RIP Alan Purwin

[mickjoebill]

The US lost a key figure in aerial filming on Friday.

Alan Purwin was a highly experienced helicopter film pilot who founded and owned Helinet Aviation.
He has over 100 movie credits.


He was onboard a twin-engine Piper Aerostar that crashed enroute to Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellin following production wrap on the film "Mena" in Columbia. The purpose of the flight was to ferry crew from location to the airport.
Reports blame the weather for the crash.

Aside from Helinet, Alan financially backed both Cineflex and Shotover.
Alan was a philanthapist in field of medical transport.
A passionate aviator, his last tweet reflected the thrill of landing on a dirt strip in the jungle.

Condolences to all the Helinet family.


Mickjoebill

[Ian Corrigible]

Saddened to hear of the loss of Alan Purwin and his colleague Carlos Berl in a Piper Aerostar crash (http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34243580) in Colombia on Friday.

Alan was co-founder and President of Helinet Aviation (http://helinet.com), one of the leading aerial filming specialists, having previously co-founded West Coast Helicopters.

He was perhaps best known to PPRuNers for his involvement in the remake of The Italian Job (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/103075-italian-job.html), though his list of 100+ credits (http://helinet.com/production/credits) was extensive, spanning Airwolf, Die Hard, True Lies, Jurassic Park, Air Force One, Enemy of the State, Pearl Harbor, Terminator Salvation and Insurgent.

Alan and Helinet were also well-known for their HEMS activities, including through S-76 work with Dallas Children's Medical Center and with the Emergency Transport Program at Children's Hospital, Los Angeles.

Per Michael Bay: Cinema lost one of the greats (http://michaelbay.com/2015/09/12/alan-purwin). "He was one of the best aerial helicopter pilots in the world. It’s a very small group. He flew camera ships for so many – and for almost every one of my movies. We will miss him. He was one of the most loyal members of my team and a true friend.

RIP Alan.

[Ian Corrigible]

For any PPRuNers in the Van Nuys area on Saturday:


Please Join the Purwin Family in Celebrating the Life of

http://www.helinet.com/site_assets/content/team_photos/crew_alan_w.jpg

Alan D. Purwin

Saturday, September 19th, 2015 at 10:00 AM

Helinet Aviation (http://helinet.com/memorial)
16303 Waterman Drive
Van Nuys, Ca 91406
818-902-0229

[heffy_inc]

Director Michael Bay has made the following tribute to Alan:

https://vimeo.com/139827157

[mickjoebill]

Not mentioned in this thread was a student pilot who also perished.

https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/film/tom-cruise-film-producers-sued-over-death


Mickjoebill

[mickjoebill]

Detailed report of the crash that investigates numerous aspects of the flight.

Two Dead on a Tom Cruise Movie Shoot: A Plane Crash in Colombia, Lawsuits and a Survivor Speaks Out | Hollywood Reporter (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/two-dead-a-tom-cruise-movie-shoot-a-plane-crash-colombia-lawsuits-a-survivor-speaks-1021934)

Mjb

[mickjoebill]

Tom Cruise partially blamed for 'negligence' around plane crash - NZ Herald (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11925182)

More legal wrangling and dramatic talk.

Mjb