Helicopters – Page 217
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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) ...
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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High endurance rotorcraft set to fly
The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Frontier Systems this year plan to flight-test a revolutionary unmanned helicopter that can remain airborne for up to 48h and achieve an unrefuelled range of 5,550km (3,000nm). Neither DARPA nor Abraham Karem, Frontier president, will disclose details of the research ...
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Eurotilt consortium drives for tiltrotor funding from EC
A consortium of European companies led by Eurocopter has requested funding from the European Commission (EC) for a new 19-seat tiltrotor ground test programme. The consortium comprises 33 companies from nine countries, including Spain's CASA and Fiat Avio of Italy. The European rotorcraft technology integration for a long-range transport ...
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Pop-out floats
The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved Robinson R44 emergency pop-out floats, allowing the pilot to resume flying, without noticeable loss of airspeed, once a cause of an emergency is corrected. Robinson says the $22,000 floats are lightweight, durable and inflate in about 2s. The company has delivered the first ...
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Mergers
Aviation Sales is to buy Kitty Hawk's airframe and JT8D engine maintenance operations in Oscoda, Michigan. The $21.5 million deal includes a three-year agreement for airframe and engine maintenance on the airline's 34 Boeing 727s. The FHL Division of Claverham in the UK has formed a joint venture with Italy's ...
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Rural helicopter
Illinois, USA-based farm supplies chain Rural King has taken delivery of its first Eurocopter AS350BA AStar helicopter, to be used to transport company executives across its network of 17 shops. American Eurocopter has also signed a service contract with German company KID-Systeme for the supply and maintenance of cabin systems. ...
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Indian order
Hindustan Aeronautics has ordered two Schweizer 330 light helicopters for its new helicopter training school. The Indian manufacturer and distributor plans to assemble Schweizer machines at Bangalore. Source: Flight International
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Romania extends Brasov deadline
Romania has given Bell until next month to resubmit a proposal to take over state-run aerospace manufacturer IAR Brasov and establish a licence production line for the AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopter. Bell presented fresh proposals to the Romanian prime minister on 23 June, and was given a 60-day extension ...
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Eurocopter/Kawasaki fly EC145
Eurocopter and Kawasaki have begun test flights of the EC145 medium utility helicopter, a successor to the jointly developed BK117 twin turboshaft. The manufacturers decline to reveal programme details, but the helicopter is understood to be a development of the BK117, incorporating some cockpit and forward fuselage features of ...
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Bell considers 206 upgrade and ponders plans to modify 412Plus
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Bell is considering improving its 206 helicopter, rather than developing an all-new replacement to compete with the Eurocopter EC120. In the meantime, the company expects to decide before the end of the year on a 412Plus upgrade. "We're looking at enhancements to the 206. We're ...
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Brazilians buy Twin Pandas for Amazon
Canadian Aerospace Group International (CASG) has received a $58 million firm order for 15 Twin Panda 19-seat twin turboprops from a Brazilian transport consortium. The aircraft - including seven float-equipped models - will be used to transport passengers and freight throughout the Amazon basin. The Canadian company has firm ...
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Omniflight contract
Omniflight Helicopters has signed a 10-year contract extension to operate Indianapolis, Indiana's Life Line air medical programme and to refurbish its two Eurocopter BK117s. Omniflight has signed a similar deal with Billings, Montana-based Help Flight Services, which will upgrade to a Eurocopter EC135. Source: Flight International