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.
Avionics
Moog Buys Genesys Aerosystems
Flight control manufacturer Moog is adding to its capabilities with the purchase of Genesys Aerosystems.
Regulations and Government
Congress Nixes 'Surprise Air Ambulance Bills'
Covid relief legislation ends health insurance denials for "out-of-network" transports.
Rotorcraft
Air Methods Takes Aim at Helicopter EMS Membership Programs
The nation’s largest helicopter air ambulance company has launched a full-frontal assault on competitors who sell annual “memberships.”
Rotorcraft
DOT Watchdog Gives FAA Fresh 'Doors Off' Upbraiding
DOT IG critical of FAA current supervision of "doors off" helitour flights.
Rotorcraft
Heli-Union Signs Up for Airbus H160s
Héli-Union is purchasing two new multi-mission Airbus H160 medium twins.
Avionics
H135 Gets New Max Weight, Single-pilot IFR Upgrades
Airbus's H135 light twin gets a 265-pound boost in mtow, along with a new single-pilot IFR cockpit.
Turtle Fliers Save a Large Load of Stranded Turtles
A Saab 340 was drafted to carry 120 cold-stunned turtles to aquariums in Texas.
Maintenance and Modifications
Safran Signs China Utility To Engine Support Program
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a Support-By-Hour contract with State Grid General Aviation Company of China.
Avionics
Garmin Adds Smart Rudder Bias to Piston Twins
Smart Rudder Bias is the newest addition to the Garmin Autonomi family and brings new safety features to piston twins.
Avionics
Icon Offers G3X Upgrade for A5 Amphibian
Icon A5 buyers can now purchase an optional Garmin G3X Touch display and two-axis autopilot.
Rotorcraft
HAI, FAA Call for Voluntary Rotorcraft Safety Retrofits
HAI president and FAA administrator call for retrofit of crash resistant fuel systems, seats, and structures in legacy helicopters.
Rotorcraft
FAA's Dickson Warns 'Disruptions' Could Affect Safety
FAA administrator Steve Dickson describes risks resulting from changes caused by the pandemic.
Avionics
Garmin Upgrades GTN Xi Navigators
New features for the Garmin GTN XI navigators are available with a software update.
Rotorcraft
Bell Acquires Fuel Cell Maker
Bell Textron has acquired Rhode Island-based Response Technologies, a manufacturer of fuel cells and polymers.
Aircraft
EcoPulse Team Completes Preliminary Design Review
The hybrid-electric EcoPulse design, based on a TBM airframe, is being prepared for its first flight in 2022.
Rotorcraft
Hill Helicopters To Offer HX50 as Kit
Hill Helicopters said its five-seat HX50 turbine single will initially be offered as an amateur-built aircraft in 2023 for $662,000.
Avionics
iFlightPlanner Integrated with iFly GPS
iFlightPlanner’s “Bring Your Own EFB” program has been enhanced with the integration with iFly GPS.
Aircraft
LifeFlight Opens Singapore Base
Australia's LifeFlight air ambulance service is opening a base in Singapore.
TallyHo App Offers Operators Menu of Service Providers
The TallyHo app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
Maintenance and Modifications
Tamarack Explores New Winglet Offerings
Tamarack said the manufacturer of the Atlas active winglet system is expanding into new bizav, military, and commercial airliner markets
Rotorcraft
New Survitec Emergency Breathing System Offers More Air
Survitec's new Emergency Breathing System (EBS) offers offshore helicopter passengers and crew more air.
Rotorcraft
Brazil's Federal Police Orders Six Leonardo AW119Kxs
Brazil’s Polícia Rodoviária Federal (PRF) has ordered six AW119Kx turbine single-engine helicopters.
Regulations and Government
Air Methods Settles Suit Over Crumbling Pitot Tubes
Air ambulance provider Air Methods will pay $825,000 to settle Justice Department suit alleging it flew a helicopter with crumbling pitot tubes.
Rotorcraft
Five-bladed Airbus H145 Gets FAA TC
Airbus’s new five-bladed H145 helicopter has received FAA type certification (TC) with the first U.S. delivery slated to occur early next year.
Avionics
Thales, StandardAero Fly AStar with 4-Axis Autopilot
Thales and StandardAero anticipate FAA STC approval of the four-axis AStar autopilot by mid-2021.
Rotorcraft
HAI Commits To In-person Heli-Expo 2021
The Helicopter Association International said it will hold its annual Heli-Expo trade show next March in New Orleans.
Avionics
BendixKing AeroCruze Autopilot Adds Further Approvals
Owners of aircraft equipped with BendixKing KFC 150 and 200 autopilots can upgrade to the AeroCruze 230 touchscreen autopilot.
Avionics
Genesys Displays Approved for AStar Upgrades
The FAA has certified the Genesys Aerosystems IDU-680 and IDU-450 EFIS displays for AStar helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Delivers First Ansat to Europe
Russian Helicopters has made its first European delivery of an Ansat light twin.
Rotorcraft
Blade India Launches Mumbai-Pune Service
Blade India using Bell 407 and Airbus H130 aircraft to slash travel times.
