Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Offshore helicopter service&nbsp;companies Bristow and&nbsp;Era completed their merger late last week. The new company will be known as Bristow and publicly traded as VTOL on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Legacy Bristow shareholders now own 77 percent of the equity of the new company, while legacy Era shareholders own 23 percent.

 


The new Bristow company will be headquartered in Houston, have an estimated cash balance of $250 million, and operate more than 300 helicopters including the world’s largest fleets of Sikorsky S-92 and&nbsp;Leonardo AW139&nbsp;and AW189 helicopters. The fleet will be over 80 percent company-owned.

 


Former Era CEO Chris Bradshaw will serve as CEO. Combining the companies is estimated to produce $35 million annually in cost-saving synergies. Bristow now has extensive operations in the&nbsp;Americas,&nbsp;Nigeria,&nbsp;Norway, the&nbsp;UK, and&nbsp;Australia, with revenues from offshore oil and gas transportation, as well as search and rescue and aircraft support services to government and civil organizations.

 


“The combination brings long-overdue consolidation in the industry, better prepares us to navigate today’s market challenges, and ensures we remain the global leader in helicopter services with an outstanding culture focused on safety and providing excellent service to our valued customers,” said Bradshaw.

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

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2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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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.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

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

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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