Commercial European Body Challenges Italy’s Awards to Agusta The European Commission wants Italy to stop awarding helicopter contracts without competition to Agusta. The administrative arm of the 15-nation European Union said…
Safety Good Judgment, Right Decisions At night on October 15, 2002 a Schweizer 269C experienced an engine failure due to fuel exhaustion and was substantially damaged during the ensuing…
Military Vertical Envelopment New heavy-lift helicopters could give the U.S. military unprecedented rapid-deployment capability, but first the Pentagon must attack budgetary problems and inter-service rivalries. Army generals don’t…
Military The Forecast? Improving As the industry gathers for its major trade show, reports from the field are that business is picking up. These days folks seem wary to…
Military Caring for the “Legacies” Economics are driving operators and manufacturers to come up with better ways of keeping their oldest aircraft flying safely and efficiently. There is often a…
Commercial Coming Together Speakers and attendees at EMERGENCY RESPONSE 2003 agreed that leaders of helicopter and other first-response units must unite in planning against disasters large and small–or…
Military VXX Update : Sikorsky Plays Politics Sikorsky has laid down the political gauntlet in the VXX presidential helicopter competition with the introduction last month…
Safety Safety Watch: The Most Demanding Flying On a March day this year, a certificated flight instructor (CFI) had his student practice hover taxiing before concluding the…
Safety Safety Watch: Nighttime Awareness On July 24, 2000 in Sumner, Georgia, an AS350B Astar collided with the ground in a heavily wooded area during a clear…
Safety Safety Watch: Managing Risk How much does personality contribute to accidents? One pilot’s final radio transmission was, “Watch this.” Risk. It permeates every aspect of life. Yet, all too…
Commercial R22, R44 Certified in Japan Robinson Helicopter Company last month became the first U.S. rotorcraft manufacturer to receive Japanese type certification. Type certification of the R22 and R44 helicopters will…