Do you know a great flight instructor (CFI), mechanic (AMT), avionics tech or FAASTeam representative who should be nominated for an award? Nominations for next year's 2012 General Aviation Awards are due to your local FSDO this Friday, 30 September 2011. The awards program is an industry / FAA partnership to recognize and promote professionalism. Here's a link to more info on the awards and the...

RLC, the largest privately-held helicopter operator for the oil & gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, announces that it has secured a strategic investment from Sankaty Advisors, one of the nation's leading private managers of fixed income and credit instruments. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Broussard, Louisiana, RLC provides complete helicopter...

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has announced a call for speakers for its 2012 Maintenance Management Conference. The conference will take place in Nashville, TN from May 1 to 3. Proposals for presentations on topics such as regulatory compliance, safety, leadership and the latest aircraft technologies are welcome. Proposals are due by September 30. To learn more, visit http://...

Piney Flats, TN - Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announces it has received FAA approval for new vision and lighting accessory kits for Bell 407 helicopter models. The Aeronautical Accessories branded, STC certified kits are available for immediate shipment. The new Aeronautical Accessories vision and lighting kits are available in four configurations designed to improve visibility. The...

Shelton, CT – Sikorsky Helitech, a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, announces the signing of an agreement with FlightSafety International to provide maintenance training for customers in the Asia Pacific area. The three- year agreement is the first of its kind to offer Pratt & Whitney Canada Aircraft Engine maintenance training in the region...

The FAA has recently granted AvidAir International, a provider of RR250 Compressor Case repair and overhaul (R&O), approval to provide its new patent-pending Carbon Fiber Composite Lining to the industry. Craig Rookstool, president and CEO for AvidAir, says that this is a new carbon fiber composite solution for the existing, inherently fragile, 40-year-old plastic lining design. He added that...

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...