Latest from Mark Huber
Rotorcraft
Bell 505 Fleet Hits 50,000 Flight Hours
The fleet of more than 260 in-service Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light single turbine helicopters has accumulated more than 50,000 flight hours.
Rotorcraft
Hill Unveils HX50 Helo Interior
HX50 helicopter interior designed to mirror that of a premium luxury automobile.
Accidents
Bryant's Widow Names Helo Flight Broker in Suit
The operator of the fatal flight that killed Kobe Bryant, OC Helicopters, has been added to the defendant list.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Helo Lessor LCI Partners With Sumitomo Mitsui Finance
LCI and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing have agreed to establish a joint-venture helicopter leasing business.
Rotorcraft
Five-bladed Airbus H145 Enters Offshore Wind Market
HTM-Helicopters will be the first operator to use the new five-bladed Airbus H145 D3 in the offshore wind market.
Maintenance and Modifications
NASA Selects Airbus HCare for H135s
NASA has signed a $15 million HCare Infinite maintenance agreement with Airbus Helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Wind Could Rescue Offshore Helicopter Industry
Study predicts $166 billion investment in U.S. offshore wind by 2035.
Rotorcraft
HAI Looks To Reboot Safety Accreditation Program
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is looking to reboot its Accreditation Program of Safety (APS) later this year.
Airlines
Boutique Air Grows With PC-12s
California-based Boutique Air serves 29 U.S. airports in 17 states nationwide, operating a fleet of 27 Pilatus PC-12-45 and PC-12-47 aircraft.
Maintenance and Modifications
Foresight MX HUMS Approved for AStars
GPMS has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification approval for its Foresight MX health monitoring system on the Airbus AS350.
Rotorcraft
FlightSafety To Support U.S. Navy's TH-73A Training
FlightSafety International has been awarded a contract to support of the U.S. Navy’s advanced helicopter training system.
Maintenance and Modifications
Erickson Acquires Type Certificate for Bell 214
Bell has begun type certificate (TC) transfer for the model 214ST and B/B1 helicopters to Erickson.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Rebrands Helicopter Operation in Brazil
Bristow Group is rebranding its wholly-owned Brazilian subsidiary Aeroleo and is writing off its investment in another Brazilian operator Lider.
Rotorcraft
Airbus To Begin UH-72B Army Deliveries in 2021
The updated helicopter replaces the tailrotor on the UH-72A Lakota with a Fenestron.
Rotorcraft
Tokyo Government Evaluating Leonardo AW609 Tiltrotor
Tokyo’s Metropolitan Government is evaluating the Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor to deliver service to Ogasawara island.
Rotorcraft
MD530F Helicopter Gets Gross Weight Increase
MD Helicopters has received FAA approval to increase the MD530F’s max gross take-off weight from 3,100 to 3,350 pounds.
Accidents
Kobe Crash Copter Company Blaming ATC
Island Express Helicopters is blaming the fatal crash of its S-76 on air traffic controllers.
Accidents
NTSB Illuminates Pilot Performance in AW139 Fatal
The Leonardo AW139 crashed on July 4, 2019 shortly after lifting off from a private helipad in the Bahamas.
Rotorcraft
Hill Helicopters Developing Turbine Light Single
UK-based Hill Helicopters has unveiled a new light turbine single helicopter design, the HX50.
Security
FAA To Evaluate Drone-mitigation Technology
The FAA will evaluate at least 10 drone mitigation technologies/systems at its William J. Hughes Technical Center in New Jersey.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Agencies Issue Advisory on Drone Mitigation
A new advisory issued jointly by four U.S. federal agencies provides "legal landscape" on drone mitigation technology.
Rotorcraft
K-Max Leaps From Unmanned to Autonomous Operations
Near Earth Autonomy and Kaman Aerospace have developed an intelligent autonomy system for the K-Max helicopter.
Charter & Fractional
Sundance Helicopters Goes Bust in Las Vegas
Las Vegas-based Sundance Helicopters announced the permanent closure of its air tour operations after the Covid pandemic caused a steep drop in demand.
Rotorcraft
HAI Commits To Heli-Expo 2021 Show in New Orleans
In the face of continuing Covid safety concerns, HAI has reaffirmed its intention to hold its annual Heli-Expo trade show next March 22-25 in New Orleans.
Aircraft
Airbus Delivering New Fleet of H125s to U.S. Customs
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of 16 new H125 helicopters uniquely configured for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Prepping Skid Kit for AW169
Leonardo is progressing with a skid kit for its AW169 medium twin helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Bell Buyers Get Free SiriusXM
Bell is giving new buyers of its civil helicopters a free, three-month subscription to SiriusXM aviation weather and entertainment.
Security
U.S. Nears Law Banning Chinese Drones
An amendment to ban U.S. government use of Chinese drones appears almost certain to become law within weeks.
Air Force Huey Hit by Ground Fire in Virginia
A single bullet struck the helicopter, damaging it and causing minor injuries to a crew member.
