Latest from Mark Huber
Avionics
Rockwell Collins Boosts Safety on Bristow SAR Fleet
Safety enhancements for S-92 and AW189 include night-vision goggle-compatible displays.
Rotorcraft
Bell Updates Progress on 505 and 525
The 505 is on track for certification this year, while the 525 is preparing for first flight in the second quarter.
Security
FAA delays Hawaii Weather Cam Decision To 2018
Weather cams help safety in Alaska, so why the delay with installations in Hawaii and elsewhere?
Rotorcraft
Air Methods Puts Money Into Safety
The air-medical and heli-tour operator flies more than 400 helicopters at 186 bases in the U.S.
Rotorcraft
'Sports-car' Performance Promised for Bell V-280
The third-generation tiltrotor takes lessons learned from the V-22 as it prepares for first flight in 2017.
Rotorcraft
Airbus CEO Takes Steps To Improve Product Support
The company has added to its spare parts inventory and pledged to raise customer satisfaction to industry-leading levels.
Training and Workforce
TRU Simulation’s Roots in Helicopters
The Textron-owned company manufactures simulators and offers training for rotorcraft and airplanes.
Rotorcraft
New Zealand Clears Robinson R44s for Return to Flight
Emergency grounding ended after investigators found that R44 crash last week was not caused by a cracked main rotor blade.
Rotorcraft
Erickson advances after dual acquisitions
There are still opportunities for growth in the Brazilian offshore market despite declining oil prices.
Rotorcraft
Bell's Garrison: New Programs at Full Speed
Bell Helicopter’s development programs include the 525 Relentless, 505 light single and V-280 Valor tiltrotor.
Accidents
Robinson R44s Grounded Down Under
Aviation authorities in New Zealand and Australia grounded all of the nearly 600 Robinson helicopters based there fitted with stainless-steel main rotors.
Aircraft
Remanufactured Aircraft
Owner-pilots fly off in a nearly factory-fresh model, often for about half the cost of a new one.
Rotorcraft
2014 a Record Year for L.A. Sheriff SAR Team
Working with Air Rescue 5 in 2014, volunteer SAR teams responded to 597 missions, up from 491 in 2013.
Rotorcraft
United Rotorcraft Awarded STC for Airbus EC130T2 EMS
Air Methods will use the helicopters in EMS operations.
Aircraft
Cirrus Plans $10M Vision Jet Completions Facility
60,000 square-foot SF50 completion center and paint shop would be built at Duluth International Airport.
Rotorcraft
AAR Wins Falklands SAR Contract
The company will begin providing search-and-rescue services using AW189s in April next year.
NASA Funding Research on Composite Gears
Composite gears could yield substantial reductions in weight, noise and vibration.
Bristow Buys Australian Commuter Airline
Bristow has purchased an 85-percent stake in Australia’s Airnorth.
Colorado Springs PD Wants Helicopter Back
The service disbanded its aviation unit in 2009.
Regulations and Government
Bill Seeks To Boost Medicare’s Reimbursement for Air Medical Flights
The bill would provide immediate financial relief for air medical providers by boosting the Medicare air medical transport base rate by 20 percent.
Charter & Fractional
Gotham Air Speeds NYC Airport Commute
A fleet of Bell 407s will whisk travelers from Manhattan's three heliports to New York area airports in as little as six minutes.
Accidents
Emergency Spindle AD Grounds Enstroms for Inspections
Action affects approximately 323 U.S.-registered helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Enstrom TH180 Makes First Flight
TH180 is a scaled-down version of the company’s 280FX three-seat model and uses its type certificate and rotor system.
Aircraft
Nextant Might Announce Third Airframe at NBAA 2015
Company has feasibility studies under way on “four or five” business aircraft and is “narrowing the process and getting closer” to making a decision.
Rotorcraft
Brazil’s Petrobras Flying into Headwinds
The company is embroiled in an international corruption scandal that could limit its future access to capital markets and retard exploration projects.
Fuel
Bristow Takes Long View of Oil Price Slide
The oil-and-gas company is proceeding with its commitments to buy and lease new helicopters.
Training and Workforce
Precision Flight Controls Developing Helicopter FTDs
Models include Robinson R22, R44 and R66 as well as the Bell 206 and 407.
