Latest from Mark Huber
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Gets Funding for New Helo
Russia's state-owned Vnesheconombank will finance the new light multipurpose helicopter along with other areas of Russian Helicopters business.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Breaks Ground On H135 Assembly Line in China
The assembly line is part of a $790 million, 2016 framework agreement that calls for the assembly of 100 H135s in China over the next 10 years.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Corporate Helicopters Rolls Out 700th H130
Since it first entered service as the EC130 in 2001, the model has accumulated more than 1.8 million flight hours with 340 operators worldwide.
Accidents
Irish S-92 Accident Report Paints Picture of Confusion
The preliminary report hints at an unsure crew operating in poor weather with suspect data.
Rotorcraft
U.S. Navy Seeks Helo Simulators for Primary Training
The service seeks to extend aircraft life by transferring a portion of training to simulators.
Rotorcraft
Leaner, Focused Erickson Emerges from Bankruptcy
The reorganized company qualifies for small-business set-aside contracts.
Regulations and Government
Russian Pilots Protesting Mass License Revocations
Rosaviatsiya has revoked hundreds of pilots licenses and could nullify as many as 1,000 more in the near term.
Charter & Fractional
Helo Operator Era Group Posts Another Loss
Revenue fall blamed on "lower utilization in U.S. oil and gas operations, fewer search and rescue subscribers and the end of some dry-leasing contracts."
Aircraft
Cirrus Gets FAA Production Certificate for SF50 Jet
The company currently holds an order backlog of 600 single-engine SF50 jets worth more than $1 billion.
Avionics
Garmin Offering G5000H for Sikorsky S-70s
Global Aviation Solutions expects certification of the G5000H in the UH-60A/L and S-70 helicopters next year.
Accidents
Norwegian Authorities Fault Super Puma Gearbox in Fatal Crash
In the 2016 crash the main rotor separated from the aircraft; the investigation continues.
Charter & Fractional
Delta Teams with Blade on Manhattan-JFK Helo Flights
Blade’s Bounce on-demand service to JFK starts at $695 for the whole helicopter (typically an Astar) and $195 for per-seat scheduled service.
Rotorcraft
Deliveries, Orders Surge at Airbus Helicopters
Civil helicopter deliveries increased to 78 in the quarter, up from 56 in the same period last year.
Charter & Fractional
Uber and Aircraft OEMs Give More eVTOL Details
The vehicles will have stringent requirements for safety, noise and emissions, and be expected to have a range of at least 60 miles.
Rotorcraft
Lockheed Martin Earnings, Sikorsky Deliveries Down
Sikorsky's civil helicopter sales have been hit particularly hard by the global energy slump.
Charter & Fractional
Uber Partnering with Aurora on Urban eVTOL Network
The agreement calls for the delivery of 50 test vehicles by 2020.
Rotorcraft
Light Used Helicopter Sales Rebounding, Says HeliValue$
But resale values for newer used singles and light twins remain soft.
Rotorcraft
Rotortrade Tapped To Find New Homes for Ex-CHC Helos
Company assisting with the liquidation of 13 helicopters that were abandoned as part of the CHC bankruptcy reorganization plan.
Rotorcraft
AirMed Operator Expands with New Acquisition
Air Medical Group Holdings is purchasing Air Medical Resource Group.
Aircraft
Report: Air Ambulance Ops Face Medicaid Shortfall
Medicare reimbursement of air ambulance services has clearly lagged costs, according to the report.
Rotorcraft
Bell 505 Delivers Smooth Ride In Test Flight
The anti-vibration system makes the light single feel like a large single or light twin.
Aircraft
Dassault Takes Top of Market Up a Notch With Falcon 8X
It’s a little longer and, in many ways, much better than its wildly popular predecessor.
Regulations and Government
EASA Proposes Requirement For Recorders on Light Aircraft
The proposal would apply to turbine aircraft weighing more than 4,960 lbs.
Leonardo AW189s Enter Service at UK HM Coastguard Base
Bristow Helicopters is operating the helicopters under a U.K. SAR contract.
Charter & Fractional
UberChoppers Offered during NCAA Finals in Phoenix
$99 per passenger fee includes one-way UberX ground transport in the Phoenix area to the Glendale Airport.
Avionics
Elbit, FAA To Study Flight Vision Systems for Helos
Results of the study will be used to evaluate the overall contribution of EFVS technology to flight safety and operational effectiveness for helicopters.
Rotorcraft
FDM Mandate for EMS To Yield Meaningful Data for Operators
With enough data in hand, organizations can transform their culture.
Investment Firm To Buy Air Methods in $2.5 Billion Deal
Air Methods had been under pressure from dissident shareholders to increase the value of its stock, including exploring a possible sale of the company.
Accidents
CHC S-92A Helicopter Crashes Off Coast of Ireland
Rescuers who arrived on scene about 75 minutes after the accident reported a wide debris field.
Rotorcraft
NTSB Offers Guidance on Tail-rotor Effectiveness
Loss of tail rotor effectiveness can lead to loss of control, Board warns
