Latest from Mark Huber
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.
Rotorcraft
FAA International Rotorcraft Safety Conference Goes Virtual
Online registration for the FAA’s first virtual International Rotorcraft Safety Conference is now open.
Rotorcraft
Robinson Delivers 1,000th R66 Turbine Helicopter
The R66 fleet surpassed 1.2 million flight hours as Robinson delivered the 1,000th example.
Rotorcraft
Bell Opens New Manufacturing Tech Center in Texas
Bell's manufacturing technology center is a roadmap to future factories.
Rotorcraft
Bell Opens Wichita Facility
Bell's new Wichita facility was previously occupied by sister company Textron Aviation.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Breaks Ground on Temp Facility in Florida
Leonardo broke ground this week on its U.S. Navy TH-73A temporary support facility at the Peter Prince Airport in Milton, FL.
Rotorcraft
Air Ambulances Successfully Navigating Covid Skies
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the air ambulance industry is holding its own—for now.
Rotorcraft
USAIG Safety Bucks Fully Cover Airbus Helo IIMC Course
Aircraft insurer USAIG customers can now use their $2,500 Safety Bucks To Cover Airbus Helicopters' IIMC Course.
Rotorcraft
One in Five S-92 Helicopters Parked
Some 39 Sikorsky S-92s, comprising 19 percent of the global market, remain parked during the downturn.
Rotorcraft
Bell Embraces Virtual Reality to Design Helicopters
Bell is using augmented and virtual reality, computer gaming technology, to develop new aircraft.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
GECAS Slashes Milestone's Value by $729M
GECAS has written down the value of its Milestone Aviation helicopter leasing unit by $729 million.
