Helicopter Association International

HAI Now Accepting HELI-EXPO News Conference Requests

News Staff — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 02:00:00 GMT

As of July 1, 2012, the HAI Communications Department is accepting requests for news conference slots at HELI-EXPO 2013, to be held March 4-7, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Confirmed HELI-EXPO exhibitors may submit requests using the News Conference Request form found under the Exhibitor drop-down menu on the left side of the HELI-EXPO web page.

Highway Bill Conference Report Clears Congress; "Common Sense Prevailed"

News Staff — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:23:02 GMT

The Highway Transportation Bill conference report has cleared both chambers of Congress by wide margins and now heads to President Obama’s desk for signature. Congress hopes to have the bill to the White House before the current funding authorization expires at midnight on Saturday, but given the complexity of the bill, has passed a seven-day extension in case they miss the deadline. “We could not have asked for a better outcome,” said HAI President Matt Zuccaro. “In the end, common sense prevailed and lawmakers listened.”

EU Leaders Reach Sovereign Debt Agreement, But Work Remains

News Staff — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:59:14 GMT

European Union (EU) leaders have reached an agreement use the continent’s bailout funds to recapitalize struggling banks, allowing the euro zone leaders to help banks without adding directly to countries’ sovereign debt. That was an especially important issue for Spain and Italy, given the high interest rates on their debt.

U.S. Senate Passes Pilot's Bill of Rights

News Staff — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:44:43 GMT

The U.S. Senate has passed the Pilot's Bill of Rights (S.1335) sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and a bipartisan group of 65 cosponsors. The legislation contains a number of provisions that would make the FAA and NTSB appeals process’ more transparent.

NTSB to Hold Forum on GA Search & Rescue

News Staff — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:30:14 GMT

The National Transportation Safety Board will host a two-day forum July 17-18, 2012, to examine ways to improve the likelihood of rescue following a general aviation accident. The forum will look at ways to aid searchers and improve the survival chances for downed pilots and passengers.

NASA Seeks Help Upgrading Research Helicopter

News Staff — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:11:34 GMT

Military & Aerospace Electronics - NASA is turning to industry for help overhauling the avionics in its RASCAL (Rotorcraft Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory) Black Hawk helicopter. The JUH-60 uses a "20-year-old experimental flight-control computer designed originally to help develop and test military helicopter flight-control concepts."

Safety Concerns Regarding Firefighting Heliwells

News Staff — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:38:13 GMT

With the wildfire season in full swing, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service have issued an Interagency Aviation Technical Bulletin regarding the use of heliwells to refill helicopters being used for aerial firefighting. The technical bulletin deals with the hazard of snorkels used in the refilling operation snagging on the portable sites.

U.S. Congress Finds Compromise on Highway Bill, Student Loans

News Staff — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:28:10 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate finalized a compromise late in the evening on June 27 regarding the surface transportation reauthorization bill, which now also includes provisions to extend lowered student loan interest rates. The agreement came just days before federal funding for transportation programs is set to expire, and ahead of a hike in interest rates on federal loans for college students.

U.S. House Committee Takes Action on Federal Travel Spending

News Staff — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:07:29 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Oversight and Government Reform Committee has sent the 2012 Government Spending Accountability Act (GSA Act) to the full House. The legislation adds new restrictions to federal agencies that wish to send employees to conferences. It was developed in April following the discovery of wasteful spending by the Government Services Administration on travel.

U.S. Payroll-Tax Holiday Heads Toward the End of its Short Life

News Staff — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:44:08 GMT

Members of the U.S. Congress, along with the Obama administration, are showing little appetite to extend the payroll-tax holiday beyond the end of 2012. Such an extension would add another $95 billion to the federal deficit in fiscal 2013, according to calculations by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

Metro Aviation Delivers 2nd Aircraft To Massachusetts State Police

News Staff — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:03:34 GMT

Metro Aviation Inc. recently delivered the second EC135T2+ to the Massachusetts State Police. The second aircraft is similar to the first with the exception of the complete HELINET Downlink system and a Eurocopter Deutschland aft fuselage mounted SX 16.

