Helicopter Association International

ALEA, 2 Other Groups Adopt UAS Guidelines

News Staff — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:09:48 GMT

The Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA), the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI – LEEDA) and the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) this week endorsed the guidelines drafted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) for the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The guidelines provide law enforcement agencies an outline of how to use UAS safely and responsibly, and with respect to individuals’ privacy.

Probable Cause Accident Report: San Diego, California

News Staff — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:02:39 GMT

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its probable cause report for an accident during a instructional flight in San Diego, California. There were no injuries.

Eurocopter Canada Produces 300th Cowling for EC145 Aircraft

News Staff — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:43:53 GMT

On Aug. 30, 2012, Eurocopter Canada Limited (ECL) completed its 300th cowling for the EC145 at its composite manufacturing facility in Fort Erie, Ont. “We are very proud of the hard work and dedication displayed by our composites team,” said Guy Joannes, President and CEO, ECL.

Stunning Aerial Images of South Wales Shot by Police Helicops

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:22:22 GMT

Wales (walesonline.co.uk) - South Wales Police Inspector Gary Smart revealed what the real flying squad does best. "The helicopter is very effective at finding missing people as it has thermal image cameras that can see at very long range. We also frequently take pictures of collision scenes and search for people involved in criminality."

Preliminary Accident Report: San Juan, PR

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:13:45 GMT

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report for an accident involving a Bell 206B used during a public use flight in San Juan, PR.

What Will Follow GPS?

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:08:05 GMT

Avionics Today - The ubiquitous navigation system has more worldwide users than ever, but safety and security concerns have insiders looking beyond the current network.

Preliminary Accident Report: Pontiac, Mich.

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:59:31 GMT

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report for an incident involving a Eurocopter AS350 B2 used during a law enforcement flight in Pontiac, Mich.

Transforming Aerospace Technology in Nigeria

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:44:37 GMT

The Guardian Nigeria - A blueprint that can enable Nigeria join the league of developing countries like South Africa, Malaysia, India and China with vibrant aerospace technology has been developed.

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Rescues Stranded People in Louisiana

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:00:57 GMT

LaPlace, La. (blog.al.com) - Two helicopter crews from U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile took part in the rescue of three people and their pets from a flooded home and a drifting house barge in LaPlace.

NOTAM Issued for Des Moines, Iowa

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:45:14 GMT

The FAA has issued a NOTAM for Des Moines, Iowa for Sept. 1, 2012.

American Helicopter Museum Rotorfest 2012

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:44:13 GMT

The American Helicopter Museum, along with David Schultz Airshows, presents Rotorfest 2012, an all helicopter air show, Oct. 13-14 in West Chester, Pa.

Eight Airmen Killed in Helicopter Collision in India

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:29:31 GMT

New Delhi (boston.com) - An Indian air force spokesman says two air force helicopters have collided and crashed in the country's west, killing all eight airmen aboard.

Era Selects Becker Emergency Beacon Locator for AW139 S&R Fleet

News Staff — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:13:37 GMT

Becker Avionics announces the selection of its new airborne BD406 Beacon Decoder by Era Helicopters LLC for their Search and Rescue and Emergency Medical Services AW139 helicopter fleet.

Reach HELI-EXPO Buyers: One Week to Reserve Ad Space!

News Staff — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:10:50 GMT

Start reaching out to HELI-EXPO attendees before they even get to the show by advertising in ROTOR - build your audience now with EXPO attendees and HAI's record-breaking membership of more than 3,300 companies and individuals in the international helicopter community. Only one week remains to reserve your ad space for the fall issue!

Sponsors Keep Helicopter Aloft

News Staff — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:00:25 GMT

Waikato, New Zealand (stuff.co.nz) - Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance operator the Philips Search & Rescue Trust has renewed all of its principal sponsorships in Hamilton, Taupo, Tauranga and Rotorua.

Precautionary NOTAM: Hurricane Isaac

News Staff — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:18:00 GMT

Effective immediately until further notice. Pursuant to 49 USC 40103(b), a special notice is in effect to support a safe environment for aviation operations, including ongoing disaster response and recovery flights, within the Hurricane Isaac Airspace Coordination Area.

