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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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.

Writer

Thierry Dubois

Airbus Helicopters is exhibiting the H215 heavy twin here at Heli-Expo and is planning a demo tour in the U.S. right after the show. A major target is&nbsp;California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which has issued a tender for 15 helicopters. The winner could be announced at the Aerial Firefighting 2016 convention late in March&nbsp;in&nbsp;Sacramento. “If we win, this will be fantastic publicity,” said Fabrice Arfi, Airbus Helicopters v-p for business development. The requirement is for carrying 2.5 metric tons of water and accompanying firefighters, according to Arfi.

 


Airbus Helicopters also sees a huge potential for the replacement of aging Sikorsky S-61s and Russian Helicopters Mi-8/17s. But these markets were so far deemed out of reach. At the factory the company is now building in Brasov, Romania, lower labor costs will combine with a new industrial model. Only two standard configurations–a short and a long fuselage–will be offered, still allowing customers to add optional equipment.&nbsp;“In Brasov, we think we will reduce costs that we did not manage to reduce in Marignane [where all Super Puma family helicopters had been manufactured so far],” a spokesman told&nbsp;AIN. The first H215 delivery from Brasov is expected in mid-2017.

 


The H215 is the new name of the AS332 C1e/L1e, and while&nbsp;it can be viewed as a lower-cost version of the H225, it features modern avionics, including the same four-axis autopilot. In a basic aerial work configuration, price is said to be in the $15.4 to $16.5 million range.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Airbus Helicopters Promoting Lower-cost H215 Heavy Twin

The company is building a dedicated factory in Romania for H215 production.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

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Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations 

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New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider Points to a New Level of Performance for Future Helicopters

Originally developed for the U.S. military, X2 technology is in search of a new customer.

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