North American News
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Third B2 for SCPD
American Eurocopter has announced that the company has delivered an AS350 B2 helicopter to the Aviation Section of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), located on Long Island, east of New York City.
This is the third AS350 B2 in the SCPD’s fleet of four that also includes an EC145. The new helicopter replaces another that was sold in order to upgrade to the AS350 B2. This aircraft will go into service immediately and marks the Aviation Section’s transition to an all-Eurocopter fleet.
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Helijet Wins 8 Year Medical Contract
VANCOUVER — Richmond-based Helijet International has secured a $94.7 million contract with the BC Ambulance Service, the company announced today.
VANCOUVER — Richmond-based Helijet International has secured a $94.7 million contract with the BC Ambulance Service, the company announced today.
The contract begins April 1, 2011 and runs eight years, but also includes a four-year extension option.
Under the deal, Helijet will provide three dedicated helicopters on call for 24 hour a day, seven days a week service 365 days a year. Two of the helicopters will be based at Helijet's company headquarters at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond. One helicopter will be based in Prince Rupert.
Under the deal, Helijet will provide three dedicated helicopters on call for 24 hour a day, seven days a week service 365 days a year. Two of the helicopters will be based at Helijet's company headquarters at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond. One helicopter will be based in Prince Rupert.
More: //www.vancouversun.com/health/Helijet+awarded+eight+year+ambulance+contract/3741918/story.html#ixzz13iloveQl
Helipad unveiled in Kelowna
The Okanagan now has its first-ever roof top helipad. The helipad is a 12-ton steel and aluminum structure on top of the new tower being built at Kelowna General Hospital. The new $5 million landing pad could be a life-saving difference in providing health care to critical care patients.
More: Helipad unveiled in Kelowna
US to donate helicopters to Lebanon
NICOSIA — The administration of President Barack Obama, despite an aid freeze by Congress and concerns about Iran's presence in the country via the dominant Hizbullah organization, has pledged to re-build Lebanon's Air Force.
Officials said the U.S. military and Defense Department have been drafting options to enhance Lebanon's military in 2011. They said the plans envision U.S. assistance to build the Lebanese Air Force, particularly its helicopter fleet.
More: Administration plans helicopter upgrades for Lebanese Air Force despite aid freeze
Helipad unveiled in Kelowna
The Okanagan now has its first-ever roof top helipad. The helipad is a 12-ton steel and aluminum structure on top of the new tower being built at Kelowna General Hospital. The new $5 million landing pad could be a life-saving difference in providing health care to critical care patients.
More: Helipad unveiled in Kelowna
US to donate helicopters to Lebanon
NICOSIA — The administration of President Barack Obama, despite an aid freeze by Congress and concerns about Iran's presence in the country via the dominant Hizbullah organization, has pledged to re-build Lebanon's Air Force.
Officials said the U.S. military and Defense Department have been drafting options to enhance Lebanon's military in 2011. They said the plans envision U.S. assistance to build the Lebanese Air Force, particularly its helicopter fleet.
More: Administration plans helicopter upgrades for Lebanese Air Force despite aid freeze
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USFS Welcomes New DRF in CA.
Regional Forester Randy Moore is proud to welcome Jeanne Wade Evans, who will serve as Deputy Regional Forester for the National Forests in California.
Jeanne Wade Evans, Supervisor on the San Bernardino National Forest since October of 2005, will move to the regional level to oversee Fire and Aviation Management as well as State and Private Forestry. Prior to her assignment in California, she held three positions in the Forest Service Washington Office, including Policy Specialist for Fire Management (Hazardous Fuels), Deputy Director for Forest and Rangelands, and Natural Resource Specialist for Rangeland Stewardship. Wade Evans also served as a District Ranger and Range Conservationist on the Coronado National Forest in Arizona. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Resources and Agriculture from Arizona State University in 1977.
Wade Evans replaces Jim Peńa who left in August to become Associate Deputy Chief of the National Forest System in Washington, D.C.
Go Jeanne!
