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
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.
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.
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
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.
Avionics
Avidyne IFD100 App Now Runs in Split-screen
Multitasking allows Avidyne's IFD100 app to run in a split-screen alongside other multitasking-capable apps.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Delivers 1,400th H135 Light Twin Helicopter
Airbus Helicopters has delivered its 1,400th H135 light twin. The ship was sold to French HEMS operator Mont Blanc.
Aircraft
Colombian Air Force Orders Four Cessna 172s
Textron Aviation's Cessna Skyhawk 172s will be used by the Fuerza Aérea Colombiana for initial pilot training.
Rotorcraft
First Leonardo Trekker Ordered for U.S. EMS Market
U.S. EMS operator Life Link III has ordered the first Leonardo AW109 Trekker light twin for the U.S. air ambulance market.
Airports
Calgary Airport Covid-19 Test Program Opened to Genav
Certain on-demand and general aviation operators are now eligible to participate in a limited Covid-19 testing program at Calgary International Airport.
Rotorcraft
LA Sheriff Uses Helicopters To Deliver Ballots
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department began using its helicopter fleet to securely deliver ballot boxes
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Takes New Look at Urban Air Noise
Airbus research into helicopter noise is being used to evaluate potential eVTOL designs.
Engines
Hill Developing Own Helicopter Engine for HX50
Hill Helicopters revealed its 400-shp Hill GT50 light turbine engine designed specifically for the new Hill HX50 single.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Launches Indonesian Test Program
Russian Helicopters has launched an operations pilot test program for its Mi-8/171 twin in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Rotorcraft
Trump's S-76B For Sale
N76DT, s/n 760351 is listed by Aero Asset with a price of “make offer,” but is believed to have a market value near $800,000.
