Tag: helicopters (Page 2 of 6)

Mt. Hutt Aviation and 369 Ltd partner to become latest MD helicopters authorized service center

July 15, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

MESA, Arizona, July 14, 2023 – MD Helicopters, LLC, is pleased to announce that Mt Hutt Aviation and 369 Ltd have teamed together to join MDH’s network of Authorized Service Centers (ASC). Together these organizations will increase the level of service and support to MDH aircraft in New Zealand and the surrounding Australasia region. Currently their combined maintenance services include over 40% of the MDH aircraft operating in this region.

With a combined 50+ years of experience maintaining helicopters between each organization, MHA and 369 capabilities include maintenance, avionics, refurbishment, and specialty paint services.

About Mt Hutt Aviation

Established in 2013, Mt Hutt Aviation delivers fleet management support and maintenance between two purpose-built facilities in Canterbury. In addition to maintenance capabilities, MHA offers 24/7 support on time-critical projects as well as on-site engineering and avionics services.

About 369 Ltd

Based in Tauranga in the North Island, 369 is a family operated business with decades of experience working exclusively with the MDH airframe. Their services include maintenance and repair on the full line of civilian single-engine MD Helicopters models.

About MD Helicopters

MD Helicopters, LLC (MDH) manufactures high-performance rotorcraft solutions that support operators flying military, commercial, law enforcement, utility, and VIP mission profiles. With thousands of aircraft in service worldwide, MDH has been designing and building aircraft known for their safety, versatility, responsiveness, speed, and reliability since 1947. Our commitment to product sustainment and customer success allows MDH to deliver aircraft unmatched in their performance and reliability. MD Helicopters, LLC is owned by an investment consortium comprised of MBIA Insurance, Bardin Hill Investment Partners LP, and MB Global Partners.

Boeing Announces Second-Quarter Deliveries

July 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

ARLINGTON, Virginia, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today major program deliveries across its commercial and defense operations for the second quarter of 2023.

The company will provide detailed second quarter financial results on July 26. Major program deliveries during the second quarter were as follows:

Major Programs		2nd Quarter 2023	Year-to-Date 2023

Commercial Airplanes Programs
	737	103	216
	747	—	1
	767	8	9
	777	5	9
	787	20	31
Total		136	266

Defense, Space & Security Programs
	AH-64 Apache (New)	5	12
	AH-64 Apache (Remanufactured)	16	29
	CH-47 Chinook (New)	2	7
	CH-47 Chinook (Renewed)	3	4
	F-15 Models	4	6
	F/A-18 Models	6	13
	KC-46 Tanker	—	1
	P-8 Models	2	5
	Commercial and Civil Satellites	—	3
	Note: Delivery information is not considered final until quarterly financial results are issued.

Contact
Matt Welch
Boeing Investor Relations
(312) 544-2140

David Dufault
Boeing Investor Relations
(312) 544-2140

Boeing Media Relations
media@boeing.com

SOURCE Boeing

Garmin Gets EASA Approval for GFC 600H Flight Control System on AS350 Helicopters

June 16, 2022 / WIL BALDWIN

OLATHE, Kansas – June 16, 2022 — Garmin^® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN), is pleased to announce European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval of the GFC™ 600H for AS350 helicopters, providing a cost-effective flight control solution that reduces pilot workload and improves mission effectiveness. The GFC 600H provides a number of helicopter-tailored safety features, including attitude hold with speed stability, the innovative hover assist mode, Garmin Helicopter Electronic Stability and Protection (H-ESP^™), dedicated return-to-level (LVL) mode, as well as overspeed and low-speed protection, and more.

The GFC 600H features a console-mounted mode controller with push-button controls and a night vision goggle (NVG) compatible display. Its robust architecture allows for both 2-axis and 3-axis configurations to provide the features and handling characteristics needed for a helicopter. Integrated smart servos provide pitch and roll inputs as commanded by the system. The collective sensor and the optionally available third servo provide yaw axis control capability to provide smooth flight control adjustments when the pilot moves the collective. Digitally controlled, high-performance servos allow for faster, crisper, more powerful response, which enables the GFC 600H to perform with smooth efficiency and advanced capability.

Thanks to the innovative hover assist mode, the system can also automatically detect a hover condition and allows for flight control inputs to help maintain position over the ground. In addition, when equipped with the optional yaw axis control, the GFC 600H can hold heading in hover. GFC 600H is well integrated with the G500H TXi flight displays and GTN or GTN Xi navigators, using navigation information to automatically fly approaches, enroute navigation, fully coupled missed approach procedures including holds, as well as search and rescue patterns¹.

