Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Leonardo has sold more than&nbsp;70 of its AW109 Trekker skid gear light twins, including a new sale to a French helicopter EMS service in Normandy, France, the company announced this week. SAF&nbsp;Hélicoptères will use the new helicopter to support operations from Rouen Hospital. Thus, its Trekker will be fitted with a customized EMS interior and delivered from Leonardo’s plant in Vergiate, Italy, later this year.&nbsp;An EMS-configured Trekker&nbsp;can accommodate one stretcher with three to four medical attendants or two stretchers and two medical attendants.

 


SAF companies operate 65 helicopters, providing medical transports, heavy-lift, mountain rescue aerial work, VIP transport, air tourism, maintenance, and training from bases in Cote d’Azur, the Alps, Paris, and Réunion Island. It is also the only private helicopter operator in France with night vision goggle operations.&nbsp;

 


Approved by EASA in 2017 and the FAA in 2019, the Trekker is the latest and lowest-cost variant in Leonardo’s AW109 series, of which more than&nbsp;1,500 have been delivered. The helicopter—which can be flown VFR or IFR, single or dual pilot—shares the airframe and Pratt &amp; Whitney PW207C engines of the AW109 Grand but substitutes fixed landing skids for retractable gear and the&nbsp;Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit for standard avionics.&nbsp;It features a crash-resistant fuel system, Category A/Class 1 performance, and a 30-minute run-dry main gearbox.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Leonardo Trekker Sales Top 70 

Leonardo has sold over 70 of its AW109 Trekker skid gear light twins, including to a helicopter EMS services in Normandy, France.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Making flying easier and safer is company's goal

Skyryse Unveils Cockpit Design for Fly-by-wire R66

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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Tools can be freely downloaded for use by companies and organizations

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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