and Truth Data Monitor Helicopter Health to Improve Safety

Honeywell and Truth Data Monitor Helicopter Health to Improve Safety

20-Dec-2016Source: Honeywell

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Truth Data, a cloud-based flight data monitoring company, are helping helicopter operators improve the safety, performance and efficiency of their helicopters through the use of data. A recently signed memorandum of understanding allows Truth Data to sell Honeywell’s Sky Connect Tracker III system for improved helicopter communications and tracking, and for... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – December 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – December 2016

13-Dec-2016Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Robinson R22 Beta (G-CDMG), loss of control during practice autorotation, Manston Airport, Kent, 25 July 2016 Rotorway Executive 90 (G-BVTV), heavy landing, Landmead Farm Airfield, Oxfordshire, 6 August 2016... Read more

Statoil drops Super Puma for ever

Statoil drops Super Puma for ever

6-Dec-2016Source: Reuters

Oil firm Statoil will not resume using AS332/EC225 helicopters even if Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority decides to lift the ban imposed after a fatal crash off Bergen in Norway – reports Reuters... Read more

Win scholarship to study safety in Dallas at HAI Heli-Expo 2017

Win scholarship to study safety in Dallas at HAI Heli-Expo 2017

21-Nov-2016Source: HAI

The Michelle North Scholarship for Safety is awarded to a pilot who has already attained a commercial rating and who demonstrates an outstanding aptitude for safe flying and aviation best practices. The scholarship was founded in memory of Michelle North, a longtime industry advocate of safety, to encourage a stronger focus on safety education and... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – November 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – November 2016

21-Nov-2016Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- SA342J Gazelle (YU-HET), during a maintenance check the helicopter inadvertently became airborne and landed heavily, Stapleford Aerodrome, 6 July 2015. Robinson R44 (G-BZGO), birdstrike resulted in broken windscreen, approx 8 miles north of Manchester Barton Airport,... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – October 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – October 2016

21-Nov-2016Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Bell 206B (G-OAMI), uncommanded loss in altitude resulting in autorotation and heavy landing, 3 miles WNW of Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire, 10 February 2016  ... Read more

New Zealand puts Robinson helicopters on safety Watchlist

New Zealand puts Robinson helicopters on safety Watchlist

28-Oct-2016Source: TAIC

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission in New Zealand yesterday added two new significant items to its Watchlist of most pressing concerns. One involves Robinson helicopter and the other safety issues for pedestrians and vehicles using railway level crossings. The detail provided on Robinson helicopters is as follows:- There are around 300 Robinson helicopters registered in... Read more

CHC to Host 2017 Safety and Quality Summit in Texas

CHC to Host 2017 Safety and Quality Summit in Texas

28-Oct-2016Source: CHC

The 13th annual CHC Safety & Quality Summit will take place in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas from Sept. 27-29, 2017. Each year, CHC’s Safety & Quality Summit attracts representatives from across the aviation and oil & gas industries to share knowledge and best practices aimed at developing and maintaining a robust safety environment. Since its inception... Read more

EASA to host Annual Safety Conference

EASA to host Annual Safety Conference

26-Oct-2016Source: EASA

EASA’s Annual Safety Conference is taking place next week on 25-26 October in Bratislava. The topic of this year’s conference is: New technologies and new business models: meeting the expectations of a changing aviation industry. You can follow the 2016 EASA Annual Safety Conference live via web streaming or on demand! View full broadcast program... Read more

Activist Drone Shot Down at North Dakota Pipeline Site

Activist Drone Shot Down at North Dakota Pipeline Site

25-Oct-2016Source: HeliHub.com

During a protest this Sunday at a North Dakota pipeline construction site, an unmanned drone was shot down after it “came after” a law-enforcement helicopter. The drone, which was operated by one of the protesting activists, put helicopter passengers in fear for their lives reports Washington Times. Due to it’s proximity to a manned aircraft,... Read more

Helitech 2016: Return of the H225, part 2

Helitech 2016: Return of the H225, part 2

12-Oct-2016Source: Allan Blake

It must have been with some trepidation that Airbus anticipated attending Helitech this year. For the second time in three years their flagship offshore helicopter, the H225 along with the AS332L2, had been grounded following a tragic accident in Norway on 29th April 2016, leading to an idle fleet of 111 H225s and over $3billion... Read more

