28-Nov-2012Source: Bond Air Services
Bond Air Services (Bond) is proud to have presented cheques totaling over £5,000 to three charities at the company’s base at Gloucestershire Airport earlier today. Staff at Bond have raised a total of £5,254.83 through a variety of fundraising efforts over the course of the year, exceeding the target of £3,000 the company set itself... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Starspeed Ltd. of the UK has signed a preliminary sale contract for one AW169 light intermediate helicopter plus an option for an additional aircraft. The helicopter will be used to perform VIP transport missions in the United Kingdom. The order marks the entrance of the all... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: Essex & Herts Air Ambulance
Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) having recently upgraded to state of the art ZOLL® X Series™ Patient Monitors is delighted to donate two older generation Schiller patient monitors to Dr Peter Temesvari, Medical Director of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in Hungary. Before being appointed Medical Director of Hungarian HEMS, Peter Temesvari was a HEMS Doctor... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: European Defence Agency
The third Helicopter Tactics Symposium was held from 19 – 21 November in Luxembourg. 43 participants from 16 Member States (AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, ES, EE, FI, FR, HU, IT, LU, NL, PT, SE, UK) and additional guests from New Zeeland and the Joint Air Power Competence Centre exchanged views on the status of... Read more
27-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Scotland has previously been covered from the air by two Eurocopter EC135s, operated by Bond Air Services on contract to Gama Aviation who hold a contract with Scottish Ambulance Service. This is the only EMS operation in the UK funded by central government, and it is planned to upgrade from EC135 to EC145T2 in due... Read more
27-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
On Thursday 15th November, UK held its first ever Police chief elections and 41 new “Police and Crime Commissioners” have been elected across England and Wales in an attempt to give the public a say in cutting crime in their area. In the far southwest of England lies the counties of Devon and Cornwall, which... Read more
27-Nov-2012Source: Enterprising Barnsley
A dry suit created in Barnsley is helping to protect thousands of emergency workers facing dangerous waters across the UK. Fire crews and coastguards are among those kitted out with the suit made by Hoyland-based AZDRY. Now the company is receiving backing from business support organisation Enterprising Barnsley to take the product to markets overseas.... Read more
25-Nov-2012Source: Guernsey Post
Guernsey Post has finalised the details of its contingency plans developed in response to Guernsey’s airport closures on 27th & 28th November and 4th & 5th December 2012. Dave Bynam, Head of Network and Planning at Guernsey Post said: “Our contingency plans for the airport closures in November and December are largely based on the... Read more
25-Nov-2012
Two Super Puma helicopters were at the centre of fresh safety fears. The Bond aircraft, which were travelling independently to different offshore installations, were both forced to return to the heliport in Aberdeen following concerns. (see full story)... Read more
25-Nov-2012Source: Daily Mail
MD500E owner Jeremy Paxton said: “The council says that landing on the turntable might damage the a tree, but I could land on that spot if the turntable was not there. Would I really want to land too close to a tree in a helicopter?” (see full story)... Read more
23-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Sloane Helicopters have today taken delivery of another A109E Power to provide additional back-up support to their operational fleet following introduction of their third AW109 on air ambulance duties. The aircraft will also be used to cover the increased demand for flying training to IR level. The aircraft concerned is G-CHVA, serial 11100 and previously... Read more
23-Nov-2012Source: Essex & Herts Air Ambulance
Thanks to an appeal over the summer which raised over £14,000, the people of Essex and Hertfordshire are now benefiting from some of the highest standard pre-hospital cardiac care the World has to offer with new state of the art equipment on board the Essex & Herts Air Ambulances. Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust... Read more
23-Nov-2012
HeliHub.com has withdrawn an article we ran yesterday regarding the way in which Bristow Helicopters chose to word an invitation for applications to a scholarship program they are running, which has an application deadline of 31 January 2013. We understood that the UK’s Equalities Act in 2010, which aims to remove discrimination on a wide... Read more
22-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Article withdrawn. Please see replacement article here –... Read more
22-Nov-2012Source: County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal
HeliHub.com Editor note – We just HAD to change the title of this press release. A case of PR agency not engaging brain, in fact. They sent this press release out with the title “Southampton General Hospital helipad celebrates well over 300 successful landings in its first year of service” – Of course they were... Read more