Sureflight Opens New Mutli-Million $ Paint Facility
The aviation refinishing company, SureFlight, LLC celebrates the opening of its new 18,000 sq ft aviation paint facility. As part of the fivefold expansion, SureFlight constructed a new state-of-the-art Double Down Draft paint booth capable of accommodating a large size helicopter such as the Sikorsky S-92 with main rotor blades installed, or two helicopters side by side without blades. SureFlight can also accommodate mid-size fixed wing aircraft up to the size of a Hawker 800.
Dan Watkins, CEO of SureFlight said, “The facility expansion will allow SureFlight to increase the quantity of work we are capable of accommodating. Our manager, DeWitte Binkley, already has an established 32 year reputation in the Northeast US rotorcraft industry for exceptional quality paint finishes. Building a multimillion dollar paint facility just by itself is worthless. When we combine DeWitte and his team with our state-of-the-art facility, we create the highest quality refinishing company available. The first helicopter painted in our new paint hangar was Donald Trump’s S-76B. Mr. Trump and his aviation team recognized that such a high profile helicopter required the finest paint shop available.”
PHI Settles Claims Over Louisiana S76 Crash
Plaintiffs’ attorneys and a lawyer for PHI Inc. said Thursday that confidential terms of the settlements will be filed. More: Helicopter owner settles claims over La. crash - Florida AP - MiamiHerald.com
Cougar Drops Claim Against Sikorsky Subsidiary in $27m Lawsuit
Cougar launched the lawsuit in June against both Sikorsky and its subsidiary Helicopter Services Inc. (HSI), but has recently served notice it was discontinuing the civil action against HSI. More: Legal wrangling - Business - The Telegram
Agusta Wins Maryland State Police Contract
AgustaWestland has annouced that it has been awarded the contract by the Maryland State Police Aviation Command for 6 medium helicopters for their Medevac program. The $71 million contract calls for the first of 6 AW139 to be delivered 18 months from now. These aircraft will be produced at AgustaWestland’s Philadelphia facility.
Regional Forester Randy Moore is proud to welcome Jeanne Wade Evans, who will serve as Deputy Regional Forester for the National Forests in California.
Jeanne Wade Evans, Supervisor on the San Bernardino National Forest since October of 2005, will move to the regional level to oversee Fire and Aviation Management as well as State and Private Forestry. Prior to her assignment in California, she held three positions in the Forest Service Washington Office, including Policy Specialist for Fire Management (Hazardous Fuels), Deputy Director for Forest and Rangelands, and Natural Resource Specialist for Rangeland Stewardship. Wade Evans also served as a District Ranger and Range Conservationist on the Coronado National Forest in Arizona. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Resources and Agriculture from Arizona State University in 1977.
Wade Evans replaces Jim Peńa who left in August to become Associate Deputy Chief of the National Forest System in Washington, D.C.
Go Jeanne!
Sureflight Opens New Mutli-Million $ Paint Facility
The aviation refinishing company, SureFlight, LLC celebrates the opening of its new 18,000 sq ft aviation paint facility. As part of the fivefold expansion, SureFlight constructed a new state-of-the-art Double Down Draft paint booth capable of accommodating a large size helicopter such as the Sikorsky S-92 with main rotor blades installed, or two helicopters side by side without blades. SureFlight can also accommodate mid-size fixed wing aircraft up to the size of a Hawker 800.
Dan Watkins, CEO of SureFlight said, “The facility expansion will allow SureFlight to increase the quantity of work we are capable of accommodating. Our manager, DeWitte Binkley, already has an established 32 year reputation in the Northeast US rotorcraft industry for exceptional quality paint finishes. Building a multimillion dollar paint facility just by itself is worthless. When we combine DeWitte and his team with our state-of-the-art facility, we create the highest quality refinishing company available. The first helicopter painted in our new paint hangar was Donald Trump’s S-76B. Mr. Trump and his aviation team recognized that such a high profile helicopter required the finest paint shop available.”
