R. Fred Polak | Editor The days of wondering where your aircraft are and how to get in touch with them are past. If real-time, worldwide voice and data communications are essential to your operations and you want to take control of your fleet no matter where in the world they are, then Blue Sky Network is worth looking into. Through the seamless integration of Iridium Satellites, GPS and Blue Sky...

Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc., has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) system for the AgustaWestland AW109 Power, Grand, Grand New (E/S/SP) helicopters. This new IBF prevents engine damage in adverse and ramp environments alike. AW109 Power and Grand operators...

Aero Dynamix Inc. announces the delivery of its eighth Night Vision Goggle (NVG) modified AS350 to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “We are very pleased to be working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on this project” states General Manager Dennis Trout. “We are performing the night vision cockpit modification on all twelve of the new AS350 helicopters they are receiving...

At the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s 41st Annual Conference and Exposition, Night Flight Concepts showcased its online NVG parts ordering tool and RMA procedures that help customers streamline maintenance and repair, reduce time and cost and operational downtime. NFC Tools Improve NVG Maintenance Government regulations explicitly state requirements for NVG equipment maintenance and...

Airwolf Aerospace LLC. is marketing its FAA-certified (STC) blade tape kits as a protective measure against blade skin delamination on Robinson R22 and R44 helicopter main rotor blades. The FAA recently issued a second Airworthiness Directive (AD 2011-12-10) on all Robinson helicopters. In 2007, Robinson Helicopter Co. issued service alerts SB-72 and SB-103 advising owners that some main rotor...

For more than 50 years, HAI has recognized the outstanding achievements and exceptional merits of individuals and organizations through the Salute to Excellence Awards program. Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2012 program, to be held Feb. 13, 2012, during HELI-EXPO 2012 in Dallas. The Rolls-Royce Excellence in Helicopter Maintenance Award recognizes an individual who has...

The FAA has granted STC# SR02351LA to Simplex Manufacturing for a fire attack system for the Agusta Westland AW139. The Model 326 tank is a first-generation fire fighting water tank for the AW 139. Features include tank-mounted video cameras that allow the pilot to view the tank doors and hover pump from a multi-function cockpit display. The tank is composed of lightweight, high-strength...

United Rotorcraft Solutions (URS) announces that it has earned an FAA STC for the Aspen Avionics Evolution Flight Display System in the Eurocopter AS350B2/B3 model helicopters. The URS installation design was carried out on the recently-delivered Hospital Wing AS350B3. The Aspen Evolution PFD is a lightweight, compact, all solid-state digital replacement for legacy mechanical flight instruments...

Sandel Avionics has received an FAA STC for its ST3400H HeliTAWS wire and terrain safety system on a Bell 412EP helicopter. This announcement supplements an agreement Sandel has with the FAA to designate Part 27 and Part 29 helicopters operating under Part 91 or Part 135 rules as candidates for Field Approval installation of the ST3400H HeliTAWS unit. This provides for simplified installation...