The advanced attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) technology combined with redundant, cross-checking sensors of the GFC 600H support smooth handling throughout the flight envelope. Further, attitude-hold mode reduces pilot workload by maintaining a specified altitude, while also providing inputs to help stabilize the helicopter when hand-flying. Designed with the pilot in mind, the GFC 600H incorporates cyclic-mounted trim controls to allow for seamless control of the system without taking a hand off of the flight controls during basic operations. Additional modes include altitude hold, altitude select, vertical speed, indicated airspeed and heading select.

The GFC 600H offers tremendous safety tools including overspeed protection and low-speed protection as well as Garmin H-ESP to help the pilot remain within a safe flight envelope when hand-flying the helicopter. H-ESP works in all modes – even when the system is not engaged – and can be manually disabled to allow for maneuvering flight. A dedicated LVL button is included on the GFC 600H and can be engaged by the pilot to return to straight-and-level flight, helping to avoid potential disorientation in degraded visual environments (DVE), such as inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC). Garmin has also implemented additional GFC 600H pilot training and supporting materials to allow for updated pilot licensing as required by the EASA certification.

First Japan SAF Helicopter Flight with H215

June 1, 2022 / WIL BALDWIN

Tokyo, Japan June 1, 2022 – Airbus Helicopters in Japan and Japan’s leading helicopter operator Nakanihon Air (NNK) have jointly performed the country’s first ever helicopter flight powered with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). NNK’s H215 helicopter conducted a 30-minute flight at Nagoya Airport in Aichi Prefecture today.

The aircraft was fueled with 600 litres of “SUSTEO 10”, a renewable jet fuel produced by Japan’s first biofuel manufacturer Euglena, which has met the specifications of both international and Japanese standards of diesel fuels ASTM D1655 and JIS K 2204 respectively. SUSTEO contains 10% of SAF mixed with Jet A-1.

The twin-engine, heavy-lift H215 is a member of the Super Puma helicopter family, known for its high availability rate, performance, and competitive operating cost.

Today, all Airbus helicopters are certified to fly with up to a 50% blend of SAF mixed with kerosene, with the aim to reach 100% SAF in coordination with engine manufacturers. An Airbus H225 performed the first ever helicopter flight with 100% SAF powering one of the Safran Makila 2 engines in 2021. Helicopter operations with 100% SAF would translate to a reduction of 80% of CO2 emissions.

Airbus Helicopters has launched a SAF User Group dedicated to the rotary-wing community, in a bid to drive the deployment of biofuels. The company has also started using SAF for training and test flights at its French and German sites.

K5-Aviation Takes Delivery of its First ACJ330-300

February 10, 2022 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, France February 9, 2022 – K5-Aviation has taken delivery of its first ACJ330-300 Airbus (OTC: EADSY) aircraft. K5-Aviation is the largest ACJ (Airbus Corporate Jets) operator in Europe with four ACJ319’s and one ACJ350-900 in its fleet.

Designed for highly-demanding VIP and private markets, the ACJ330-300 delivers top-end luxury, comfort and true nonstop range to the world. The ACJ330-300 aircraft will feature a 243m² VIP cabin, installed by Fokker Techniek, the outfitter selected by K5-Aviation. Onboard guests can experience ultimate comfort over 8,650 nm/16,000 km or up to 18.5 hours, enough to fly nonstop from Europe to Australia.

At the end of December 2021, Airbus’ A330 Family had won over 1,800 orders, making it the world’s most successful widebody aircraft. More than 210 Airbus corporate jets are in service worldwide, flying on every continent, including Antarctica, and more than 1,800 private and business aviation Airbus helicopters are in service worldwide.

U.S. Department of Defense Exercises Options for 36 TH-73A Helicopters

January 2, 2022 / WIL BALDWIN

Leonardo welcomed the announcement by the U.S. Department of Defense to award AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp. a $159.4 million USD firm-fixed price modification to the previously awarded contract for the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of 36 TH-73A helicopters Lot III and initial spares.

In January 2020 Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $176 million for the production and delivery of an initial 32 TH-73A helicopters, along with spares, support, dedicated equipment, and specific pilot and maintenance training services.

In November 2020, the second lot of aircraft were ordered through a $171 million contract modification, an additional 36. The lot III brings the total number of aircraft on order to 104. The total requirement is for 130 aircraft. The TH-73A will be used to train the next generation of student aviators from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard and is only made at Leonardo’s FAA-certified Part 21 Production Line in Philadelphia, PA.

