21-Dec-2015Source: HeliHub.com
The team at HeliHub.com would like to wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2016. This is the time of the year we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and we trust many of our readers will take time to consider what that means to the world, perhaps through attending a church... Read more
15-Dec-2015Source: U K CAA
Two significant improvements to the way the UK Civil Aviation Authority provides information to the public and its wide and diverse range of stakeholders have been made today with the launch of a new website and industry alerting system. The website provides a range of enhanced, easily accessible information. It is automatically optimised for mobile... Read more
15-Dec-2015
Aviation students can now apply for an expenses-paid opportunity to attend the 12th-annual CHC Safety & Quality Summit, through grants which honour a longtime advocate of excellence in aviation safety training. The Dr. Peter Gardiner Student Grant, worth more than C$4,000, covers admission to the summit, a registration to the pre-summit HFACS course, as well... Read more
10-Dec-2015Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Eurocopter (Deutschland) EC135 T2+ (G-SPAO), crashed in Glasgow City Centre, Scotland, on 29 November 2013... Read more
10-Dec-2015Source: FAA
Among the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) main priorities is to keep all users of our national airspace safe. To maintain the safest aerospace system in the world, the FAA must make sure the national airspace is navigable and free of obstructions. When anyone proposes new construction or proposes to alter existing structures near airports or... Read more
9-Dec-2015Source: FAA
The FAA and general aviation (GA) group’s #FlySafe national safety campaign aims to educate the GA community on how to prevent Loss of Control (LOC) accidents this flying season. What is Loss of Control (LOC)? A Loss of Control (LOC) accident involves an unintended departure of an aircraft from controlled flight. LOC can happen because... Read more
9-Dec-2015Source: TSB
In its investigation report (A13H0002) released today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that a strong probability of a lack of visual cues to judge altitude led to the fatal September 2013 crash of a Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BO 105 helicopter in the M’Clure Strait, Northwest Territories. On 9 September 2013,... Read more
7-Dec-2015Source: CHC
CHC Helicopter is offering discounts for early registration to the 12th annual CHC Safety and Quality Summit, one of the world’s premier aviation-safety conferences. Early bird registration for the 2016 CHC Safety and Quality Summit is open now until Dec. 31. During that period, enrolling in the April 04-06 conference costs C$1085 plus tax –... Read more
3-Dec-2015Source: FAA
You’ve bought that shiny new camera-equipped drone you’ve yearning for. You can’t wait to get into the sky and let loose your inner high-flying aerial photographer, right? Did you know you’re also going to become a pilot? When you fly your drone anywhere in the nation’s airspace, you automatically become part of the U.S. aviation system. Under the... Read more
2-Dec-2015Source: EHEST
My name is Daniel Maurino, and I am what in English is called a ‘safety practitioner’. I have dedicated most of my professional life to work on issues related with the safety management systems in aviation. The topic of this presentation is the ‘reporting system’, why they are so much needed and how they should... Read more
2-Dec-2015Source: FAA
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that the Kingdom of Thailand does not comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards and has been assigned a Category 2 rating based on a reassessment of the country’s civil aviation authority. U.S. and Thai aviation officials have a long-standing cooperative relationship... Read more
27-Nov-2015Source: Fast Company
The day I passed the flight test and earned my private pilot’s license more than 20 years ago, I was a safe and competent aviator, but not yet a good one.See full story.... Read more
26-Nov-2015Source: Bird Control Group
Offshore installations provide birds with a perfect landing spot. However, their presence is a globally recognized problem because, if left undisturbed, guano build up can reduce the safety of helidecks. To address this, Bird Control Group, CHC Helicopter and Total E&P Nederland (a subsidiary of the French energy company Total) collaborated to develop and install... Read more
26-Nov-2015Source: AMOA
The Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), in cooperation with helicopter manufacturers Airbus Helicopters and Bell Helicopter, announces its commitment to the installation of Crash Resistant Fuel Systems (CRFS) in all new aircraft and equipping current aircraft with CRFS as those products become available. Our members are proud to partner with Bell Helicopter and Airbus on this... Read more
25-Nov-2015Source: 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
24-Nov-2015Source: FAA
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises general aviation pilots and operators of concerns with the use of noise cancelling headsets. In many cases, pilots are using the noise cancelling headsets as supplementary equipment during operations. When wearing these headsets, the pilot may be unaware of environmental sounds and audible warning annunciations in the cockpit... Read more