Man who Fell from Boat Rescued in Point Loma

News Staff — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:44:14 GMT

San Diego, Calif. (10news.com) - A 45-year-old man who suffered a seizure and fell while aboard a sport-fishing boat off Point Loma was hospitalized after being hoisted off the deck by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.

NATO Helicopter Crashes in Afghanistan

News Staff — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:40:38 GMT

Kabul, Afghanistan (AP) — A helicopter has crashed on a mission in Afghanistan, but no one was hurt. The Chinook made a hard landing in the eastern province of Logar. The aircraft was heavily damaged, so the crew destroyed it before they were evacuated from the scene.

Aerial Ballet at Helicopter World Championships

News Staff — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:30:08 GMT

Russia Today - Russia once again hosted the World Helicopter Championships, at the Drakino airfield 100 kilometers south of Moscow. Teams from 11 countries came together, with a huge crowd gathering to watch the air displays.

Holy Island Causeway Couple Rescued by RAF Helicopter

News Staff — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:49:13 GMT

Northumberland, England (BBC News) - An RAF helicopter crew have rescued an elderly couple from the Holy island causeway in Northumberland after they became stranded by the incoming tide.

Clark School Team 65-Second Human-Powered Helicopter Flight

News Staff — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:35:33 GMT

Landover, Md. (Baltimore Business Journal) - Students on the Gamera human-powered helicopter team at the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering have unofficially satisfied two of the three American Helicopter Society Sikorsky Prize competition requirements with a flight that unofficially lasted 65 seconds, stayed within a 10 square meter area and hovered at two feet of altitude. This flight also establishes new unofficial U.S. and world flight duration records.

Obama Administration Releases Light Truck Fuel Standard

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:17:19 GMT

President Obama announces fuel standards that would push fuel efficiency to 54.5 mpg for light-duty trucks and passenger vehicles by 2025.

Aviation Fuel Contamination

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:09:48 GMT

In June of this year, an engine failed as the pilot was taxiing a float configured aircraft for takeoff. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot sumped one wing drain and found the sump cup to be full of water.

Brazilian Approval of Apical Cable Cutters for AB139 & AW139

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 20:52:39 GMT

DART Helicopter Services announces Brazilian approval of Apical's Cable Cutters Kits for AB139 & AW139 model helicopters. FAA, Transport Canada and EASA approvals have been previously received.

Mi-38 Sets New World Altitude Record

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:47:24 GMT

Flightglobal - The Mil Mi-38 has set a new world altitude record for helicopters in its class at the 14th Fédération Aéronautique Internationale helicopter championships. The Mi-38 reached an altitude of 28,200ft.

Gulf Drilling Shuts Down in Advance of Isaac

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:44:19 GMT

Seventy-eight percent of daily oil production in the Gulf of Mexico and 48 percent of daily natural-gas production in the Gulf has been halted in anticipation of Hurricane Isaac.

Undocumented Modifications Probable Cause of Airshow Accident

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:29:57 GMT

NTSB says probable cause of a 2011 plane crash at a Reno air race that killed 11 people and injured 60 more was undocumented modifications to the plane.

Decision Making for Single-Pilot Helicopter Operations

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:54:46 GMT

The European Helicopter Safety Implementation Team, a component of the European Helicopter Safety Team, has developed a new leaflet on rotorcraft decision making.

Marine Corps Fly Last CH-53D Sea Stallion Sortie

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:31:02 GMT

Rotorhub - The United States Marine Corps has flown its last CH-53D Sea Stallion sorties in Afghanistan, marking the end of its Marine Corps service.

Honeywell International Inc: Turbofan Engines

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:51:32 GMT

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive for all Honeywell TFE731-20R, -20AR, -20BR, -40, -40AR, -40R, -50R, and -60 turbofan engines.

News Helicopter Forced to Make Emergency Landing

News Staff — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:45:41 GMT

Los Angeles, Calif. (Daily Mail) - It was out there to cover the news, but a news helicopter nearly became the top story when it was forced to make an emergency landing in a Hollywood parking lot.

FAA Plans to Study Portable Electronics Usage

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:48:12 GMT

FAA to form government-industry group to study the current Portable Electronic Device policies and procedures aircraft operators use to determine when these devices can be used safely during flight.

