Latest from Mark Huber
Accidents
Los Angeles Drone Pilot Faces Year in Prison
The pilot of drone that hit an LAPD helicopter is facing federal charges for the unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft.
Safety
TOP FLIGHT AWARDS NOMINEES: Safety
The safety nominees for the Top Flight Awards highlight many interesting new technologies.
Rotorcraft
TOP FLIGHT AWARDS NOMINEES: Rotorcraft
The Rotorcraft category saw two new helicopters introduced during the Top Flight Awards time period.
Aircraft
TOP FLIGHTS AWARDS NOMINEES: New Turboprops
There were a number of candidates for new turboprops in this year's Top Flight Awards.
Aircraft
TOP FLIGHT AWARDS NOMINEES: New Jets
Technology continues to advance in the business jet market as seen in these Top Flight Awards nominees.
Rotorcraft
Lemmo To Succeed Retiring Sikorsky Prez Schultz
Sikorsky Aircraft president Dan Schultz will retire in early 2021, be replaced by Lockheed Martin executive Paul Lemmo.
Rotorcraft
Navy Orders Second Block of Leonardo TH-73A Trainers
Leonardo will deliver another 36 TH-73A turbine single helicopters under a new $171 million award.
Aircraft
Reno Races In Jeopardy
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) needs $500,000 in donations to continue operations.
Rotorcraft
CalGuard Pilots Recount Rescuing Hundreds from Inferno
California Air National Guard Chinook pilots were "deep into luck bag" during perilous evacuation.
Accidents
Two Dead after Pair of Guimbal G2s Collide in Malaysia
Two dead, two survive after a pair of Guimbal Cabri G2 light helicopters collided in mid-air on Sunday in Malaysia.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Delivers 1,400th H135 Light Twin Helicopter
Airbus Helicopters has delivered its 1,400th H135 light twin. The ship was sold to French HEMS operator Mont Blanc.
Rotorcraft
First Leonardo Trekker Ordered for U.S. EMS Market
U.S. EMS operator Life Link III has ordered the first Leonardo AW109 Trekker light twin for the U.S. air ambulance market.
Rotorcraft
LA Sheriff Uses Helicopters To Deliver Ballots
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department began using its helicopter fleet to securely deliver ballot boxes
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Takes New Look at Urban Air Noise
Airbus research into helicopter noise is being used to evaluate potential eVTOL designs.
Avionics
Maverick Is Launch Customer for Spidertracks FDM
Maverick Helicopters will be the launch customer for Spidertracks’ Insights virtual flight data recorder technology on its Spider X.
Engines
Hill Developing Own Helicopter Engine for HX50
Hill Helicopters revealed its 400-shp Hill GT50 light turbine engine designed specifically for the new Hill HX50 single.
Rotorcraft
Trump's S-76B For Sale
N76DT, s/n 760351 is listed by Aero Asset with a price of “make offer,” but is believed to have a market value near $800,000.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Launches Indonesian Test Program
Russian Helicopters has launched an operations pilot test program for its Mi-8/171 twin in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Regulations and Government
FAA FSDOs Move into Virtual Plane
The FAA is conducting more business virtually in Covid-19 era: 5,000 Zoom meetings a day.
Regulations and Government
FAA Developing Broader SMS Mandate for Part 135 and 145
FAA hopes to have a proposed rule mandating broader safety management systems (SMS) ready by 2022.
Rotorcraft
Vanderbilt LifeFlight Is Air Medical Program of Year
Tennessee’s Vanderbilt LifeFlight has been named the air medical program of the year by the Association of Air Medical Services.
Rotorcraft
Air Methods Settles California Overtime Claims for $78M
Air Methods settled a seven-year class action suit brought by its California flight crews.
Rotorcraft
Bell Delivers Three 407GXis To Polish National Police
The delivery marks the fifth Bell sent to Poland this year.
Accidents
Inquiry Clears Crew in Fatal 2013 Super Puma Crash
Accident triggered by "perfect storm of circumstances."
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Affirms Support for Convicted CEO
Leonardo said it would stand behind CEO Alessandro Profumo while he appeals fraud conviction.
Rotorcraft
AW139 Enlisted To Support Giant Red Sea Project
The Helicopter Company will provide a Leonardo AW139 helicopter and crew to support construction of the Kingdom's massive Red Sea project.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Helicopters Signs Air Methods to HCare Support
Air ambulance provider Air Methods has signed a $24 million, five-year HCare Smart support contract with Airbus Helicopters, Inc.
Rotorcraft
Miami-Dade Fire Gets First Leonardo AW139
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) has taken delivery of the first of four AW139s ordered last year.
Airports
London Heli Shuttle Driving Traffic at Biggin Hill
London Biggin Hill Airport is seeing more traffic during the Covid-19 pandemic with the help of the London Heli Shuttle.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
More Insurance Pain Forecast for Rotor Industry
Helicopter insurance premiums are rising in a "hard market" that could last another two years.
