Latest from Mark Huber
Robinson Production Plummets
Last year Robinson Helicopter manufactured 162 helicopters, down from a peak annual production of 893 just two years earlier.
Wireless Hums could reduce operating costs
Wireless health usage and monitoring systems (Hums) are currently flying experimentally in four U.S.
Training and Workforce
Utah Highway Patrol First Eurocopter AS350 Sim Graduates
Rotorcraft
Seeking To Boost Aftermarket, Bell Consolidates Service Brands
Bell is looking to capture more of the aftermarket for its helicopters.
Rotorcraft
CHC sells training ops to CAE
Offshore oil and gas helicopter company CHC is selling its training operations to Montreal-based CAE for an undisclosed price.
Regulations and Government
Alphabets Object To Portions of Helo NPRM
Maintenance and Modifications
Bell Helicopter Consolidates Brands
Bell Helicopter yesterday announced that its six support and service subsidiaries have been int
Possible Ground Switching Failure in Jackson Hole Overrun
A problem with a weight on wheels (WOW) switch is being eyed in the American Airlines Boeing 757-200 that ran off the end of snow contaminated Runway 19 at
Safety
NTSB Wants Tighter Standards for Public-use Helicopters
The NTSB late last month issued a fresh batch of recommendations (A-10-148-158 and
ATC
Board urges traffic alert systems for helo ops
Late last year the NTSB issued recommendations (A-10-124 through -128) in response to the 2009 fatal Hudson River midair between a Piper Lance and a tour h
Training and Workforce
AS350 EMS sim debuts
American Eurocopter recently unveiled a new full-motion flight and mission simulator for AS350 crew training tailored to EMS and law-enforcement applicati
Legislator lobbies TSA to re-open D.C. heliport
A senior member of both the House aviation subcommittee and Homeland Security Committee is urging the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to re-op
Rotorcraft
China Takes Firefighting Mi-26TC
In November Russian Helicopters delivered a Mi-26TC heavy twin, manufactured by Rostvertol, to Hong-Kong-based import firm Lectern Aviation Supplies.
Rotorcraft
L.A. Sheriff Selects Flightcell
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department will outfit its new fleet of 14 American Eurocopter AS350B2s with the DZM2 system, which packages all-in-one
Rotorcraft
AD Aerospace To Supply FlightVu Cameras on EC175
Eurocopter will fit AD Aerospace’s FlightVu FV-1035 external cameras on the EC175.
Accidents
Criminal probe under way in fatal Carson S-61 crash
Several established federal criminal investigations are under way into the events surrounding the August 2008 helispot takeoff crash of a Carson Helicopter
Safety
FAA: NVG Aircraft “Frequently Out Of Compliance”
The FAA has issued a safety alert (SAFO 10022) for operators of aircraft equipped with night-vision imaging systems (NVIS), including night-vision goggles.
Regulations and Government
Carson Crash Triggers Criminal Probe
The August 2008 fatal crash of a Carson Helicopters Sikorsky S-61
Rotorcraft
Maryland State Police orders six AgustaWestland AW139s
After a protracted and controversial procurement process, the Maryland State Police signed a deal last month to purchase six new AgustaWestland AW139s.
Rotorcraft
OGP helo operators find profit and peril in Nigeria
Two years ago a speedboat opened fire on a Bell 412 as it departed an oil platform.
Rotorcraft
Euro Safety Team Releases Leaflet
EThe European Helicopter Safety Implementation Team has released a 22-page training leaflet aimed at making helicopter pilots more aware of those hazards
Rotorcraft
Emteq Tapped for Blade Tip Lights
The Pentagon has selected Emteq to study the feasibility of a rotor blade tip lighting system that can be modulated to provide navigation lights at the a
Rotorcraft
AW Deal Prompts MPs To Cry Foul
Britain’s Labour Party Members are pushing for a full Parliamentary inquiry into a government deal to pump more than £32 million into Italian-owned helic
Rotorcraft
Eurocopter Opens Indian Subsidiary
Eurocopter has officially opened an Indian subsidiary in a move to tackle the local market.
Rotorcraft
PHI Settles With S-76 Crash Families
Last month Louisiana-based helicopter operator PHI settled lawsuits with four crash victims’ families in the wake of the
Rotorcraft
Bristow Inks Major Contract...
Bristow Helicopters last month announced it has inked a multimillion-dollar, five-year contract with a consortium of oil companies in the North Sea.
Aircraft
Emivest seeks new buyer to stave off liquidation
Emivest Aerospace’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization
Regulations and Government
Schweizer Family Sues Sikorsky
Last week Sikorsky sought to quash a federal lawsuit brought by the Schweizer family that charges the Stratford, Conn.-based company with reneging on the t
