6-Dec-2011Source: REACH
REACH Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight announce the merger of the two privately-held companies, creating the most comprehensive network of medical air and ground transportation in the Western United States. REACH, with 13 helicopter bases and one airplane base, and Cal-Ore, with two airplane and two ground ambulance bases, have been collaborators in... Read more
21-Nov-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The Californian city of Fontana is putting a budget request in this week for two police-role helicopters, a low-time Robinson R44 with just 140 airframe hours, and a new R66. Police Chief Rodney Jones is preparting to ask city council’s approval on Tuesday to use $500,000 in asset seizure funds to purchase the near-new R44... Read more
19-Nov-2011Source: Enloe FlightCare
The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) announced Oct. 15 that it has for the second time awarded the Enloe FlightCare medical transport rotor-wing service a full three-year accreditation. The accreditation recognizes that FlightCare provides highly skilled flight nurse/paramedic teams to care for adult and pediatric patients. Enloe received its first CAMTS accreditation... Read more
18-Nov-2011
The families of three state Fish and Game employees from Fresno who were killed when their helicopter hit a utility line last year will receive a cash settlement from Southern California Edison, according to the families’ attorneys. (see full story) HeliHub.com page for this accident is at 05-Jan-10 N5016U Bell B206 nr Redinger Lake, US-California... Read more
18-Nov-2011Source: Studio City Patch
The Board of Supervisors today supported federal legislation to limit low-flying helicopters and cut down on noise from news and tour choppers in Los Angeles County. (see full story)... Read more
12-Nov-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Robinson Helicopter Co held a ceremony on Thursday 10th November for local press and dignitaries to celebrate the production of the 10,000th helicopter at their Torrance factory. A press release is reportedly forthcoming. Until then, these are the pertinent points gleaned from local press reports Employment is increasing, with 200 new jobs in 2011 taking... Read more
12-Nov-2011Source: Orange County Register
The investigation, confirmed by sheriff’s spokesman John McDonald, was sparked by a typed letter that alleges the helicopter supervisor flew his girlfriend around Orange County. (see full story)... Read more
10-Nov-2011Source: Los Angeles Fire Dept
Glenn Victor Smith was only 54 years old when he lost his courageous battle with cancer. He will be remembered first and foremost for being a loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather to his family. To everyone else that was fortunate enough to have known Glenn personally or worked around him, he was many things.... Read more
7-Nov-2011Source: NTSB
This is the text from the Preliminary Report. By its very nature, the details are subject to change and should not be relied upon. The Final Report for this incident will be issued in due course:- On October 27, 2011, about 1440 Pacific daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-500D helicopter, N61PJ, was substantially damaged during... Read more
31-Oct-2011Source: Timken
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) recently counted on The Timken Company (NYSE:Â TKR) to provide its fleet mechanics with training to keep the department’s firefighting helicopters ready to perform in high-heat situations. This preventative training is critical to CAL FIRE, which responds to an average of 5,600 wildfires and as many... Read more
31-Oct-2011Source: HAI
HAI President Matt Zuccaro, accompanied by the presidents of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council and the Los Angeles-area’s Professional Helicopter Pilots Association, attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the Aviation subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to answer questions about helicopter operations. The roundtable was held to discuss legislation co-sponsored by three members... Read more
28-Oct-2011Source: Congressman Berman
Washington, D.C. – At Congressman Howard L. Berman’s (CA-28) request, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee is convening a roundtable to examine helicopter flight operations in metropolitan areas. As author of H.R. 2677, the Los Angeles Helicopter Noise Relief Act, Congressman Berman sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking member of the Aviation... Read more
27-Oct-2011
During powerline maintenance flight, p[ilot made emergency field landing. Skids broken, tail boom sliced, main blades ripped off. Pilot to hospital... Read more
17-Oct-2011Source: NEMSPA
NEMSPA is proud to announce the winner of the 2011 Pilot of the Year Award – Mr. Douglas Stephan of Reach Air Medical Services. Each year, NEMSPA accepts nominations for this award from the nationwide air medical transport community so that we may recognize an individual who stands out in terms of professional achievement and... Read more
14-Oct-2011Source: Belfort Instrument
Belfort Instrument Company, one of the country’s oldest meteorological sensor and meteorological system manufactures, has installed its DigiWxTM Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at the George L Mee Memorial Hospital (09CA), King City, California. The AWOS AV provides real-time wind speed, wind direction, temperature, relative humidity, dewpoint and altimeter setting, visibility, and cloud height information... Read more
10-Oct-2011Source: Long Beach Police