20-Nov-2015Source: Patch
Sikorsky Aircraft is being sued by the families of three U.S. Army soldiers after a Black Hawk helicopter crashed into a Georgia airfield in 2014 and one of its passengers died, according to the Connecticut Law Tribune. See Full Story... Read more
17-Nov-2015Source: Patch
Sikorsky Aircraft is being sued by the families of three U.S. Army soldiers after a Black Hawk helicopter crashed into a Georgia airfield in 2014 and one of its passengers died, according to the Connecticut Law Tribune. See Full Story... Read more
16-Nov-2015Source: Airbus
BC Hydro has been awarded the 2015 Airbus Helicopters Canada “Innovation in Safety” Award for their dedicated and collaborative approach to ensuring many years of safe operations. This award is presented to a nominee or organization whose business initiatives have demonstrated a great impact on the overall goal of safe flying operations, including skill development,... Read more
15-Nov-2015Source: HAI
HAI on Friday launched hai-aps.rotor.org, a new website for the HAI Accreditation Program of Safety (HAI-APS) — a program designed to help HAI operator members fly to a higher degree of safety. Federal aviation regulations set a minimum standard for safety. The HAI-APS lays a course for operators who want to demonstrate to themselves, their staff,... Read more
12-Nov-2015Source: Deccan Herald
An associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here has developed a real-time online health monitoring system for tail rotor flexbeams that can “greatly reduce the chances of helicopter accidents.”See full story.... Read more
9-Nov-2015Source: HAI
The FAA on Thursday published an expected notification in the Federal Register, announcing the formation of a working group to make recommendations regarding occupant protection for rotorcraft. HAI has told the FAA that the association would like to be a part of the working group, which is under the auspices of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory... Read more
5-Nov-2015Source: FAA
The total number of U.S. helicopter accidents has steadily declined over the past 10 years, but the aviation community has not made sustainable progress in reducing the number of fatal accidents. In response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s 2013-2014 post-crash fire and blunt force trauma study, along with concerns raised by the National Transportation Safety Board... Read more
5-Nov-2015Source: CAA
The Minister of Investments and Development (MID) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Asset Issekeshev has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CAA International (CAAi), the State-to-State advisory arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA). Witnessed by British Prime Minister, David Cameron and Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, the MoU supports future collaboration... Read more
5-Nov-2015Source: Daily Business Review
Miami aviation attorney Steven Marks settles a malpractice suit with an insurance company seeking to recover a $2 million payment in a helicopter crash involving billionaire developer Jeffrey Soffer. See Full Story... Read more
3-Nov-2015Source: IHST
The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) promotes safety and works to reduce accidents and fatalities through education and culture change. The organization was formed in 2005 to lead a government and industry cooperative effort to address factors that were affecting an unacceptable helicopter accident rate. Worldwide safety Prior to 2006, the number of worldwide civil... Read more
2-Nov-2015Source: HAI
In collaboration with the HAI Safety Committee, HAI’s communications department has begun work to update the popular discussion-starter safety video series, Pressure Points, designed to facilitate group discussions. Each video coupled prepared discussion guides with videos that could be stopped at designated points to discuss topics raised in the videos. “The videos are intended to... Read more
30-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com are sad to report the fatal test flight accident in Italy of AgustaWestland AW609 prototype N609AG, killing test pilots Pietro Venanzi and Herb Moran. The pair are being praised in the Italian media for bringing the aircraft down in fields away from a town when it was widely reported as already being on fire... Read more
30-Oct-2015Source: Argus
Professional Resources in System Management, LLC (PRISM) is pleased to announce the release of their Safety Management System iPhone app. The PRISM app can be downloaded for free from the Apple iTunes store by searching, “PRISM Safety” or by clicking here:https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/argus-international-inc./id529828894?mt=8. “We are continually looking for ways to enhance our users’ experiences and make it... Read more
29-Oct-2015Source: FAA
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta today announced the membership of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force. Earl Lawrence, Director of the FAA’s UAS Integration Office, and Dave Vos of Google X will co-chair the group. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx and Administrator Huerta announced the formation of the Task... Read more