PHI Settles Claims Over Louisiana S76 Crash
Plaintiffs’ attorneys and a lawyer for PHI Inc. said Thursday that confidential terms of the settlements will be filed. More: Helicopter owner settles claims over La. crash - Florida AP - MiamiHerald.com
Cougar Drops Claim Against Sikorsky Subsidiary in $27m Lawsuit
Cougar launched the lawsuit in June against both Sikorsky and its subsidiary Helicopter Services Inc. (HSI), but has recently served notice it was discontinuing the civil action against HSI. More: Legal wrangling - Business - The Telegram
Agusta Wins Maryland State Police Contract
AgustaWestland has annouced that it has been awarded the contract by the Maryland State Police Aviation Command for 6 medium helicopters for their Medevac program. The $71 million contract calls for the first of 6 AW139 to be delivered 18 months from now. These aircraft will be produced at AgustaWestland’s Philadelphia facility.
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Helicopter Crash in Tucker County
MetroNews
One person is dead and three more victims are at Ruby Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries after a helicopter crashed in Tucker County. The incident happened Saturday morning when the crew was working on power lines, according to Allegheny Power spokesperson Doug Colafella. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. More: Helicopter Crash in Tucker County - West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio
MetroNews
One person is dead and three more victims are at Ruby Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries after a helicopter crashed in Tucker County. The incident happened Saturday morning when the crew was working on power lines, according to Allegheny Power spokesperson Doug Colafella. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. More: Helicopter Crash in Tucker County - West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio
Presidential Choppers may be Canibalized to Support Rescue Ships
Ottawa
Ottawa
The Canadian Defence Department is looking at the possibility of buying U.S. President Barack Obama’s helicopter cast-offs as spare parts for the Canadian air force’s Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters.
Preliminary discussions are underway on the possible sale of the US101 helicopters to Canada. The aircraft, which were originally destined to form the new fleet of “Marine One” presidential helicopters, are similar to Canada’s CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue choppers which, at times, have been grounded because of a lack of spare parts. More: Canadian Forces eye Obama?s chopper cast-offs
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Does the Helijet contract not replace a VIH / Cougar 222?
PETITION TO RE-OPEN SOUTH CAPITOL STREET HELIPORT
WASHINGTON, DC — November 11
The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter to Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole requesting that the TSA re-open the South Capitol Street Heliport (SCSH), the only publicly accessible heliport in the city, which the TSA shut down to public access in 2005 after permitting the heliport to operate with limited public access for several years after 9/11.
In her letter she argued that shutting down the very heliport that government agencies used as a command center on September 11 2001 was an affront to common sense, service, commercial necessity, and basic justice. Every heliport in the country opened shortly after 9/11, including those in New York City where the terrorist attacks occurred.
The new proposal includes a two-hour advance notice for requests to land here, limited to only non-stop flights initially, and only from five heliports. Opened in 1998, the heliport brought significant business to the District and region, peaking at 41 corporate operators, including motion picture industry helicopters, many business aviation clients, emergency management operators and the Metropolitan Police Department, which still uses SCSH as its aircraft base. In the aftermath of 9/11, TSA imposed a waiver program, significantly reducing the number of helicopter flights to the District by requiring that pilots get waivers and report all passengers, crew and security personnel aboard all flights whenever they sought to fly to the District.
Then, without any warning or explanation, the TSA abruptly halted even the limited waiver program flights and prohibited all commercial operations altogether, without any due process, input in the decision from the heliport or its users, means to appeal, or even so much as an explanation. Norton wrote, “Despite SCSH’s generous and vital assistance to first responders and others on and after 9/11, and its steadfast pursuit of an appeal, SCSH remains closed nearly ten years after 9/11 except for use by law enforcement, military and medical evacuation traffic.” She said that, “it amounted to a government takeover of a private facility without compensation, and should have been unthinkable for our government to adopt practices characteristic of authoritarian government, despite the willingness of the heliport to submit to whatever structures and regulations the government chose to impose on them, and then to turn around and use the facility for its own government purposes.”
Norton is particularly pressing now to reopen the heliport in light of the economic downturn. With the region improving economically, she believes that the heliport could boost recovery of the city and the region. She intends to enlist her colleagues as well in this effort.
