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

The California Highway Patrol’s Valley Division Air Operations has become the sixth U.S. search and rescue (SAR) unit to equip its helicopters with the Recco SAR detector. This detector is carried aloft via external sling and can find lost/injured persons who are wearing clothing or other items fitted with Recco reflectors—lightweight passive transponders that consist of a diode and antenna requiring no power or activation to function.

 


Reflectors are integrated into products from more than 150 sports and outdoor brands, including jackets, pants, helmets, backpacks, back protectors, boots, transceivers, watches, and harnesses.&nbsp;Also&nbsp;available as single products, the transponder can be added to other branded helmets and backpacks and&nbsp;are included in&nbsp;Recco branded belts. The reflectors are designed to last indefinitely barring mechanical damage and&nbsp;can be detected with a hand-held unit that has a range&nbsp;up to 263 feet through the air and 66 feet through packed snow, which results in a practical range of 98 meters on avalanche debris, according to the company.

 


SAR helicopters equipped with the&nbsp;detector can search 0.4 sq mi every six minutes. Recco SAR helicopter detectors are in use by 27 SAR units worldwide; nine in North America and 18 in Europe. Recent customers include Teton County, Wyoming Search and Rescue;&nbsp;Canada’s Vernon Search and Rescue;&nbsp;and Italy’s mountain rescue service, the&nbsp;Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico or CNSAS.

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

CHP Helo Equipped with Recco SAR Detector

The Airborne SAR detector can locate lost/injured persons who are wearing clothing or other items fitted with Recco reflectors.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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

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.

More In Rotorcraft

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

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

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

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations

FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

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

FAA Floats Special Conditions for Skyryse Fly-by-wire R66

Proposed rule addresses pilot awareness of control limits

Vertical Lift Groups Extend Trade Show Partnership

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.

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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