Latest from Mark Huber
Safety
AAMS Pushes Mandated NVGs, IFR for Helo EMS
The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is recommending the FAA mandate night vision goggles, enhanced vision systems or IFR-only operations for all
Accidents
Complex web of factors blamed in HEMS crashes
There is no “magic bullet” solution to the spate of fatal helicopter EMS crashes over the last two years. Rather, investigation documents
Safety
HEMS Crash Documents Reveal Varied, Complex Causes
Not surprisingly, there is no “magic bullet” solution to the spate of fatal helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) crashes over the last two years.
Rotorcraft
Schweizer 434 Makes First Flight
The Schweizer 434 made its first flight on December 18 at Horseheads, N.Y., and deliveries to overseas military customers are scheduled to begin next month
Accidents
PHI S-76 Down In Louisiana
Six of seven passengers and both pilots died when a two-year-old Sikorsky S-76C++ crashed into
Rotorcraft
Heli-skiing: pristine powder awaits adventurous skiers
For an elite band of thrill-seekers and the pilots who fly them, heli-skiing is the ultimate adrenaline rush.“We change people’s lives,” said M
Rotorcraft
Stabilizer woes prompt AD for Explorers
MD Helicopters Explorer Models 900 and 902 are the subject of an FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive (2008-22-53) following several recent reports of los
Rotorcraft
More Eurocopters for U.S. Law Enforcement In Florida and Texas
Last month the Aviation Unit of Miami-Dade Police Department took delivery of the first of four new Eurocopter AS 350B3s.
Rotorcraft
Sky Shuttle Takes 200th AW139
AgustaWestland last month announced the delivery of the 200th AW139.
Rotorcraft
Czech Firm Bids for PZL-Swidnik
Czech-based Aero Vodochody is bidding for the takeover of Polish helicopter manufacturer PZL-Swidnik, which is to be privatized.
Rotorcraft
Spanish Line Begins Delivering EC 135
Eurocopter’s final assembly line in Albacete, Spain, in late November delivered its first aircraft, an EC 135.
Airports
Meigs Field Butcher Arrested in Blagojevich Scandal
One of the chief architects of the 2003 demolition of Chicago’s Meigs Field has been arrested on federal bribery, corruption and fraud charges that include
U.S. Helicopter Expects To Resume Wall Street Service
A spokesman for U.S.
Regulations and Government
More regulation likely for helo EMS industry
Change is coming to the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) industry, and once the dust settles there could be fewer providers flying fewer helico
Aircraft
Luxury cars inspire Learjet 85 cabin
While Bombardier’s split with Grob on the Learjet 85 program was one topic of conversation at the NBAA Convention in October, it was that aircraft’s cabin
Accidents
FAA Publishes Helo EMS Rule Changes
Late last week the FAA published long-awaited proposed revisions in the operations specification governing helicopter EMS (HEMS) flights under Part 135 wit
Security
Insurers and FAA Proposing Helo EMS Changes
Earlier this week the NTSB announced that it would hold a three-day public hearing beginning February 3 to examine helicopter EMS (HEMS) accidents, and now
Avionics
BAE Systems intros Q-HUD for light jets
BAE Systems is aiming a new compact and lightweight head-up display, called Q-HUD, at a wide market that includes light and midsize business jets.
Rotorcraft
More delays possible for Bell 429?
Despite a recent executive shake-up at Bell Helicopter, company executives insist that the new $4.865 million (2007) Model 429 light twin will receive cert
Rotorcraft
Bell 429 Nears Certification, Gets Speed Boost
The new Bell 429 light twin will have a faster top cruise speed than the previously published 142 knots, program director Neil Marshall told AIN
FBOs
Republican Convention provides first test for newly opened Key Air
Three days before the start of this year’s Republican National Convention (RNC) in Saint Paul, one of the Minnesota Twin Cities’ biggest fly-ins of transie
Accidents
Phoenix ENG midair spurs reforms
A fatal midair between two television news helicopters in Phoenix last year has prompted better communications and procedures within the local helicopter c
Rotorcraft
After short development, X2 makes first flight
Sikorsky’s futuristic X2 is up and flying, but it could be a decade before the technology is applied commercially, according to program manager Jim Kagdis.
Without Grob, Bombardier starts fresh on Learjet 85
At a media briefing here yesterday, Bombardier Learjet vice president and general manager David Coleal strongly hinted that very little of the structural d
Chaotic day on wall street stokes industry concerns
World financial markets continued their downward slide yesterday amid fresh worries that declining corporate earnings could further soften the used jet mar
Rotorcraft
Boeing Investigating Disc Rotor
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) is giving Boeing $9 million over the next two years to investigate the feasibility of developing a di
Rotorcraft
Atlanta Residents Resent Helipads
The FAA reports that there are 99 approved helipads within a 20-nm radius of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and approval for four more is pending
