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Manhattan operator halts service
November 01, 2009
New York’s only scheduled helicopter shuttle service is no more, at least for now. U.S. Helicopter abruptly suspended scheduled and charter operations in September after three-and-a-half years of providing scheduled shuttle service between the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (Wall Street) or the East 34th Street Heliport and either Newark Liberty or Kennedy...
moreManhattan operator halts service
November 01, 2009
New York’s only scheduled helicopter shuttle service is no more, at least for now. U.S. Helicopter abruptly suspended scheduled and charter operations in September after three-and-a-half years of providing scheduled shuttle service between the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (Wall Street) or the East 34th Street Heliport and either Newark Liberty or Kennedy...
moreEurocopter challenges Maryland RFP
November 01, 2009
American Eurocopter has lodged a protest concerning the Maryland State Police’s (MSP) request for proposal (RFP) to replace its fleet of 11 aging AS 365Ns. Eurocopter asserts that the RFP was designed to favor the AgustaWestland AW139. Eurocopter had proposed refurbishment, rather than replacement, of the Maryland fleet along the lines of what it has done...
moreEurocontrol warns against maritime ‘skysails’
November 01, 2009
Eurocontrol is warning helicopter operators, especially offshore oil operators, of a potential threat posed by “skysails,” giant kites that help propel some large ships such as oil tankers and container carriers. On September 15 a helicopter was descending over the southern North Sea to a nearby oil or gas platform when the crew saw such a skysail. It was...
moreEASA certifies Bell 429
November 01, 2009
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) late in September issued a type certificate to the Bell 429. The agency also approved the light twin’s initial maintenance requirement report, a document based on the agency’s maintenance review board (MRB) process that helps operators develop continued airworthiness maintenance programs. This is the first time the...
moreAW sells more 139s, signs Mx deal
November 01, 2009
Bristow Group in late September ordered three AW139s for its offshore operations. The contract also includes options for the medium twin. It brings the number of firm orders to “more than 440.” Separately, AgustaWestland has signed an agreement with maintenance specialist Heli-One to establish a repair and overhaul center in Vancouver.
moreBloomberg defends his helicopter
November 01, 2009
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg rebuffed local media criticism for using his own helicopter, an AgustaWestland A109S Grand, at his own expense, to travel to a concert at the Meadowlands by the rock group U-2. The concert was held on a Friday night following a day when Bloomberg had a particularly busy schedule. But that didn’t stop a local television...
moreEurocopter plans Kazakhstan venture
November 01, 2009
EADS and Eurocopter last month signed a cooperation agreement with sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna to create a public-private joint venture in Kazakhstan. Under the agreement, EADS and Eurocopter will transfer “skills and know-how” to local partners to “develop a fully integrated and independent helicopter service industry” in the country. Another...
moreMedical operator buys EC135s
November 01, 2009
Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., has ordered three new American Eurocopter EC135s for its MedCenter Air program. The helicopters will be delivered later this year. They will be equipped with anti-collision and terrain avoidance systems as well as night vision goggles, satellite tracking and environmental control options.
moreGovernment sector boosts Helitech orders
November 01, 2009
The reformed European Helicopter Association–operating under the acronym newEHA–publicly touched down for the first time at the 2009 Helitech show at Duxford, UK, albeit having had to adopt a slightly revised flight plan. At the 11th hour, the European HEMS and Air Ambulance Committee (EHAC) opted not to merge with newEHA. So the new organization, which had...
moreHelitech news Briefs
November 01, 2009
Rolls-Royce boosted availability of RR300 engine parts and customer services by signing an exclusive distribution agreement with AAR. According to Rolls-Royce Helicopter Engine business president Ken Roberts, the worldwide AAR group will provide a turnkey solution for RR300 operators around the clock. The RR300 turboshaft has been selected by Robinson...
moreFirst Bell 429s delivered; getting airmed interiors
October 21, 2009
Bell Helicopter Textron of Fort Worth, Texas, delivered the first Bell 429 customer aircraft to launch customer Air Methods on August 1, after which S/N 57006 flew south from Bell’s assembly facility in Mirabel, Quebec, to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. While in Des Moines, where it is expected to enter service as “Mercy One” at the end of this year,...
moreSikorsky Whirl Tests Active Rotor System
October 01, 2009
Sikorsky Aircraft wrapped up whirl testing of a demonstration rotor system with active flaps as part of the company’s “commitment to design, develop, test and ultimately field next-generation technologies that will advance the current state of rotorcraft.” Development partners on the project are United Technologies Research Center for the blades and...
moreBell delivers first 429 to launch customer
October 01, 2009
Following Transport Canada certification and FAA validation of the Bell 429 in July, Bell Helicopter Textron of Fort Worth, Texas, delivered the first aircraft, S/N 57006, to launch customer Air Methods on August 1. The current Bell 429 fleet (two prototypes, three flight test and two customer aircraft) has accumulated more than 2,200 hours. The Air Methods...
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