Thierry Dubois
Writer

Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air & Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.

In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training & Simulation Submission."

In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

Latest from Thierry Dubois

Eurocopter EC175 mockup a first-timer at Dubai show

For the first time at the Dubai Air Show, Eurocopter (Stand A140) is showing its full-scale mockup of the in-development EC175 medium-twin helicopter.

Dubai says airports will defy downturn

Until about a year ago, the Dubai economy laid a fair claim to being the mother of all modern property booms with new skyscrapers appearing on its skyline

HAI blasts accident coverage

Helicopter Association International president Matt Zuccaro is fed up with media coverage of helicopter accidents.
Rotorcraft

Medical operator buys EC135s

Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., has ordered three new American Eurocopter EC135s for its MedCenter Air program.
Maintenance and Modifications

Eurocopter plans Kazakhstan venture

EADS and Eurocopter last month signed a cooperation agreement with sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna to create a public-private joint venture in Kazakhst
Rotorcraft

Bloomberg defends his helicopter

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg rebuffed local media criticism for using his own helicopter, an AgustaWestland A109S Grand, at his own expense, to travel
Rotorcraft

AW sells more 139s, signs Mx deal

Bristow Group in late September ordered three AW139s for its offshore operations.
Rotorcraft

EASA certifies Bell 429

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) late in September issued a type certificate to the Bell 429.
Rotorcraft

Eurocontrol warns against maritime ‘skysails’

Eurocontrol is warning helicopter operators, especially offshore oil operators, of a potential threat posed by “skysails,” giant kites that help propel som
Aircraft

Five-year Euro SSBJ study inconclusive as to engine type

High-Speed AirCraft (Hisac), a European research program studying the feasibility of a supersonic business jet (SSBJ), is coming to a close at the end of t
Engines

New engine programs

The design of new airframes always depends heavily on availability of new engine types.
Engines

Microturbo continues e-APU tests

Toulouse, France-based Microturbo is here exhibiting a mockup of its e-APU, a new-generation auxiliary power unit that is currently undergoing ground trial
Aircraft

European SSBJ study holds promise but powerplant remains undefined

High-speed aircraft (Hisac), a European research project to study the feasibility of a supersonic business jet (SSBJ), is coming to a close at the end of t
Rotorcraft

Italy tests first dedicated route for low-level IFR helo flying

A recent study of the transportation infrastructure in Italy determined the nation needs a means of effecting a major improvement in the flow of traffic be
Aircraft

FAA approves Falcon 7X for steep approaches

The Falcon 7X in August received FAA approval for steep approaches, after a process that involved testing the Dassault large-cabin business jet at slopes u
Rotorcraft

Russian firm relaunches Mi-34 with Arrius engine

Russian Helicopters is relaunching production of the Mi-34S1 light piston helicopter and simultaneously working on a turbine version, the Mi-34S2 Sapsan, p
Rotorcraft

First Eurocopter EC 135 Hermès Is Back on the Market

Falcon Aviation Services, a charter operator based in Abu Dhabi, has placed its Eurocopter EC 135 “L'Hélicoptère par Hermès” on the market, less than five
ATC

EASA studies satellite approaches to bolster offshore helo safety

The recent spate of accidents in helicopter offshore oil operations has thrown safety research programs–many of which have long been under way–into the spo
Rotorcraft

Ixair reduces training ops and staffing

France-based helicopter operator Ixair is stopping its private pilot training business and laying off about 10 employees.

French authorities plan for increased helicopter traffic

The French Ministry of Transport has launched a study to establish several helipads or heliports in the Paris area within two years.
Airports

French Alpine airports draw wealthy crowds

Negative attention has prompted the business aviation industry to promote airplanes as tools of productivity rather than luxurious transportation for the w
Aircraft

Start-up Seeks Partner

GP Aerospace’s GP210 program manager Stéphane Brand was at the Paris Air Show in June looking for small French companies to become partners or suppliers on
Aircraft

Brazilian startup plans very light jet

GP Aerospace, a Brazilian startup company established by former Embraer technical director Guido Pessotti, has revealed to AIN plans for a
Rotorcraft

Daher to design new helo airframe

Daher has signed a contract with Eurocopter to design, develop and produce a “new generation” airframe for light helicopters.
Rotorcraft

Eurocopter taps Brazil’s resources

Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling in June said Brazil is to become his company’s “fourth domestic country,” after France, Germany and Spain.
Accidents

Police A109E hits mountain

The AgustaWestland A109E, owned by the New Mexico State Department of Public Safety and operated by the New Mexico State Police, had just rescued a lost hi
Rotorcraft

Sikorsky X2 propulsor engaged

Sikorsky’s X2 compound helicopter reached another milestone last month by completing two test flights that included full engagement of the high-speed tail
Rotorcraft

London Police fly 5,000 hours with Skyquest

London’s Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit in June flew its 5,000th hour (in almost two years) with its fleet of three Eurocopter EC 145s equipped with
Accidents

EC 225 rescue hampered by wristwatch locators

The 27-minute search for the life-rafts occupied by the survivors of a Bond-operated Eurocopter EC 225 helicopter that ditched into the North Sea on
Rotorcraft

Emissions-reducing diesel under study at Eurocopter

Eurocopter’s new high-compression, diesel engine is expected to bring better environmental performance to turbine-powered helicopters as large as the EC 13