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
FAA's Dickson Warns 'Disruptions' Could Affect Safety
FAA administrator Steve Dickson describes risks resulting from changes caused by the pandemic.
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.
Avionics
Garmin Upgrades GTN Xi Navigators
New features for the Garmin GTN XI navigators are available with a software update.
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
Bell Acquires Fuel Cell Maker
Bell Textron has acquired Rhode Island-based Response Technologies, a manufacturer of fuel cells and polymers.
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.
TallyHo App Offers Operators Menu of Service Providers
The TallyHo app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
Aircraft
LifeFlight Opens Singapore Base
Australia's LifeFlight air ambulance service is opening a base in Singapore.
Avionics
iFlightPlanner Integrated with iFly GPS
iFlightPlanner’s “Bring Your Own EFB” program has been enhanced with the integration with iFly GPS.
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.
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
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.
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.
Accidents
NTSB: Spatial Disorientation Triggered Aeromed Fatal
Helicopter spun near the runway and impacted terrain at night, in fog.
Rotorcraft
Blade India Launches Mumbai-Pune Service
Blade India using Bell 407 and Airbus H130 aircraft to slash travel times.
Rotorcraft
Bell Teams with Germany's RAS for 505 Sales
Bell has appointed Rheinland Air Service (RAS) as the first authorized German dealer for the Bell 505 turbine light single.
Accidents
Los Angeles Drone Pilot Faces Year in Prison
The pilot of drone that hit an LAPD helicopter is facing federal charges for the unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft.
Engines
Embraer and Energy Group EDP Team on Electric Aircraft
Energy group EDP is acquiring energy storage and battery charging technologies that will support Embraer's light electric aircraft program.
Aircraft
GippsAero Shuts Down Airvan Manufacturing
India’s Mahindra Aerospace has shuttered its GippsAero subsidiary in Australia that had manufactured the GA8 Airvan.
Rotorcraft
Lemmo To Succeed Retiring Sikorsky Prez Schultz
Sikorsky Aircraft president Dan Schultz will retire in early 2021, be replaced by Lockheed Martin executive Paul Lemmo.
Avionics
Aerocor Buys BlueMAX Data Transfer Unit
The BlueMAX data transfer unit offers a method to download engine and flight data from compatible avionics.
Avionics
Garmin Pilot 10.3 Mobile App Adds Notam Highlights
Pilots can more easily view airspace and obstacles that might affect their flight path on the new version of the Garmin Pilot app.
Aircraft
Reno Races In Jeopardy
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) needs $500,000 in donations to continue operations.
Accidents
Two Dead after Pair of Guimbal G2s Collide in Malaysia
Two dead, two survive after a pair of Guimbal Cabri G2 light helicopters collided in mid-air on Sunday in Malaysia.
