General Aviation
News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Rotorcraft
Bristow, Helicentre Formalize Training Partnership
Bristow Group has selected Helicentre as its preferred provider of ab-initio commercial pilot training.
Rotorcraft
Bestfly Expands Leonardo Fleet
Angolan operator Bestfly is expanding its fleet of Leonardo helicopters to support offshore energy.
Accidents
NTSB: LASD Super Puma Crashed In Brownout
'Rescue 5' was responding to an emergency call and attempting to land when the helicopter became engulfed in dust, contacted a tree, and rolled over.
Charter & Fractional
Volare Expands Helo Ops At London Oxford
Volare Aviation has opened a dedicated helicopter maintenance, management and refurbishment facility at London Oxford Airport.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
LCI Doubles Helicopters in Joint Venture
Helicopter lessor LCI now has 38 aircraft in a joint venture with Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company.
Fuel
GA Leaders Optimistic about Unleaded Avgas by 2030
General aviation association leaders expressed optimism about the industry finding a drop-in unleaded aviation fuel solution during a session at SNF.
Avionics
TailBeaconX ADS-B/navlight Transponder Receives FAA STC
The supplemental type certificate for the uAvionix tailBeaconX ADS-B transponder offers a lower-cost way to achieve ADS-B Out compliance.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Adds To March Bookings
Leonardo booked orders for 23 helicopters worth $281 million in March.
Environment
Santa Monica Airport Converts to Unleaded Avgas
The self-serve avgas pumps at California’s Santa Monica Airport have transitioned to Swift UL94 unleaded aviation gasoline.
Avionics
Bell 212 Gets Archangel Upgrade
Central American Aviation Services has completed the first Bell 212 upgrade with the Archangel air data attitude/heading reference system.
Aircraft
Air Plains Services Exhibits Cessna 182XP 300hp at Sun n' Fun
Air Plains Services will showcase its extensive tip-to-tail refurbishment of a 1976 Cessna 182 which features a 300hp engine upgrade.
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Updates Beechcraft, Cessna Pistons
Textron Aviation is offering standard upgrades to new production Beechcraft Barons and Bonanzas as well as Cessna high-wing pistons.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Plays For The Rebound
Sikorsky's civil helicopter future is pegged to increased utility for its S-92A heavy twin.
Safety
AOPA ASI Launches Safety Campaign on VFR into IMC
ASI, which has found that pilots encounter VFR into IMC conditions on average every other week, is running a safety campaign to raise awareness of risks.
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Begins Deliveries of 10 Skyhawk Order
Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus took delivery of the first five Cessna 172 Skyhawk piston singles on Thursday.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
MD Helicopters Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
MD Helicopters receiving $60 million in debtor financing, will continue operating, while assets sold.
Avionics
GPS Antenna Coupler Prevents Test Interference
CCX's new antenna coupler facilitates testing of GPS receivers while avoiding interference with nearby aircraft.
Avionics
Five Flight Deck Instruments Join Mid-Continent's Flex Family
Mid-Continent Instruments unveiled five new instruments in its Flex family of customizable aircraft instrumentation.
Engines
Columbia, UAG Team To Support S-61 Helicopters
Columbia Helicopters and United Aero Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperatively support the Sikorsky S-61.
Rotorcraft
Marenco Seeks Financing for New Helicopter
Marenco still needs to attract investors for its prospective M12 single/hybrid and M22 twin-turbine helicopters project.
Avionics
Thommen Targets CRT-to-LCD Upgrade Market
Thommen is expanding its LCD manufacturing capabilities to deliver more LCDs for retrofit of aircraft with CRT-type displays.
Garmin Adds Touchscreen to Topline Aviator Watch
Garmin's new D2 Mach 1 watch adds a touchscreen and new functions such as information about glide distance and time.
Maintenance and Modifications
Dart Developing H145 Fire Attack System
FAA certification of Dart's fire attack system for the H145 expected later this year.
WAI Conference Honors Female Aviation Pioneers
The 33rd Women in Aviation International conference concluded with the culmination of a dinner banquet honoring the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees.
Rotorcraft
China Orders Six More Leonardo AW189s
Leonardo will deliver six AW189s to China’s Rescue and Salvage Bureau of Ministry of Transport
Aircraft
Unleaded Avgas Effort Kicks Into Gear
The Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions initiative held a meeting March 16-17 to advance the elimination of lead from avgas.
Regulations and Government
Leonardo Sells Two AW139s to U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration has ordered two AW139s.
Engines
Rolls-Royce Appoints New First Network Service Centers
Rolls-Royce (Booth 2817) has announced the appointment of five more new First (fully integrated Rolls-Royce support team) Network
Avionics
FreeFlight Develops Drop-in 5G Radar Altimeter Solution
FreeFlight has developed a drop-in 5G interference mitigation solution for its RA-4000 and RA-4500 radar altimeters.
Rotorcraft
Garmin Foresees GI 275 Certification in March
Garmin should have FAA supplemental type certification for the GI 275 electronic flight instrument in Part 27 helicopters in March.
