Predictions for the number of civil helicopter deliveries over the next decade differ widely, according to forecasts released at the Helicopter Association International’s Heli-Expo in Dallas by engine manufacturers Honeywell and Rolls-Royce. According to Rolls-Royce, 5,191 civil turbine rotorcraft will be delivered during the 10-year period from 2006 through 2015, equating to an annual average of about 520 units.
Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tiltrotors and unmanned air vehicles.
January 8, 2007 - 11:57am
Bell Helicopter, which builds the 206 and 407 single-turbine rotorcraft, unveiled the seven-seat Model 417 at the Helicopter Association International’s Heli-Expo, ending its three-day run in Dallas today. The new model is powered by a Honeywell HTS900 turboshaft. The 407 is powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C47B. Honeywell expects the initial TBO to be 3,000 hours but is aiming to increase this figure to 5,000 hours for the mature engine.
January 8, 2007 - 11:49am
In response to recommendations of the joint industry/government International Helicopter Safety Team, MD Helicopters will include as standard equipment on all its aircraft wire-strike protection systems, cockpit voice and video recorders, health and usage monitoring systems and terrain awareness warning systems starting next year.
January 8, 2007 - 10:36am
The NTSB determined the probable causes of two helicopter accidents. In one, a sightseeing Bell 206L LongRanger that crashed into the East River in Manhattan on takeoff was found to be 222 pounds overweight. The Board blamed the Helicopter Professionals pilot’s “inadequate preflight planning” in the June 14, 2005 crash. One passenger was severely injured.
January 8, 2007 - 10:15am
The canyon is called Descent and the maneuver was called the “yo-yo” by Sundance Helicopter pilots and the “Thelma-and-Louise” by Papillon Airways pilots. The trip was a thrilling three-minute helicopter ride over the rim of the Grand Canyon, down Descent Canyon to land at the floor of the canyon. But that maneuver, by any name, resulted in two fatal accidents. On Aug.
January 8, 2007 - 9:24am
The NTSB last week issued a scathing report highly critical of both the FAA and the transport-helicopter industry for not embracing flight-data recorders.
December 21, 2006 - 11:15am
Ten months ago all 16 of England’s and Wales’ air ambulances created the Association of Air Ambulance Charities (AAAC) to lobby the government to consider the needs of the air ambulance community. The AAAC argues that the lives and money the group saves warrant it some influence.
December 21, 2006 - 10:19am
Giuseppe Airaudi, 52, and his passenger died in the crash of an Agusta Bell AB412 on November 27 in the Italian Alps. Airaudi cofounded Turin-based Airgreen with his brother Mauro in the early 1980s. Airgreen now operates 15 helicopters for rescue, aerial work and transport to mountain shelters.
December 21, 2006 - 6:39am
U.S. Helicopter, the only scheduled helicopter airline operating in the U.S., recently expanded its New York City service to include departures from the East 34th Street heliport.
December 19, 2006 - 4:22am
In an effort to encourage users to take advantage of its online Event Reporting safety-management system, the Helicopter Association International (HAI) recently eliminated the $300 subscription fee and made the system free to anyone who wants to use it.
