The FAA granted Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) an STC for the Bell 205A-1). The new STC was completed for the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. This aircraft will be used for aerial firefighting, search and rescue, airborne law enforcement and hoist equipment. “This is the seventh aircraft modification we have done for the San Diego Sheriff’s Department,” says Shawn Woodworth, director of...

DART announces that its subsidiary partner Apical Industries has received EASA approval for its emergency float system for Eurocopter AS355E, F, F1, F2, N, NP model helicopters. FAA and Transport Canada approvals have previously been received. Apical’s AS355 emergency float system consists of six floats that attach to the skidtubes and the skid extensions provided with the kit. Inflation of the...

American Eurocopter has delivered the twelfth AS350 B2 to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. This completes the order of 12 AS350 B2 helicopters that were purchased in August 2010 as part of an upgrade program for the department’s Aero Bureau fleet. The final delivery was celebrated with an event at American Eurocopter’s Delivery Center in Grand Prairie, Texas. In addition to L.A. County...

NorthEast Aviation Technologies (NEAT) will now be known as UNIFLIGHT West Penn since its acquisition by private equity investor Hawke Aerospace Group. Located at the Rostraver Airport in Westmoreland County, Penn., UNIFLIGHT West Penn will continue to perform fixed- and rotary-wing maintenance, repair and overhaul. The FAR Part 145 repair station specializes in comprehensive avionics, structures...

HeliFlite, founded in 1998, announces its 20,000th accident-free flight hour. ARGUS International has awarded HeliFlite “Platinum” status. Wyvern has audited the company seven times and recommends HeliFlite as a “Wyvern Wingman.” “HeliFlite has consistently demonstrated a commitment to safety and exceptional service. Every individual at HeliFlite takes personal pride in this important milestone...

BLR Aerospace has delivered its 200th FastFin Tail Rotor Enhancement and Stability System for a Bell UH-1H helicopter. More than one-third of the certificated UH-1 fleet has been modified with FastFin, making it one of the company’s top-selling products, according to Dave Marone, vice president of sales and marketing for BLR. “The market has responded positively to the improvements in directional...

The FAA granted HeliSAS, Cobham’s Autopilot and Stability Augmentation System, STC status on the Eurocopter AS350 model series and EC130 helicopters. Earlier this year, HeliSAS was STCd on the Bell 206B, 206L and 407 models. HeliSAS reduces pilot workload and increases aircraft stability. The two-axis system provides precise control during all modes of flight, regardless of wind conditions or...

Ralph Hawkins | Contributing Author This is the second in a two-part series. In the first part that was published in our June/July issue, I discussed the why of using engine start carts, ground idle compressor speeds and in-flight cruise engine temperatures.In this article, I will discuss the why concerning compressors, silicon dioxide, fuel nozzles and sulfidation. To re-cap the introduction...