Helitech 2016: ​Stretching Safety too Far – a Withering Safety Culture

Helitech 2016: ​Stretching Safety too Far – a Withering Safety Culture

11-Oct-2016Source: Allan Blake

The 66 page Statoil Report into helicopter safety following the Norwegian H225 accident in April 2016 makes some telling comments on the retrenchment by oil and gas operators and the impact on helicopter operators. The investigation team of eight internal Statoil staff and one external member of the Norwegian military met with and interviewed 80... Read more

EASA allows EC225 and AS332L2 to fly

EASA allows EC225 and AS332L2 to fly

7-Oct-2016Source: EASA

On 7 October 2016 the decision to lift the temporary flight suspension of the Super Puma EC225 LP and AS332 L2 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters put in place on 2 June 2016 following the crash of an EC225 LP helicopter in Norway on 29 April 2016. The set of very stringent protective measures which enable the... Read more

UK CAA keeps EC225 and AS332L2 grounded

UK CAA keeps EC225 and AS332L2 grounded

7-Oct-2016Source: CAA

Following the release today by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) of proposals to allow the return to service of Airbus Helicopters’ Super Puma EC225LP and AS332L2, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that its existing restriction, prohibiting all commercial flying of this type by UK operators, is to remain in place. The Super... Read more

Norwegian CAA keeps EC225 and AS332L2 grounded

Norwegian CAA keeps EC225 and AS332L2 grounded

7-Oct-2016Source: NCAA

{electronic translation} CAA has, like the British Civil Aviation Authority determined that there is still a flight ban for helicopter types EC225LP and AS332L2 until further notice. This decision follows after Europe’s Aviation Safety Agency EASA today decided to again permit the use of Airbus helicopters EC225LP and AS332L2 Super Puma. The ban on flights... Read more

Court orders Choppair to pay $200 000 to pilot involved in crash

Court orders Choppair to pay $200 000 to pilot involved in crash

7-Oct-2016Source: HeliHub.com

Choppair has been issued to pay Emma Bobridge, the pilot of the Bell Helicopter that crashed in 2013, a sum of over $200 000. Emma Bobridge reported negligence by Choppair, she claimed that it felt that her right skid was stuck on the landing mat during take-off. Company Director Micheal Van Der Zypp countered her... Read more

Safe Flight Instrument Corp Receives a Safety Award

Safe Flight Instrument Corp Receives a Safety Award

3-Oct-2016Source: Safe Flight

Safe Flight Instrument Corporation of White Plains, NY received the Safety Award from the Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) for its Powerline Detection System for helicopters. The award is in recognition of Safe Flight’s innovative life-saving products and for its 70-year commitment to making flying safer. “ERHC salutes Safe Flight for developing innovative safety products,... Read more

Integrating UAVs into the rotorcraft sector

Integrating UAVs into the rotorcraft sector

3-Oct-2016Source: Helitech International

From advanced oil rig inspection to aerial search and rescue missions, the rise of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) use is allowing businesses to utilise new technology across a range of industries on a scale not previously possible. With the UAV market estimated to be worth $5.5bn by 2020[1] there are many opportunities available to rotorcraft... Read more

Helitech 2016: Strategic Challenges for the Offshore Helicopter Industry

Helitech 2016: Strategic Challenges for the Offshore Helicopter Industry

3-Oct-2016Source: Allan Blake

Helitech 2016 in Amsterdam, October 11-13, is taking place at a critical moment for the offshore helicopter industry: •    The industry has been shocked by a series of accidents including the second and continuing grounding within three years of about 180 large offshore helicopters (H225 and AS332L2) following the tragic H225 accident in Norway; •  ... Read more

Statoil report warns cost cutting should not risk safety

Statoil report warns cost cutting should not risk safety

26-Sep-2016Source: Energy Voice

An internal investigation by oil company Statoil into the cause of the CHC EC225 crash on 29th April 2016, which killed 13 people, has warned safety must not be compromised as operators focus on cost savings.   The company has published a report into the incident, the worst helicopter disaster on the Norwegian Continental Shelf since... Read more