22-Nov-2012Source: The Helicopter Museum
The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare is holding a special Free Educational Open Day on Friday 14th December between 10am and 7pm. “We would like to invite all those who work in the educational sector and who plan group outings and educational activities to visit their local museum and experience first hand the resources available literally... Read more
19-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
PremiAir Aviation has gone through a change of ownership in recent days, and a formal press release is expected very soon. However, part of the changes have involved the repossession of at least four aircraft, including three Sikorsky S76s and a Twin Squirrel which departed from their base at Blackbushe last week by road. Industry... Read more
19-Nov-2012Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd, one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a new contract with Perenco Oil and Gas. This new contract, worth in the region of £37 million, is for the provision of crew change flights to Perenco’s newly-acquired assets in the... Read more
19-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Bristow Helicopters have had a fleet move, with one Sikorsky S92 coming in and another going out. Arriving, after being airfreighted in to Prestwick Airport during last week, G-XCII has arrived in the UK for operations on the North Sea. The odd looking registration reflects the fact that 92 in Roman numerals is XCII. Going... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: Essex Air Ambulance
After four years of investigations into a Charity Shop in Walton-on-the-Naze; Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) is delighted to confirm the closure of the Charity Shop and that the proprietor Nigel Philpott-Jones has pleaded guilty of fraud by false misrepresentation. His official sentencing has taken place today at Chelmsford Crown Court and Mr... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: Royal Navy
THE first Royal Navy Lynx helicopter to join a French frigate on a full counter-piracy deployment has arrived on board the ship in Toulon. As part of the initiative for the UK and French armed forces to work more closely together, the Lynx Mark 8 aircraft from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton will deploy with... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: Bond Air Services
Bond Air Services is delighted to congratulate the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) on winning an Air Ambulance Team Award from the Ambulance Service Institute. The award, presented at a ceremony in London earlier today, recognised MAAC’s exemplary response to an incident in Lucton, Herefordshire in February this year, when all three Midlands Air Ambulance... Read more
8-Nov-2012Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Special Bulletin S4/2012: Sikorsky S-76C++, G-WIWI, East Sussex, 3 May 2012 Bell 206L-3 Longranger III (G-LVDC), forced landing near Silverstone, Northants, 8 July 2012... Read more
7-Nov-2012Source: Eurocopter
On October 22, 2012, during a flight to an offshore platform, a controlled ditching was performed with an EC225 helicopter. No one on board was injured and everyone was brought back to land safely. The helicopter remained afloat thanks to its emergency floatation gear and was recovered by a ship. An emergency lubrication warning light... Read more
7-Nov-2012Source: Oryx Jet
London Biggin Hill based aircraft management and first class air charter company Oryx Jet is delighted to be able to offer helicopter charter as an additional method of transportation and onward carriage to complement its existing fleet of executive jets. Offering more choice to private business and leisure charter services both locally and internationally, our... Read more
6-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
The Children’s Air Ambulance issued a press release last week, and after we scanned through it, we rejected it as it did not appear much of an aviation story. On the face of it, the central theme was the appointment of a brand ambassador – a 54 year old music star whose success started to... Read more
5-Nov-2012Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters
Luke Farajallah joins Bond Offshore Helicopters as new Managing Director 5th November 2012. Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Luke Farajallah as Managing Director. Luke brings with him 25 years of aviation experience leading different functions in a number of airlines both in the UK and Internationally. Most recently Luke... Read more
5-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Following our story earlier today regarding the situation PremiAir find themselves in at Denham, HeliHub.com can confirm that Finance Director Mike Harding has resigned. Mr Harding joined PremiAir in September 2004, and had responsibility for the finance and IT functions at PremiAir in the eight years since. His role involved a wide range of tasks,... Read more
5-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Premair Aviation Group has ceased trading at Denham, after the airfield owners changed the locks on the offices and hangars. We understand that Denham’s owners, Bickerton’s Aerodromes Ltd, had a meeting with PremiAir owner Andrew Davis in recent weeks concerning balances owed. As nothing was forthcoming after that meeting, Bickerton’s took action. A notice on... Read more
