Air Methods, the leading air medical service in the U.S., announced that it has partnered with MountainStar Healthcare and will open a base in Ogden, Utah on Nov. 3 as AirLife Utah. The base will serve Ogden Regional Medical Center, Cache Valley Hospital, Brigham City Hospital, Pleasant View Emergency Center, and Lakeview Hospital, and other… Read more »
The Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau’s flight numbers are increasing, with most calls coming from sheriff’s department search and rescues. Despite the increase, the state legislature budget has roughly remained the same over the past five years. See Full Story.
Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced the delivery of a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to Southern Utah University (SUU) for its existing fleet of helicopters used to conduct student training. “SUU has been a Bell customer for more than 20 years, and its Professional Pilot Aviation Program currently operates two Bell… Read more »
The Utah State Legislature recently approved a Strategic Workforce Initiative (SWI) grant to Southern Utah University to support the growth of the Utah Rotor Pathway Program, a government-industry-education partnership preparing Utah students for high-growth occupations while serving regional industry workforce needs. The grant totals $386,000 per year for three years, for a total of $1,158,000…. Read more »
Helicopter Association International (HAI) applauds Utah Governor Gary Herbert on his administration’s official rollout of the Utah Rotor Pathway Program. The program provides rotorspecific aviation classes to high school students by teaming up with industry, high schools, post-secondary schools and other stakeholders. “The rollout of the Utah Rotor Pathway Program is a testament to Lt…. Read more »
Sundance Helicopters, Inc., and the Sundance Skypath Program has partnered with Southern Utah University in Cedar City Utah to bring the helicopter pilot development program to the university’s pilot candidate students. The SkyPath program defines a career pathway and mentoring for future professional aviators and also ensures a consistent, efficient, and effective pipeline for Sundance… Read more »
The Southern Utah University Aviation Program continues to grow and improve with the arrival of a brand new helicopter. The Robinson R44 Cadet is straight from the factory, and specifically selected in SUU red. SUU’s Aviation Program works hard to provide students with the best opportunities to learn preparing them for future careers. Robert Paul, Assistant Chief Instructor of… Read more »
Metro Aviation recently delivered the first EC145e from one of its largest commercial helicopter orders to the University of Utah Health AirMed program. Metro’s completion center, located in Shreveport, Louisiana, outfitted the lightweight helicopter with mission-specific gear tailored to hot environments, high altitude conditions and avalanche rescues. Additionally, the aircraft features standard air ambulance equipment,… Read more »
Aspen Avionics announced that retired Marine Corps aviator and Aspen’s director of flight operations, James Buck is expanding his roles and responsibilities to include the position of regional sales manager for Aspen’s growing sales team. In his sales role, he will be responsible for the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. As the… Read more »
PAC International (PAC), a Metro Aviation company, has delivered a fully customized Bell 407GX to the University of Utah’s AirMed program, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Established in 1978 as the eighth air medical transport program in the nation, AirMed provides care throughout northern Utah and Wyoming. The new addition to the fleet is… Read more »
The U.S. Attorney’s Office asked a federal judge Friday to order a default judgment of $55,000 against Whirlybird Helicopters in a case that stemmed from allegations the company did not adequately screen employees for drug use. See full story
The ongoing helicopter controversy has now been grounded for the next six months after the Summit County Council approved a temporary ordinance on Wednesday banning new helicopter landing sites in the Snyderville Basin. See full story
Airbus Helicopters Inc. has extended its sales leadership in the U.S. market for airborne law enforcement helicopters, booking an order for an H125 AStar from the Utah Highway Patrol. Utah Highway Patrol already operates an AS350 B2, to conduct a wide variety of law enforcement, search and rescue and utility-type missions in Utah. Completion of… Read more »
Rope became entangled in main rotor during a manoevre with one skid on a rock ledge while hovering, Pilot Kent Harrison made some aggressive manoevres to avoid ground crews nearby, during which the tail hit a nearby cliff face. Helicopter continued spinning, but pilot regained some control and continued to a safer landing zone and… Read more »