U.S. Senators Urge Passage of Small Business Legislation

News Staff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:21:19 GMT

U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Small Business Committee Chairman Mary Landrieu (D-La.) are looking forward to one of the next pieces of legislation on the Senate’s agenda following the July 4 recess – a measure to reduce taxes on small businesses. A key vote on their bill, the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act, is expected to occur once the Senate returns from its Independence Day recess on July 9.

U.S. House to Vote on Aviation Security Advisory Committee

News Staff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:38:38 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this week on H.R. 1447, a bill to create and advisory committee on aviation security within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). HAI urges members to contact your representative and ask them to support H.R. 1447. You can find your representative’s contact information at www.house.gov.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

U.S. Congressional Republicans Push to Avoid Sequester

News Staff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:28:15 GMT

U.S. Congressional Republicans are telling their own party leadership it’s time to move now to head off steep across-the-board budget cuts to defense spending, rather than wait until after the November elections.

Leaders from the Pentagon and across the defense industry, as well as the leadership of the armed services committees in both chambers of Congress, have stepped up their campaign to avoid “sequestration.” Both Republicans and Democrats agree that action needs to be taken soon.

Russian Helicopters, Turbomeca sign general agreement on support cooperation

News Staff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:02:37 GMT

Russian Helicopters, one of the world's leading helicopter manufacturers and part of Russian state defence holding Oboronprom, and Turbomeca (Safran Group) announced on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, that they have signed a general agreement on support cooperation of Turbomeca helicopter engines in Russia.

Unleaded AvGas Transition ARC issues final report

News Staff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:43:16 GMT

On Wednesday, June 27, 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the final report and recommendations from the Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee (UAT ARC), which studied the challenges associated with the transition to an unleaded fuel to replace 100LL and made recommendations necessary to facilitate the development and deployment of an unleaded fuel with the least impact on the existing piston-engine aircraft fleet. The transition may still be years away, but this report charts a roadmap that identifies the essential elements that need to be addressed to make this happen in a way that maintains safety and the role government should play in minimizing the total cost.

OECD Says U.S. Needs to Work on Budget and Taxes

News Staff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:29:06 GMT

The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its 2012 annual report on June 26, and the big recommendation for the U.S. was to get the fiscal house in order. But the current polarized climate on Capitol Hill makes the challenge of dealing with OECD’s items of concern extremely difficult.

Bell Helicopter to Showcase Industry Leading Rotorcraft at Farnborough International Airshow

News Staff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:55:01 GMT

Bell Helicopter will provide flight demonstrations, have two state of the art commercial aircraft on display, and will showcase its mock-up of the new Bell 525 Relentless super medium helicopter for the first time in Europe at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Deadline Looms for Congress to Wrap Up Highway and Student Loan Bills

News Staff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:46:41 GMT

The race is on to finalize a bill that would prevent highway and other projects from hitting a brick wall when current highway spending authorization expires on Saturday, June 30. The final version of the bill is important to HAI members because one version being debated contains a dangerous amendment inserted by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) that could severely harm the air tour industry. HAI and the entire general aviation industry strongly oppose the amendment.

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte: Sequestration Can Not Wait

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:40:28 GMT

Senate Armed Services Committee member Kelly Ayotte( R-N.H.) bucked the leadership of both parties on June 26 after the leaders indicated that they may put off taking up defense sequestration until after Election Day. “We can’t wait until after the election, so I’m hoping that leadership would want to come forward and resolve this in advance of the election,” she told the National Journal.

Shell’s Alaska Drilling Permit Nears Final Approval

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:28:12 GMT

The U.S. Interior Department said on June 26 that Shell Oil is on track for approval to start exploratory drilling off the coast of Alaska this summer. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and other administration officials have insisted that Shell will have intensive regulatory oversight.

