Latest from Mark Huber
Accidents
Five Dead in Alaska Heli-ski Crash
The Airbus Helicopters AStar went down near the Knik Glacier near Palmer Saturday.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo's Lynx Celebrates 50th Anniversary
The Lynx helicopter set a rotorcraft speed record in 1986.
Rotorcraft
Textron Powers Up New eAviation Division
Rob Scholl will lead Textron's formal entry into the electric aviation market.
Maintenance and Modifications
Foresight MX HUMS Approved for Bell 212/412
GPMS has received FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for its Foresight MX health monitoring system on the Bell 212/412.
Rotorcraft
Columbia Launches Multi-Mission Program For 234 Chinooks
Columbia Helicopters has unveiled its multi-mission helicopter program featuring its Model 234 Chinook tandem-rotor, heavy-lift helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Bell Opens Manufacturing Technology Center
Bell's Manufacturing Technology Center is designed to change the way rotorcraft are made.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Begins Assembly of Racer Compound Helicopter
Airbus Racer isexpected to demonstrate increased speed and reduced emissions and noise.
Rotorcraft
NASA Readies Mars Helicopter for First Flight
NASA Ingenuity helicopter could fly on Mars sometime in early April.
Rotorcraft
EASA Recommends Fuel Lever Mods for Airbus Helo Singles
Airbus developed fuel lever modification in the wake of fatal 2018 NYC "door off" helitour flight.
Regulations and Government
NTSB: Close Passenger Revenue Loopholes in Part 91
NTSB addresses exceptions, exemptions, and perceived safety loopholes and shortcomings in passenger revenue Part 91 operations.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Expanding Customer Support Program
Airbus HCare now covers 2,400 helicopters and will be expanded to include legacy aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Bell's New Army Rotorcraft Programs Charging Ahead
Assembly has begun on the Bell 360 Invictus while the V-280 tiltrotor continues flight testing.
Rotorcraft
Hill Reveals More Features for HX50 Helicopter
Hill HX50 to have options including folding blades and landing gear skids.
Rotorcraft
Used Helicopter Market Attains Shaky Hover
Pandemic, falling energy prices, overhang used helicopter market.
Rotorcraft
CHC AW139s To Fly with HTAWS In Brazil
CHC is partnering with Shell and Leonardo to launch Leonardo's Helicopter’s Enhanced Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System in Brazil.
Regulations and Government
New York City Helicopter Access War Heats Up
New York City is considering legislation that would effectively shut down heliports there.
Rotorcraft
Kopter Restarts SH09 Helicopter Flight-test Program
The Kopter prototype was retrofitted with new rotor components, Garmin G3000H avionics.
Rotorcraft
Erickson To Begin Flying Optionally-piloted Air Crane Next Year
Erickson said it would begin flying an optionally-piloted S-64F+ in 2022 and that it aimed for first customer deliveries in 2024.
Accidents
NTSB Chair Pushes for More Helicopter IFR
In the wake of the Kobe Bryant crash report, NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt is pressing for more IFR helicopter operations.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo's 2020 Helicopter Deliveries Fall 29 Percent
Leonardo delivery drop offset by increased military and support sales.
Rotorcraft
Rotortrade Posts 'Resilient' 2020 Results
International helicopter reseller Rotortrade said it completed 27 transactions last year.
Rotorcraft
CHC Buying Babcock's Offshore Aviation Unit
CHC is purchasing Babcock's offshore aviation business in the UK, Denmark, and Australia.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Delivers First Trekker in Indonesia
Customer FlyKomala will use the aircraft there to carry out a range of missions including passenger transport.
Rotorcraft
Babcock Offshore Posts Larger 2020 Loss
Babcock Mission Critical Services Offshore said it had a pre-tax loss of $30.285 million.
Rotorcraft
Bell Moves To Remedy Cracked 505 Collectives, Restrictions
Bell said corrective actions for cracked collective sticks on its model 505 light single helicopter are currently in engineering review.
Rotorcraft
Aero Asset: Heavy Twins Lead Used Helicopter Market Rebound
Consultancy Aero Asset said the used helicopter market showed "incredible resiliency" in the last half of 2020.
Rotorcraft
Construction Begins on Dubai Expo Helicopter Terminal
Leonardo, Falcon Aviation Services building new rotorcraft terminal for Dubai Expo 2020
Rotorcraft
USHST Calls for Light Helo Stability, Autopilot Systems
The USHST has unveiled recommended practices document for developing stability augmentation systems and autopilots in light helicopters.
Safety
Cracked Bell 505 Collectives Draw Second Emergency AD
Transport Canada is now mandating fluorescent penetrant inspections on Bell 505 collective sticks every 25 hours.
Rotorcraft
Turkey Unveils Unmanned, Electric Attack Helicopter
Turkish Aerospace Industries expects to fly the new, electric-powered, unmanned T629 attack helicopter later this year.