Pilot Duane Fielding, of St. George, and his 14-year-old son/passenger were not seriously injured. Gust of wind while in a low hover led tail to touch the ground, causing the helicopter to become unstable and crash
This past week thirteen Upper Limit Aviation pilots were sworn in as official “special deputies” with the Iron County Sheriff’s Department. As special deputies, the ULA pilots can now land and pick up accident victims in support of search and rescue missions for the county. The formal title for the 13 pilots is “Iron County… Read more »
Northern California helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider, Advanced Helicopter Services (AHS), has announced the opening of a new regional helicopter support location at the Provo, Utah airport. The satellite maintenance facility will support a broad range of helicopter maintenance capabilities for multiple helicopter model types and mission profiles. AHS is a longtime MRO… Read more »
Main rotor and mast separated shortly after take-off from Sky Park Airport on post-maintenance test flight to track and balance the blades. Two fatalities named later as Claus Hauer and Bruce Orr
Upper Limit Aviation (ULA), one of the nation’s leading helicopter and fixed wing aircraft flight training programs announced today a partnership with Lending Resources LLC, to offer ULA students private student loan products to finance their professional aviation training and education. Designed to supplement other student sources of capital, the partnership with Lending Resources LLC allows select ULA… Read more »
FAA: “Went into an embankment and rolled onto its side”. One TV station reported it as a hard landing during a mission aimed at livestock predator control.
Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) recently signed a contract with Leading Edge Aviation (LEA) as the Helicopter Provider for the SLCC Professional Pilot – Rotary Wing AAS Degree in Salt Lake City. LEA, based in Bend, Oregon was chosen through a state bidding process. “Expansion into the Salt Lake City area in partnership with SLCC… Read more »
Students in Upper Limit Aviation’s (ULA) helicopter flight school will have two more helicopters to fly, thanks to a new lease agreement with Meridian Helicopters LLC. Meridian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Winnipeg-based Cadorath Group, has signed a two-year agreement with the school for the lease of two Bell 206L-3s. One helicopter will be based in… Read more »
Utah National Guard Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton questions the U.S. Army’s plan to take back all of their AH-64 Apache helicopters, 16 of which are here. See full story
Ken Sullivan, a 38-year-old medevac pilot living in Utah, is delighted to have been selected as a finalist for a one-way trip to Mars – but he didn’t tell his wife he was applying… See full story
Universal Helicopters (UHI) with locations in Arizona, Utah, Kansas, and California, is proud to announce that they are in their 10th year with no incident, accident, or crashes. Dr. Gordon A Jiroux, President and CEO of UHI, stated “with safety, quality and crash free flying as our primary focus each and every day, UHI is… Read more »
Classic Lifeguard announced the opening of its newest base of operations located in Moab, Utah. The new base will serve the region with premium air ambulance services and leading industry practices and technology. Classic Lifeguard has made the decision to relocate one of their medically configured Bell 407’s to Moab in order to more effectively… Read more »
University of Utah AirMed held an opening ceremony yesterday for their new base at Tooele in Utah. AirMed will be basing a Eurocopter EC145 there now. University of Utah Healthcare’s Air Medical Transport Team. AirMed was established in 1972 as the 8th air medical transport program in the nation. The University hospital provides services for one… Read more »
Universal Helicopters (UHI), with locations in Arizona, Utah (dealership location), Kansas, and California, has placed orders on six new Robinson helicopters. Dr. Gordon A Jiroux, President and CEO of UHI, stated “with the success and demand for enrollment at all of our locations with respect to several different colligate programs, in the last quarter of… Read more »
More than 5,000 flights have originated from Utah Valley Regional Medical Center since its Life Flight operation began full time at the hospital 13 years ago. See full story
Yesterday saw a Robinson R22 of Upper Limit Aviation suffer an accident on a training flight in mountainous terrain – see 08-Jul-13 N712U Robinson R22B American Fork Canyon, US-Utah. The instructor and student have been seriously injured. Our database now shows nine accidents for Upper Limit Aviation. Four of these have occurred since March 2011. The oldest… Read more »
