Latest from Mark Huber
Rotorcraft
R66 certification ‘close’
FAA certification of the Rolls-Royce RR300-powered Robinson R66 turbine light single could come later this month.
Rotorcraft
Government budget cuts trigger innovations
The days of turbine helicopters as preferred police aviation tools might be coming to an end.
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Revokes Phoenix Heliparts’ 145 Certificate
Today the FAA revoked Phoenix Heliparts’ air agency certificate to operate as a Part 145 repair station, alleging that the Mesa, Ariz.
Rotorcraft
Heavy-lift Helos Critical To Gulf Restoration
Heavy-lift helicopters from private contractors and the military are continuing to play a critical role in restoring the Gulf of Mexico's ecosystem in the
Rotorcraft
Frank Robinson Retires, Son Kurt Takes Over
Frank Robinson, 80, has retired from the iconic helicopter company he founded in 1973, just weeks before the company expects to receive certification of it
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Boeing develops guidance for executive 787 completions
Boeing is deep into preparations for its first “green” 787 BBJ delivery in 2012 and is confident it can avoid the myriad early completion problems that pla
FBOs
Wisconsin FBO readies for airlift
A small Wisconsin FBO is gearing up for the arrival of as many as 1,200 business aircraft during this year’s PGA Championship, to be held August 12 to 15.
ATC
FAA says Gulf TFR working
Helicopter traffic in the Gulf of Mexico has nearly doubled, to nearly 2,000 flights per day, since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20.
Rotorcraft
Turbomeca Inaugurates New Plant
French president Nicolas Sarkozy in late June inaugurated Turbomeca’s new plant (named after company founder Joseph Szydlowski) in Bordes, near Pau i
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky To Offer ‘Visual’ Mx Learning
Sikorsky Aerospace Services last month signed a memorandum of understanding with Jacksonville, Fla.-based Job Performance Associates for the development of
Rotorcraft
Two Mi-171s Delivered to UTair
Russia-based operator UTair took delivery of two Mi-171 heavy twins in late June, some three months ahead of schedule, according to Russian Helicopters.
Rotorcraft
New Avidyne MFD Installed in a Eurocopter
The First Avidyne EX600 multifunction display (MFD) has been mounted in a helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Takes Over LifePort
Sikorsky Aerospace Services last month announced the acquisition of LifePort and the simultaneous creation of an “accessories business segment.” The Woodla
ATC
Operators skewer proposed Long Island VFR routing
Public comments about the FAA’s proposed mandatory helicopter routing over New York’s Long Island are overwhelmingly negative, according to the Eastern Reg
Rotorcraft
AAMS conducts inaugural safety academy
The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) recently held its first Safety Management Transport Academy.
Rotorcraft
Unmanned helo flies with autonomous nav system
Piasecki Aircraft and Carnegie Mellon University have successfully flight tested a new navigation and sensor package on an unmanned Boeing AH-6 Little Bird
Aircraft
Klapmeier Confident of Kestrel Capitalization
Alan Klapmeier, the former chairman of Cirrus and new CEO of Kestrel Aircraft, told AIN yesterday at EAA AirVenture that the company still needs to raise a
Aircraft
Extra 500 Composite Turboprop Single Resurrected
Extra Aircraft announced plans Friday to produce the dormant carbon-fiber-fuselage Extra 500 turboprop single in Montrose, Colo., for $1.65 million per cop
Avionics
Breakthrough Unmanned Helo System Flies
Piasecki Aircraft and Carnegie Mellon University have successfully flight tested a new navigation and sensor package on an unmanned Boeing AH-6 Little Bird
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Long-haul truck seats could enhance helo ride
New Bose technology designed to dampen the road vibration translated into semi-truck cab seats could be applied to helicopters, according to at least one l
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Repossessor advises banks against reclaiming aircraft
The nation’s foremost aircraft repossessor is counseling his bank and leasing company clients not to take back delinquent aircraft.
Regulations and Government
Gulf Helo Ops in Limbo, Despite Drill Ban Ruling
Federal officials said they would move quickly to circumvent and appeal a U.S.
Rotorcraft
AgustaWestland Breaks Ground On Russian Plant
On Tuesday, AgustaWestland broke ground on a new Russian production plant at Tomilinom, near Moscow.
ATC
Deepwater Affecting Gulf Helo Operators
President Obama’s 180-day moratorium on deepwater oil drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico is beginning to pinch helicopter operators there.
Aircraft
‘Boeing 101’ Proposed as Presidential Helicopter
Yesterday, Boeing licensed the rights to AgustaWestland’s AW101 for the purpose of entering it
Regulations and Government
Mandatory Helo Routing Rule Proposed for Long Island
Yesterday the FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would mandate that all helicopters transiting the Long Island area of New York VFR
Rotorcraft
EMS Bell 429 operator reports ‘rock solid’ performance
The first operator of an EMS-configured Bell 429 light twin reports it is “more than happy” with the helicopter and its performance after flying 65 mission
