Bizav Pioneer Santulli Leaving Milestone Aviation
One of the most storied careers in business aviation could be ending. Richard Santulli, 72, is resigning as chairman of Milestone Aviation, the Dublin-based helicopter leasing company he co-founded in...
View ArticleMarenco Swisshelicopter Founding CEO 'Retiring'
*This article was updated on December 7.Marenco Swisshelicopter founder and CEO Martin Stucki has mutually agreed with the company's board to immediately “retire” and is being replaced at the Swiss...
View ArticleClik here to view.
North Sea Operator Statoil Drops Super Puma
One of the leading offshore energy producers in the North Sea is dropping the Airbus Helicopters Super Puma for good. Statoil confirmed that it will no longer allow its workers to be transported in any...
View ArticleFalcon Aviation Expands Maintenance Services
Falcon Aviation Services is expanding the maintenance services offered through its Falcon Engineering branch, the company announced yesterday at MEBAA.“Falcon Engineering is trusted and certified by...
View ArticleBLR Aerospace STCs FastFin for Airbus H125
BLR Aerospace received U.S.FAASTC approval last week for its FastFin tail rotor enhancement and stability system for installation on the single-engine Airbus Helicopters H125. Additional certifications...
View ArticleExecuJet Africa Adds Helo Charter at Cape Town FBO
ExecuJet Africa launched charter helicopter service from its Cape Town FBO facility yesterday, using a newly acquired VIP-configured Bell 407. It will offer commercial helicopter charters for various...
View ArticleClik here to view.
U.S. Will Buy No More Russian Helos for Afghans
The U.S. will not be buying any more Russian helicopters for the Afghan Army. The controversial program is officially over. The depleted fleet of 50 Russian Mi-17s that the U.S. bought for the Afghans...
View ArticleLeonardo Signs 30-helicopter Chinese HEMS Deal
Leonardo yesterday announced the sale of 30 more EMS helicopters to China. The order for a mix of AW139 and AW169 medium twins was placed by Sino-US Intercontinental Helicopter Investment, and...
View ArticleFlightSafety, Air Methods Open Colorado Learning Center
The Air Methods/FlightSafety International (Denver) Colorado learning center officially opened for business on December 18. The new facility has received a certificate of occupancy and the Airbus H135...
View ArticleFAA SAFO Stresses Hover Checks
The FAA has issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) reminding helicopter operators about the importance of using checklists and performing stabilized hover checks before departure (SAFO 16016). The...
View ArticleAir Methods Upgrades with Honeywell Sky Tracker III
Honeywell will provide Air Methods, the nation's largest helicopter air ambulance company, with its single-box Sky Connect Tracker III satellite communications and helicopter tracking systems. Air...
View ArticleFAA Clears Super Pumas for Return to Service
The U.S.FAA cleared the Airbus Helicopters Super Puma (H225s and AS332L2s) for return to service via an alternate means of compliance (AMOC). The FAA grounded the helicopters in June (emergency...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chinese AC352 Makes First Flight
The first flight of the Avicopter AC352, powered by the Chinese-built WZ16 engine, took place today in Harbin, China. The AC352 is the Chinese-manufactured version of the Airbus Helicopters...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bell 505 Wins Transport Canada Nod
Bell Helicopter has received type certificate approval from Transport Canada for its new five-seat Model 505 Jet Ranger X light single, the company announced today. Bell unveiled the 505 in 2013.The...
View ArticleHEMS Industry Getting Safer
Dr. Ira Blumen is the program/medical director for the University of Chicago's Aeromedical Network (UCAN) and for the last 17 years has been one of the nation's foremost researchers on the helicopter...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Leonardo Assumes Ownership of Unmanned Helicopter Maker
Leonardo-Finmeccanica has taken ownership of an Italian company that developed the SD-150 Hero small unmanned helicopter. The acquisition, announced on December 27, builds on Leonardo’s stable of...
View ArticleHelicopter Leasing Remains Attractive
A recent analysis of the global civil helicopter market released by the IBA Group consultancy paints it as an attractive venue for more leasing activity despite continuing negative trends. The number...
View ArticleChina Developing Homegrown 'Blue Whale' Tiltrotor
Chinese state-owned aircraft company Avic is developing two variants of an “ultra fast” 270-knot tiltrotor code-named “Blue Whale,” English-language newspaper China Dailyreported late last month....
View ArticleClik here to view.
North Sea Mishap Sparks More Scrutiny of Sikorsky S-92
The December 28 hard landing of a Sikorsky S-92A on a North Sea oil platform has prompted yesterday's Alert Service Bulletin (ASB 92-64-011) from the manufacturer that calls for a special one-time...
View ArticleHelicopters Vulnerable to Laser Incidents
According to the FAA, the number of laser strikes directed at aircraft doubled between 2014 and 2015, and more than 6,700 were reported during the first 11 months of 2016. Helicopters are particularly...
View Article