RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Queensland fleet of helicopters completed a record 2,022 critical missions between 2019 and 2020. This large undertaking equates to over 4,700 flight hours. In its last financial year, crews across the state responded to 224 motor vehicle accidents; a 15% rise from the year before. High dispatch reliability, achieved through proper aircraft and engine maintenanc...
As a long-time operator of the Bell 206 Jet Ranger, providing instruction and Part 135 services, Universal Helicopters (UHI) embarks on a new venture with Bell to deliver Bell 505 training to pilots across the U.S. and from around the world. New pilots can receive ab initio and rotary wing add-on training in the new Jet Ranger X at various UHI locations, including their Scottsdale and Prescott Ari...
Astronics announced that the United States, Canada and EASA approved Astronics' Max-Viz 1200 and 1400 Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for Airbus Helicopter EC130 B4 and T2 models. In cooperation with AVIO dg in Calgary, Canada, Astronics obtained the Supplemental Type Certificates for its Max-Viz 1200 and 1400 EVS from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Transport...
More than 6 million flight hours and 25 years of operation. What’s next for this versatile aircraft? A global platform renowned for its versatility and reliability, the Bell 407 aircraft has played an essential role in critical missions for more than 25 years. The aircraft sets a high-standard for single-engine aircraft with its unmatched reliability and performance in hot, high or mari...
The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) has granted its type certification for Airbus Helicopters’ multi-role twin-engine H160, heralding a new chapter for helicopter operations in Japan. “It is an honour to receive the H160 type certification from the JCAB. This certification, following the recent completion of Japan’s H160 first flight in France, paves the way to the aircraft...
Russian Helicopters will present a modernized Ka-32A11M fire-fighting helicopter at the MAKS-2021 International Aviation and Space Salon, held in Zhukovsky near Moscow in July. Ka-32 modernization program includes a glass cockpit with an avionics system, more powerful VK-2500PS-02 engines and a new fire extinguishing system. "Ka-32 is recognized all over the world as one of the best h...
Bell Textron announced the 300th Bell 505 Jet Ranger X delivery to the Jamaica Defence Force. The first Bell 505 was delivered in 2017, and today there are 300 aircraft in operation across six continents, with customers logging more than 70,000 global fleet hours. “The Bell 505 is one of Bell’s fastest growing commercial programs to date, surpassing several significant mi...
Flexjet and Sentient Jet got a new sister company,Halo Aviation, a leading provider of helicopter transportation services in the United Kingdom. The transaction follows the acquisition earlier this year of Associated Aircraft Group, the premier provider of executive Sikorsky helicopter service in the Northeastern United States. These moves position Flexjet, Sentient Jet and their sister...
Bell 505 cargo hook has been approved by European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to carry up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg) giving the aircraft an external gross weight capability of 4,475 pounds (2,030 kg). “The cargo hook capabilities are an important enhancement for the aircraft and an added capability for utility and public safety operations,” said Duncan Van De Velde, Managing D...
Helicopters of the Mi and Ka brands, produced by the enterprises under the Russian Helicopters holding company, have since the beginning of 2021 taken part in firefighting operations in more than 10 countries of Asia, Europe and Latin America. In particular, Russian-made helicopters were used in India, South Korea, Thailand, Croatia, Argentina, Spain, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Mexico and Chile....
Transport of patients with coronavirus infection pose a set of risks. The isolation pod EpiShuttle allows for transport of highly infectious patients by air while keeping doctors and pilots safe. Thanks to donations, Luxembourg Air Rescue was able to commission an EpiShuttle for their helicopters last year. The much-needed isolation stretcher allows for fast and safe transport of Covid-19 patie...
Airbus is introducing autonomous features to its helicopter Flightlab through a project code-named Vertex. These technologies aim to simplify mission preparation and management, reduce helicopter pilot workload, and further increase safety. The autonomous technology bricks set to integrate the Flightlab are: vision based sensors and algorithms for situational awareness and obstacle detection; f...
