Leonardo announces that Life Link III, an EMS operator in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the United States, has signed a contract for an AW169 and an AW109 Trekker for air-medical transport missions. The helicopters will ensure in-flight critical care and transport patients across the upper-Midwest of the country. Delivery is anticipated to take place in the fourth quarter of 2021. The order marks the entry of the AW109 Trekker into the U.S. for EMS applications and further grows the success of the AW169 in this market. 

Hill Helicopters unveils its Hill GT50 light turbine engine, designed specifically for the new Hill HX50 luxury personal helicopter. An elegant and intellectual combination of time-tested, proven engine technologies and today’s turbine engine advancements, the GT50 is a compact, light, reliable and innovative solution that defines the future of the light turbine helicopter.

Arizona-based rotor blade manufacturer Van Horn Aviation (VHA) receives a letter of acceptance from Transport Canada for the company’s updated composite main rotor blades fitting the Bell 206B JetRanger helicopter. Approved by the FAA in August 2020, the new VHA 206B Version 2 main rotor blades may now be installed for use on Bell 206B JetRangers in Canada.

Concorde Battery receives FAA STC SR01067DE, approving installation of RG-641, a lead-acid main battery, on Enstrom 480/480B models. RG-641 is designed as a drop-in replacement for the original equipment lead-acid battery on the helicopter. No kit or hardware is required to convert.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) is extending the deadline to submit nominations for the annual Salute to Excellence awards that recognize superior achievement across nine categories of the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) industry. Salute nomination packages must be submitted to HAI by Nov. 20, 2020, to be considered.

Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, announces it has received the Garmin Bronze Dealer Award for 2019, which recognizes the top aviation dealers in the Garmin network. The award is presented to less than one-third of Garmin’s avionics distributors worldwide.

Mission Health’s Mountain Area Medical Airlift (MAMA) visits Metro Aviation to take delivery of its new Airbus EC145e, the lightweight twin-engine helicopter that has become increasingly sought after throughout the air-medical industry.

Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announces delivery of three Bell 407 GXis to the Polish National Police (PNP), a long-standing Bell customer for about 20 years. The milestone marks the fifth aircraft delivered to Poland this year and the first parapublic Bell 407 GXi to be received by the country. 

Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) announces that Joe Estrera, PhD., will be the new president of ASU and Hannah Gordon will be promoted as the new chief operating officer upon the retirement of ASU president, Jim Winkle, at the end of the year. In partnership, Estrera will lead strategy and outward operations while Gordon will direct internal operations.

Distributor Savback Helicopters and helicopter manufacturer CURTI Industries extend their cooperation, making Savback Helicopters the sole exclusive distributor for the Zefhir helicopter in South East Asia. Savback has been the distributor of the Zefhir in Northern Europe and the CIS since the fall of 2019, and through this extension of the companies’ partnership, the distribution area now also includes Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, The Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Brunei and Cambodia.