29-Oct-2015Source: Baldwin Aviation
Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center’s air ambulance service serves a widely-dispersed population in parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota from its Sioux Falls location and, as with any emergency response organization, timeliness and precise information are critical components to its success. That’s why Avera McKennan’s aviation operation has chosen to team... Read more
27-Oct-2015Source: HAI
Late last week, HAI Director of Safety Outreach Stan Rose joined the FAASTeam and the Virginia Department of Aviation to host a helicopter safety day in Richmond, Va. Local helicopter operators and pilots gathered together for continuing helicopter safety education. The presentations included an industry outlook and safety management systems (SMS) considerations from HAI, medical... Read more
26-Oct-2015Source: CHC
Aviation students can now apply for an opportunity to attend the 12th-annual CHC Safety & Quality Summit, through grants which honour Dr. Peter Gardiner, a long-time advocate of excellence in aviation safety training. The Dr. Peter Gardiner Student Grant, worth more than C$4,000, covers: admission to the Summit; and a choice of one of the... Read more
26-Oct-2015Source: IHST
From a survey of civil helicopter operators located in key regions around the world, the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) has gained a broader understanding of where safety initiatives are being implemented. Worldwide, the top IHST-recommended safety initiatives are the implementation of Safety Management Systems and the support for structured training. These are followed in... Read more
21-Oct-2015Source: EASA
The European Aviation Safety Agency announces the names of the first members of the EASA Virtual Academy. After undergoing a thorough evaluation procedure, CAA International, the Joint Aviation Authorities Training Organisation (JAA TO), the “Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile” (ENAC) and the “Servicios y Estudios para la Navigacion Aerea y la Seguridad Aeronautica” (SENASA) have... Read more
20-Oct-2015Source: Airbus Helicopters
Intermountain HealthCare Life Flight of Salt Lake City is the 2015 Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award recipient for its development of safety risk assessment tools to help guide flight decisions and flight crew status. Jennifer Hardcastle, Air Medical Sales Manager for Airbus Helicopters Inc., presented the award and a $10,000 check to Intermountain representatives Monday... Read more
19-Oct-2015Source: CHC
The CHC Safety & Quality Summit is hosted by CHC Helicopter, the operating company of CHC Group Ltd. (NYSE: HELI). Industry and safety professionals interested in presenting at the CHC Safety & Quality Summit may now submit abstracts for the event. The 12th-annual summit will be held April 04-06, 2016 at the Westin Bayshore Resort... Read more
19-Oct-2015Source: FAA
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that the Republic of Nicaragua complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards and has been granted a Category 1 rating. The FAA first assessed the Republic of Nicaragua in 1994 and found it did not meet international standards. While under a Category... Read more
18-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
It has transpired recently that Alaska State Troopers have grounded one of their two AS350B3 helicopters in an attempt to save money, and they only have a guarantee to fly the second until the end of June 2016. A budget decision awaits the future of the unit beyond that date. The Troopers have grounded “Helo-2”... Read more
18-Oct-2015
The Ecuador Government has announced that it has terminated links with Hindustan Aeronautics, from whom they bought seven Dhruv helicopters. Between October 2009 and January 2015, four of these seven were written off in accidents, one fatal accounting for three lives. See full story See HeliHub.com accident records for Dhruv helicopters in Ecuador... Read more
15-Oct-2015Source: AAR
AAR (NYSE: AIR), a recognized leader in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Aviation Administration of South Florida FSDO-19 to take part in its Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). Under ASAP, maintenance technicians at the Company’s aircraft repair facility in Miami are encouraged to voluntarily... Read more
14-Oct-2015Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- AgustaWestland AW139 (G-LBAL), flight into terrain after takeoff in fog and at night, near Gillingham Hall, Norfolk, 13 March 2014 Robinson R44 II (G-CDXX), tipped over whilst on the ground, Leicester Airport, 25 June 2015... Read more
14-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com maintains a detailed record of accidents and incidents, and trust that by making this information easily available. In a coincidence, two different Japanese operators managed to drop underslung loads from Super Puma helicopters within a week of each other. Neither incident resulted in any injuries to persons, or damage to aircraft Here are the... Read more
13-Oct-2015Source: Helitech
The final day of Helitech International was reserved for one of the most important aspects of the rotorcraft industry: safety. Proceedings in the event’s popular Safety Workshop included a keynote from the celebrated Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown. The Navy’s most decorated pilot, Capt. Brown has flown a record 487 different aircraft, and often as the... Read more
