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

Airbus Helicopters is celebrating 60 years in Japan, with more than 370 of the company’s helicopters flying in the country today. Its Japanese presence began in 1960 when predecessor company Sud Aviation entered into a distribution agreement with Nozaki &amp; Co. and delivered an Alouette II in Japan the following year.

 


Today, the European manufacturer claims&nbsp;a 53 percent market share of the Japanese civil and parapublic market, serving more than 100 operators there. In 2019, the company delivered 10 new helicopters and secured more than 40 percent of the new bookings available in Japan. Last month, Airbus signed a deal to deliver one new H225 and four H135 helicopters to Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA), taking its Airbus fleet to 30.&nbsp;

 


The Airbus facility in Kobe acts as the regional hub for engineering, blade repair, and H135 helicopter training with a full flight simulator. Airbus Helicopters employs 330 in Tokyo and Kobe, offering services including aircraft completion, maintenance, engineering, technical support, spares and training. Earlier this year, Airbus opened a new hangar in Kobe that increased overall capacity by 60 percent, sufficient to handle 40 medium twins simultaneously and 80 helicopters per year for MRO projects.

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

Airbus Helicopters Marks 60 Years in Japan

Airbus Helicopters marks 60 years in Japan with new maintenance facility, orders. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Neelam Mathews

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

Helicopters Play Crucial Role in Himalayan Flood Rescues

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 

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany 

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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Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

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

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Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view

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European Helicopter Association and Vertical Aviation International extended their alliance

Sikorsky Is Upgrading the Black Hawk Helicopter for Evolving Military Needs

Armed forces will be able to outfit Black Hawks with new armament and equipment.

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