Southeast Aerospace, an aerospace solutions company, welcomes Ron Symonette as new senior program manager. Symonette brings over 25 years of aviation industry experience, with 21 years at United Rotorcraft (a division of Air Methods).

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, opens its new Advanced Vertical Lift Center (AVLC) in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The office provides a unique setting for Bell’s military customers, partners and policy makers to interact with technology that is defining the future of vertical lift (FVL). Bell is increasing its presence in the region to offer opportunities for leaders to understand how advanced aviation technology, such as the V-280 Valor, can meet the urgent needs of the warfighter.

United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, receives a purchase order from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for the acquisition of a new Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk aircraft, to be modified into FIREHAWK® firefighting configuration by United Rotorcraft. This aircraft will be the latest firefighting tool put into service with CAL FIRE to protect the citizens and property of California.

DART’s Bell 505 Emergency Flotation System, being the first and only such system available on the market, receives certification from the Federal Aviation Association (FAA). With TCCA approval issued in mid-February of this year, the system has started seeing its first deliveries.

Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), announces that the Civil Aviation Administration of China has validated the H125 (formerly AS350) Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) Supplemental Type Certificate, clearing the way for installation of IBFs on Airbus H125 helicopters in China.

Leonardo and the Australian Ministry of Defence agree to establish a helicopter transmission repair and overhaul facility in Melbourne capable of servicing MRH Taipan, foreign NH90 and certain civil helicopter main gear boxes. Planned to be set up into an existing facility of Leonardo and to commence operation in mid-2020, the centre will employ at least 12 technical staff for 30 years or more.

DART receives EASA certification for its H145 (EC145) Quick Release, Heli-Utility-Basket™ on March 19, only three months after receiving the initial FAA certification (Dec. 13, 2017), and is now able to support European operators of the H145 and EC145.

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), announces Canadian certification for the expanded gross weight capability option for new S-92® helicopters. The option increases the maximum take-off weight from 26,500 to 27,700 pounds, allowing operators to carry an additional 1,200 pounds of payload. This capability was first certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2015.

Airbus Helicopters secures an additional order of one H225 helicopter from the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), bringing JCG’s H225 fleet to ten units. JCG currently operates three AS332s and five H225s, both from the Super Puma family. With this new order, the customer’s Super Puma fleet will grow to 13 units by March 2021, becoming the largest Super Puma operator in Japan.

Leonardo announces that Aerocardal Limitada has been appointed an Authorised Service Centre for its helicopters in Chile. The announcement was made during an official ceremony held at FIDAE 2018. Under the agreement, Aerocardal Limitada will provide comprehensive support and maintenance services from its base at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez international Airport, for Chilean owners and operators of AW109 light twin-engine and AW119 single-engine helicopters.