8-Oct-2015Source: FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has entered into a Pathfinder agreement with CACI International Inc. to evaluate how the company’s technology can help detect Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the vicinity of airports. In testimony today before the House Aviation Subcommittee, FAA Deputy Administrator Mike Whitaker said that flying an unmanned aircraft near a busy... Read more
7-Oct-2015Source: FAA
Speaking today at the Flight Safety Foundation’s Newsmaker Breakfast at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta announced the next step in the FAA’s continuing evolution of working with those it regulates. The FAA developed the new Compliance Philosophy to enhance our ability to find safety problems before... Read more
1-Oct-2015Source: FAA
Denver International Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are partnering to raise awareness about safe unmanned aircraft operations. The agencies teamed up on a Public Service Announcement that will run on the video towers in the airport’s main terminal. The PSA uses the “No Drone Zone” slogan to drive home the point that flying... Read more
30-Sep-2015Source: AAMS
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/Systems (UAV/UAS) may be known by a number of names, to include model aircraft, drones, or remote-piloted aircraft (RPA). UAV/UAS operators include aviation hobbyists, as well as commercial operators who wish to use new and emerging technology in more creative ways to satisfy consumer demand. In the United States, and on an international... Read more
30-Sep-2015Source: HAI
Helicopter Association International (HAI) is the latest supporter of the Know Before You Fly campaign, an initiative to promote the safe and responsible use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). “For the past 67 years, HAI has worked to promote safe, professional helicopter operations,” said Matt Zuccaro, president and CEO of the Helicopter Association International. “We... Read more
30-Sep-2015Source: CAA
A consultation on simplifying many of the national rules and regulations that affect UK General Aviation (GA) and opportunities for further deregulation is now underway through a second and final consultation on GA elements in the Air Navigation Order (ANO). Today’s announcement follows an earlier consultation in March this year on the wider aims of... Read more
30-Sep-2015Source: Fire Aviation
No, this is not a movie. It happened for real on the Kettle Complex of fires in Washington August 27, 2015.See Full Story... Read more
24-Sep-2015Source: NBC San Diego
The widows of two pilots killed when a wave swept their helicopter off a destroyer filed suit in San Diego Monday against the U.S. Navy, asking them to declare the San Diego-based destroyer “unreasonably dangerous.” See Full Story... Read more
18-Sep-2015Source: CHC
The call is out for papers that will characterize the 2016 edition of the world’s largest helicopter-safety conference, the CHC Safety & Quality Summit. The CHC Safety & Quality Summit is hosted by CHC Helicopter, the operating company of CHC Group Ltd. (NYSE:HELI). Industry and safety professionals interested in presenting at the CHC Safety &... Read more
17-Sep-2015Source: Newson6
The National Transportation Safety Board says the company that operated a helicopter involved in a fatal crash in 2013 has made changes as a result of it. See Full Story... Read more
13-Sep-2015Source: 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
3-Sep-2015Source: FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected Marke “Hoot” Gibson and Earl Lawrence for two executive-level positions that will guide the agency’s approach to safe, timely and efficient integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into U.S. airspace. Hoot Gibson will become the Senior Advisor on UAS Integration, a position established to focus on external outreach... Read more
3-Sep-2015Source: FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today published updated guidance on model aircraft operations that reflects current law governing hobby or recreational use of unmanned aircraft. Advisory Circular (AC) 91-57A replaces the previous guidance that, as written in 1981, did not reflect the rules Congress wrote into Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act... Read more
2-Sep-2015Source: FAA
The FAA and general aviation (GA) groups’ Fly Safe national safety campaign aims to educate the GA community on how to prevent Loss of Control (LOC) accidents this flying season. FAA Deputy Administrator Mike Whitaker officially kicked-off the #FlySafe campaign on Saturday, June 6, at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) Fly-In at the... Read more
27-Aug-2015Source: Unite The Union
Ahead of the second anniversary of the Sumburgh offshore helicopter tragedy, Unite has called on the UK government to urgently revisit the recommendation of the previous parliament’s Transport Select Committee for a public inquiry into offshore helicopter safety. The death of four offshore workers when their helicopter ditched in the waters off the Sumburgh coast... Read more