Beginning Monday, June 10th, travelers on Highway 6 noticed a brand new helicopter proudly positioned on the helipad at Castleview Hospital [in Price, Utah Ed.]. The helicopter is operated by Eagle Air Med and will provide the city of Price and the surrounding area with an added resource for emergency response and quick patient transportation…. Read more »
Columbia Helicopters is responding to the sudden surge in fires across the western United States with four heavy-lift helicopters deployed to fires. This includes two aircraft assigned to the Black Forest Fire near Colorado Springs, CO. The company also has a helicopter working on a fire near Santa Fe, NM, as well as one near… Read more »
Price residents may have noticed a helicopter flying over the city on Friday. The new chopper caught the eye of many residents and will soon be a permanent fixture to the area (see full story)
Universal Helicopters (UHI), a leader in helicopter flight training, Night Flight Concepts (NFC), the leading provider of comprehensive night vision solutions, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s oldest and most prestigious aeronautical university and Dodge City Community College (DC3) are pleased to announce new training alliance to bring collegiate level NVG programs to the southwest…. Read more »
The Utah Highway Patrol/Department of Public Safety (DPS) Aero Bureau, recently selected the Becker Avionics DVCS6100 digital airborne audio control system for its newly ordered AS350 B3e multi-mission helicopter. The aircraft will initially deliver in May, followed by the completion phase at Hanger One Avionics’ facility in Carlsbad, CA. During that time the aircraft will… Read more »
In choosing a new helicopter, the team took test rides up to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, fully loaded with crew, equipment and fuel, said pilot Jeff Dansie. (see full story)
The National EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA) Board of Directors announced their annual work session will be held in late January in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Board of Directors, made up of 12 members will spend time working together to be the voice of the air medical pilot. “With many issues and challenges facing the… Read more »
Mountain Ridge Helicopters is now accredited through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). ACCSC is a recognized accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education. Mountain Ridge has been training pilots for careers in the helicopter industry for the last 6 years and focuses on high altitude, mountain training. With this accreditation… Read more »
Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq:AIRM), the global leader in air medical transportation, announced today it was selected as the air medical operator and began service for St. Mary’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center’s CareFlight program in Grand Junction, Colorado. This new contract has significant historical relevance since St. Mary’s was Air Methods’ first-ever air medical program… Read more »
Becker Avionics’ DVCS6100 Digital Audio System was recently selected for the new University of Utah AirMed EC145 Air Medical helicopter. The aircraft is a replacement for an older twin-engine helicopter in AirMed’s fleet. American Eurocopter in Texas recently delivered the helicopter to United Rotorcraft in Denver (a division of Air Methods Corp), where the aircraft… Read more »
“I believe just one citizen complained and made a big enough stink that he got an FAA inspector to come out,” said Tony Henderson, president of Classic Aviation. (see full story)
American Eurocopter announced today that it delivered an EC145® to the University of Utah’s AirMed Program. AirMed currently has a fleet of four helicopters. This is the program’s first Eurocopter aircraft and will be providing a much needed upgrade to one of its older aircraft. “We were getting to the point where it wasn’t cost… Read more »
Upper Limit Aviation (ULA) is proud to announce that our student, Ryan DeJong is the recipient of The Doug Doty Vertical Flight Foundation’s Accelerating Possibilities Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to pilots that have demonstrated their commitment and dedication in becoming professional pilots. The Doug Doty Vertical Flight Foundation is an organization that was founded… Read more »
American Eurocopter announced today that the Utah Highway Patrol has purchased an AS350® B3e for its Aero Bureau fleet. The new B3e will bring enhanced capabilities to the Bureau’s current fleet of two AS350 B2s that support law enforcement agencies statewide, whose efforts protect the citizens of Utah. “When we decided to add a third… Read more »
