The US Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the 11 February fatal crash of one of its Eurocopter HH-65B Dolphin helicopters off the Humboldt County coast in California while attempting to rescue four passengers from a capsized fishing boat. The crew had lowered a rescue swimmer into the water when the helicopter crashed into the surf, officials say. The swimmer and the three crew members survived, but two boat passengers drowned.
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.
