Latest from Mark Huber
Aircraft
Stratos 716X To Make Public Debut at AirVenture
Stratos will initially offer the 716X single-engine jet as a kit.
Rotorcraft
Aero Asset: Twins Leading Used Helo Market
North America accounts for 50 percent of used twin engine helicopter sales worldwide.
Rotorcraft
FAA Approves Safran Arrano, Paves Way for Airbus H160
Safran Helicopter Engines’ Arrano 1A has received FAA type certification for installation in the Airbus Helicopters H160
Accidents
UK S-92 Near-CFIT Highlights Hazards of MVFR Flight
The UK S-92 helicopter low-altitude incident parallels circumstances of Kobe Bryant fatal crash.
Rotorcraft
South Africa's 'Rocket' Air Ambulance Service Takes Off
Rocket using Bell 222s to provide first-world air ambulance service in South Africa
Accidents
Another Firefighting Bell 212 Down
The sole occupant pilot survived the crash of a firefighting Bell 212 into California's Lake Shastina.
Regulations and Government
Bell 212 Crash Prompts Emergency AD
The FAA is mandating replacement of certain main rotor hub strap pins on Bell 204, 205, and 212 helicopter models following fatal crash in Canada.
Maintenance and Modifications
Van Horn Developing AStar Tail Rotor
Van Horn expects its new tail rotor system for the Airbus AStar helicopter family to be available next year.
Rotorcraft
Bell Building Systems Integration Lab
Bell's SIL will support the Army's future vertical lift programs.
Rotorcraft
Bell Retires V-280 Demonstrator
Bell is retiring its V-280 tiltrotor demonstrator to focus on the Army's next phase of future vertical lift competition.
Accidents
Settlement Reached in Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash
Operator, pilot's estate, settle with families in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash.
Accidents
Court Limits Access to NTSB Investigation Documents
U.S. Fifth Circuit rules that helitour crash counsel isn't entitled to view all interagency documents between the NTSB and parties to the investigation.
Rotorcraft
SAF Group Adding Three More Airbus H145s to Fleet
SAF is adding three more five-bladed Airbus Helicopters H145s to its air ambulance fleet in France and Belgium.
Accidents
Snorkel Suspect in Fatal Firefighting Copter Crash
The Black Hawk helicopter's snorkel was observed swinging "violently" before impacting the main rotors and perhaps the tailboom.
Aircraft
Fresh European Push on SAF
Airbus, Safran, Dassault, Onera, and the French Ministry of Transport launch study to evaluate burning 100 percent SAF.
Rotorcraft
Customs To Investigate Helicopter Use on Protestors
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said it would investigate the use of one of its helicopters at a Minnesota protest.
Engines
Safran Arrano Helicopter Engine Gets FAA Nod
Safran Arrano engine approval brings FAA certification closer for Airbus Helicopters H160.
Rotorcraft
DOD IG Report Critical of 'Dusting' Protestors with Helos
This latest incident fuels the debate on the proper use of law enforcement helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Attorney Bailey, Former Enstrom Company Owner, Dies
F. Lee Bailey owned Enstrom from 1971-1979.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Taps Gorka as Russian Distributor
Gorka previously announced maintenance agreements covering Airbus EC130 and AS350 series helicopters.
Accidents
NTSB: Spatial Disorientation Cause of AW139 Crash
The NTSB concluded that spatial disorientation was the cause of the 2019 night AW139 crash in the Bahamas.
Rotorcraft
VAST Seeks To Harmonize Helicopter Safety Sharing
The Vertical Aviation Safety Team's mission is to build on industry best practices and the latest international standards.
Accidents
Helo Safety Experts Stress IIMC Avoidance Over Recovery
Webinar participants stress the need for better preflight and enroute weather decision-making.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Narrows Losses On Declining Revenues
Bristow Group says it expects the offshore helicopter market to recover in late 2021.
Accidents
Helo Crashed while Testing New Fire Bucket System
All four aboard the Brainerd Helicopters UH-60A were killed during the test of a new fire bucket release system.
Rotorcraft
Subaru and Bell Deliver First 412EPX
Japan’s national police has taken delivery of the first customer production Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Completes First Five-blade H145 Retrofit
Airbus Helicopters has performed the first conversion of a four-blade H145 light twin to the new five-blade version.
Rotorcraft
Universal and Bell Team On 505 Training
Universal Helicopters (UHI) is partnering with Bell to deliver pilot training in the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light turbine single.
Rotorcraft
Airbus H160 Earns JCAB Approval
Airbus Helicopters’ H160 medium twin has been granted type certification by Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau.
Rotorcraft
Insurer Seeks Removal from Bryant Crash Lawsuit
OC Helicopter insurer Endurance claims $10 million policy does not cover rotorcraft.
