Latest from Mark Huber
Rotorcraft
Bell Retires V-280 Demonstrator
Bell is retiring its V-280 tiltrotor demonstrator to focus on the Army's next phase of future vertical lift competition.
Accidents
Settlement Reached in Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash
Operator, pilot's estate, settle with families in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash.
Accidents
Court Limits Access to NTSB Investigation Documents
U.S. Fifth Circuit rules that helitour crash counsel isn't entitled to view all interagency documents between the NTSB and parties to the investigation.
Rotorcraft
SAF Group Adding Three More Airbus H145s to Fleet
SAF is adding three more five-bladed Airbus Helicopters H145s to its air ambulance fleet in France and Belgium.
Accidents
Snorkel Suspect in Fatal Firefighting Copter Crash
The Black Hawk helicopter's snorkel was observed swinging "violently" before impacting the main rotors and perhaps the tailboom.
Aircraft
Fresh European Push on SAF
Airbus, Safran, Dassault, Onera, and the French Ministry of Transport launch study to evaluate burning 100 percent SAF.
Rotorcraft
Customs To Investigate Helicopter Use on Protestors
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said it would investigate the use of one of its helicopters at a Minnesota protest.
Engines
Safran Arrano Helicopter Engine Gets FAA Nod
Safran Arrano engine approval brings FAA certification closer for Airbus Helicopters H160.
Rotorcraft
DOD IG Report Critical of 'Dusting' Protestors with Helos
This latest incident fuels the debate on the proper use of law enforcement helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Attorney Bailey, Former Enstrom Company Owner, Dies
F. Lee Bailey owned Enstrom from 1971-1979.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Taps Gorka as Russian Distributor
Gorka previously announced maintenance agreements covering Airbus EC130 and AS350 series helicopters.
Accidents
NTSB: Spatial Disorientation Cause of AW139 Crash
The NTSB concluded that spatial disorientation was the cause of the 2019 night AW139 crash in the Bahamas.
Rotorcraft
VAST Seeks To Harmonize Helicopter Safety Sharing
The Vertical Aviation Safety Team's mission is to build on industry best practices and the latest international standards.
Accidents
Helo Safety Experts Stress IIMC Avoidance Over Recovery
Webinar participants stress the need for better preflight and enroute weather decision-making.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Narrows Losses On Declining Revenues
Bristow Group says it expects the offshore helicopter market to recover in late 2021.
Accidents
Helo Crashed while Testing New Fire Bucket System
All four aboard the Brainerd Helicopters UH-60A were killed during the test of a new fire bucket release system.
Rotorcraft
Subaru and Bell Deliver First 412EPX
Japan’s national police has taken delivery of the first customer production Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Completes First Five-blade H145 Retrofit
Airbus Helicopters has performed the first conversion of a four-blade H145 light twin to the new five-blade version.
Rotorcraft
Universal and Bell Team On 505 Training
Universal Helicopters (UHI) is partnering with Bell to deliver pilot training in the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light turbine single.
Rotorcraft
Airbus H160 Earns JCAB Approval
Airbus Helicopters’ H160 medium twin has been granted type certification by Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau.
Rotorcraft
Insurer Seeks Removal from Bryant Crash Lawsuit
OC Helicopter insurer Endurance claims $10 million policy does not cover rotorcraft.
Rotorcraft
Helo IMC Avoidance Course Launched
The USHST and HAI have launched the “56 Seconds to Live” course on line.
Rotorcraft
Bell Delivers 300th Jet Ranger X
The first Bell 505 was delivered in 2017. Today 300 aircraft are in operation across six continents.
Rotorcraft
Rotor Leaders Stress Digital, Performance Advances
Tomorrow's rotorcraft could have systems updated in flight.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters H145 Simulator Lands in U.S.
A Thales Airbus Helicopters H145 simulator has been installed at Helisim’s simulation center on the Airbus campus in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Fuel
U.S. Pipeline Closure Could Disrupt Jet-A Supply
Ransomware attack on Colonial pipeline could wreak havoc on U.S. East Coast aviation operations.
Rotorcraft
Columbia and Aurora Team On Vision System
Columbia Helicopters and Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences team to develop vision system for daylight firefighting.
Rotorcraft
Robinson Helicopter Logs 13,000th Delivery
Robinson has been manufacturing helicopters since 1979.
Rotorcraft
Bell Nears Final Fix for Cracked 505 Collectives
The company says it has enough stock of replacement collective sticks to cover the entire 505 fleet.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Opens $80M Philadelphia Training Center
The new Leonardo academy will be operated by Rotorsim, a joint venture between Leonardo and CAE.