Click the link below to watch the video!

https://leonardo.canto.global/s/KA76E?viewIndex=0&column=video&id=9r87ussssd53td82qke7v2t90d

Spanish Ministry of Defense Signs Deal for 36 Airbus H135 Helicopters

December 27, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Marignane, France – The Spanish Ministries of Defense and Interior have ordered 36 Airbus (OTC: EADSY) H135 helicopters. This signature takes place in the context of the stimulus plan activated by the Spanish government to support the industry. The Ministry of Defence will receive 18 helicopters to be operated by the air force and the navy while the Ministry of Interior will also take delivery of 18 helicopters to be operated by the National Police and the Guardia Civil. The deliveries will start next year.

The Spanish Army already operates a fleet of 16 H135 helicopters. With this acquisition, these will be the Spanish Air Force’s first H135’s and the Spanish Navy’s first Airbus Helicopters product. As was the case for the H135’s acquired some time ago by the army, the new aircraft for the air force and navy will replace older helicopter models currently used for advanced pilot training. The standardisation of training fleets across the three armed forces will create synergies and lead to the implementation of new and more efficient training and support activities.

The Ministry of Interior currently has a fleet of 31 helicopters from the H135 family in operation with the National Police, the Guardia Civil, and Tráfico. The new helicopters will enable the Policía and Guardia Civil to replace the BO105 helicopters in a wide range of missions including law enforcement, surveillance, and rescue activities.

Bavaria Orders 8 Five-Bladed Airbus H145 Helicopters for Police Force

December 16, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Donauwörth, Germany December 2021 – The Ministry of Interior of Bavaria has ordered eight five-bladed Airbus (OTC: EADSY) H145 helicopter’s for its police force, following a European tender launched earlier this year. The aircraft will replace the state’s current H135 fleet and will be operated by the two bases of the Bavarian helicopters squadron at the airport in Munich and in Roth, close to Nuremberg. The first delivery is planned for 2023.

The new version of Airbus’ best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter was unveiled at Heli-Expo 2019 in Atlanta. This latest upgrade adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission H145, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150 kg. The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design will also ease maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew.

In total, there are more than 1,500 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of more than six million flight hours. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.

First Naval Combat H225M Ever Built Delivered to Brazilian Navy

November 26, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H225M in naval combat configuration to the Brazilian Navy. Stationed at the naval base in São Pedro d’Aldeia, the aircraft will boost the Brazilian Navy’s mission capabilities including anti-surface warfare and maritime surveillance.

Developed by the engineering team at Helibras (the Brazilian subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters), this naval version of the H225M aircraft is the most complex configuration that has ever been produced for this multirole helicopter. The aircraft’s embedded systems include the EWS IDAS-3 (countermeasure system), MBDA Exocet AM39 B2M2 missiles, the APS143 tactical radar and the naval mission system N-TDMS (Naval Tactical Data Management System) developed in partnership with Atech and Airbus Defense and Space, which is responsible for making the command and control of all embedded systems, including the missile system.

The last stage of the firing campaign with the Exocet AM39 B2M2 missiles was successfully carried out last June, representing a major milestone in the programme, which led the way to qualification and delivery.

The naval H225M is part of the contract signed by the Brazilian government in 2008 and which includes 50 H225Ms to be operated by the three armed forces. So far, 39 H225Ms have been delivered to the Brazilian Armed Forces, all of them assembled locally by Helibras.

Boeing to Deliver Additional Chinook Helicopters to U.S. Army Special Operations

November 25, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Boeing [NYSE: BA] will build six more MH-47G Block II Chinooks for the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command as part of a $246.48 million contract.

Delivery of these aircraft are scheduled to start in 2023. With this additional order, Boeing is now under contract for 30 MH-47G Block II Chinooks, four of which have been delivered to date.

These aircraft will be the first to include the new Active Parallel Actuator Subsystem (APAS), a mission system that helps pilots execute more difficult maneuvers while improving safety and reliability of flight.

The MH-47G Block II Chinook also features improved structure and weight reduction initiatives like new lighter weight fuel pods that increase performance and efficiency.

Boeing has more than 4,600 Boeing employees in Pennsylvania supporting H-47 Chinook, V-22 Osprey, MH-139A Grey Wolf and a number of services and engineering efforts. Boeing’s presence, including suppliers and vendors, supports an estimated 16,000 total jobs in Pennsylvania.

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