Latest from Mark Huber
Rotorcraft
EASA Proposes Modifications for Overwater Helo Ops
EASA is proposing equipment changes for Part 27 and 29 helicopters that are operated for extended periods over water.
Accidents
Mexico AW109 Crash Now a Homicide Investigation
Mexican authorities have detained four people in connection with the December 2018 fatal crash of a 2011 Leonardo AW109S.
Regulations and Government
Congress Nixes 'Surprise Air Ambulance Bills'
Covid relief legislation ends health insurance denials for "out-of-network" transports.
Rotorcraft
DOT Watchdog Gives FAA Fresh 'Doors Off' Upbraiding
DOT IG critical of FAA current supervision of "doors off" helitour flights.
Rotorcraft
Air Methods Takes Aim at Helicopter EMS Membership Programs
The nation’s largest helicopter air ambulance company has launched a full-frontal assault on competitors who sell annual “memberships.”
Rotorcraft
Heli-Union Signs Up for Airbus H160s
Héli-Union is purchasing two new multi-mission Airbus H160 medium twins.
Rotorcraft
Bell V-280 Flies with Sling Loads
The Bell V-280 tiltrotor was recently flown with a new tactical common datalink (TCDL) and completed external sling load sorties.
Avionics
H135 Gets New Max Weight, Single-pilot IFR Upgrades
Airbus's H135 light twin gets a 265-pound boost in mtow, along with a new single-pilot IFR cockpit.
Maintenance and Modifications
Safran Signs China Utility To Engine Support Program
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a Support-By-Hour contract with State Grid General Aviation Company of China.
Rotorcraft
FAA's Dickson Warns 'Disruptions' Could Affect Safety
FAA administrator Steve Dickson describes risks resulting from changes caused by the pandemic.
Rotorcraft
HAI, FAA Call for Voluntary Rotorcraft Safety Retrofits
HAI president and FAA administrator call for retrofit of crash resistant fuel systems, seats, and structures in legacy helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Bell Acquires Fuel Cell Maker
Bell Textron has acquired Rhode Island-based Response Technologies, a manufacturer of fuel cells and polymers.
Rotorcraft
Hill Helicopters To Offer HX50 as Kit
Hill Helicopters said its five-seat HX50 turbine single will initially be offered as an amateur-built aircraft in 2023 for $662,000.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Delivering 17 More AW139s to Italian Air Force
Leonardo has delivered the first of 17 multirole HH-139B twin-engine helicopters to the Italian Air Force.
Aircraft
LifeFlight Opens Singapore Base
Australia's LifeFlight air ambulance service is opening a base in Singapore.
Avionics
iFlightPlanner Integrated with iFly GPS
iFlightPlanner’s “Bring Your Own EFB” program has been enhanced with the integration with iFly GPS.
Aircraft
Piaggio Avanti Fleet Tops One Million Flight Hours
Piaggio Aerospace’s P.180 Avanti turboprop fleet has amassed one million flight hours since first flight in 1986.
Maintenance and Modifications
GE Aviation Digital Joins Software Business
GE Aviation’s Digital Group has joined the GE’s software business, GE Digital.
Rotorcraft
New Survitec Emergency Breathing System Offers More Air
Survitec's new Emergency Breathing System (EBS) offers offshore helicopter passengers and crew more air.
Maintenance and Modifications
Tamarack Explores New Winglet Offerings
Tamarack said the manufacturer of the Atlas active winglet system is expanding into new bizav, military, and commercial airliner markets
Rotorcraft
Airbus VSR700 Makes ATOLs from Moving Deck
Airbus's optionally piloted vehicle recently made fully autonomous takeoff and landing approaches to and from a moving deck simulator.
Avionics
Thales, StandardAero Fly AStar with 4-Axis Autopilot
Thales and StandardAero anticipate FAA STC approval of the four-axis AStar autopilot by mid-2021.
Regulations and Government
Air Methods Settles Suit Over Crumbling Pitot Tubes
Air ambulance provider Air Methods will pay $825,000 to settle Justice Department suit alleging it flew a helicopter with crumbling pitot tubes.
Rotorcraft
Five-bladed Airbus H145 Gets FAA TC
Airbus’s new five-bladed H145 helicopter has received FAA type certification (TC) with the first U.S. delivery slated to occur early next year.
Rotorcraft
Brazil's Federal Police Orders Six Leonardo AW119Kxs
Brazil’s Polícia Rodoviária Federal (PRF) has ordered six AW119Kx turbine single-engine helicopters.
Rotorcraft
HAI Commits To In-person Heli-Expo 2021
The Helicopter Association International said it will hold its annual Heli-Expo trade show next March in New Orleans.
Rotorcraft
Blade India Launches Mumbai-Pune Service
Blade India using Bell 407 and Airbus H130 aircraft to slash travel times.
Accidents
NTSB: Spatial Disorientation Triggered Aeromed Fatal
Helicopter spun near the runway and impacted terrain at night, in fog.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Delivers First Ansat to Europe
Russian Helicopters has made its first European delivery of an Ansat light twin.
Rotorcraft
Bell Teams with Germany's RAS for 505 Sales
Bell has appointed Rheinland Air Service (RAS) as the first authorized German dealer for the Bell 505 turbine light single.
