Aberdeen Harbour Board is delighted to announce that, following an extensive recruitment process, Michelle Handforth is to join in the role of Chief Executive. Michelle, who has 20 years of board and leadership experience in global, multi-site businesses, will succeed Colin Parker in her new role, however, Colin will remain in post as Chief Executive… Read more »
Source: Aberdeen Harbour Board, 02-Oct-17
Leonardo, a leading manufacturer in the global helicopter industry, is exhibiting two of its most successful models in VIP/corporate transport configuration at the Monaco Yacht Show (27-30th September). The company is showcasing a GrandNew light twin and an AW169 light intermediate twin aircraft, both owned by a British private customer and used for VIP transport… Read more »
Source: Leonardo, 28-Sep-17
CHC Group has signed a contract with DONG Energy to provide aviation services for the first phase of DONG Energy’s Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm. Hornsea Project One will be the biggest windfarm in the world, capable of supplying clean electricity to well over one million homes. It will be built 120km off the… Read more »
Source: CHC, 22-Sep-17
Thirty years ago, the first air ambulance service was formed in Cornwall. More recently, Northern Ireland; the only area within the UK without such a service, became operational. Since then, these critical life-saving services have invested funds to expand their operations, increased their operating hours to operate at night, upgraded to larger aircrafts, increased their… Read more »
Source: AOAA, 14-Sep-17
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has for some time been reviewing options for an alternative future site to serve London and the South East of England. The need to find a new site has been driven by the leasing costs for the current NPAS London base at Lippitts Hill, Essex. Earlier this year, it… Read more »
Source: The National Police Air Service, 13-Sep-17
The ST ATHAN HM Coastguard search and rescue (SAR) helicopter team has completed its 500th mission milestone since Bristow Helicopters commenced SAR operations on behalf of HM Coastguard in October 2015. The base was one of the first purpose-built sites created as Bristow took responsibility for the UK SAR service, with each new base representing… Read more »
Source: Bristow, 12-Sep-17
It’s now less than two weeks to go until the 16th September, when we’ll be over in Germany exhibiting with Pilot Careers Live at the Maritim ProArte Hotel in Berlin! We’re looking forward to meeting prospective trainee pilots from all over Europe and hope to be able to give an insight into the training and… Read more »
Source: Helicentre Aviation, 11-Sep-17
Helicentre Aviation is delighted to announce it has become the first helicopter pilot training organisation in the UK to receive the prestigious recognition of the British Accreditation Council (BAC). This accreditation enables Helicentre Aviation to sponsor international students from across the globe so they can acquire short term study visas for pilot training. The BAC… Read more »
Source: Helicentre, 11-Sep-17
A temporary helipad at Great Oakley Airfield, to be used to ferry offshore wind farm workers, has been given approval for 24-months despite much controversy. The 24-month period is to give the Tendring Council’s planning committee more time to decide whether to allow Galloper Offshore Wind Ltd a permanent base at the Harwich International Port…. Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 22-Aug-17
In an era of dwindling budget and increased deployments, military flight training organisations will need to be much more creative and reassess their structure to overcome challenges and align more closely with the Civil Aviation regulations. Speaking at SMi’s Military Flight Training conference this October, Major (Retd.) Peter Dean, Director of St Andrew’s Aviation will… Read more »
Source: SMi Group, 21-Aug-17
The first air ambulance landed on the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s (RBH) new helipad yesterday, following a complete rebuild, funded by the HELP Appeal. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s AW169 landed on the new pad, which allows larger aircraft to land and to land during the night. The rebuild, which came to £119,000, was completely funded… Read more »
Source: HELP, 18-Aug-17
In a recent investor call, Jonathan Baliff – President and CEO of Bristow Group – said the following on the company’s position on the Airbus H225 helicopter and their current plans for its Return To Service. “You may be aware that the civil aviation authorities in the United Kingdom and Norway recently issued directives that… Read more »
Source: SeekingAlpha, 15-Aug-17
Today, Bristow Helicopters is taking delivery of another AW189 from the Leonardo factory in Italy – serial 89002 and registered G-OENC. This will join the first two Bristow offshore AW189s G-OENA and G-OENB in the near future. The crew made a lunch stop at Clermont-Ferrand in France en route to the UK. The new aircraft… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 04-Aug-17
Currenty in flight test at the Leonardo factory in Italy is an AW189 in full CHC livery. However, it is not a brand new aircraft and we believe it may have been stored at the facility for over two years. When seen in March 2015, serial 49022 was wearing the livery of Nigerian opertor Caverton… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 25-Jul-17
