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AgustaWestland’s two new helos fly
November 16, 2009
AgustaWestland last week achieved two significant milestones, with the first flights of two new military helicopter designs on consecutive days. First to fly was the AW159 Lynx Wildcat, which lifted off on Thursday at Yeovil in the UK. The aircraft performed “as expected” in general handling checks, according to chief test pilot Donald Maclaine. It was...
moreFalcon Services takes two more Bell 412s
November 16, 2009
Bell Helicopter delivered two Bell 412EP helicopters to Falcon Aviation Services yesterday, taking the Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi-based operator’s 412 fleet to 10, eight of which were delivered this year.Falcon’s total fleet now numbers five corporate jets and 21 helicopters. The helicopters primarily serve the offshore oil and gas markets, but they also are used...
moreUpgraded RAF Chinooks headed for Afghanistan
November 15, 2009
In September the UK defense ministry announced a contract to upgrade the Royal Air Force’s 46-strong Boeing Chinook support helicopter force. Known as Project Julius, and driven partly by the extraordinary demands of sustained operations in Afghanistan, the program consists of re-engining and a cockpit upgrade.Since the RAF began its operations in...
moreNews Clips from Dubai 2009
November 15, 2009
Kazak Operator Receives Two More AW139s
Kazakhstan-based JSC Euro-Asia Air has taken delivery of two AgustaWestland AW139 medium-twin helicopters, the manufacturer announced on the eve of the show. Configured with 15 seats, the aircraft will be used for offshore oil and gas missions in the Caspian Sea, where JSC already operates two AW139s. AgustaWestland...
moreEurocopter EC175 mockup a first-timer at Dubai show
November 15, 2009
For the first time at the Dubai Air Show, Eurocopter (Stand A140) is showing its full-scale mockup of the in-development EC175 medium-twin helicopter. The manufacturer recently disclosed some performance numbers for the seven-metric-ton-class rotorcraft, which will compete mainly with the AgustaWestland AW139. What is now official is the EC175’s radius of...
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...
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.
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