Bird controllers are essential to avoid Sully situation

Bird controllers are essential to avoid Sully situation

21-Sep-2016Source: Bird Control Group

Effective bird control is essential to ensure aviation safety. New awareness for the risk of bird strikes in aviation is being raised by the release of motion picture “Sully: The Untold Story of the Miracle on the Hudson”. Wildlife strikes are relatively infrequent, only 3 percent of the strikes results in aircraft damage and less... Read more

New Training Programs to Educate Law Enforcement

New Training Programs to Educate Law Enforcement

20-Sep-2016Source: USI

The Unmanned Safety Institute, a professional organization dedicated to the safe and responsible integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the U.S. National Airspace System, today announced a joint partnership with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) to provide innovative training on the safety and security of UAS to the law enforcement community throughout the... Read more

New Analysis on Fatal Accidents completed by USHST

New Analysis on Fatal Accidents completed by USHST

16-Sep-2016Source: USHST

The United States Helicopter Safety Team (www.ushst.org) has completed a comprehensive analysis of U.S. fatal accidents that occurred from 2009 to 2013.  The data will be used to develop specific intervention recommendations to support further accident reductions.   Out of 104 fatal accidents that took place during the five-year span, 50 percent of them stemmed from... Read more

EASA Safety Conference

EASA Safety Conference

16-Sep-2016Source: EASA

The 2016 European Aviation Safety Agency’s Annual Conference takes place 25 and 26 October 2016 in Bratislava, Slovakia, coinciding with the country’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. The conference focuses on the topics of future technologies and innovative business models, covering all aviation domains, including aircraft manufacturing, aircraft operations and Air Traffic Management.... Read more

Bird strike prevention system to be offered on new Airbus helicopters in US

Bird strike prevention system to be offered on new Airbus helicopters in US

12-Sep-2016Source: Precise Flight

Airbus Helicopters, Inc. and Precise Flight, Inc. announced today that they have entered into a supply agreement for the Pulselite® Bird Strike Prevention System which will be offered as an option on all Airbus Helicopters models marketed in the United States. The Pulselite® System is an FAA certified lightweight electrical system controller that alternately pulses... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – September 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – September 2016

9-Sep-2016Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Guimbal Cabri G2 (G-CILU), main rotors struck the ground, Cotswold (Kemble) Airport, Gloucestershire, 29 June 2016... Read more

Zuccaro named to FAA Drone Advisory Committee

Zuccaro named to FAA Drone Advisory Committee

8-Sep-2016Source: HAI

HAI President and CEO Matthew S. Zuccaro today called the launch of the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) “a major step forward in bringing together the appropriate stakeholders to assist the Department of Transportation and FAA in developing and implementing this exciting new aviation technology.” Named as a DAC member in an Aug. 31 announcement,... Read more

FAA to host second International Rotorcraft Safety Conference

FAA to host second International Rotorcraft Safety Conference

6-Sep-2016Source: FAA

The FAA Rotorcraft Directorate will host its second International Rotorcraft Safety Conference, building on the success of last year’s conference. The conference’s goal is to reduce the national helicopter accident rate. The free event will be held October 25-27 at the Hurst Conference Center near Ft. Worth, Texas. The target audience is rotorcraft pilots, mechanics,... Read more

IHST seeks feedback on its impact and success

IHST seeks feedback on its impact and success

5-Sep-2016Source: IHST

International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) is looking for some assistance in circulating a survey they are conducting. It is a short 8-question online survey for which IHST is attempting to assess their impact and success in the helicopter industry.  Please complete this quick survey to help them.  Many thanks Link to Survey:  http://ihst.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2593    ... Read more

Era names new Director of Safety and Compliance

Era names new Director of Safety and Compliance

2-Sep-2016Source: Era

Era Group, has announced that David Zaworski has been appointed Director of Safety and Compliance.  With over seventeen years of experience in the aviation industry, Mr. Zaworski rejoins Era to oversee the company’s commitment to maintain the highest safety standards. Era’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Bradshaw says, “David brings a wealth of industry... Read more