London’s Air Ambulance charity and Barts Health NHS Trust have appointed 11 consultants to join the service. This large investment to move to a consultant delivered service will ensure we are ready to deliver the future of advanced trauma care to London. We are continually innovating ways to prevent unnecessary deaths from trauma, and procedures… Read more »
Source: London’s Air Ambulance, 25-Jul-17
Pale grey is the new green. This is the very first of the Royal Marines new steeds to drop in on its future home. This is a second-generation battlefield Merlin, factory model MLSP 1, tail number ZJ122, making a brief debut at Yeovilton. It went into the factory at nearby Leonardo (previously Agusta-Westland) in Yeovil… Read more »
Source: Royal Navy UK, 24-Jul-17
Devon & Cornwall and Dorset Police have become the first police forces in the UK to launch a fully operational drone unit. The latest in drone technology has been trialled in the respective forces since November 2015 and such has been their benefit, an operational drone unit has been created; the first of its kind in… Read more »
Source: Devon & Cornwall Police, 19-Jul-17
HeliOffshore operators are working with UK and Norwegian authorities to release the technical data used to justify their decision on 7 July to lift operating restrictions on Airbus Helicopters H225LP and AS332L2 Super Puma helicopters. The offshore helicopter industry’s global safety association says that without having all available data its members cannot determine whether or… Read more »
Source: HeliOffshore, 18-Jul-17
Oil company BP is being reported by Energy Voice as saying it will not consider allowing its offshore workforce using Airbus EC225 or AS332L2 helicopters until the Norwegian investigation authority AIBN has completed and reported on its work regarding the CHC accident of April 2016. This news comes after the UK and Norwegian CAAs both… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 11-Jul-17
A new £1m helicopter landing pad at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool received its first visitors as part of an inaugural test flight by the North West Air Ambulance. Medics say the helipad – which is operational from Monday 3rd July – will save vital minutes when transferring trauma patients from air ambulance into the… Read more »
Source: HELP Appeal, 07-Jul-17
The Defence Secretary announced a £48m contract extension to train air and ground crew on the Apache AH64-D at the RUSI Landwarfare Conference. The contract will support around 70 jobs, and the reorganisation of the Royal Signals and Intelligence Corps to better meet current and future challenges. Coverage is carried in the Daily Mail, which reflects that the… Read more »
Source: UK MoD, 07-Jul-17
CHC is now bowing out of Portland search and rescue work. Starting in 1995, the base provided 12-hour emergency rescue services. The Portland team have served the western end of Hampshire through to South Wales, reports ITV.
Source: HeliHub.com, 30-Jun-17
A new Clinical Best Practice Guidance document has been issued by the Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) on ‘Advanced analgesia and sedation’ to promote best practice in advanced prehospital care, delivered by UK Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). The new Best Practice Guide joined three other Guides being republished following updates; ‘Defibrillation and Pacing during… Read more »
Source: AAA, 16-Jun-17
WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance has secured funding and taken delivery of a new airfield lighting system that will assist its helicopter whilst taking off and landing safely at its airbase in Devizes at night. The purchase of the new lighting, a HEMS-Star portable helipad lighting system, has been funded by a donation of £6,950 from the… Read more »
Source: Wiltshire Air Ambulance, 14-Jun-17
Following our article “EASA clears British AW169 air ambulances to fly“, HeliHub.com can now confirm that the first three AW169s enter service today after delivery from Specialist Aviation Services on Friday 9th. Late in the afternoon the company flew a photo sortie with the aircraft for Kent, Surrey & Sussex, Dorset & Somerset, and Lincolnshire… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 12-Jun-17
Sea King helicopters purchased from the UK, were formally handed over to Pakistan Navy on 24 May 2017, in a ceremony attended by H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK. Mr Christopher Bob Richardson represented the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in the formal handing over ceremony. Contract for purchase of seven… Read more »
Source: Pakistan High Commission, 12-Jun-17
The Heli UK Expo event on June 1-3 provided the launch for the new Bell representatives in the UK. While Heli Charter continue maintenance and operations as before, but have in recent months ceased being both a Bell CSF (Certified Service Facility) and a Bell IR (Independent Representative). This is due to the medical condition… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 05-Jun-17
The proposed new heliport at Penzance on the south-west tip of the UK is currently on hold, and thus the restarting of scheduled flights with AW139 equipment to the Isles of Scilly will also have a delayed start. The pause has been in place since the parent company of Skybus – the fixed wing competitor… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 31-May-17
[HeliHub editor note – this press release is verbatim from Leonardo, so if you want to comment on the wording…..] Growing success of helicopters Sloane Helicopters in the United Kingdom and Ireland . At the air show EBACE in Geneva just ended, Sloane Helicopters , distribution company of AgustaWestland VIP aircraft for the region, has… Read more »