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LOS ANGELES - NOV 13th
KCAL ASTAR DOWN
A Los Angeles news helicopter had to make an emergency landing in Pacoima Friday.
The helicopter suffered engine failure shortly after takeoff from Whiteman Airport.
The aircraft, which was headed to a news story in Van Nuys, barely made it over a fence while returning to the airport.
The chopper landed safely around 8 a.m. The pilot and a cameraman escaped unharmed, according to fire officials.
During the hard landing, the tail section of the chopper struck the runway and broke off. The tail portion was seen resting several feet away from the aircraft.
The helicopter services KCAL-TV.
KCAL ASTAR DOWN
A Los Angeles news helicopter had to make an emergency landing in Pacoima Friday.
The helicopter suffered engine failure shortly after takeoff from Whiteman Airport.
The aircraft, which was headed to a news story in Van Nuys, barely made it over a fence while returning to the airport.
The chopper landed safely around 8 a.m. The pilot and a cameraman escaped unharmed, according to fire officials.
During the hard landing, the tail section of the chopper struck the runway and broke off. The tail portion was seen resting several feet away from the aircraft.
The helicopter services KCAL-TV.
Los Angeles based KCAL TV news helicopter has been damaged in an emergency landing but the pilot and cameraman are uninjured.
Sister stations KCAL9 and CBS2 report that an engine failure forced the crash landing at about 8 a.m. yesterday morning at Whiteman Airpark in the San Fernando Valley.
Pilot Derek Bell says that the Eurocopter engine failed requiring him to initiate an autorotation. The helicopter's tail struck the ground and broke off at the end of the autorotation but the craft landed upright on its skids.
Video here: News Helicopter Down: Los Angeles News Station Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing in Pacoima - ktla.com
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HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY
This goes to Tom Runyan and the entire Houston City Police Dept. who this year celebrate the 40th anniversary of their air support division.
“The dreams of yesterday have become today’s reality. Police aircrews now use night vision technology, moving map systems, gyro-stabilized binoculars, video downlink systems and thermal imaging. Current technology will improve and new technology not yet envisioned will find its way to the aerial police platform.
“Maintaining a constant vision of excellence, the Houston Police Department's Air Support Division will continue to thrive, providing an ever-increasing level of service and improving the quality of life for the citizens of Houston and surrounding areas.”
- Capt. Tom Runyan
“Maintaining a constant vision of excellence, the Houston Police Department's Air Support Division will continue to thrive, providing an ever-increasing level of service and improving the quality of life for the citizens of Houston and surrounding areas.”
- Capt. Tom Runyan
Houston was one of the first US cities to have a dedicated airborne law enforcement program. It was established January 1, 1970 as part of the Traffic Enforcement Division. The original fleet consisted of three Hughes 269B helicopters. Houston's current fleet is made up of ten MD 500E’s, three Schweizer 300-C’s and one Cessna 182.
Houston's Air Support Division flies in excess of 6,000 flight hours per year in support of law enforcement and homeland security missions and has accumulated close to 180,000 hours on MD500 series alone.
Well done to the entire Houston ASD crew.
HM
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Chevron buy 2 B429s for the GOM.
The Bell 429 enters the oil & gas segment | Shephard Group
The Bell 429 enters the oil & gas segment | Shephard Group
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NTSB issue reommendations on Appical floats.
http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/letters/2010/A-10-132-135.pdf
http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/letters/2010/A-10-132-135.pdf
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
November 17, 2010
************************************************************
NTSB Safety Recommendations A-10-132 through -135
************************************************************
The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the
Federal Aviation Administration do the following:
Require Apical Industries Inc., to redesign the emergency
float system for helicopters such that the mid and aft
floats can no longer be interchanged and installed
incorrectly to the port fitting. (A-10-132)
Once the redesigned Apical emergency float system described
in Safety Recommendation A-10-132 is available, require
operators of all helicopters currently equipped with Apical
emergency float systems to install the redesigned system.
