Latest from Andrew Healey
Rotorcraft
China gives cool welcome to rotary-wing operations
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is generally seen as the next big market for the helicopter industry–OEMs, operators, training schools and maintenance
Schweizer Buy Broadens Sikorsky’s Horizons
Sikorsky president Steve Finger said that Schweizer’s “ability for rapid prototyping makes the company an excellent choice for advanced concept evaluation
Rotorcraft
Eurocopter seeks OK for IFR approaches to hover
Eurocopter is making further strides toward its aim of certifying a helicopter to make IFR approaches to a hover, over a given point on the ground and at a
Rotorcraft
Murphey To Lead US-101 Bid
AgustaWestland appointed former Bell CEO John Murphey to run Agusta-WestlandBell (AWB), the joint-venture company formed to manage the US-101 helicopter pr
Spreading the Load
A British company is finding success selling its portable helicopter landing pads in the Middle East.
Rotorcraft
Laser Radar for German Police
Germany’s Federal Border Police (FBP) EC 135s and EC 155s will be equipped with the EADS Defence Electronics Hellas obstacle-warning laser radar.
MDH Cuts Jobs
MD Helicopters has to slash its work force by a quarter.
Air Ambulance Funds Soar
The UK’s Kent Air Ambulance Trust is celebrating what it describes as “an amazing turnaround” in its fortunes.
Police Colibri a hangar queen?
The police helicopter in Edmonton, Alberta, spends 75 percent of its time on the ground, according to a criminologist, and the city council should decide w
Rotorcraft
Germany Takes on Danish Rescues
German air rescue operator DRF (Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht) is to fly cross-border aeromedical missions into Denmark.
Westland sale under scrutiny
The UK government is investigating GKN’s $1.79 billion (£1 billion) sale of its 50-percent stake in helicopter company AgustaWestland on grounds of nationa
Rotorcraft
New GE Medium-lifters Certified
The FAA has granted type certification to two new variants of GE’s CT7-8 turboshaft.
Malaysia institutes audit after fatal helo accident
The Malaysian government’s decision to ground a fleet of helicopters belonging
to state-owned operator Hornbill Skyways has disrupted life in Sarawak
to state-owned operator Hornbill Skyways has disrupted life in Sarawak
Rotorcraft
Full Icing Clearance In Sight for S-92
Sikorsky’s S-92 has successfully completed the artificial icing requirement of the FAA’s icing-certification program, thus preparing the aircraft for its f
Rotorcraft
CJ Systems Expands LifeFlight
CJ Systems Aviation Group is expanding its Baptist Hospital LifeFlight aeromedical program in Pensacola, Fla., with a second base at Mobile, Ala.
ATC
LAAS on back burner, but WAAS is heating up
The FAA’s decision to relegate the GPS Cat 1 local-area augmentation system (LAAS) to a mere R&D program (AIN, March 2004, page 1)
Rotorcraft
Borgman To Retire
Sikorsky announced that company chairman Dean Borgman will retire in July.
Training and Workforce
Sim training in demand for UK helicopter ops
Instrument-rated helicopter pilots are an expensive resource, particularly in the UK.
Small is beautiful
Robinson Helicopter CEO Frank Robinson has convinced the El Salvador National Police force that they should downshift to piston-powered helicopters.
EC 225 production ship airborne
The first production Eurocopter EC 225 medium twin made its maiden flight in late June.
Performance where it's needed
Boundary Layer Research has won FAA approval for a hover-performance increase of up to 250 pounds for Bell 204Bs, 205A-1s and UH-1Hs fitted with its tailbo
Firefighting rotorcraft showed their worth; Europe responds
Last year was something of a landmark in helicopter firefighting activity.
Charter & Fractional
America (still) rising, albeit slowly
Fledgling helicopter commuter airline America Rising has pushed back to 2006 the launch of its New York to Washington, D.C.
Who is buying UTair?
A mystery buyer has bought nearly half the shares in one of the world’s biggest helicopter operators, Russia’s UTair Aviation.
CHC pulls in the reins
CHC Helicopter is scaling back its offices in St.
Rotorcraft
Norsk Wins Barents Sea Contract
A 16-month, $16 million (including options) contract to service new Statoil Snøehvit production platforms in the Barents Sea has been awarded to Norsk Heli
Rotorcraft
European Feedback Needed
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is inviting European operators to comment on its proposed operations and licensing regulations.
Avionics
EGPWS Standard on S-76s, S-92s
Sikorsky plans to make Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS) standard equipment on all future production S-76s and S-92s.
Rotorcraft
Never say never again: Bond Helicopters returns
The prodigal sons of the North Sea oil-support community, brothers Stephen and Peter Bond, have returned to the fray more than eight weeks early.
Rotorcraft
‘Smart’ system could reduce helicopter noise and vibration
Reducing vibration and noise is key to the goal of gaining public acceptance of the rotorcraft as a routine mode of transport.