Source: Leonardo, 30-May-17
The latest Guimbal Cabri G2 has been sold by UK distributor, HeliGroup and is the first delivered from their Guimbal Centre of Excellence, Oxford. The helicopter has been bought by Darren Robson. An experienced private pilot who has owned a number of helicopters, most recently, an Airbus H120. H120 and the Cabri G2 synergies meant… Read more »
Source: HeliGroup, 18-May-17
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
Source: AAIB, 18-May-17
Four AW169 helicopters have so far been delivered from the factory in Italy to British operator Specialist Aviation Services (SAS), but none are yet in service. With the medical interior completion by SAS, various aspects of the work have required STC approval from EASA, and while that part would always be expected to take some… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 11-May-17
Babcock Mission Critical Services Offshore are in the process of rotating their AS365N3 fleet, which are based at Blackpool and serve offshore gas installations in the Irish Sea. In recent weeks they have received two helicopters, one from Germany and one from Tunisia. The German example D-HAVU was previously in the Babcock (Bond) fleet as… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 09-May-17
From early May, the south-west coast of Scotland will see a new Coastguard search and rescue helicopter in the skies. The new Leonardo AW189 helicopter is the first of two AW189s that will operate from the Coastguard base at Prestwick Airport. It will spend the next few months flying in the area on training missions… Read more »
Source: Bristow Group, 05-May-17
The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) has submitted plans for a new operational base as well as Medical Centre of Excellence. They plan to build the base at Urlay Nook. The plans include a 1,500 sqm hangar that can house three aircraft, dormitories and an office building, reports Cumbria Crack. The estimated total costs… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-May-17
Around 200 people packed the hangar at Cornwall Air Ambulance headquarters to celebrate 30 years of saving lives. In April 1987, Cornwall became the first place in the UK to launch an air ambulance helicopter service. Now 30 years on and more than 26,000 missions later, a roster of crew past and present, airlifted patients, trustees,… Read more »
Source: Cornwall Air Ambulance, 25-Apr-17
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
Source: AAIB, 17-Apr-17
The 3Ts Redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, has received its first donation – an instalment of £500,000 of its £1m pledge – from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the UK dedicated to providing this essential funding. The new helipad, which will be situated on the roof of the Thomas… Read more »
Source: HELP Appeal, 11-Apr-17
The Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance has just signed a new 25-year lease to remain at the Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey. Many locals feared that the air ambulance would have to leave due to development at Redhill. The Argus reports that the decision to stay at Redhill was “essential.”
Source: HeliHub.com, 07-Apr-17
Helisota, an international provider of integrated MRO and training services for rotorcraft aviation, has signed a cooperation agreement with a UK-based Cobham Helicopter Academy. The two companies will partner on developing and providing joint training programs for helicopter maintenance personnel and other specialists. Starting the cooperation, Helisota’s customers will receive access to a wider range… Read more »
Source: Helisota, 31-Mar-17
The HM Coastguard search and rescue (SAR) helicopter base in Lee-On-Solent will start flying the new Leonardo AW189 helicopter for SAR operations from 1 pm on Friday 31st March. The new £20 million AW189 helicopters are painted in red and white HM Coastguard colours, and operated by Bristow Helicopters Limited on behalf of HM Coastguard…. Read more »
Source: HM Coastguard, 31-Mar-17
Seacoast Helicopters was given the go ahead on Thursday by the Pease Development Authority’s Board of Directors for a lease to build a new hangar. The new facility will consist of 9,600 square-feet and will be located just off 53 Exeter Street. As reported by NH1, the project will come to a cost of $1.7… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 20-Mar-17
The simulator comprises a large curved screen in the cockpit and 42-inch touch screen monitor in the rear compartment. The system enables members of the public to experience a helicopter take off as well as giving them the opportunity to learn more about the aircraft (EC135 helicopter), the aircrew and the on board medical equipment… Read more »
Source: SEA, 17-Mar-17
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
Source: AAIB, 16-Mar-17
The vision for a helipad at Queen Victoria Hospital is soon to be a reality, with volunteers having raised $380,000 so far. Steven Hui, Revelstoke District Health Foundation’s chair, has commented that they are expecting “big announcements” in the coming weeks. The Health Foundation started fundraising in November, and with a few months to go,… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 16-Mar-17
Queen’s Medical Centre has finally received approval for the construction of a helipad. Currently, air ambulances are landing on the sports fields of University of Nottingham and then transported to the hospital via road ambulance. The use of a helipad will cut transfer times from 20 minutes to 2 minutes, reports West Brigford Wire.
