As a continued emphasis on rotorcraft and icing conditions, the FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin alerting owners and operators of turboshaft-powered rotorcraft of the possibility of inflight engine loss of power due to the ingestion of ice and/or snow.

A recent analysis of flight operations data identified an increase in manual handling errors. The Federal Aviation Administration believes maintaining and improving the knowledge and skills for manual flight operations is necessary for safe flight operations.

A new Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin alerts owners and operators of the availability of a fuel tank bladder retrofit program for enhanced safety on Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters.

Kansas City, Mo. (The Kansas City Star) - Kansas City police helicopter pilots had gotten used to flying blind at night. But when they started training this month with night vision goggles, a whole new world emerged.

Recent contract compliance audits and ASTAT visits revealed that Personal Floatation Devices are not being worn during operations that would require an approved flotation device.

During the last two seasons there have been several rotor blade strikes involving longline or water delivery operations. Consistent with each of these blade strikes was the presence of trees, snags, brush, or other obstacles within the safety circle of the aircraft.

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

The demand for aviation radio frequencies is exceeding the available supply in various geographic areas. The NIFC National Interagency Incident Communications Division, Communications Duty Officer is often unable to fill some requests due to the limited availability of frequencies within a specific area.

MSNBC - The U.S. Marine Corps' top uniformed officer plans to curb MV-22 Osprey transport flights over heavily populated parts of Japan in deference to local concerns over the hybrid aircraft's safety.

AOPA - NASA has asked general aviation pilots to participate in two special studies (the Meteorological and Aeronautical Information Services Data Link and Applications Study, and the Wake Vortex Encounter Study) it is conducting with the FAA based on data collected through the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS).

The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin to inform owners and operators of Bell Helicopter Model 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412/EP, 412CF and all restricted category UH-1B, UH-1H helicopters of the potential risk of the in-flight loss of an emergency "push out" window from the passenger doors.

AVweb - Aircraft lights make it easier for birds to see and avoid aircraft, possibly helping to reduce the risk of bird strikes, according to a report recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

Indications from SAFECOM submissions, and interviews with pilots and air operations personnel have surfaced concerns regarding fatigue which requires risk management. During times of increased operational tem-po, it is important for everyone to keep in mind how fatigue can affect personal performance.

 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.

Some helicopter cargo hauling equipment may fail to meet strength standards, compromising safety. During an external cargo operation, an empty net and swivel dislodged during flight, resulting in an uncommanded dropped load.

Lithium batteries fall under hazardous materials regulations due to their potential to overheat and ignite in certain conditions, and the difficulty to extinguish fire.

In September, 2011 a Eurocopter AS-350BA sustained substantial damage after winds caused the aircraft to lift up and roll over on a ridgeline despite the engine operating at idle RPM.