Helicopters – Page 210
-
News
Schweizer distributor
Schweizer Aircraft has appointed Eli-Alpi of Rivanazzano, Italy, and Hahn Helicopter of Lautzenhausen, Germany, as distributors of its Model 300C, 300CB and 330 light helicopters. Source: Flight International
-
News
Eurocopter order
Eurocopter has signed a contract with the Hong Kong Government for the sale of eight helicopters to be operated by Hong Kong's Government Flying Service (GFS). The $93.4 million contract covers three Eurocopter AS 332 L2 Super Puma helicopters and five EC55Bs. The aircraft will be based at Hong Kong's ...
-
News
P&WC begins work on PW127 variant
Pratt & Whitney Canada has begun work on a turboshaft version of its PW127 turboprop, initially to power the Mil Mi-38 helicopter to be developed by Mil, Kazan and Eurocopter. There is no other turboshaft in the PW127T/S' class, says P&WC vice-president, marketing and international business, Joe Torchetti. The ...
-
News
Sikorsky widens Shares offer
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Sikorsky plans to extend its Sikorsky Shares fractional ownership programme to California and Florida next year and to Europe in 2001, as the concept of helicopter sharing gains acceptance. "We hope to have sold our first S-76C+ by the end of the year and to have three ...
-
News
Malaysia Airlines offers first class helicopter chauffeur service
To attract premium-class passengers, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will introduce a helicopter chauffeur service next month for its first class passengers flying from London Heathrow. Helicopter pick-ups can be made within a 60-mile (95km) radius of the airport. The service is free for passengers holding full-fare first class tickets for flights ...
-
News
Schweizer milestone
Schweizer Aircraft's piston-engined Model 300CB helicopter fleet has exceeded 100,000h flying time since entering service in late 1995. Elmira, New York-based Schweizer says the 300CB, primarily a training aircraft, has only suffered five accidents, with no fatalities. Source: Flight International
-
News
Kamov is key to merger moves
Russian rotorcraft specialist Kamov is to form the basis of an integrated helicopter company, with its design bureau combined with production plants at Kumertau and Arsenyev, in accordance with a government directive. The move is likely to mean the demise of Kamov's alliance with VPK MAPO. The Kumertau factory produces ...
-
News
FAA grounds Eurocopter BK117s and BO105s
The US Federal Aviation Administration has followed the recommendations of the German airworthiness authority and issued emergency airworthiness directives (ADs) grounding Eurocopter BK117 and BO105 helicopters until tension-torsion (TT) straps contained in the main rotor head are inspected and replaced as required. The US aviation agency says that 130 ...
-
News
Robinson R44 wins US hydraulic flight control approval
Robinson has won US approval of the customised hydraulic flight control system for its four-seat R44 - nearly a decade after the concept was touted. The Torrance, California-based manufacturer predicts a sales boost for the $290,000 hydraulically controlled light piston-engined helicopter, which costs $13,000 more than the standard model. ...
-
News
Proven pedigree
Low cost, low noise and low vibration led Eurocopter's design priorities for its AS350B3 Peter Gray/MARIGNANE Eurocopter's AS350B3 has a long pedigree. It is the latest version of a helicopter intended to succeed the popular Alouette and Lama, both of which have established a reputation for high reliability and ...
-
News
Helicopter fractional is poised for launch
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON The first UK-based helicopter fractional ownership programme aimed at the European market is scheduled for launch on 1 September by helicopter sales and training company Skyhopper. The Marlow-based firm, which acquired Virgin Helicopters in August last year, will kick-start its helicopter "retained charter" programme simultaneously. "We were originally ...
-
News
Mil, Kazan and Eurocopter sign Mi-38 deal
The MVZ Mil design bureau, Kazan Helicopter Plant, Eurocopter and Euromil (a joint venture between Mil and Eurocopter) have signed two memoranda covering the development and production of the Mil Mi-38 multipurpose helicopter. Eurocopter will act as avionics integrator. Kazan general manager Alexander Lavrentyev says the first Mi-38 fuselage ...
-
News
Kazan's Ansat makes first flight
The Kazan Ansat helicopter had its first flight on 17 August, marking the manufacturer's debut as a helicopter designer. Kazan is better known as the major maker of Mil helicopters, having produced more than 11,000. The 3,000kg Ansat, powered by a pair of Klimov-built Pratt & Whitney Canada PK206C ...
-
News
First AS355N goes to Massachusetts
McAlpine Helicopters has shipped the first of two Eurocopter AS355N helicopters to American Eurocopter in Texas for delivery to the US Massachusetts State Police. The helicopter, which was completed at McAlpine's centre at Oxford Airport, UK, features police mission equipment, including Inframetric's MK3 sensor turret. The Turboméca Arrius-powered AS355N is ...
-
News
Bell to build tiltrotor training centre
Bell Helicopter Textron is to build a BA609 civil tiltrotor training and delivery centre at Alliance Airport, near its Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters. The new site will also be the headquarters for the Bell/Agusta Aerospace joint venture formed by the US and Italian companies to manufacture and market vertical-lift ...
-
News
Schweizer locks up 330SP orders
Schweizer Aircraft has sold two Model 330SP helicopters to the San Antonio police in Texas, to add to two the unit operates." The deal will enable the eighth largest city in the USA to move to standardise its fleet," says Elmira, New York-based Schweizer. The helicopters will be used for ...
-
News
Agusta reveals new tiltrotor
Andy Nativi/GENOA An Agusta-led team is seeking European Union (EU) research and development funding for a second generation tiltrotor which uses a tilting outer wing and can take off like a conventional airliner as well as vertically. Italian company Agusta is seeking around 90 million euros ($92 million) ...
-
News
Japan medical
MD Helicopters has delivered an air medical Explorer to Japanese distributor Tomen Aerospace for use by Aero Asahi, which will operate the helicopter for a hospital as part of a government-supported trial. Air Methods provided the interior for the helicopter. Colorado-based Air Methods believes the trial, the first air medical ...
-
News
Emergency contract
Air Methods will provide emergency transportation services for the Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nevada, under a five-year contract. Operations will start in September, using a Bell 407 helicopter. Source: Flight International
-
News
UK ambulance service expands
The National Association of Air Ambulance Services (NAAAS) is extending its operational coverage within the UK and has issued a tender for two new helicopters to cover two key regions. "The minimum requirement will be for twin-engined helicopters with the ability to transport two patients and two attendants as well ...