Source: HeliHub.com, 14-Mar-17
Two UK air ambulance charities have recently collaborated to create a new post – under the title of Head of Operations, the candidate will be responsible to the CEOs off both organisations. The person taking up this role “will act as a senior member of the charities’ management teams with specific responsibilities for the delivery… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 13-Mar-17
Airbus Helicopters’ UK design team has been contracted to deliver a power line maintenance customisation kit for H135s operated by RTE-STH, the helicopter division of French public utility company RTE. The contract also requires customisation of an H135 allowing it to conduct the low-level, precision flying required for powerline surveillance and maintenance operations. The EASA-certified… Read more »
Source: Airbus Helicopters, 10-Mar-17
The Sea Skua missile all but wiped out Saddam Hussein’s Navy single-handedly in the first Gulf War in 1991, wrecking 14 enemy ships. But with the Lynx helicopter which carries it, just weeks away from being retired, the missiles were launched for the final time in the middle of the Atlantic as HMS Portland let… Read more »
Source: UK's Royal Navy, 06-Mar-17
For at least the last 35 years, the UK gas pipelines have been surveyed by single turbine helicopters, mainly Bell 206 JetRangers, but there was a interlude of a few years when the task was completed using Hughes 500Cs as well as a short-lived attempt using Schweizer 333s. In a break with this tradition, NationalGrid… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 28-Feb-17
The British Military have been using their new Leonardo Wildcat helicopters for two years, even though they still do not have a tactical data link (TDL) capability installed. This means the crew have had to use voice communication, via radios or other media such as USB sticks to transfer the needed information. Due to budget… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 21-Feb-17
The UK distributor for the French-built composite two-seat Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter is expanding into new facilities. HeliGroup is establishing a Centre of Excellence at Oxford Airport, to include a new sales office and training centre. The company is launching a new sales office within the Airbus Helicopters UK complex, as well as a dedicated… Read more »
Source: HeliGroup, 21-Feb-17
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
Source: AAIB, 17-Feb-17
Boeings new Boscombe Down base will bring 1,500 jobs to the local community. They hope to have their number of staff up from 1,300 to 4,000 by 2025. The new base is being constructed due to the contract Boeing signed with the Government for 50 AH-64E Apache helicopters. As reported by Andover Advertiser, the new… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 14-Feb-17
The ownership of the UK distributor for the Guimbal Cabri G2 has changed following the introduction of a significant amount of capital by HeliGroup. This move is expected to lead to the sales and leasing of Cabri G2 helicopters moving up a gear, building on the existing success of the UK having the largest national… Read more »
Source: Cotswold, 03-Feb-17
Cornwall Council this morning voted unanimously to approve planning permission for a new heliport in Pmenzance which will enable the vital air link to the Isles of Scilly to bereinstated. Flights to the islands of St Mary’s and Tresco are expected to restart in spring 2018 using an AgustaWestland AW139. No operator has yet been… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 02-Feb-17
WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance is calling on businesses to get onboard its major fundraising appeal for its new airbase at Semington, near Melksham, by joining The 100 Club. The charity has a strong track record working with businesses who raise money towards the day to day costs of its lifesaving service. It has now created The… Read more »
Source: Wiltshire Air Ambulance, 01-Feb-17
HeliHub.com understands from reliable sources in the offshore helicopter industry that oil company Nexen Petroleum is the principal behind the acquisition of two Airbus H175 helicopters to be operated by Babcock MCS Offshore. We approached Nexen to validate their involvement, but their Corporate Communications lead in Aberdeen declined to comment. Babcock also declined to comment,… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 31-Jan-17
Medals awarded to the Royal Navy’s most decorated pilot, Captain Eric Brown are to be displayed at the Fleet Air Arm Museum from 21 January 2017 in a fitting tribute on his 98th birthday. The war hero, born in the Leith area of Edinburgh in 1919, died earlier last year at the age of 97…. Read more »
Source: Royal Navy, 31-Jan-17
The NHV Group today announced a new contract with Ithaca Energy UK Ltd (Ithaca) to provide helicopter services in support of their upcoming drilling project at the Harrier Well in Block 30/6. The operations are expected to start Q2 2017. Flights will depart from NHV’s base in Aberdeen to the harrier well, which is approximately… Read more »
Source: NHV, 30-Jan-17
Air Covers Ltd is delighted to announce that we have been selected as one of 26 UK SMEs to join the second cohort of the prestigious Commonwealth Export Champions programme. Representing various regions of the UK and business sectors CommonwealthFirst Export Champions underline the depth of innovation and quality that the UK SME sector has to… Read more »