4-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Aerial application specialists Airbourne Solutions have acquired a second Twin Squirrel from PremiAir Aviation at Blackbushe, taking their fleet to three. The three helicopters involved are N30LG AS355F2 (5065) acquired July 2008 and not flown since (photo above) G-VONG AS355F1 (5323) acquired recently – airworthiness documents expired Feb-12 G-VONK AS355F1 (5325) acquired late 2011 –... Read more
4-Nov-2012Source: Wales Air Ambulance
Lifesaving charity Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) has successfully launched a ‘new generation’ helicopter at its Mid Wales base, completing its fleet of three advanced air ambulances for Wales. The new aircraft, which will operate from Welshpool Airport from 2nd November, supersedes the charity’s 20 year-old model to become one of the most cutting-edge operations in... Read more
2-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
The controversial move of the Helitech show by Reed Exhibitions from a wide-open airfield to a city-bound exhibition centre has led to the proposed revival of “The Helicopter Show” – originally planned in September this year for Farnborough and later moved to the well-known Formula 1 race circuit at Silverstone. In a brief update on... Read more
1-Nov-2012Source: HeliHub.com
It is with sadness we record the closure yesterday of the helicopter link between the UK mainland and the Scilly Isles, following the sale of Penzance Heliport to a retail supermarket as the site of a future store. Scheduled services began on 1st May 1964 and have continued for forty eight and a half years,... Read more
31-Oct-2012Source: H+S Aviation
H+S Aviation, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) company, has added the new generation General Electric CT7-8 series turboshaft engine to its EASA 145 and FAA approvals list. The CT7-8 is currently in production for Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW101 multi-engine helicopters. H+S Aviation now offers full scale support for engine repair, overhaul... Read more
25-Oct-2012Source: HeliHub.com
In an interview with HeliHub.com, the exhibition Director of Helitech International confirmed to us that an independent survey had been carried out before making a decision to move the event from Duxford to a conference centre in London. John Hyde told us that Reed Exhbitions enlisted the services of AMR International, which on its website... Read more
23-Oct-2012Source: HeliHub.com
In an interview with HeliHub.com, the exhibition Director of Helitech International 2013 confirmed to us that there is no space at the ExCeL conference centre in London for daily visitors to the event in September 2013. John Hyde confirmed that three or four sites are under consideration, and they would soon decide on one and... Read more
23-Oct-2012Source: Weston Aviation
Weston Aviation and the operators of Tatenhill Airfield have launched a new venture to provide FBO and executive handling services at the airfield to provide quick and easy helicopter and aircraft access to the FA’s new £120 million National Football Centre at St. George’s Park, near Burton on Trent, UK. The new centre was officially... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: Bond Air Services
HeliHub.com editor note – The EC135 was first shown at Helitech 2009 fully kitted out. At Helitech 2011 we reported that the helicopter had not yet started offshore wind farm operations as expected two years prior, and a further year has now passed. We are pleased to see this finally working on the contract it... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: IOW County Press
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been called out on 4,000 emergencies since it was established five years ago. (see full story)... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: Royal Navy
The helicopter from 217 Flight (a flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron), headed up by Flight Commander Lieutenant Mike Curd, will join FLF Surcouf at her base in Toulon on Monday for a four-week training period. In November they will then deploy on Op Atalanta for four months as part of an initiative for the... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: Central Helicopters
Central Helicopters, a leading UK-based provider of helicopter services for business purposes, aerial photography, weddings and other occasions, have received planning permission to relocate to new premises. Central Helicopters has been based at Tollerton Airfield – also known as Nottingham City Airport – for the past five years, but now they have been granted permission... Read more
22-Oct-2012
CHC EC225 has ditched 32 miles south of Shetland, off Fair Isle. All 19 POB reported safe and being taken to Kirkwall on Orkney... Read more
19-Oct-2012Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it has been selected to go forward to the contracting phase for their bid of up to £46 million from Round 3 of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The combined RGF and AgustaWestland investment of more than £100 million will create a brand new industry... Read more
16-Oct-2012Source: Avincis Group