U.S. Federal Court Upholds EPA Climate-Change Rules

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:43:55 GMT

A U.S. federal appeals court on June 26 upheld Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations to reduce greenhouse gases. The ruling throws out legal challenges by states and industry groups, which had argued the EPA exceeded its authority under the Clean Air Act when the agency declared that carbon emissions endanger public health.

Congressmen Introduce Forest Insect Risk Reduction Bill

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:33:32 GMT

Three members of Congress have introduced H.R. 5960, the Depleting Risk from Insect Infestation, Soil Erosion, and Catastrophic Fire Act of 2012. The measure would take a number of actions to mitigate the wildfire risk created by the pine beetle epidemic in the Western United States.

Highway Bill, Student Loan Fix Possible Ahead of July 4th Recess

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:20:07 GMT

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has warned the Senate could stay in session through the weekend to finish up work on the Highway Bill and extend a freeze on student loan interest rates for one year. The most likely scenario will be for the House to first pass a highway bill and send it to the Senate where the student loan language will be added, and then return the bill to the House for a final vote.

Eurocopter Deutschland: Generator Monitor

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:10:40 GMT

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. Before the FAA issued that AD, the manufacturer developed a procedure which provides terminating action for the AD's requirements. The superceding AD is intended to require implementing this terminating action.

Eurocopter Deutschland: Ring Frame Crack

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:58:11 GMT

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that supersedes an existing Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) for certain Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model EC135 helicopters. Since the FAA issued that EAD, the agency has determined that a pre-flight pilot check in conjunction with a recurring 25-hour inspection is sufficient for determining the airworthiness of the ring frame.

Agusta: Generator Control Unit

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:49:14 GMT

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters with a certain generator control unit (GCU), to require replacing each affected GCU with an airworthy GCU.

Aeronautical Accessories: Landing Gear Aft Crosstube Assembly

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:34:27 GMT

The FAA is adopting a a new airworthiness directive for the Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. High Landing Gear Aft Crosstube Assembly installed on certain Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. and Agusta S.p.A. model helicopters.

Bell Helicopter Receives Approval for Maintenance in Ukraine

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:18:55 GMT

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced that Aviation Service a.s., its maintenance service facility in Prague, Czech Republic, has received a Part 145 Maintenance Organization Approval certificate from the Ukraine State Aviation Administration. Having already achieved European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval, this will allow Bell Helicopter to begin servicing its expanding fleet of helicopters in Ukraine.

NightCon 2012 NVIS Conference Registration Open

News Staff — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:28:56 GMT

Registration is now open for NightCon 2012, a 2 Day - Night Vision Systems Conference and Expo on September 20 & 21, 2012 in Dallas, TX. Join the experts of the NVIS Community for this unprecedented two-day interactive event at which industry professionals can obtain information, education, and guidance on Night Vision Systems implementation, operations, and maintenance issues.

U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Immigration

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:15:09 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 25 issued its opinion on the Arizona immigration bill, upholding the “Show Me Papers” provision while overturning the other contested sections - leaving other states weighing similar laws with little certainty on how to proceed.

A Busy Week Expected in Congress

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:06:50 GMT

Both chambers of the U.S. Congress have a busy week planned as the July 4 recess looms. Overshadowing all of the work each chamber plans to accomplish is the need to find compromise language both parties in the House and the Senate can live with before funding authorization for highway spending expires on June 30.

How can we serve you? Please take the ROTOR® readership survey

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:17:56 GMT

HAI is dedicated to bringing our members the most useful, most relevant, most interesting information available about the vertical lift industry. So the ROTOR magazine editorial staff wants to know – what matters most to you?

News from Flight Safety International

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:52:43 GMT

FlightSafety is pleased to announce the following promotions - David Davenport, Vice President, Center Manager; Steve Gross, Vice President, Sales; and Bill Nugent, Vice President, Government Contracts and Training.

UTair Group helicopters transport KPI up 28% in first five months of 2012

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:21:21 GMT

UTair Group helicopters transport operations logged a total of 56,319 flight hours in the first 5 months of 2012, 28% more than for the same reporting period of last year. Growth of performance indicators is associated with fleet modernization and expansion of the company's service operations portfolio.