The Long Beach Police Department has acquired two air support units from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, in an effort to reduce fuel and maintenance costs. The mission of the Long Beach Police Department’s Air Support Unit is to provide direct support to daily patrol operations as well as support for detectives and SWAT... Read more
7-Oct-2011Source: CALSTAR
he chief flight nurse at the California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) base in South Lake Tahoe can remember like it was yesterday when the base started operations 10 years ago this month. Â Bryan Pond, CFRN CCRN, vividly recalls the challenges, and enthusiasm, of getting the base operational. All of the crew members were brought... Read more
7-Oct-2011Source: CALSTAR
The California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) base in Vacaville, known as CALSTAR 8, marks its 5th anniversary this month. Â Since the base opened in 2006, flight crews have flown approximately 1,400 critically ill and injured patients throughout Solano and surrounding counties. According to Chief Flight Nurse Scott Wallace, approximately two thirds of the calls... Read more
5-Oct-2011Source: PHPA
We would like to invite you to join us at this year’s Wings, Wheels, and Rotors Expo at the Los Alamitos Army Airfield & Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, on Sunday October 23. The PHPA Booth will be placed on the Helicopter Ramp at the West end of the Tarmac and we need... Read more
4-Oct-2011Source: Mercury News
The National Park Service and the FAA are starting work on a public plan that could result in new limits on helicopter and airplane tours over the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. (see full story)... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: HAI
The World Record Helicopter Team, based in Murrieta Calif., set a new world speed record from San Diego Calif. to Savannah/Hilton Head Ga. and back, on Sept. 17, 2011. Flying a Robinson R44 Raven II, the four-man team departed from Brown Field when the race clock started at 7:28 a.m. Despite some extreme weather conditions... Read more
27-Sep-2011
The Madera County Sheriff’s Department and Cal Fire as well as paramedics are on scene of a downed private helicopter. 2 POB to hospital, one by road, one by air... Read more
23-Sep-2011Source: Precision Aviation Group
Atlanta, GA-based Precision Aviation Group (PAG), exclusive provider of ISMRO® (Inventory Supported Maintenance Repair & Overhaul), announces the acquisition of Long Beach, CA based Aero Technology (ATI).  ATI is a Global MRO Services provider of Accessories, Avionics, and Instruments to the Commercial Transport, Military and Regional Airline markets.  ATI was the recipient of Boeing’s coveted Gold Supplier... Read more
22-Sep-2011
Substantially damaged in field landing... Read more
21-Sep-2011Source: RLC
RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico, today announced that RLC’s Santa Maria, California Base Operations has received PXP’s California Offshore Safety Excellence Award for 2010. This award, which was announced at the 6th Annual PXP Vendor and Contractor Safety Conference, recognizes vendors and contractors who have met the highest levels... Read more
21-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
Hensel Phelps Granite Hangar, J.V., Irvine, Calif., is being awarded a $97,222,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of an MV-22 aircraft parking apron/taxiway expansion; an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar 4 addition; and Aircraft Maintenance Hangar 7 construction at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The work to be performed provides for the construction and/or renovation... Read more
20-Sep-2011Source: Fleet Week San Diego
More than 250 classic racing cars will take to the specially-constructed track on the runway at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) September 24-25 for the 14th annual Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival. While the Festival’s mission is to honor San Diego’s military every year, this year it will help commemorate a momentous milestone. The Coronado Speed Festival will... Read more
20-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
There has been a fatal accident of a Bell AH-1W at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in California, killing both occupants. The HeliHub.com page for this accident is at 19-Sep-11 Bell AH-1W Camp Pendleton, US-California (2F)... Read more
19-Sep-2011
The helicopter went down at approximately 1:00 p.m. Monday in a training area in the southeast corner of Camp Pendleton. A small brush fire broke out as a result of the crash. Fire crews are on scene working to contain the flames. The two fatalities were later named as Capt. Jeffrey Bland, 37, and 1st... Read more
14-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
California-based Classic Rotors have added an MD Helicopters MD600 to their collection. Back in October 2010, HeliHub.com broke the news that the US Customs and Border Protection (part of the Dept of Homeland Security) had put their MD600 fleet into desert storage at the AMARC facility in Arizona. It is one of this fleet, registered... Read more
13-Sep-2011Source: El Dorado Sheriff
On Saturday, August 20, Sheriff John D’Agostini unveiled the newest member of the Sheriff’s fleet – a Jet Ranger helicopter, call sign “EAGLE ONE.â€Â The presentation of EAGLE ONE was conducted at the Annual Sheriff’s Posse Picnic at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds when the helicopter, complete with El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office decals, landed... Read more
12-Sep-2011Source: World Record Helicopter Team