Three of the most sophisticated and safest medical helicopters in the world now call Utah home. The Intermountain Life Flight program, one of the nation’s first air medical transport and rescue services, has added three state-of-the-art Agusta Grand helicopters to its fleet to enhance safety, precision and maneuverability in the rescue and transportation of critically-ill… Read more »
Joshua Stubblefield, 31, Chris Spircu, 44, Paul Andrews, 32, and Todd Stuntzner, 45, died on Tuesday night when their single-engine Cirrus SR20 crashed near Zion National Park, according to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office. All four were tour pilots for Las Vegas operator Maverick Helicopters. The plane had departed from the North Las Vegas Airport… Read more »
Zion National Park is a big tourist attraction and a businessman wants to give visitors a view from above of the park and other attractions. But some residents, including the mayor, object to part of his plan. (see full story)
American Eurocopter announced today that University of Utah Health Care’s AirMed has ordered a new EC145® helicopter. AirMed was established in 1972 as the seventh air medical transport program in the country. This is the program’s first Eurocopter aircraft. “We are honored that such an outstanding program as AirMed has selected a Eurocopter product for… Read more »
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), is pleased to announce that Intermountain Healthcare’s (IHC) Life Flight in Utah has installed and is operating the world’s first AgustaWestland AW109SP Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) system. Longtime air medical operator IHC Life Flight selected the IBF system to reduce direct engine operating… Read more »
Mountain Ridge Helicopters is pleased to announce that the VA has approved it’s Flight Instructor Course which after completion the pilot will be able to perform one of the most vital and influential roles in aviation, instructing others how to fly helicopters. Now, students enrolling in the Flight Instructor Course at Mountain Ridge can receive financial benefits under either Chapter 30… Read more »
With the goal of better serving southern and central Utah regions, University of Utah Health Care’s AirMed and Mountain View Hospital welcomed guests today to celebrate AirMed’s new 24-hour aircraft base at Mountain View Hospital in Payson. The new base in Payson was a strategic move for AirMed, as the crew relocated to Mountain View… Read more »
Summit Air Ambulance is expanding its business with a new base in the Montana city of Belgrade, which they expect to have up and running by 1st January. (see full story). The company is based in Idaho and has a base at Boise in their home state of Idaho, as well as bases at Las… Read more »
MICHAEL ARMY AIRFIELD, Utah — The Project Offices for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Apache Attack Helicopter and Armed Scout Helicopter conducted an exercise showcasing advancements made in aircraft interoperability, referred to as the Manned Unmanned System Integration Capability Exercise at Michael Army Airfield, Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, on Sept. 16. The MUSIC exercise is the largest… Read more »
Three injured – pilot reported entered autorotation after engine failure. Pilot named as Ken Heidorn and passengers were Suzanne Tanner and her 15-year-old son
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Intermountain Healthcare has taken delivery of the first of five GrandNew helicopters. The aircraft is both the first of its kind to be completed in Philadelphia with an EMS configuration and to enter operations with a U.S. customer. The GrandNew will be operated by Intermountain Life… Read more »
Jeremy Johnson, of St. George, Utah, and scores of associated companies and individuals were sued by the Federal Trade Commission in Las Vegas last year in what the FTC called a nationwide scheme that operated online for years and that cost consumers $275 million. [file photo]
Vertical Aviation LLC, of Scottsdale Ariz., has added an EC130B4 to its 135 certificate. The Helicopter will be based in Provo Utah. The 2003 720tt hour ship just completed maintenance and conformity inspection at our facility and is on its way home. Helicopter features quiet technology Fenestron fan tail and seating for six in a… Read more »
Mountain Ridge Helicopters is ecstatic to announce they are now a Part 141 Certified Pilot School!  Private, Commercial and Flight Instructor Certification are now available under Part 141!!! Come celebrate this great achievement on May 21st with Mountain Ridge Helicopters as they host National Learn to Fly Day at the Logan/ Cache Airport in Northern Utah. Intro flights… Read more »
