REGA MILESTONE
Swiss air ambulance and mountain rescue operator Rega flew more than 14,000 missions in 2008, a 5% hike on its 2007 tally. The Zurich-headquartered company, which operates a fleet of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, is flying an average of 39 daily missions. Of the 14,215 flights, 10,425 of these were undertaken by helicopters, the first time the number of rotary-wing missions has topped the 10,000-mark. Rega is set to take delivery over the next two years of its 11 AgustaWestland AW109 Da Vincis, which have been developed for Rega by the Anglo Italian airframer. The aircraft will replace ageing A109K2s.
SIKORSKY SUPPORT
Sikorsky's aftermarket subsidiary Sikorsky Aerospace Services has opened a regional spare-parts stocking facility with its regional customer service centre Times Aerospace Korea. The facility is designed to provide service and support facilities for the Asian aerospace industry. Close to Incheon, Sikorsky says it will "receive, stock and ship a wide array of spare parts to support the VX/H-92 helicopter flown by the Republic of Korea Air Force and to support other Sikorsky customers in the region". Meanwhile, Sikorsky has delivered a S-300C helicopter to EHC Service of the Slovak Republic. The piston-engined aircraft will be used for training and pipeline and powerline monitoring.
SIMULATOR CERTIFICATED
Diamond Simulation has received Swiss certification for its DA42 simulator equipped with the new Garmin GFC700 autopilot. The simulator is installed at Horizon Swiss Flight Academy in Kloten, Switzerland.
Source: Flight International