Latest from Mark Huber
Rotorcraft
Russian Ansat Gets VIP Interior, China Approval
Russian Helicopters has received certification approval for its new “Aurus” executive cabin in its light twin Ansat.
Maintenance and Modifications
Engine STC Gives New Life to Old Hueys
Trinity Aviation Services has acquired the STC to install the 1,679-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67D engine into the Bell UH-1H.
Regulations and Government
Helo Crashes Trigger Probe of Honolulu FAA FSDO
The FAA’s Honolulu Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) is under fresh scrutiny following the filing of a two separate whistleblower complaints.
Maintenance and Modifications
Leonardo Breaks Ground On Brazil Service Center
Leonardo broke ground on a new, larger regional helicopter customer service center in Itapevi, Brazil.
Rotorcraft
Bell Sees Bright Spots In Flat APAC Market
Bell is hosting an event for its parapublic customers on show Monday at its Singapore facility
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Readying Drones To Screen for Deadly Diseases
Draganfly is evaluating a sensors and AI software that could be used to screen crowds for symptoms of dangerous contagions.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Delivers 332 Helicopters in 2019
Airbus delivered 332 helicopters in 2019 and logged gross orders for 369 rotorcraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Community Acceptance Key To UAM Market
Community acceptance will be the key driver when it comes to urban air mobility.
Avionics
New Garmin Flight Control System for Airbus AStars
Garmin has received FAA STC approval for the GFC 600H helicopter flight control system in the Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2/B3 single.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Forms New Joint Venture in Brazil
Leonardo&Codemar S.A. will deliver urban security, new infrastructure, and helicopter-based services under a joint venture.
Maintenance and Modifications
SAFE Develops New Pitch Link Tool For Robinson Helos
S.A.F.E. Structure Designs has developed a unique pitch adjustment tool for all models of Robinson helicopters.
Aircraft
Major Aircraft Acquisitions in U.S. DoD Proposed FY21 Budget
U.S. FY2021 defense budget funds 247 new aircraft from major programs worth a collective $23.8 billion.
Avionics
Honeywell Offers Synthetic Vision for AW139s
Leonardo is upgrading the avionics on new AW139 medium twin helicopters to the Honeywell Primus Epic 2.0 Phase 8.
Aircraft
Spidertracks Adds AHRS Data
Satellite flight tracking service Spidertracks is launching a new generation of hardware—Spider X.
Rotorcraft
Congressman Seeks To Mandate HTAWS
Long-time helicopter critic seeks to mandate HTAWS in the wake of Kobe Bryant crash.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Protests Leonardo's U.S. Navy Training Helo Deal
Airbus claims Navy had "technical misunderstandings" in awarding Leonardo $680 million training helicopter deal.
Accidents
Bryant's VFR Copter Pilot Was Deliberately Climbing Into IMC
Pilot of fatal California VFR S-76 crash was attempting a climbing turn through IMC.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drones Enlisted To Fight Corona Virus in China
Terra Drone Group company Antwork is using drones to transport critical medical supplies and patient samples in Corona virus fight.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bell Adds Genesys Autopilot as Factory Option on 505
Bell has selected the Genesys Aerosystems VFR HeliSAS Autopilot and Stability Augmentation System for the 505.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA Proposes 'Special Class' for Delivery Drones
The FAA is seeking public comment on a proposal to certify drone delivery UAS as “special class” of aircraft under FAR Part 21.17(b).
Accidents
Fatal Helicopter Accident Rate Flat in 2019
The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) reported that the number of total helicopter accidents in 2019 increased slightly.
Aircraft
Navy Flies Unmanned Growlers
Boeing and the U.S. Navy successfully flew two autonomously controlled EA-18G Growlers at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Selects Thales FlytX For VRT500
Russian Helicopters’ VR-Technologies has selected Thales’s FlytX touchscreen avionics for its new VRT500 coaxial rotor, single-engine helicopter.
Safety
Skytrac Enables Live Patient Data Transfer from HEMS
Skytrac has successfully transferred patient medical data via inflight cellular and satellite connection.
Rotorcraft
More Charges in Hansen Helo Fraud Case
The federal government is turning up the heat on defendants in the Hansen Helicopters case in Guam.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Touts Strong Heli-Expo
Airbus Helicopters posted orders for dozens of new helicopters at Heli-Expo 2020 .
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
DJI Blasts Interior Department's Grounding Order
Cinese drone-maker DJI says decision to ground its drones is "politically motivated."
Maintenance and Modifications
Safran Expands Health Monitoring Offers
Safran Helicopter Engines is expanding its health monitoring service.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Bumps AGW for H135 Twins
Airbus Helicopters is increasing the alternate gross weight (AGW) available on new H135 light twins by 265 lbs.
Rotorcraft
Noise Critical Issue for eVTOL Acceptance
Uniform noise standards could speed eVTOL market.