Avincis Mission Critical Services (Avincis Group) has established itself in the UK today as the world’s leading provider of mission critical aviation services. The Group’s mission is to save lives, protect the environment and provide safe transport for mission critical people and assets for public services and blue chip corporations. Avincis’ operating companies deliver across... Read more
16-Oct-2012
A vacant site within the Nostell Priory estate, near Wakefield, has been granted planning permission by Wakefield Council. It will have a hangar and aircrew accommodation for one helicopter. (see full story)... Read more
16-Oct-2012
Chain sling contacted tail rotor drive cover, horizontal stabiliser and both tail rotor blades during lifting operations... Read more
12-Oct-2012Source: Police Aviation News
At a Conservative Party Conference ‘Fringe Meeting’ held in the Hyatt Regency, Birmingham on 9th October the meeting organisers “The Air Ambulance Service” [TAAS] put forward what some viewed as some disturbing proposals. Andy Williamson (the Chief Executive of TAAS) was advocating that all the separate Air Ambulance Charities in the United Kingdom merge together... Read more
12-Oct-2012Source: BAE Systems
We have been awarded a further 12 months contract by the UK’s Land Forces HQ Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) to continue an advisory web based Aviation De-confliction Planning Service. The service, available to the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, is based on the BAE Systems Centralised Aviation Data Service (CADS) which uses a... Read more
11-Oct-2012Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Aerospatiale SA.341G Gazelle (HA-LFB), collision with terrain, Honister Slate Mine, Keswick, Cumbria, 9 March 2011... Read more
10-Oct-2012Source: Morgan Sindall
The Barnstaple office of Morgan Sindall has secured a £1.5 million contract to deliver new offices, welfare facilities and an aircraft hangar at Exeter Airport for Devon and Cornwall Police. The new two-storey office building will house the Air Operations Unit for Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon Air Ambulance Trust, both of which currently... Read more
8-Oct-2012Source: Reuters
Britain will block the proposed $45 billion merger between EADS and BAE Systems if key “red line” priorities are not met, defence minister Philip Hammond said on Sunday (see full story)... Read more
8-Oct-2012
Hoist cable hitting tail rotor in turbulent weather conditions. Badly damaged... Read more
7-Oct-2012Source: UK MoD
An RAF Chinook helicopter captain has been honoured for his ‘outstanding bravery and airmanship’ evacuating battlefield casualties while under heavy fire during a mission in southern Afghanistan. Flight Lieutenant Gerald Wyatt, known as ‘Gez’, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his actions in last week’s Operational Honours and Awards List. His citation... Read more
7-Oct-2012
Paul Burnham, 31, of Methlick, Aberdeenshire, and Richard Menzies, 24, of Worcestershire, were at the controls of the Bond Offshore Super Puma when the aircraft plunged into the sea in April 2009. (see full story) See also this page from our safety data coverage – 01-Apr-09 G-REDL Eurocopter AS332 11m E of Peterhead, UK (16F)... Read more
4-Oct-2012Source: HeliHub.com
The British Helicopter Association (BHA) has been forced into a corner by Reed Exhibitions, who run the Helitech show in the UK. HeliHub.com was one of a number of industry publications copied on an email on Tuesday from a potential exhibitor who is clearly very unhappy at the BHA support for the move, which has... Read more
4-Oct-2012Source: Reed Exhibitions
This news was broken by HeliHub.com on 21st September – see Helitech considers move from Duxford to non-airfield location. Finally on 3rd October, Reed Exhibitions comes clean and goes public – some five days earlier than they had planned….. What follows is their press release Reed Exhibitions, the organisers of Helitech, the largest dedicated helicopter... Read more
3-Oct-2012Source: ACPO
The new National Police Air Service (NPAS) was launched on Monday October 1, 2012 The new service will provide more efficient and accessible air support to the police service throughout England and Wales that offers better value for money. Responding to the findings of a comprehensive review commissioned in 2009, the Association of Chief Police... Read more
26-Sep-2012Source: HELP Appeal
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) and the Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads (HELP) Appeal will be working in partnership to develop an onsite helipad at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), which will open in 2014. A grant of £500,000 has been provided by the HELP Appeal to support the helipad’s construction – part... Read more
26-Sep-2012Source: Bond Aviation Group
The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) has awarded a new seven-year contract to Bond Air Services Ltd. Under the contract, valued at approximately £26 million, Bond will continue to provide air ambulance services cover across six counties in the West Midlands until 2019. Bond will support the contract for three Eurocopter EC135T2i helicopters on a... Read more
26-Sep-2012
Emergency landing made in a field after smell of burning in the cabin. No damage to helicopter, no injuries... Read more
