For those of you that work on or support helicopters or have ever been to the Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) main event — Heli-Expo, you know that it is undoubtedly the largest helicopter tradeshow in the world. This year’s Heli-Expo 2024 was no exception.
Click the cover to access the digital issue. Click here to subscribe today!
PHI MRO Services, a provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services, launches “Call PHI,” an on-demand MRO global support network dedicated to providing 24/7 access to maintenance support for helicopter operators around the world at affordable pricing.
Italian business-aviation operator, Air Corporate, places a firm order for 43 helicopters from Airbus on the concluding day of EBACE 2023. The helicopters include 40 single-engine helicopters (H125/H130) plus three ACH160s from Airbus Corporate Helicopters in Line configuration with the Lounge package to add to two ACH160s already on order.
Just like last year Summer is rounding the corner in the Northern Hemisphere. Just like last year I am reminding you: “To NOT stay thirsty my friends.” Heat and Humidity, the curse of a helicopter mechanics’ workday, is coming to a hangar near you.
Airbus Helicopters and the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) test the unmanned aerial system (UAS) VSR700 for the first time in an operational configuration from a ship at sea. At the beginning of May, the VSR700 performed 80 fully autonomous take-offs and landings from a civil vessel equipped with a helicopter deck, cruising off the coast of Brittany in the west of France.
Just finished reading an article written by Arron Karp published in the March/April issue of Avionics International: “Aviation Maintenance Technician Shortage Threatens Post Covid Rebound”. The article begins: “As demand for aviation roars back generally—and for passenger airline services in particular—demand for aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) is rapidly rising. Now, a long-feared AMT shortage has arrived, according to experts and industry forecasts, and is not expected to get better anytime soon.”
B-nuts to be specific. The NTSB has released Safety Alert 086 titled Mechanics: Ensure B-nuts Are Properly Secured! You can view the Safety Alert by visiting https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-alerts/Documents/SA-086.pdf.
The Safety Alert starts off saying, “B-nuts are a small piece of hardware that can cause a big problem if they are not properly secured.”
It goes on to discuss “The problem.”
Boost Human External Cargo Systems, a global provider of fully certified human external cargo systems and personnel-carrying device systems announces that it has been awarded a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) supplemental type certificate (STC) for its Airbus AS350/H125 Human External Cargo System.
Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) announces it recently received the 2022 Operational Excellence Award from Airbus Helicopters at its annual Supplier Conference in Marignane, France. In addition to recognizing excellence in on-time delivery and quality, the award highlights Garmin’s outstanding performance amid a period of global supply-chain challenges.
Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) announces that partner SKYTRAC is providing Iridium® satellite connectivity to a Sikorsky S-92®, which will be used for search and rescue off the shores of Guyana. SKYTRAC will enable truly global, weather-resilient, reliable connectivity for the helicopter with its ISAT-200A solution as well as BIue Sky Network’s Iridium Certus Connected® SkyLink 7100.
LYTE Aviation, the world’s newest advanced air-mobility innovator addressing advanced urban mobility and connectivity, reveals its 40-seat (hybrid) eVTOL SkyBus and SkyTruck program. LYTE Aviation’s LA-44 design is powered by four conventional turbine engines running on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) complemented with four electric motors at the wingtips powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The SkyBus and complementary SkyTruck cargo variant, designed around a 4.5 tonne payload, is the accumulation of three years’ R&D. The result is a game-changing vertical take-off and landing vehicle designed to be five times more fuel-efficient than current helicopters.