Collaboration for Safety Wins Award

Collaboration for Safety Wins Award

24-Aug-2016Source: HeliOffshore

We are thrilled to share that the global collaboration of HeliOffshore members was recognised yesterday at an award ceremony in Aberdeen. Russ Gould from Bristow Group and Malcolm Garrington from CHC Helicopter took the ‘Sharing & Learning’ award for the Health & Usage Monitoring System Best Practice Guidance. They accepted the award on behalf of... Read more

The distressed H225 fleet – A review

The distressed H225 fleet – A review

19-Aug-2016Source: Allan Blake

In an article published on 6th July 2016, “Future of H225 compounded by HUMS investigation remark”, I concluded that “The CHC Chapter 11 process has a long way to run yet.  The outcome for the offshore helicopter market will be significant as strategies for his large fleet emerge from the affected lessors; all of them... Read more

HAI meets USHST to discuss fatal accident data

HAI meets USHST to discuss fatal accident data

18-Aug-2016Source: HAI

HAI Chief Operating Officer Edward F. DiCampli met with the the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team Executive Committee and more than 50 other team members in Denver July 10-11. The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team has an impressive cross-section of industry professionals from the government, helicopter operators, educators, manufacturers, and associations dedicated to improving safety. The highlight... Read more

EASA strengthens medical requirements for pilots

EASA strengthens medical requirements for pilots

16-Aug-2016Source: EASA

EASA published a set of proposals to the European Commission for an update of the rules concerning pilots’ medical fitness, as part of its Action Plan following the Germanwings Flight 9525 accident. These rules are contained in so-called Part-MED, which covers aviation safety rules related to the medical aspect and fitness of aircrews. Released in... Read more

FAA raises safety rating of Indonesia

FAA raises safety rating of Indonesia

15-Aug-2016Source: FAA

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that Indonesia complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards and has been granted a Category 1 rating. The FAA first assessed Indonesia’s civil aviation authority in September 1997 and found it in compliance with ICAO standards and then lowered the rating from... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – August 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – August 2016

14-Aug-2016Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue does not refer to any helicopters and this update is included in HeliHub.com for completeness... Read more

Three helicopter incidents lead British Gliding Association to issue winch wire alert

Three helicopter incidents lead British Gliding Association to issue winch wire alert

10-Aug-2016Source: BGA

Following a number of recent incidents that have compromised safety when aircraft over-flying glider sites have come into close proximity with winch-launching gliders, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) and the British Gliding Association (BGA) seek to remind pilots about the dangers of over-flying gliding sites, especially as the summer months mean much greater gliding activity... Read more

EASA sets dates for 10th Rotorcraft Symposium

EASA sets dates for 10th Rotorcraft Symposium

10-Aug-2016Source: EASA

The 10th EASA Rotorcraft Symposium will be held on 6-7 December at the new European Aviation Safety Agency’s Headquarters in Cologne, Germany. The forum will include speakers from Authorities, Industry, Operators and researchers. EASA have indicated that if you want to be part of the European forum for the rotary wing community, you should fill... Read more

HAI President’s Message: Put Down the Damn Wrench

HAI President’s Message: Put Down the Damn Wrench

9-Aug-2016Source: HAI

Recently I was briefing the HAI Safety Committee on HAI’s Land & LIVE program, also known as our Land the Damn Helicopter initiative. As most of you know, the program promotes a pilot’s responsibility to make a precautionary landing when the flight is not going well. This could be because of deteriorating weather, aircraft systems... Read more

US Helicopter Safety Team to take part in FAA Rotorcraft Conference

US Helicopter Safety Team to take part in FAA Rotorcraft Conference

5-Aug-2016Source: USHST

Safety experts from the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (www.USHST.org) will be participating on Oct. 25-27 in the Federal Aviation Administration’s International Rotorcraft Safety Conference in Fort Worth, TX.  The free conference (www.faahelisafety.org) gathers together rotorcraft pilots, mechanics, small company owners, industry executives, helicopter operators, students and government regulators from the United States and abroad. USHST... Read more

