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

Rotorcraft

Mechanical problem blamed for crash of Copterline S-76

A malfunction of the flight-control system played a role in the 2005 fatal crash of a Sikorsky S-76 in Estonia, according to an interim report issued by Es
Rotorcraft

French helo EMS pilots demand new contract

Pilots flying helicopters for the French hospitals’ emergency medical services went on strike twice recently to protest low wages and long hours.
Rotorcraft

French Riviera residents keep pressure on helo noise issue

Despite an agreement signed in 2006 to mitigate noise around the famous French Riviera city of Saint-Tropez, helicopter operators and local authorities are
Rotorcraft

Fiber Placement for Helicopters

Eurocopter recently completed the manufacturing of an EC 155 rear fuselage using a fiber-placement process.

Composites gaining favor as construction costs drop

Manufacturers are relying more on composite materials for business aircraft construction thanks to a drop in manufacturing costs and better automation.
Aircraft

What made Dassault a winglet convert?

For years, Dassault’s marketing executives maintained the position that Falcon business jets flew perfectly well without the aerodynamic benefits of wingle
Aircraft

Falcon 2000LX, DX nearing finish line

The Dassault Falcon 2000 series is getting a facelift, with increased range for the Falcon 2000LX (which replaces the 2000EX) and slightly less range for t
Aircraft

Completion capacity crunch

 Make no mistake, Dassault is having another record year.

Helo owners want bizjet-style interiors

Business/VIP helicopter owners are increasingly demanding more cabin comfort and equipment.
Engines

Snecma sets aside $100M for Silvercrest research

Despite having lost out to Rolls-Royce in the competition to power Dassault’s still-under-wraps super-midsize Falcon, Snecma is moving ahead with developme

EGAMA forms to oppose a wave of new EU regs

The European general aviation industry has created a counterpart to the U.S.
Aircraft

Operator interest in BA609 wanes

The BA609 tiltrotor that flew at the Paris Air Show put on an impressive display, but potential buyers said they  had misgivings about the hybrid desi
Rotorcraft

HAL Dhruv inches toward 2009 European certification

Indian-based manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is making progress toward European certification of its Dhruv light-twin helicopter.
Rotorcraft

Euro program tests satellite vertical guidance for helo steep approaches

This summer a Eurocopter EC 155 all-weather demonstrator performed satellite-guided precision approach tests in Lausanne, Switzerland, as part of a researc
Rotorcraft

New heliport aerospace in Donauwörth

Customers flying to Eurocopter’s Donauwörth training center and customer service facility in Germany now benefit from a helicopter-dedicated airspace layou
Rotorcraft

EC 145 gets European OK for civil NVG operations

The Eurocopter EC 145 has received the first certification for night vision goggle- aided civil operations.
Rotorcraft

American Eurocopter Chooses EMS Interior Provider

Air Methods’ products division has been selected by American Eurocopter to provide medical interiors, avionics and airframe accessories for the AS 350 and
Rotorcraft

Customs Takes Two AW139s

The Miami branch of the United States Customs and Border Protection (CPB) Office of Air and Marine has taken delivery of two AgustaWestland AW139s.
Rotorcraft

Canadian S-92s Will Fly by Wire

Sikorsky Aircraft has successfully ground tested fly-by-wire (FBW) technology that will debut on 28 H-92s slated for delivery in 2009 to Canadian military
Maintenance and Modifications

French project aims to reduce costs for helicopter operators

Several French-based companies, universities and local authorities have joined forces in a project to reduce helicopter support costs by 30 percent.
Aircraft

As time passes, operators question BA609 appeal

The Bell/Agusta BA609 civil tiltrotor program is moving forward, according to a Bell spokesman, with two more flight-test ships scheduled to join the two a
Rotorcraft

‘Salute To Excellence’ Nominations

The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is accepting nominations for its “Salute To Excellence” awards to be presented during its convention next ye
Rotorcraft

Frasca Unveils Bell FTD

Simulator builder Frasca International unveiled its MentorH deployable helicopter flight training device (FTD) at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association
Rotorcraft

Agusta Signs Japanese Distributor

AgustaWestland has designated Kaigai Aviotech of Japan to sell the AW119 Ke, AW109 Power and Grand in the Japanese commercial market.
Rotorcraft

NVGs for Civil EC 145

Eurocopter will make its EC 145 available with certified night-vision goggle (NVG) capability in Europe, Canada and the U.S.
Rotorcraft

Eurocopter Scores Major Orders

Eurocopter logged orders for 114 civil and military helicopters worth E1.2 billion at this year’s Paris Air Show and says it is on track to sell 700 helico
Rotorcraft

Sikorsky S-76D Slated To Fly Late Next Year

Sikorsky is confident its upgraded medium twin, the S-76D, will make its first flight in the fourth quarter of next year, said Bruce McKinney, v-p for Euro
Rotorcraft

Sikorsky X-2 To Fly Late this Year

Sikorsky is readying its X-2 demonstrator for flight tests late this year.
Aircraft

Piccard and team prepare solar airplane for night flight

The Solar Impulse has made significant progress toward its goal of being the first solar-powered aircraft to fly at night.