Sikorsky Innovations Launches 2nd Entrepreneurial Challenge

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:29:10 GMT

Sikorsky Innovations has initiated its 2nd Entrepreneurial Challenge, designed to identify and accelerate the development of emerging, revolutionary solutions that can be applied to, or can leverage, specialized aerospace and rotorcraft markets.

ICAO Plans UAV Framework

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:58:43 GMT

International Civil Aviation Organization continues to develop regulatory framework for integration of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Rolls-Royce Excellence in Helicopter Maintenance Award

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:37:07 GMT

For more than 50 years, HAI has recognized the outstanding achievements and exceptional merits of individuals and organizations through the Salute to Excellence Awards. The Rolls-Royce Excellence in Helicopter Maintenance Award is one such award.

NOTAM Issued for Fort Collins, Colo.

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:15:18 GMT

The FAA has issued a NOTAM for Fort Collins, Colo. for Aug. 28-29, 2012.

Bell Helicopter Delivers First 429 EMS in Europe

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:09:32 GMT

Bell Helicopter announces the delivery of the first 429 configured for emergency medical services in Europe to Air Zermatt in Switzerland - selected for its ability to operate at high altitudes and in extreme conditions.

VFR into IMC - South Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:52:54 GMT

On 22 July 2011, a Bell 206L helicopter with a pilot and one passenger departed from Rosehill, New South Wales on a private flight to the Sydney Adventist Hospital near South Turramurra. As the aircraft neared the destination, the pilot encountered low cloud and rain in the area. The helicopter subsequently collided with terrain, fatally injuring both occupants.

NOTAM Issued for Orlando, Fla.

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:40:54 GMT

The FAA has issued a NOTAM for Orlando, Fla. for Aug. 28, 2012.

AVIASUR Opens New AgustaWestland Service Centre in Chile

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:40:08 GMT

A new AgustaWestland Service Centre has been opened by AVIASUR to provide maintenance and other support services for AgustaWestland commercial helicopter customers in Santiago, Chile.

Happy Birthday Helicopter

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:21:03 GMT

New South Wales, Australia (The Daily Examiner) - Hundreds of visitors poured through the hangar and onto the helipad at Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter's annual Open Day at the Lismore Base.

Helicopter Testing Radiation Levels at Low Altitude

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:09:56 GMT

San Francisco, Calif. (The Examiner) - Research copters owned by the federal government will conduct daytime flyovers in The City, Oakland and Pacifica; at times, the twin-engine Bell 412 will hover just 300 feet above the ground.

Helicopter Crashes into Lake

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:00:03 GMT

Abingdon, Va. (TriCities.com) - A 1996 Bell 407 that had ferried people to and from Bristol Motor Speedway had just dropped six people off when it crashed into South Holston Lake.

NOTAM - RNC TFR Re-Issued for Tampa, Fla.

News Staff — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:30:33 GMT

The FAA has re-issued the NOTAM for the RNC in Tampa, Fla., Aug. 28-30, 2012.

Preliminary Accident Report: Spanish Fork, Utah

News Staff — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:46:36 GMT

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report for an accident during an instructional flight at Springville Municipal Airport in Spanish Fork, Utah.

Harbor Rescue Demo Highlights Second Annual Tug/Barge Day

News Staff — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:03:04 GMT

Staten Island, N.Y. (silive.com) - An afternoon helicopter evacuation demonstration in New York Harbor wowed onlookers as the NYPD Aviation Unit showed off its ability to quickly rescue someone from a ship.

U.S. Transportation Dept. Updating Truck Safety Program

News Staff — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:42:47 GMT

The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is making several technical changes to the Compliance Safety Accountability trucking program.

Bell Helicopter Named #1 in Product Support

News Staff — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:39:19 GMT

Bell Helicopter has been named number one in product support in Aviation International News' 2012 Product Support Survey for the seventh consecutive year.

Apply for One of 18 HFI Scholarships!

News Staff — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:34:20 GMT

Helicopter Foundation International is accepting scholarship applications from students in the helicopter industry.

Factual Accident Report: near Red Oak, Iowa

News Staff — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:30:05 GMT

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its factual report for an accident during an aerial application flight near Red Oak, Iowa.