FAA Administrator Talks Safety and Innovation at AirVenture

FAA Administrator Talks Safety and Innovation at AirVenture

31-Jul-2016Source: FAA

Speaking before a diverse general aviation audience at the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta underscored the importance of government and industry collaboration and highlighted a number of initiatives that are making general aviation safer and more efficient. “The passion that drives pilots to fly here, year after year, is... Read more

Baltimore County PD safety record recognized by Airbus

Baltimore County PD safety record recognized by Airbus

26-Jul-2016Source: Airbus

Baltimore County (Md.) Police Department’s Aviation Team began operations in 1983 with a small Cessna aircraft that it leased for $1 a year. Today, the elite team responds to some 5,000 calls a year using its fleet of three Airbus Helicopters H125 AStars, the most widely purchased helicopter by U.S. law enforcement agencies. Airbus Helicopters... Read more

UK AAIB Bulletin – July 2016

UK AAIB Bulletin – July 2016

21-Jul-2016Source: AAIB

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue does not refer to any helicopters and this update is included in HeliHub.com for completeness... Read more

Paradise Helicopters adds new Maui destination and HAI-APS accreditation

Paradise Helicopters adds new Maui destination and HAI-APS accreditation

20-Jul-2016Source: Paradise

Paradise is the first helicopter company to provide air tours, charters and inter-island transits to the Ko Olina area, home of the Four Seasons Resort Oahu and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, via the Kalaeloa Airport, a short shuttle ride away. The 90-minute tour, which is the only flight to take guests on a... Read more

Pokemon Go craze raises helipad safety concerns

Pokemon Go craze raises helipad safety concerns

14-Jul-2016Source: HeliHub.com

The latest smartphone game craze Pokémon Go has raised safety concerns at some hospital helipads – but is it justified?  The game, which sees users chasing game characters in real life, is a clever mix between a game and a smartphone real-life mapping application. The Pokémon characters show up seemingly at random, encouraging users to... Read more

SESAR calls for project to integrate drones into civil airspace

SESAR calls for project to integrate drones into civil airspace

13-Jul-2016Source: SESAR

The SESAR Joint Undertaking has launched a call for exploratory research projects on the integration of drones into civil airspace within the framework of the SESAR 2020 research and innovation programme. Specifically, the call aims to stimulate initial solutions for drone traffic management, supporting the sharing of airspace between manned and unmanned systems. A total... Read more

Augmented reality enables helicopter flight in degraded visual environments

Augmented reality enables helicopter flight in degraded visual environments

11-Jul-2016Source: TUM

Fog, blizzards, gusts of wind – poor weather can often make the operation of rescue helicopters a highly risky business, and sometimes even impossible. A new helmet-mounted display, developed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), may in the future be able to help pilots detect hazards at an early stage, even when... Read more

FAA Policy Helps Modernize GA helicopters and airplanes

FAA Policy Helps Modernize GA helicopters and airplanes

8-Jul-2016Source: FAA

A new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policy encourages general aviation aircraft owners to voluntary install safety equipment on airplanes and helicopters that is not required by the agency’s regulations. It will reduce costs and streamline the installation ofNon-Required Safety Enhancing Equipment (NORSEE) into the general aviation fleet. The policy is the result of indutsry and... Read more

Bell 525 program on hold after fatal prototype accident

Bell 525 program on hold after fatal prototype accident

7-Jul-2016Source: HeliHub.com

The Bell 525 Relentless program sadly suffered a fatal accident on a test flight yesterday, with two fatalaties.  The subject helicopter – the orange prototype seen in the image here – was on a flight out of Bell’s XworX facility near Arlington.  The accident happened near the town of Italy in Ellis County and not... Read more

Congressional leaders call on FAA over IBF proposals

Congressional leaders call on FAA over IBF proposals

7-Jul-2016Source: Donaldson

Engine filtration experts from Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a business unit within Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) will present July 7 at a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) meeting being held to discuss proposed policy changes to the Inlet Barrier Filtration (IBF) certification process for helicopters. The public meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn at Fort Worth Alliance... Read more

Future of EC225 compounded by HUMS investigation remark

Future of EC225 compounded by HUMS investigation remark

6-Jul-2016Source: Allan Blake

The Chapter 11 insolvency process is a daunting one for companies entering into the procedure, but it can also be a stark reminder to suppliers that the contracts they entered into with debtors can not only be worthless but also leave them with significant additional burdens to consider.  For the CHC Helicopter Group of companies,... Read more

FAA plans could kill off Inlet Barrier Filter market

FAA plans could kill off Inlet Barrier Filter market

5-Jul-2016Source: HeliHub.com

Thursday this week, 7th July, the FAA is holding a meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, to present proposals for a significant change in how Inlet Barrier Filters (IBFs) are certified. But there’s a problem. There is no justification for such a move, and it will hurt the industry. An estimated 20,000,000 flight hours have been... Read more

Where next for the Super Puma and EC225?

