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

A news helicopter cruising at 87 knots and 1,100 feet hit a drone last night over Los Angeles. The 2004 Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 (A-Star) was being operated by long-time electronic newsgathering aviation and charter firm Helinet for television station KABC. The drone punctured, dented, and scraped the leading edge of the right vertical&nbsp;stabilizer immediately forward of the tail rotor.

 


The collision occurred over downtown Los Angeles at approximately 7:15 p.m. local time. Chris Christi, the news reporter aboard, said the impact initially sounded like a bird strike. It did not affect the ability of the pilot to control the helicopter, which made a safe precautionary landing.

 


The Air Support Division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) dispatched its own helicopter to the scene in an attempt to locate the drone pilot. LAPD subsequently issued a statement via Twitter reminding Angelinos to “be a responsible and legal unmanned aircraft operator” and to “know the rules.” Those include a local ordinance passed in 2015 that prohibits recreational drone flights that violate federal laws or that are operated in a “careless or reckless manner.” The still-unidentified drone apparently was operating in violation of a number of them, including flight after civil twilight and flight above 400 feet agl.

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

Drone Hits Newscopter over L.A. 

Los Angeles ENG A-Star lands safely after drone hits vertical stabilizer. 

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News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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.

Universal Vulkaan Aviation has now ordered seven VIP helicopters

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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.

Fireflighting mission is ideal for large rotorcraft nearing the end of their useful lives.

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Sloane is coming up on its 109th sale of the AW109.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Italian aircraft manufacturer is the sole OEM exhibiting at EBACE 2025

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Two weeks of testing highlighted the value of quick-reaction fire suppression

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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Systems will streamline operations, reduce downtime, and improve reliability

Blade Air Mobility Losses Ease as Pax Revenues Leap

Company posted a $3.5 million net loss

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