Latest from Mark Huber
Rotorcraft
Aircraft Availability Takes Central Focus at Sikorsky
Over the last two years, Sikorsky has made significant progress reducing AOGs (aircraft on ground) and AOG turnaround time, Sikorsky exec says.
New Hawaii Helo Association To Promote 'Fly Neighborly'
The association is gathering noise complaint data.
Regulations and Government
Bell V-280 flight campaign advances
The V-280 program could result in deliveries of 4,000 aircraft by 2030 under a contract potentially worth $100 billion.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Progressing Toward 2019 EIS for AW609
Aircraft four, fully outfitted with the new Rockwell Collins Fusion cockpit, is to join the test program this year.
Aircraft
XTI Begins Component Construction
Fabrication of a 60-percent-scale flying prototype of its hybrid-turbine-electric VTOL will begin in April, with first flight expected later this year.
Rotorcraft
Airbus H160 Arrives for First U.S. Visit
The new medium twin rotorcraft will replace the airframer's H155 family. It is on display at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas.
Rotorcraft
Med-Trans, Care Flight Form Aeromed Partnership
Med-Trans has already begun providing flight services, including rotor-wing pilots and maintenance crewmembers, to Care Flight’s four helicopter bases.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Veteran Larry Roberts Joins Kopter
In his new role, he well be responsible for sales and marketing of the company's SH09 turbine single in North America.
Maintenance and Modifications
Gulfstream Announces Major Appleton MRO Expansion
Operations are set to begin in 2019.
Rotorcraft
Safran's Even Tapped To Lead Airbus Helicopters
Even will replace Guillaume Faury, effective April 1. Faury is leaving Airbus Helicopters to run Airbus's commercial aircraft division.
Charter & Fractional
Airbus Helicopters Rolling Out Air-taxi Booking Service
Voom platform connects travellers with licensed helicopter operator partners, allowing air-taxi flights to be booked in as little as 60 minutes.
Charter & Fractional
Grand Canyon Air-tour Helicopter Crash Kills Three
Survivors were severely injured and high winds that built to 50 mph and darkness made medical evacuation delayed and difficult.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Advances Mi-171E2, Ansat programs
MI-171E2 wrapped up a 45-flight, 50-hour test campaign, while an Ansat configured for EMS operations is in the throes of Chinese validation.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
ScanEagle UAS Offers New Capabilities
System has proved its usefulness in a range of applications around the region.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Anti-UAS Systems Closer to Deployment
Lasers, high-powered microwaves, and nets are among the UAS abatement options.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bell Getting Busier at Seletar
Asia-Pacific regional activity is increasing and for Bell Helicopter, Singapore is at the leading edge.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
PNC Aviation Finance Posts Record Year
2018 looks to be even stronger, the company says.
Rotorcraft
Frasca Launches Lower Priced Helo Training Device
The device is designed to give operators procedural training at a lower price point.
Rotorcraft
Appeals Court Clears Path for More Army Lakotas
Procuring and sustaining another aircraft type would have led to significant cost and delay issues, according to the Army.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Sells Schweizer S-300 Helicopter Line
The new entity, Schweizer RSG, will be based in Fort Worth and headed by David Horton, a former Schweizer general manager.
Rotorcraft
Swisshelicopter SH09 Slated To Enter Service in 2019
On February 1, the company plans to announce a major rebranding effort and a new company name.
Rotorcraft
Milestone Places Eight AW139s with China's Kingwing
This is “the largest helicopter lease placement ever in China,” said Milestone Aviation CEO Daniel Rosenthal.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Deliveries Down; Rethinking X6
The X6 large-helicopter project might ultimately emerge as a significantly different, perhaps military-driven, product.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
ASX Reveals 250-mph eVTOL Design at Detroit Auto Show
Designed to autonomously takeoff like a helicopter, fly like an airplane, and transport passengers or cargo between urban centers, suburbs, and airports.
Regulations and Government
Number of FAA-registered Drones Tops One Million
This number includes 878,000 hobbyists and 122,000 commercial, public, and other drones.
Accidents
NTSB: Severe Vibration Triggered Bell 525 Breakup
The vibration initiated at 92 percent Nr excited the main rotor scissors mode—the adjacent blades were moving together and apart in a scissors motion.
Charter & Fractional
PHI Offloads Sikorsky S-76C++s to Helijet
The first three helicopters will be prepared at PHI's base in Lafayette, Louisiana, for delivery in the first and second quarter.
