Leonardo announced that Mercy Flight Central, a medical provider located in western New York, has signed a contract for four IFR- certified AW119Kxs for EMS transport missions. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in 2022. These new IFR capable aircraft will allow in-flight critical care and the transport of patients within Mercy Flight’s 150-mile service radius. The AW119Kx in...
ADAC Luftrettung, one of Europe’s biggest Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operators, has taken delivery of its first two five-bladed H145s. Furthermore, the German HEMS operator will upgrade its current fleet of 14 four-bladed H145s to the five-bladed rotor system. "By investing in new aircraft alongside the upgrade of our existing H145 fleet, we are focusing on state-of...
Helicopters can do amazing things. It’s a fact. That’s why every year in mid-August World Helicopter Day (August 15) celebrates one of history’s and man’s greatest aviation and engineering achievements. World Helicopter Day is dedicated to highlighting the impact that helicopters have on society while celebrating the people who fly, design, repair, and support thei...
On 11th August, Leonardo celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Lynx helicopter’s absolute world speed record over the Somerset skyline in England. In the evening of 11th August 1986, a Westland Lynx flew a 15 km course across the Somerset Levels. The aircraft achieved an average speed of 400.87 km/h (249.10 mph), which made it the world’s fastest helicopter. The...
East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is now permanently able to deliver blood transfusions as a core part of its life-saving service. Following an urgent fundraising appeal made by EAAA in May, the air ambulance charity, which covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, is now able to carry packed red blood cells and freeze-dried plasma on every mission. Blood transfusions ensure...
Vitaly Markelov, Deputy Chairman of the ''Gazprom'' Management Committee and Andrey Boginsky, Director General of ''Russian Helicopters'' signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement for the supply of certified domestic-made Mi-171A3 maritime helicopters. The Mi-171A3 is the first domestically produced helicopter intended primarily for offshore operations (trans...
Bell Textron Inc.has restarted UH-1Y Venom helicopter production for the first international operator. Crestview Aerospace has completed manufacturing the first of eight cabins at the Crestview Florida facility. The aircraft will complete final assembly at the Bell Amarillo Assembly Center. The helicopters are part of the 2020 U.S. Department of Defense contract awarded to Bell for the p...
JSC Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, is gearing up to present several brand new civil helicopters at the MAKS-2021 air show. Visitors to the International Aviation and Space Salon will be able to get their first view of the Mi-171A3, the Ka-32A11M, and the Ansat-M. The new Mi-171A3 is the first Russian helicopter designed for offshore operations and servicing off...
Bell Textron delivered a Bell 505 helicopter to W.A. Oil Factory and Distribution PLC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, its first corporate customer in the country. With this latest acquisition, there are almost 30 Bell 505s in operation across six countries in Africa and the Middle East. “The Bell 505 is an exceptional aircraft for corporate transportation, exceeding customers’ expe...
Safran Helicopter Engines has received FAA type certification for its Arrano 1A engine, installed in the Airbus H160 helicopter. Arrano is a new-generation turboshaft in the 1,100 to 1,300 shp power range. It integrates the best in aero-engine technologies and offers a 15 % reduction in fuel consumption over other in-service helicopter engines. Arrano received EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency...
Safran Helicopter Engines and Global Turbine Asia (GTA) have renewed their contract to support Makila 2A of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). Powering their H225M helicopters, over 30 Makila engines will continue to be covered by Safran’s Global Support Package (GSP). Since 2014, this agreement has proved its efficiency to satisfy RMAF’s requirements for optimum availability during...
For the first time, Safran Helicopter Engines has run an Arrano engine using 38% of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Bordes plant in SW France. This biofuel was produced from used cooking oil. The ground run marks the first step of a strategy to deploy SAF in engine test cells at all Safran Helicopter Engines plants. By the end of the year, the manufacturer plans to use at least 10% SAF at a...
