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.

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Mark Huber

The Irish government announced that it will offer its $714 million plus value-added tax Coast Guard&nbsp;search and rescue (SAR) contract to Bristow Ireland Limited, subject to final contract approvals. The announcement was made following an evaluation of offers from a shortlist approved by Ireland’s Department of Transportation.&nbsp;
The contract provides for the 24/7 operation of four helicopter bases in Sligo, Shannon, Waterford, and Dublin and also contains a fixed-wing aircraft element. Following the announcement,&nbsp;Bristow's COO&nbsp;of government services&nbsp;Alan Corbett&nbsp;said, "We will continue working closely with the Irish Department of Transport to finalize contracts and look forward to integrating our significant global experience and capabilities into this critical public service."
Terms provide for the helicopter service to run for 10 years and the fixed-wing service for five. Options could extend both services out to 13 years.
	The contract is currently held by CHC Helicopters.&nbsp;CHC Ireland operated a Sikorsky S-92A for the Irish Coast Guard that crashed early on the morning of March 14, 2017, killing all four crew aboard. The accident triggered an investigation that&nbsp;touched on virtually every aspect of related technology, training, human and survival factors, navigation, operations, and regulation related to helicopter SAR&nbsp;and spawned 42 separate safety recommendations.&nbsp;
Bristow&nbsp;operates government services SAR helicopters from 10 bases in the UK and for the&nbsp;Coast Guard in the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean. It also conducts commercial SAR flights in support of the offshore energy industry in Norway, Trinidad, Suriname, the U.S., and in Canada in partnership with Cougar Helicopters. Since 1971, Bristow has flown more than 85,000 hours on more than 31,000 SAR missions, rescuing or assisting upwards of 19,000 people worldwide.

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

Bristow Lands Irish Search and Rescue Contract

Bristow will provide helicopter search and rescue service for the Irish Coast Guard.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

Nepal’s army and private operators have deployed rotorcraft across the flood zone

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Charlotte Bailey

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

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations 

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Matt Thurber

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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