The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has agreed to pay the FAA $3.5 million in fines for numerous violations of airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) standards that occurred between December 2010 and June 2012 at John F. Kennedy (JFK), Teterboro (TEB), La Guardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR) airports.
Rescue
April 4, 2013 - 3:10am
Two Bond Offshore Helicopters search-and-rescue crewmen, winch operators Paul Walters and Andrew Cowx, have been awarded the 2012 Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy, in recognition of their role in a dramatic North Sea rescue last December. Their Eurocopter AS332L2 Super Puma was first to reach the rig standby vessel Vos Sailor, which had lost power in darkness and poor sea conditions. Despite an injured foot, Cowx volunteered to remain on the deck of the stricken vessel for an hour. There, he managed the rescue of three remaining members of the ship’s crew.
April 2, 2013 - 3:05pm
AOPA “vigorously opposes” the U.S. Federal Communication Commission’s plan to prohibit the future use of emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) that use a 121.5-MHz signal. The proposal will have a negative effect on aviation safety, according to AOPA, and the association told the FCC it should immediately abandon its proposed rule changes and defer to the FAA on matters of aviation safety. According to AOPA, there are more than 200,000 general aviation aircraft still carrying 121.5-MHz ELTs.
March 6, 2013 - 4:40pm
Priority 1 Air Rescue Services (Booth No. N5012) announced Monday the opening of its new Search and Rescue–Tactical Training Academy (SART/TAC) in Mesa, Ariz. The company says the 6,000-sq-ft facility is the first instructional center focused on providing helicopter SAR and tactical mission aircrew training for government agencies and commercial operators.
March 6, 2013 - 4:00pm
HAI’s Salute To Excellence awards recognized several EMS professionals this year. Presentations were made at the organization’s annual dinner here last night at Heli-Expo.
March 5, 2013 - 7:40pm
In an expanded display for Heli-Expo ’13, LifeBlanket (Booth No. C2313) is showing its original Pocket Rescue Bivy ultralight emergency shelter, Tech Tarp Personal Survival Equipment and original Cowboy Blankets, along with its updated +LifeBlanket patient-packaging systems and modular FR ANSI safety vests.
LifeBlanket manufactures all-weather patient packaging for EMS medical transport, disaster response, personal emergency and search-and-rescue gear.
March 5, 2013 - 6:30pm
Avincis Group has taken delivery of the first of its record order of 16 new Sikorsky S-92s. The order, placed in December 2011, is the largest single purchase of S-92s ever made, according to the UK-based operator. The Avincis fleet is expected to provide offshore oil and gas worker transportation and serve in a search-and-rescue role.
March 5, 2013 - 3:00pm
A live helicopter rescue demonstration organized by UTC Aerospace (Booth No. C2425) was abruptly cancelled Sunday morning when, moments before the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police crew began to lower the fast-line, they received an emergency call for the real thing.
With an audience of more than 70 and two television crews watching from the roof of the Wynn Encore parking garage, the UH-1H main door closed and the helicopter banked abruptly away, headed for Red Rock Canyon, a rugged area about 20 miles west of Las Vegas, to assist an injured hiker.
March 4, 2013 - 12:30pm
In an expanded display for Heli-Expo ’13, LifeBlanket (Booth No. 2313) is displaying its original Pocket Rescue Bivy ultralight emergency shelter, Tech Tarp Personal Survival Equipment and original Cowboy Blankets, along with its updated +LifeBlanket patient-packaging systems and modular FR ANSI safety vests.
LifeBlanket, based in Colorado, manufactures all-weather patient packaging for medical transport, disaster response, personal emergency and search-and-rescue gear.
January 16, 2013 - 12:25pm
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission issued a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing the manufacture, sale and use of emergency locator transmitters that broadcast solely on 121.5 MHz. Comments on the NPRM are due 30 days from publication in the Federal Register, according to the National Air Transportation Association. Publication is expected next week.