Where next for the Super Puma and EC225?

29-Jun-2016Source: HeliHub.com

The presentation of an update yesterday on the Norwegian investigation of April’s EC225 accident brings us closer to the issue being one that puts the onus on Airbus rather than CHC – see earlier article. If, and we stress it is still conditional, the final report continues in the same way, then Airbus Helicopters have... Read more

Augmented reality enables helicopter flight in degraded visual environments

Augmented reality enables helicopter flight in degraded visual environments

29-Jun-2016Source: TUM

Fog, blizzards, gusts of wind – poor weather can often make the operation of rescue helicopters a highly risky business, and sometimes even impossible. A new helmet-mounted display, developed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), may in the future be able to help pilots detect hazards at an early stage, even when... Read more

Norwegian EC225 investigation points to gearbox planet gears – again

Norwegian EC225 investigation points to gearbox planet gears – again

29-Jun-2016Source: HeliHub.com

The Accident Investigation Board of Norway (AIBN) has released another update in their investigation of the Airbus EC225 accident which happened on 29th April as the CHC aircraft was returning from the Gullfaks platform to Bergen Airport. Of particular note, they state “At this stage of the investigation, the AIBN finds that the accident most... Read more

FAA evaluates British Anti-UAV Defence System

FAA evaluates British Anti-UAV Defence System

28-Jun-2016Source: Blighter

The world’s first fully integrated detect-track-disrupt-defeat Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) – developed by a trio of British companies including Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems, and integrated/supported in North America by Liteye Systems Inc. – has been selected by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for evaluation at US airports as... Read more

Fly Safe: Prevention of Loss of Control Accidents

Fly Safe: Prevention of Loss of Control Accidents

28-Jun-2016Source: FAA

The FAA and general aviation (GA) groups’ #FlySafe national safety campaign aims to educate the GA community on best practices in calculating and predicting aircraft performance, and in operating within established aircraft limitations. Remember the lyric, “Get your motor runnin’…”? Well, it’s even more important to KEEP your motor running. The General Aviation Joint Steering... Read more

Indonesian Air Force grounds Super Pumas

Indonesian Air Force grounds Super Pumas

23-Jun-2016Source: HeliHub.com

A recent report in the Jakarta Post noted that the Indonesian Air Force has stopped flying its fleet of Super Pumas, believed to be 12 strong.  Air Force spokesman First Marshal Wieko Sofyan has reportedly said that Air Force chief of staff, Marshal Agus Supriatna, had instructed the suspension pending the result of study by... Read more

New course launched in Helicopter Upset Recognition and Recovery Training

New course launched in Helicopter Upset Recognition and Recovery Training

22-Jun-2016Source: Flight Research

Bill Korner, Chairman and CEO of Flight Research, states that ‘Loss of Control In-Flight’ is the leading cause of aviation accidents today, and this applies to helicopters as well as fixed wing aircraft.   It is important that every flight department recognize that their crews should be well prepared for any situation that would arise. In... Read more

Airbus Helicopters Canada accepts nominations for Safety Innovation Award

Airbus Helicopters Canada accepts nominations for Safety Innovation Award

22-Jun-2016Source: Canada

The winner of this year’s ‘Innovation in Safety Award’ will be selected, once again, by a committee of industry professionals.  The award ceremony will take place during the Helicopter Association of Canada’s annual conference, November 10th -14th in Edmonton, Alberta. The award recipient will receive a cash prize of $10,000.00 CAD in addition to recognition... Read more

Copyright © 2024 HeliHub

Website by Design Inc

Helihub logo

X