With half of 2019 completed and another six months to go, the U.S. helicopter industry is experiencing a year of tragic accidents with too many lives being lost. To stem the surge of fatal accidents, the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (www.USHST.org) is calling on helicopter operators, pilots, instructors and mechanics to rely on safety basics and place a stronger emphasis on identifying and managing risk.

WinAir announces that Geisinger Life Flight has successfully implemented digital signatures for its aviation management software, WinAir Version 7, and is now live with this new feature. Digital signatures provide Geisinger with the ability to have mechanics and inspectors electronically sign-off on maintenance tasks and job completion. As a result of this implementation, Geisinger has become the first aviation operation to receive Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approval to utilize WinAir’s digital signatures functionality.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) releases the first building block to enable the safe operation of hybrid and electrical vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

Safran Helicopter Engines and Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) sign an agreement to extend their support to helicopter engines used by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Thai parapublic operators. The agreement marks a new stage in a partnership that began in 2017, with Safran supporting Makila used on H225 operated by the Royal Thai Air Force.

Airbus announces that Romain Trapp has been appointed president of Airbus Helicopters, Inc. and head of the North America region for helicopters. He succeeds Chris Emerson, who is assuming the role of president of Airbus Defense and Space, Inc.

S.A.F.E.

Vertical Flight Expo & Conference, formerly known as Helitech International, lands in Farnborough from November 5-7, in partnership with the British Helicopter Association (BHA). The event returns in a new guise to offer an opportunity for international operators to source technology for missions in oil and gas, HEMS, SAR and agriculture, amongst others.

Snap-On helps eliminate FOD (foreign object damage) with its new 6” Diagonal Flush Cut Cutter with Cushion Throat. The tool enhances worker safety by preventing projectile material during use.

MRO and flight operations software provider, Rusada, becomes the newest member of the European Helicopter Association (EHA). The EHA acts on behalf of the European rotorcraft industry, promoting the best interests of all sectors as an economically important, safe and sustainable industry essential to the success of European and national economies.

CHC Group announces that Carlos Madaleno, former sales director, has assumed the role of regional director as of May 1, 2019, upon Marcelo Luiz da Silva Soares retiring from the position. Soares joined CHC in his role in 2016 and has enjoyed a nearly 40-year career in the aviation and energy industries.