Sikorsky has delivered the first of two VIP S-92s to the Turkish National Police for service to the Turkish Prime Ministry, under a contract signed in 2011. The new helicopters will support the head-of-state function, currently served by one S-92.
Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tiltrotors and unmanned air vehicles.
June 4, 2013 - 4:35am
Eurocopter has inaugurated its Systemhaus, a €100 million ($130 million) helicopter development center built at its existing site in Donauwörth, Germany. With a total floor area of 300,000 sq ft, it is the new workplace for about 900 employees previously located in Ottobrunn. The facility features research and test facilities that will be used notably for the still-under-wraps X9 program.
June 4, 2013 - 12:45am
In Afghanistan, soldiers still pull the trigger. Civilian contractors do almost everything else. While the U.S. and its allies may be preparing for a troop draw-down there next year, for the contractors flying an assortment of 50 helicopters in country, things have never been busier or better.
June 2, 2013 - 5:00am
Contrary to the hopes of most French helicopter EMS operators, French doctors have issued a motion calling for the soon-to-be-mandatory second flight crewmember to be a trained paramedic. New rules at the European level will mandate such a second crewmember, for some operations, beginning in October next year.
June 2, 2013 - 3:40am
For Phoenix Heliparts, this year’s Heli-Expo show resulted in the sale of two helicopters, thanks to the display of the rebuilt MD500 flown for the television show Magnum, P.I. Based in Mesa, Ariz., Phoenix Heliparts celebrated its 10th anniversary at the show, where on March 5, Magnum, P.I. stars Larry Manetti and Roger Mosley signed “The Chopper.” On June 3, The Chopper receives its official Hawaiian blessing as it enters service in the Paradise Helicopters fleet at the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu.
June 2, 2013 - 1:25am
Aircraft synthetic-vision systems (SVS), when combined with GPS, gyros, accelerometers and terrain and obstacle databases, provide pilots with a colorful, animated depiction of the world outside the cockpit, matching what they would see looking through the windshield on a clear day. But to really see what is outside in dark or low-visibility conditions, you need an infrared (IR) camera. When you add forward-looking IR to SVS, you get a heat-referenced, real-world view along with a 3-D, database-derived and geo-referenced virtual view. Together they are called enhanced or combined SVS.
May 30, 2013 - 3:15pm
AFHSH, the French Association of doctors who use helicopter EMS, has proposed using trained paramedics to satisfy new European rules that will mandate a second crewmember for HEMS operations beginning in October next year. According to the association, the additional cost of a second pilot would be prohibitive for hospitals. Therefore, it proposes training a paramedic for those missions when a “second pair of eyes” is needed in the front seats, but only in VMC.
May 28, 2013 - 3:45pm
The Sikorsky S-76D medium-twin helicopter is continuing its envelope expansion and is approaching the first customer delivery. The initial certification received in October was just a baseline, suitable for most operators and most conditions, Sikorsky director of commercial programs Dan Hunter told AIN.
May 23, 2013 - 6:40am
Martin Bauer, managing director of business aircraft maintenance specialist Aero-Dienst (Booth 2151), is worrying that cheap maintenance packages offered by U.S. MRO players are drying up the European market. The Nuremberg, Germany-based firm is struggling to fill slots in its workshops, especially for heavy checks.
May 23, 2013 - 6:10am
Auch, France-based JCB Aero (Booth 2243) has completed an extensive woodwork job as part of an Embraer Legacy 600 refurbishment, it announced here at EBACE. The describes itself as a fully skilled completion center for business aircraft.