24-Aug-2015Source: FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a new list of pilot, air traffic and citizen reports of possible encounters with unmanned aircraft (UAS). The reports cover November 13, 2014 through August 20, 2015. Because pilot reports of unmanned aircraft have increased dramatically over the past year, the FAA wants to send a clear message that operating drones... Read more
14-Aug-2015Source: FAA
Pilot reports of unmanned aircraft have increased dramatically over the past year, from a total of 238 sightings in all of 2014, to more than 650 by August 9 of this year. The FAA wants to send out a clear message that operating drones around airplanes and helicopters is dangerous and illegal. Unauthorized operators may... Read more
13-Aug-2015Source: 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
13-Aug-2015Source: Airbus
As in previous years, the winner(s) of the ‘Innovation in Safety Award’ will be selected by a committee of industry professionals. The award ceremony will take place during the Helicopter Association of Canada’s annual conference, November 13th-15th in Vancouver, BC. The award recipient will receive a cash prize of $10,000.00 in addition to recognition from... Read more
10-Aug-2015Source: News
News Corp Australia has also been told the chopper base has no comprehensive fire and emergency response service to cover Tiger operations.See Full Story... Read more
6-Aug-2015Source: FAA
Wildlife strike reporting for both commercial and general aviation airports continues to increase, according to a new report by renowned wildlife expert Dr. Richard A. Dolbeer. At the request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Dolbeer recently published the wildlifereport, which shows that 47 percent of the wildlife strikes that occurred from 2009 to 2013 were reported... Read more
4-Aug-2015Source: FAA
The FAA and general aviation (GA) groups’ #Fly Safe national safety campaign aims to educate the GA community on how to prevent Loss of Control (LOC) accidents this flying season. What is Loss of Control (LOC)? A Loss of Control (LOC) accident involves an unintended departure of an aircraft from controlled flight. LOC can happen... Read more
24-Jul-2015Source: PerriQuest
Following a string of recent high-profile events, PerriQuest Defense Research Enterprises unveiled the world’s most advanced laser-protective eye wear to dozens of aviation industry stakeholders. PerriQuest’s patent-pending technology protects the wearer from harmful red, green, and blue laser light without compromising the wearer’s ability to perceive and distinguish color. Production of the groundbreaking technology is... Read more
20-Jul-2015Source: NEMSPA
NEMSPA (National EMS Pilots Association) is encouraging all pilots and crewmembers that operate in a low level environment to attend a one day wire strike prevention seminar on October 18 in Long Beach, California. Robert (Bob) Feerst, a globally recognized expert in specialized crew resource management and pilot techniques in the wire environment, will represent... Read more
20-Jul-2015Source: South African Civil Aviation Authority
As of Tuesday, 14 July 2015, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has suspended the Part 127 (Helicopter) and Part 135 (Air Transport Operations: Small Aircraft) Air Operating Certificates (AOC) of Working on Fire, trading as FFA Aviation (Pty)Ltd, for failure to comply with the legislative requirements applicable to AOC holders. Following a recent spate... Read more
15-Jul-2015Source: EASA
EASA’s Annual Safety Conference has a long standing tradition, every year addressing a different safety topic. The 2015 EASA Safety Conference focuses on the topic of Training for aircrew, but also for other activities like maintenance, RPAS, new simulation technologies etc. The conference will open on Wednesday 14 October, by EU Commissioner for Transport, Ms... Read more
15-Jul-2015Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
It was a close call Sunday after a Georgia man drove his car almost directly into the path of a medical helicopter about to take off from St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon with a newborn infant on board. See full story... Read more
14-Jul-2015Source: Lifeflight Eagle
In the high-consequence environment of air medicine, things can change in an instant. Carefully designed systems and routine activities are subject to failure. It can happen to any of us at any time. It’s with that understanding that the LifeFlight Eagle Safety Symposium calls together leaders, safety officers, medical crew members, communications specialists, pilots, and... Read more
13-Jul-2015Source: IHST
If the first half of the year is any indication, then 2015 is shaping up to be a very good year for civil helicopter safety in the United States. Total accidents are down 28 percent during the first six months of 2015 compared to the same period last year. In addition, according to the United... Read more
13-Jul-2015Source: Starspeed
Aviation legend Captain Eric Melrose ‘Winkle’ Brown CBE, DSC, AFC, KCVSA, PhD Hon FRAeS, RN will be speaking at HeliTech International on the 8th October, 2015 at ExCeL London. Named “Britain’s Greatest Pilot” by the BBC, Captian Eric “Winkle” Brown will be the key-note speaker during The EHEST Safety Workshop. A former Royal Navy officer... Read more
9-Jul-2015Source: 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