From: The World Record Helicopter Team & USA Academy Of Aviation Inc. French Valley Airport ( F70) Murrieta, Ca. Tel 951-551 6592- 951-600 2883. when: In September 2011. From Where: From Brown Airport, San Diego- to Savannah Hilton Head, GA, and back. Departure Time will be 6 o’clock AM. What is the current record and... Read more
8-Sep-2011Source: Night Flight Concepts
Night Flight Concepts, a leading provider of night vision solutions, announced today that the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section has successfully completed certification training of the Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Lighting Conformity Test Kit. Los Angeles Country Fire is now equipped and trained to monitor night vision imaging system (NVIS) lighting airworthiness... Read more
4-Sep-2011
commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom from impact forces... Read more
1-Sep-2011
Landed hard on uneven terrain and rolled onto its left side... Read more
31-Aug-2011Source: NoIR
At a recent trade event, NoIR Laser Company LLC presented GlareShieldâ„¢ Laser Safety glasses, which have been shown to be effective against malicious laser illuminations by pilots with the Los Angeles Police Department. In as many as 3 incidents in early July, 2011, LAPD Air Support Division helicopter crews were intentionally and maliciously illuminated or... Read more
31-Aug-2011
A man who stole a San Diego police detective’s guns last year and used them to shoot at Escondido police two days later was sentenced to 34 years to life in prison. (See full story)... Read more
29-Aug-2011Source: PHPA
THe PHPA has advised that… From our friends at the Southern California Airspace Users Working Group (SCAUWG): Pilots in the Southern California area will be interested in the newly announced NPRM for the Long Beach Class C airspace. You can see the details at: http://www.scauwg.org/scauwg/LongBeachClassCAirspace2011Revised.html There will be public meetings in October and the NPRM... Read more
29-Aug-2011
A Coast Guard MH-65 on hoist training out of CGAS Humboldt Bay safely completed an emergency landing in a parking lot near Arcata Bay following an electrical malfunction caused a significant amount of smoke in the cabin. All four members aboard the helicopter have been reported safe and without injuries.... Read more
25-Aug-2011Source: PHPA
This year the PHPA and the Wings, Wheels, and Rotors Expo will be joining forces, with the PHPA taking a more active role in this year’s show.  The event is being held at the Los Alamitos Army Airfield & Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Sunday, October 23, 2011. One of the tasks PHPA has... Read more
24-Aug-2011
Hydraulic problem en route from Idaho to San Diego in Southern California.... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Huntington Beach police helicopters will continue to patrol Newport Beach for now. The City Council has approved a 3 year contract to provide helicopter services to its neighbour at the hourly rate of $700, and allowing for 1,000 hours worth of response services and patrol time per year. On July 30, Newport Beach and Costa... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Donaldson
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), is helping one of the nation’s leading local law enforcement agencies improve the safety, efficiency and cost-effective operation of its aviation unit. The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department (LASD) Aero Bureau selected the company to provide inlet barrier filters (IBF) for the Bureau’s... Read more
21-Aug-2011
Struck powerline during agricultural ops... Read more
14-Aug-2011
Crashed in orchard during agricultural ops... Read more
9-Aug-2011Source: American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter announced today that the Ontario (CA) Police Air Support Unit has taken delivery of its third AS350 B2. The aircraft is scheduled to join the fleet in December when it will go into service performing patrol and surveillance missions for the City of Ontario, California. “The AS350 family of helicopters is recognized throughout... Read more
6-Aug-2011
At touchdown, the helicopter had some forward speed, the landing skids dug into the terrain, and the helicopter pitched nose down. The main rotor struck the ground and also severed the tail boom, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side.... Read more
29-Jul-2011Source: Congressman Berman
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Howard L. Berman introduced legislation to provide Los Angeles County residents relief from the ear-shattering noise and safety concerns caused by low-flying helicopters above residential neighborhoods. The Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011, H.R. 2677, would force the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to restrict helicopter flight paths and set... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: KUSI
State budget cuts have forced San Diego Police to reduce from 10 to 6 hours a day (full story)... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: US Marine Corps
MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif., – When Marines head into battle, they move in fast and hard against the enemy, and sometimes the quickest way to receive supplies is by a quick drop-off from a CH-53E Super Stallion. The Marines and sailors of Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 44, and a CH-53E... Read more
24-Jul-2011Source: UK MoD
RAF Chinook helicopter crews recently travelled to the United States to train for Afghanistan in the heat and high-altitude terrain of southern California. A large proportion of the RAF Odiham-based force has rotated through US Naval Air Facility El Centro (NAFEC) in southern California in preparation for ongoing operations in Afghanistan. This deployment was a... Read more
