EMS Aviation, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc., introduces the Aspire™ Portable AirMail System. The product, the latest addition to the Aspire family of communications products, is a device which operators carry on their aircraft with them. It is easily connected to an existing Iridium® antenna for near-instant access to e-mail through personal smartphones. Weighing just three pounds, the...

Each year during the AEA International Convention & Trade Show, two prestigious awards are presented: the AEA Member of the Year, which honors an individual from an AEA regular member company; and the AEA Associate Member of the Year, which honors a company that is an AEA associate member. The 2011 winners were announced on March 24 at the annual AEA Awards Luncheon. The honorees are: Gunter...

Aspen Avionics announces the release of a series of enhancements that broaden the compatibility and expand the functionality of the Evolution Flight Display System. Aspen’s most recent product updates include: Approval for the Evolution system to emulate the Collins PN 101 HSI system, providing lateral and vertical deviation, heading, and course datum inputs to compatible autopilots. The Air Data...

Bell Helicopter announces that its Lafayette, LA facility has successfully achieved AS9100 Implementation and Certification. This certification confirms that the Lafayette quality management system (QMS) is certified for manufacturing composite panels and allows Lafayette to operate as an extension of Bell Helicopter’s Fort Worth headquarters. The Louisiana operation, formerly Acadian Composites...

HeliSAS, Cobham’s Autopilot and Stability Augmentation System, has been granted Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) status by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Bell 206B, 206L, and 407 helicopters. HeliSAS provides precise control during all modes of flight, regardless of wind conditions or shifts in weight. The system is designed to be engaged at all times-- “on” before takeoff and “...

Soloy Aviation Solutions announces the approval and availability of a 200 amp generator for installation on the Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 engine used in the Soloy AS350SD2 engine conversion kit for AS350B2 helicopters. It is approved as an option for the standard 150 amp unit on the existing engine conversion STC (SR01647SE). The STC optional kit is based on the use of a Skurka Aerospace 200 amp...

Omniflight calls its SMS participation a natural extension of its “true safety-first culture.” The company, which operates some 100 rotor- and fixed-wing aircraft nationally, from 77 bases in 18 states, completed the first phase in just seven months. Omniflight says the SMS program is helping to build on its existing proactive safety efforts. In the areas where it has base operations, such as the...

Eurocopter Holding, a subsidiary of EADS and Vector Aerospace Corporation, a Canadian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, have entered into a Support Agreement pursuant to which Eurocopter Holding will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Vector Aerospace by way of a take-over bid for consideration of C$13 in cash per Common Share (the Offer). The Board of...

EADS and its subsidiary Eurocopter Group have officially received the backing of the French authorities for their joint project to transfer some activities from Eurocopter’s La Courneuve plant, together with a part of EADS’ Suresnes-based research and development activities, to the city of Dugny. The two groups will lead the way for the future Greater Paris Aeronautics Center of Excellence...

Reno Nevada is known as the “Biggest Little City” in the world and AEA might just be the “Biggest Little Trade Show” in the world. The show officially opened on March 23rd and ran through March 25th. Although not as large as NBAA or HAI, AEA was packed with exhibitors and attendees alike. Everyone the HeliMx team spoke with was very upbeat, positive and telling us that business was not only good...