24-Sep-2012Source: Midlands Air Ambulance
Since 1991 Midlands Air Ambulance has been airlifting critically ill and injured patients to hospitals across our region. Starting with just one aircraft, the fleet has grown to three aircraft and has responded to over 38,000 missions, making it the busiest and largest Air Ambulance operator in England and Wales. In that time the operation... Read more
24-Sep-2012Source: Heli Air
More than 100 invited guests enjoyed the hospitality at Heli Air Gloucester at Gloucestershire Airport with the opportunity to fly in the R22, R44, R66 with very special paintwork, Bell 47 and Bell 206 JetRanger. The weather was especially kind with gentle winds from the east and bright warm sunshine all day. The Open Day... Read more
24-Sep-2012Source: Phoenix Helicopters
Phoenix Helicopter Academy opens its second branch at Blackbushe Airport nr. Camberley, Surrey. Check out the training section of the website for more details on Blackbushe Airport: http://www.phoenixhelicopters.co.uk/training/blackbushe-branch/ We are open for business and training has already begun! Initially one of our Robinson R22s will be based at Blackbushe followed shortly by an R44. Our... Read more
23-Sep-2012Source: London's Air Ambulance
As London saw this year’s youngest victim of knife crime, 14-year-old Kevin Ssali, sadly die on Sunday, the need to ensure immediate, on the scene medical aid for victims of violent attacks seems to be more urgent than ever. The Liverpool project aims to train young offenders, who are often present at the scene of... Read more
21-Sep-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Industry sources tell HeliHub.com that a move for the Helitech show is likely. The popular UK-based bi-annual event is reportedly moving away from Duxford Airfield to the ExCeL conference centre in London with the contract set to be signed any day now. Under the revised name of “Helitech International”, the show still appears to be... Read more
21-Sep-2012Source: Royal Aeronautical Society
Speaker: Dominique Maudet, Executive Vice President Global Business and Services Eurocopter Group and Executive Officer for France London / 2 October 2012 To view the lecture flyer click here RSVP now to reserve your place 2012 is the 20th anniversary of the creation of Eurocopter, formed in 1992 by a merger of France’s Aerospatiale Helicopters and Germany’s... Read more
20-Sep-2012Source: Hereford Times
After two days of evidence, Judge Patrick Thomas overturned the convictions against Alan Ramsden and Tiger Helicopters. He said there was “absolutely no evidence†that Ramsden had made false entries. (see full story)... Read more
19-Sep-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Bond Air Services have delivered Eurocopter EC135T2e G-HEMN to East Anglian Air Ambulance on Monday 17th September. The helicopter is fully night-compatible for the time when EAAA commence NVG operations as planned – reportedly in December assuming training and approvals are in place by then. EAAA commenced operations hurriedly with Bond in February 2011 after... Read more
19-Sep-2012Source: London's Air Ambulance
We are pleased to announce our collaboration with The Liverpool Project, that has been set up to teach young offenders the basic medical skills necessary to manage victims of violent attacks. Young offenders, who are often present at the scene of violent incidents are trained to provide immediate haemorrhage control in the vital minutes after... Read more
18-Sep-2012Source: St George's Healthcare
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust announced today, Tuesday 18th September, that it has been granted formal planning permission to develop a helipad at St George’s Hospital in Tooting. It will be only the second hospital helipad in London and the first south of the river. The development will be partly funded through a grant of £1million... Read more
18-Sep-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Around two years ago, a training programme commenced in the UK with 40 would-be pilots from Algeria, all set up by AgustaWestland as part of a wider deal including a whole batch of helicopters as well. While the operators and AW maintained radio silence on the contract, many in the UK industry knew that Tiger... Read more
18-Sep-2012Source: Gama Engineering
Gama Engineering Ltd, a Gama Group company, held a special fly-in event for existing and prospective customers at its Fairoaks Airport, UK base on Saturday, 15 September, to celebrate the first anniversary of the coming together of Lees Avionics Ltd and the engineering teams from Mann Aviation Group (Engineering) Ltd.  Their combining at Fairoaks has... Read more
17-Sep-2012Source: BBC
BBC News has recently reported that the retired British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal has been sold for scrap for £3 million. Various other plans had been mooted for the 1986-built warship, including a heliport and a nightclub. (see full story)... Read more
14-Sep-2012Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), continues to increase its sales and customer support activities in Europe delivering seven aircraft and signing nine contracts within the last three months, as well as launching Bell 407GX and Bell 429 flight demonstration tours, and gaining EASA approval for a new customer support facility. “Bell Helicopter... Read more
