16-Jun-2017Source: AAA
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
14-Jun-2017Source: Wiltshire Air Ambulance
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
12-Jun-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
12-Jun-2017Source: Pakistan High Commission
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
5-Jun-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
31-May-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
30-May-2017Source: Leonardo
[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
18-May-2017Source: HeliGroup
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
18-May-2017Source: 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
11-May-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
9-May-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
5-May-2017Source: Bristow Group
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
5-May-2017
Landed on its port side with minimal damage to anything on the starboard side (stabiliser, tail rotor), although starboard skid somewhat bent. Possible dynamic roll-over. 3 POB all to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries... Read more
2-May-2017
Helicopter went unserviceable on the ground at an emergency callout... Read more
1-May-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
25-Apr-2017Source: Cornwall Air Ambulance
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
17-Apr-2017Source: 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
11-Apr-2017Source: HELP Appeal
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
7-Apr-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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.” ... Read more
6-Apr-2017Source: Leonardo
On the occasion of the recent tour to Italy by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, Leonardo provided a modern AW139 helicopter to allow rapid transport between some of the trip’s main locations in comfort and with the highest safety standards. The aircraft was used on April 1st and 2nd for transportation purposes to... Read more
31-Mar-2017Source: Helisota
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
31-Mar-2017Source: HM Coastguard
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
20-Mar-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
17-Mar-2017Source: SEA
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
16-Mar-2017Source: 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
16-Mar-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
14-Mar-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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.... Read more
13-Mar-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
10-Mar-2017Source: Safran
Safran has signed of a Support-By-Hour (SBH) covering engines operated by the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) program. The 17-year agreement between Safran Helicopter Engines UK and Airbus Helicopters is worth more than 100 million euros and relates to Arrius 2B2Plus and Arriel 2E engines powering new fleets of H135 and H145. In July... Read more
10-Mar-2017Source: Airbus Helicopters
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
6-Mar-2017Source: UK's Royal Navy
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
3-Mar-2017Source: Leonardo
The UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Technology Office has placed a two year, jointly funded, Research and Development contract for a Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System, Capability Concept Demonstrator – “RWUAS CCD Phase 2”, with Leonardo in the UK. The contract aims to identify, develop and exploit the opportunities offered by... Read more
28-Feb-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
21-Feb-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
21-Feb-2017Source: HeliGroup
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
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
14-Feb-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
3-Feb-2017Source: Cotswold
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
2-Feb-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
1-Feb-2017Source: Wiltshire Air Ambulance
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
31-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
31-Jan-2017Source: Royal Navy
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
30-Jan-2017Source: NHV
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
30-Jan-2017Source: Air Covers
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
30-Jan-2017Source: NPAS
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
30-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
26-Jan-2017Source: Lockheed Martin
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
20-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
19-Jan-2017Source: Leonardo
“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
18-Jan-2017Source: Leonardo
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
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
16-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
13-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
13-Jan-2017Source: HeliHub.com
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
21-Dec-2016Source: Cotswold
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
20-Dec-2016Source: HeliHub.com
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
16-Dec-2016Source: HeliHub.com
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
16-Dec-2016Source: HeliHub.com
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
16-Dec-2016Source: HeliHub.com
In the last couple of weeks, Airbus Helicopters has delivered the three H145 helicopters from the factory in Germany for Wales Air Ambulance (WAA). Painted in red overall, they have been delivered to Babcock MCS Onshore, who will both carry out the interior medical completion and then operate them for WAA. They will replace three... Read more
13-Dec-2016Source: Airbus Helicopters
The H135 Juno and the H145 Jupiter, the first two aircraft in the 32-strong fleet of the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) helicopters, can be seen together for the first time, marking the start of a new era in helicopter military flight training in the UK. Flown over from the Airbus Helicopters’ manufacturing site... Read more
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
7-Dec-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Aintree Hospital has had their plans for a helipad approved. The helipad, costing £1 million, will be funded by the charity HELP, whose aim is to build a helipad at every major hospital. The only issue surrounded the helipad is the local residents’ worries of the noise. The helipad will only be operational from dawn... Read more
4-Dec-2016Source: Heli UK Expo
The organisers of Heli UK Expo; The UK’s only Fly-in Helicopter Event, are pleased to announce it will be accommodating it’s largest event yet at Wycombe Air Park, during 1 – 3 June 2017 The new event location at Wycombe Air Park provides more outdoor static space and the largest dedicated helicopter hall to date. The increased... Read more
1-Dec-2016Source: HeliHub.com
November 24th marked the busiest day of the year as of yet for Lincolnshire and Nottingham Air Ambulance. On average the team is called out three times a day, this past Thursday saw a total of six incidents they had to fly out to. They were called from Stamford for a truck collision, Immingham for... Read more
30-Nov-2016Source: CAA International
The UK’s first onshore elevated helipad with a Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System (DIFFS) at Kings College Hospital London has been certified to UK CAA CAP 1264 by CAA International (CAAi). The construction phase of the helipad was managed by Watts Group Limited during a period when UK best practice was transitioning from Health Building... Read more
29-Nov-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Great North Air Ambulance, which operates three AS365 Dauphin Helicopters in the northern-most counties of England was last week the recipient of £1 Million. GNAA was one of eleven air ambulance charities which received similar donations from a Government fund levied on banks for manipulating the LIBOR (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate). In a statement attributed... Read more
28-Nov-2016Source: Wales Air Ambulance
The Wales Air Ambulance Charity has been successful in its bid for funding from the LIBOR banking fines, announced in the Treasury’s Autumn Statement. The £1m boost will go towards increasing flying hours and the charity’s plans for night operations. WAAC’s chief executive Angela Hughes said: “It’s the charity’s vision to become a 24-hour operation... Read more
27-Nov-2016Source: Sloane Helicopters
As a Leonardo Helicopters Authorised Service Centre, Sloane Helicopters is pleased to announce that the AW169 has been added to its Part 145 maintenance approval for both line and base maintenance. Sloane is looking forward to supporting its first AW169 VIP helicopter in early December, utilising the extensive expertise of its engineering capability and investing... Read more
25-Nov-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil has received £700,000 by the Welsh Government for a new helipad. The old helipad was unsuitable for night flights, reports ITV. The new development will allow for 24 hour care for all patients. The new helipad is hoped to be completed by March 2017.... Read more
23-Nov-2016Source: Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance
Over 250 guests celebrated the best and brightest from the air ambulance community on Monday evening at the national Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence 2016. Awards hosts, BBC News reporter and presenter Sophie Long and Helicopter Heroes presenter Rav Wilding handed out 11 Awards to outstanding individuals and teams, whose stories were inspirational, astonishing and... Read more
23-Nov-2016Source: Air Ambulance Northern Ireland
The Association of Air Ambulances (AAA), which represents the majority of air ambulance operations in the UK, is delighted to announce that Air Ambulance Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust have both joined the Association as full members. This means that the AAA now represents 20 air ambulance... Read more
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
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
15-Nov-2016Source: Bristow Group
The HM Coastguard air search and rescue (SAR) helicopter base in Inverness, operated by Bristow Helicopters Limited, has recently reached a milestone of 500 missions since the launch of the new civilian service on 1 April 2015. Operating from a new, purpose-built base at Inverness Airport, the crews have delivered a vital, lifesaving service to... Read more
10-Nov-2016Source: British Helicopter Association
The British Helicopter Association’s Eric Brown Award has been awarded to Rick Cawley. The award is given to the individual considered to have made the greatest and most significant contribution to the British Helicopter Industry during the past twelve months. It will be presented to Mr Cawley at the Association’s Annual Dinner in London this... Read more