Metro Aviation, always committed to safety through its Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) program and the utilization of Outerlink IRIS FDM (flight data monitoring), continues to serve its customers with the highest degree of oversight, control and confidence that risk is reduced to the lowest possible point and safety and standardization are at the highest level.

Airbus Helicopters Inc. recognizes leaders of the air medical transport industry for their far-reaching efforts to strengthen safety and service for crews and patients. Jennifer Hardcastle, Air Medical Sales manager for Airbus Helicopters Inc., presented the awards at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Phoenix, AZ.

REACH Air Medical Services is boosting its life-saving capabilities with the addition of five Airbus helicopters. Airbus Helicopters Inc. will deliver the three H125s and two H130s later this year, with the aircraft going into service by spring.

In keeping with its commitment to provide exceptional patient care, Medical Air Rescue Company (MARC) signs for its first Airbus helicopter, the versatile single-engine H130, following a signature ceremony at the 2018 Air Medical Transport Conference in Phoenix, AZ.

Helitech International announces 2019 will mark a new era for Europe’s largest event for the rotorcraft industry as it undergoes a name change to keep pace with the evolving rotorcraft industry. After this year’s event closes its doors, Helitech International will assume a new identity as the Vertical Flight Expo & Conference.

Helitech International 2018 opens its doors shortly, with 150 international exhibitors and more than 3,000 visitors descending on the RAI Amsterdam to discover the latest emerging technologies and new advancements from the industry’s leading OEMs and suppliers.

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: NYT), chooses to collaborate with BridgeIT on a five-year industrial cooperation project to develop and deliver software to Sikorsky field service representatives. BridgeIT will work together with Sikorsky to deliver a modern, mobile, digital workplace solution to employees to support Sikorsky commercial helicopter customers around the world.

The FAA approves Robinson’s R66 cargo-hook installation. The optional cargo hook carries external loads up to 1200 pounds and, for external load operations, the R66’s maximum gross weight increases from 2700 pounds to 2900 pounds.

Conklin & de Decker, a provider in aviation research, consulting and education, announces Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Release 18.2 is now available with even more aircraft and the latest operating cost data. The most innovative and comprehensive aircraft budget and financial analysis tool in the industry, LCC provides aircraft owners, operators, flight department managers and aircraft consultants with independently researched ownership and operating-cost data for more than 460 jet, turboprop, helicopter and piston aircraft.

Van Horn Aviation (VHA) receives a supplemental type certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for composite main rotor blades installed on the Bell 206L LongRanger helicopter. Loosely based on VHA’s composite 206B JetRanger main rotor blades, which were certificated in 2016, the new VHA LongRanger main rotor blades have been approved with a 16,000-hour service life, which is four times the life of the current OEM metal blades.