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

Icarus Devices's&nbsp;smart view limiting device&nbsp;has been granted an airworthiness release by the U.S. Army for the UH-60 L/M Black Hawk&nbsp;helicopter.&nbsp;The Instrument Conditions Awareness Recognition and Understanding System (ICARUS) gives instructor pilots simulator-like capabilities while flying in the aircraft, replacing the traditional training hood.

 


View limiting devices (VLD)&nbsp;are utilized by pilots to train for IFR conditions including clouds, fog, haze, and dust. The ICARUS “smart” VLD changes opacity and allows instructors to dial in the visibility for dynamic scenario-based training. The device's&nbsp;polymer dispersed liquid crystal visor cutout&nbsp;is controlled by an app or manually on the power control unit by the instructor pilot,&nbsp;is tailored to each airframe, and weighs 2.5 ounces.

 


ICARUS&nbsp;was invented in 2014 and patented in 2016. It is already in use by dozens of civilian flight schools, law enforcement agencies, and helicopter air ambulance operators for initial and recurrent training, and in everything from a Cessna 172 to a Boeing CH-47 Chinook. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2022-03-01/metro-embraces-camera-training-technology">Metro Aviation</a> was the first large operator to adopt Icarus training for all company pilots in the 38 helicopter air ambulance programs it supports throughout the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

Army Selects Icarus For Black Hawk IFR Training

The U.S. Army will use Icarus's smart view limiting device for helicopter IFR training. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Jessica Reed

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

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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.

HUMS will enable in-flight exceedance detection and immediate alerting functionality

Skytrac and Sikorsky Partner on Next-gen HUMS for S-92s

Charles Alcock

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Helicopter has been used for patient transfer missions in British Columbia

Helijet Gifts S-76A for Medical Flights in Ukraine 

Amy Wilder

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Fire season activity up 20% over last year

Spanish Super Pumas Log 437 Hours Battling Chile Fires

Austrian operator signed an order during the Aero Friedrichshafen show in Germany

Kitz-Air Becomes Latest Bell 412EPX Customer in Europe

Matt Thurber

Agreement enjoins civil defendants from illegal activities for which Hansen was convicted

Settlement Reached in Hansen Helicopters Case

Pioneering liftoff took place in Bromont, Québec

Unither Achieves First Hydrogen-powered Helicopter Flight

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.

The venerable helicopter manufacturer is looking at expanding its portfolio.

Sikorsky’s Blown Wing Aircraft Gives Glimpse of Future Hybrid-electric Technology

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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