Helicopter manufacturers AgustaWestland and Eurocopter have expanded their US bases. AgustaWestland has opened a $6.8 million, 3,700m2 (40,000ft2) facility at its A119 Koala manufacturing base in Philadelphia, housing flight hangars, completion, final assembly and manufacturing stations. American Eurocopter opened its 7,940m2 parts production and completion facility at Golden Triangle Regional airport near Columbus, Mississippi.
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.