Source: Air Covers, 30-Jan-17
Before the end of March 2017 the last of the six National Police Air Service’s MD Explorers will take to the sky for its final flight and will be replaced by an Airbus Helicopters H135 as the service is streamlined. NPAS began the conversion process from the 902 to 135 last year and the remaining… Read more »
Source: NPAS, 30-Jan-17
Lieutenant Commander Richard Lightfoot and Petty Officer Alan Speed were awarded for their extraordinary work they did last year. The two Royal Navy rescue workers saved 12 people from a bus that was in turmoil during the floods of Storm Frank. Awarded by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace, Lt Cdr Lightfoot received an… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 30-Jan-17
Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin MP announced today that Lockheed Martin UK has been awarded a £269m Ministry of Defence contract for the CROWSNEST Airborne Surveillance Programme. The announcement was made during a visit to Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB), Portsmouth. The contract covers the Demonstration and Manufacture (D&M) phase and Initial Provisioning (IP)… Read more »
Source: Lockheed Martin, 26-Jan-17
Queen’s Medical Centre are closer to getting helipad after their planning applications where submitted to the Nottingham City Council. They plan to build the helipad on the Curie Court car park. In order to save the parking underneath, the helipad will be built on stilts above the car park. The total cost will come to… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 20-Jan-17
“With the support of the UK Government, Leonardo is ready to invest and grow its business in and from the UK, committing to long-term innovative partnerships,” said Mauro Moretti, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo at a press conference in London today, following the amalgamation of Leonardo’s UK operations into a new, single entity Leonardo… Read more »
Source: Leonardo, 19-Jan-17
Leonardo has been awarded a £271 million (approximately €320 million) contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver support and training services for their fleet of 62 AW159 Wildcat helicopters operated by the British Army and Royal Navy. The five-year contract was announced by Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister for Defence Procurement, during a… Read more »
Source: Leonardo, 18-Jan-17
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 »
Source: AAIB, 17-Jan-17
Prince William will reportedly resign from his role as an air ambulance pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance in order to take on more “royal duties.” His contract was supposed to end in March, but apparently he has extended it before his family moves to London. The family is relocating while they look for schools… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 16-Jan-17
Heli Charter, based at Manston UK, have recently relinquished the title of Customer Service Facility for Bell Helicopter. While we are not clear what prompted this move, or which party instigated the change, Bell have confirmed to HeliHub.com that “While Heli Charter is no longer a Bell authorized customer service facility, we continue to maintain… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 13-Jan-17
Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore has won a contract from windfarm operator Dong Energy for helicopter support. This has resulted in an order for Airbus Helicopters for two Turbomeca-powered H135s, which will be fitted with a hoist. The aircraft will support the 660 MegaWatt Walney Extension wind farm in the Irish Sea between Britain’s Lancashire… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 13-Jan-17
The UK fleet of the French two-seater Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter continues to be the largest in the world. With 25 aircraft, one seventh of the total production of the Cabri G2 flies in British airspace. This success is attributed to both the aircraft and the marketing efforts of distributor Cotswold Helicopter Centre. To ensure… Read more »
Source: Cotswold, 21-Dec-16
East Anglia Air Ambulance is the recipient of a rare Ferrari donation. They will sell the car at the Imperial War Museum on March 29 2017 in Duxford. It will be part of the H&H Classics sales, which consists of historic motorcycles and cars. EAAA hopes to use the proceeds from the sale to fund… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 20-Dec-16
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Airbus to continue with their Super Puma line. Their H225s and AS332 L2s have been grounded in Norway and the UK after a fatal crash on the Norwegian coast. Investigators have suggested a second-stage planet gear in the epicyclic module may have disintegrated, causing the crash. In… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 16-Dec-16
Plans submitted by the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity for a helicopter base in Almondsbury have been approved. It’s been a long struggle for the campaign, after the local residents argued against it. As reported by Gazette Series, they were concerned over the noise pollution, disturbances due to night flights and the environmental concern of… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 16-Dec-16