Bruce's Covers Protect Aircraft From Summer Maladies

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:13:47 GMT

Bruce's Custom Covers announced today its custom fitted covers for aircraft and engines are the cure for many summer maladies affecting aircraft and operators. Covers for helicopters, airplanes, jets, gliders, off-link jet engines and more provide protection from the elements and enhance the safety, utility and operation of any aircraft.

U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Health Care Still Pending

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:02:49 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court did not issue a ruling on June 25 on health care reform as many had expected. Chief Justice John Roberts has indicated that the court will release its remaining opinions for the term on Thursday, June 28.

U.S. Senate Leaders Reach a Deal on Student Loans

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:45:57 GMT

U.S. Senate leaders have effectively reached an agreement to freeze student loan interest rates at 3.4% for one additional year. The deal would include a mix of offsets to maintain the lower interest rate including provisions related to federal employee pensions and a Republican proposal to cut of subsidized student loans after six years.

HAI Safety Committee Meets

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:34:58 GMT

The HAI Safety Committee discussed industry safety subjects at their June meeting. Educational programs and resources for presentation at Heli Expo 2013 are being planned in response to member input from the Town Hall meeting at the last Heli Expo.

S. Fla. Water Mgmt. Dist. seeks aerial application proposals

News Staff — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:25:05 GMT

The South Florida Water Management District is requesting proposals for the spraying of aquatic, ditchbank and invasive vegetation by helicopter and provide aerial flight services for site inspection and plant surveys. Responses to this request for proposal will be accepted up to the opening time at 2:30 p.m./ET on July 26, 2012.

Erickson Air-Crane Wins USFS Aerial Firefighting Contract

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:55:41 GMT

Erickson Air-Crane has been awarded a new exclusive use firefighting services contract with the U.S. Forest Service to provide aerial firefighting services using one heavy-lift Aircrane helicopter to be based out of Boise, Idaho.

NATA and Conklin & de Decker to Hold Popular Tax Seminar

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:30:34 GMT

The National Air Transportation Association and Conklin & de Decker Associates, Inc will partner once again to offer the Commercial Operators Tax Seminar in Scottsdale, Ariz., Aug. 7-8, 2012.

Kaman Confirms SH-2G(I) Negotiations with New Zealand

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:08:58 GMT

The U.S. Department of State has granted authorization that would permit Kaman Corporation to negotiate a possible sale of SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite Helicopters to the Government of New Zealand.

Huerta Survives Hot Seat in Senate Confirmation Hearing

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:17:17 GMT

Acting Administrator of U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Michael Huerta, in hot seat as he faced questions on June 21 by senators during hearing on his confirmation to become permanent administrator.

Ahlers to Supply MD Helicopters Engine Power Out Monitor

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:10:55 GMT

Ahlers Aerospace has been selected by MD Helicopters as the supplier of the Engine Power Out Monitor for the 369 and 500.

Auckland Paramedic Clocks 2,000 Rescues

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:10:52 GMT

Auckland, New Zealand (voxy.co.nz) - Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) paramedic Chris Deacon definitely has better work stories than most - 2,000 of them to be exact. On June 17, the ARHT advanced paramedic performed his 2,000th rescue mission on board the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Finance and Banking Update

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:01:14 GMT

At meeting in Luxembourg on June 21, European Union finance ministers suggest rules governing Greece's bailout could be loosened.

All Metal Delivers LTH to New Mexico Police

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:01:13 GMT

The New Mexico State Police Department has procured the All Metal MS lightweight transportable hoist, designed for removing the engine, transmission, rotor head or other components.

House THUD Appropriations Bill Queued for Next Week

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:01:12 GMT

U.S. House of Representatives Rules Committee approves open rule for $51.6 billion Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill.

Latest StockMarket.aero: Increased Productivity and Efficiency

News Staff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:45:14 GMT

Component Control has released the latest version of StockMarket.aero, their free online aviation parts eMarketplace.