California's supreme court has upheld a $9 million judgement against Bell Helicopter over the 1997 crash of a 206L-1 JetRanger that killed a firefighting pilot. The court upheld a ruling that the fuel system was defective and that Bell was liable, although the aircraft was more than 18 years old, because a new fuel system and warning devices had been installed, extending the company's liability. Bell argued the pilot had not put enough fuel in the helicopter.
Source: Flight International
Airbus Helicopters and partner PHI Aviation will shortly begin route-proving trials with the former’s H160 medium-twin in the Gulf of Mexico.
Piasecki Aircraft has secured new work for its ‘Heliplex’ facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, signing a collaboration agreement with Columbia Helicopters to upgrade Model 107 tandem-rotor helicopters to a new more fuel-efficient standard.
MD Helicopters has promoted Ryan Weeks to the role of president, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the rotorcraft manufacturer.
