Latest from Mark Huber
Rotorcraft
CHC Reports Loss as Oil Prices Weigh on Offshore Ops
However, CHC CEO Karl Fessenden noted that the company’s long-term prospects remain positive.
Rotorcraft
Bell's 525 Relentless Logs First Flight
The new super-medium twin features sidestick fly-by-wire controls.
Rotorcraft
Kaman To Restart K-Max Production after 12-year Hiatus
The K-Max was certified in 1994 and the production line was shuttered in 2003 after 38 were built.
Rotorcraft
Bell Helicopter To Assemble Some 407GXPs in Russia
Deal with JSC Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UWCA) to assemble 407GXPs in Russia will speed their inclusion on the country's aircraft registry.
Rotorcraft
Lord Team Lauded for Vibration-suppression System
The HMVS system seeks to actively cancel rotor-induced vibration at its source.
Rotorcraft
ACSR Introduces Tailboom Motion Detection System
A switch illuminates the master caution panel indicating “tailboom” in the event of a failure.
Training and Workforce
House Committee Votes Cap on Flight Training Benefits
The cap would limit G.I. Bill flight training benefits to $20,235 per year, although currently enrolled veterans would be grandfathered for two years.
Rotorcraft
Bell Unveils Single-screen V-280 Cockpit
Touchscreen technology is at the heart of the panel, which won’t be installed in the aircraft until 2025 or 2030.
Rotorcraft
FAA Issues AD on Enstrom Rotor Spindle Cracks
As a result of a January crash of a 280FX, the safety agency is shortening the window between inspection intervals for the helicopter maker.
Rotorcraft
Erickson Posts Huge Loss
The company attributed the $75 million loss to a one-time impairment-of-goodwill charge of $49.8 million.
Rotorcraft
New Assembly Process Lauded for Bell 525 Relentless
Palletized assembly process uses a major fixture that moves along the different assembly stations, with tooling added or removed at each station.
Fuel
GE Fuel Additive Cuts Flying Costs
Company estimates that the Army saved $69 million over 10 years by using the product at Fort Rucker.
Rotorcraft
EASA OKs Higher Weight for MD 900/902 Explorer Helo
Increased maximum gross weight climbs to 6,770 pounds, up from 6,500 pounds.
Rotorcraft
Bell Helicopter Adjusting to Civil Market 'Softness'
The adjustments include continuing layoffs, and Bell expects one-time charges of $40 to $50 million.
Regulations and Government
Users File Suit over East Hampton Restrictions
Friends of the East Hampton Airport are protesting new airport noise and curfew restrictions.
Rotorcraft
Air Methods Appoints New Leader at Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
Air Methods replaces Blue Hawaiian Helicopters founders David and Patricia Chevalier with president Gregg Lundberg.
Rotorcraft
East Hampton Expected To Adopt Curfews at KHTO
Proposal would impose new curfews for all aircraft and operating limits on noisier aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Former Carson VP Faces Jail for Crash Record Fraud
Federal government charged that Carson executive falsified helicopter performance charts to obtain more than $50 million in Forest Service contracts.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus H Care Comes with Financial Guarantees
The company has set its sights on being a more customer-centric organization.
Rotorcraft
KKR Acquires Air Medical Group Holdings
AMGH and its affiliates operate 222 helicopters and 25 fixed-wing aircraft from 231 bases in 27 states.
Aircraft
AgustaWestland, Bristow Chase U.S. Navy Training Business
The consortium is pitching the AW119Kx for pilot training.
ATC
Bell Helicopter And Hughes Aerospace Developing PBN For China
More direct approaches and lower minima would be possible if helicopters in China could use PBN.
Former MD Helicopters Exec Pleads Guilty to Ethics Charges
Vergez's post-service employment with MD came to light after two former executives there filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit.
Aircraft
Viking Air Slashes Twin Otter Production, Lays Off 116
Decline blamed on global currency fluctuations, weakness in the oil sector and growing economic problems in Russia.
Airports
Web-based Helo Noise-tracking System Goes Live in L.A.
Allows Los Angeles Basin residents to review and identify helicopter operations and file a noise complaint about them.
Rotorcraft
AIN Blog: Will Sikorsky be sold whole?
The rotorcraft manufacturer is likely a “parts and pieces” sale.
Rotorcraft
More Layoffs at Bell Helicopter
Company laying off 315 more employees and suspending all new external hiring, citing declining production of the V-22 and a softer commercial market.
Regulations and Government
French Court Reverses Course on Bell 429 Skid Patent Row
Bell again denied patent infringement and accused Airbus Helicopters of unfair “legal maneuvering.”