20-Jul-2011Source: Aero Dynamix
Aero Dynamix Inc. is very proud to announce the delivery of the eighth Night Vision Goggle (NVG) modified AS350 to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “We are very pleased to be working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on this project” stated General Manager Dennis Trout. “We are performing the night vision cockpit modification... Read more
20-Jul-2011
Helicopter owner Frank Gomes said he had finished spraying the field and had turned the crop duster over to his apprentice for a practice run. “The practice didn’t go all that well today,” Gomes said, declining to comment further.... Read more
14-Jul-2011Source: US Marine Corps
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — An installation the size of the Combat Center comes with lots of maintenance, ranging from road repairs and replacing firing targets to building landing pads for the many types of aircraft that fly in to support training. To help keep the maintenance down on V-22 Osprey... Read more
10-Jul-2011
Minor damage on landing... Read more
6-Jul-2011
The helicopter, belonging to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, crashed on a training flight shortly before noon Wednesday in the San Mateo Area of Camp Pendleton killing one of the seven on board. The deceased serviceman was later named as Sgt. Trevor Cook, 25, of Orleans, N.Y.... Read more
3-Jul-2011
Crop spraying helicopter crashed from low level during turn... Read more
2-Jul-2011Source: Daily Pilot
As of Friday, the John Wayne Airport hangar that housed ABLE’s three EC120 helicopters will become a storage space for the aircraft dubbed “Eagle,” which is jointly owned by Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. Both cities have dismantled the shared police helicopter program, thus ending a 15-year partnership. Both city councils decided to cut ABLE... Read more
2-Jul-2011
Night emergency landing after reporting a mechanical problem.... Read more
1-Jul-2011Source: American Heroes Air Show
Friday, July 1 Good morning all: This is an extremely difficult message to share with all of you, however after extensive discussions with our volunteer event team as well as many of the organizations participating with helicopters for the American Heroes Air Show, we have elected to cancel the American Heroes Air Show scheduled for... Read more
30-Jun-2011Source: American Eurocopter
Grand Prairie, Texas – Today, American Eurocopter announced that Corporate Helicopters, a helicopter service provider based in San Diego, California, has placed an order for two AS350 B2’s and two AS350 B3e’s. Two of the helicopters are for specific customers and the other two will be used to upgrade its fleet and help meet the... Read more
21-Jun-2011Source: Universal Avionics
Universal Avionics is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Potter as Western Region Marketing Manager. Mr. Potter will be responsible for the overall growth and development of Universal Avionics product sales in the Western U.S. region, which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. Mr. Carroll will be based in the Los Angeles vicinity.... Read more
21-Jun-2011
Landed hard during practice autorotations, fell onto its side, then causing a grass fire which consumed the helicopter and 15-20 acres of grassland. Pilot not injured... Read more
19-Jun-2011
Engine problems during turn at low level while spraying at 100ft agl. Landed heaviliy and rolled over... Read more
13-Jun-2011Source: Los Alamitos Patch
The Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base is on the hunt for a new commander. Brig. Gen. Keith D. Jones has been transferred to Camp Roberts near Paso Robles, leaving the base under the interim command of Col. Susan Russell.... Read more
12-Jun-2011Source: HeliHub.com
In December 2009, Erickson Air-Crane announced that San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) company was their first non-governmental sale for the Air-Crane. In the last week this helicopter has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons with not one but two lifting incidents. Fortunately the helicopter was not damaged in either event, but the... Read more
10-Jun-2011
While setting an elecriticy tower within a utility right-of-way two miles SE of Plaster City, three of the helicopter’s four hooks holding up a tower section released. While hanging from the remaining hook, the structure was slowly lowered to the ground and, once on the ground, was released. The tower subsequently tipped over. No one... Read more
9-Jun-2011Source: American Eurocopter
June 8, 2011 Grand Prairie, TX – Today, American Eurocopter announced that it has delivered the 12th AS350 B2 to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. This completes the order of 12 AS350 B2 helicopters that were purchased in August 2010 as part of an upgrade program for the department’s Aero Bureau fleet. “American Eurocopter... Read more
7-Jun-2011
After reviewing the Navy’s draft Environmental Assessment and receiving public comments, the California Coastal Commission have approved Navy plans to increase helicopter activity in Imperial Beach skies 30% by 2016.... Read more
7-Jun-2011
San Diego Gas & Electric’s helicopter was involved in an incident when a section of a transmission tower carried by the helicopter fell approximately 200- feet to the ground. No one was injured.... Read more
4-Jun-2011
Precautionary landing in field after pilot “sensing something was wrong”. Later flown to Santa Maria Public Airport for further assessment... Read more
1-Jun-2011
Tail rotor struck tree and helicopter crashed into orchard... Read more