(A-10-133)
Require operators of helicopters equipped with Apical
emergency float systems to immediately conduct a one-time,
two-person, visual inspection to ensure that the hoses from
the mid and aft floats are properly installed to the port
fitting. (A-10-134)
Until the redesigned Apical emergency float system is
installed as described in Safety Recommendation A-10-133, at
every maintenance activity that requires disconnection of
the hoses, require a two-person inspection of the re-
installation of the hoses from the mid and aft floats to the
port fitting and to sign a maintenance checklist attesting
to proper installation. (A-10-135)
Washington, DC 20594
November 17, 2010
************************************************************
NTSB Safety Recommendations A-10-132 through -135
************************************************************
The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the
Federal Aviation Administration do the following:
Require Apical Industries Inc., to redesign the emergency
float system for helicopters such that the mid and aft
floats can no longer be interchanged and installed
incorrectly to the port fitting. (A-10-132)
Once the redesigned Apical emergency float system described
in Safety Recommendation A-10-132 is available, require
operators of all helicopters currently equipped with Apical
emergency float systems to install the redesigned system.
(A-10-133)
Require operators of helicopters equipped with Apical
emergency float systems to immediately conduct a one-time,
two-person, visual inspection to ensure that the hoses from
the mid and aft floats are properly installed to the port
fitting. (A-10-134)
Until the redesigned Apical emergency float system is
installed as described in Safety Recommendation A-10-133, at
every maintenance activity that requires disconnection of
the hoses, require a two-person inspection of the re-
installation of the hoses from the mid and aft floats to the
port fitting and to sign a maintenance checklist attesting
to proper installation. (A-10-135)
Last edited by zalt; 22nd Nov 2010 at 19:43.
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LONG BEACH PD TO SWAP OUT EC 130's FOR LESS COSTLY USED ASTARS
According to Lt. Richard Rocchi of the Long Beach Police Dept, it may not be long before the unit receives two AS350B2 Astar helicopters from the neighboring Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Rocchie said the 'swap' would address the LA County Sheriff's Dept. requirement for increased payloads on specific-role missions while enabling Long Beach to return lower annual operating costs for their mainly patrol related duties.
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The Associated Press
Friday, November 26, 2010; 00:15 AM
BALDWIN PARK, Calif.
A pigeon has crashed through the windshield of a California police helicopter and slammed into the pilot's face.
The pilot of the El Monte police helicopter, a Robinson model R-44, was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday evening at Holland Middle School in Baldwin Park.
El Monte police Lt. Robert Roach told City News Service that the pilot had minor injuries and he was released after treatment at a Los Angeles hospital.
The pilot and another police officer on the helicopter were responding to a robbery call when the pigeon crashed through the windshield.
Pigeon strikes SoCal police chopper pilot in face
Friday, November 26, 2010; 00:15 AM
BALDWIN PARK, Calif.
A pigeon has crashed through the windshield of a California police helicopter and slammed into the pilot's face.
The pilot of the El Monte police helicopter, a Robinson model R-44, was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday evening at Holland Middle School in Baldwin Park.
El Monte police Lt. Robert Roach told City News Service that the pilot had minor injuries and he was released after treatment at a Los Angeles hospital.
The pilot and another police officer on the helicopter were responding to a robbery call when the pigeon crashed through the windshield.
Pigeon strikes SoCal police chopper pilot in face
The Houston Police MD 500 helicopter pictured has an interesting looking flood? light comprising 4 x lamp heads.
Any comments on the utility of this system compared to a pan tilt and zoomable unit like a nitesun?
Mickjoebill
Any comments on the utility of this system compared to a pan tilt and zoomable unit like a nitesun?
Mickjoebill
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Lm Wins Navy Contract
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)’s Owego plant has won $249 million in new U.S. Navy contracts
The company will improve the H-60 helicopter fleets and cull advances from the defunct presidential helicopter project. The Owego site will receive $179 million as part of a joint contract with Sikorsky Aircraft that will support the helicopter fleet.
According to U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey’s office, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)’s work will help the Navy sustain current aircraft and avoid a more costly replacement of the fleet.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Updates Helicopter Fleet
The company will improve the H-60 helicopter fleets and cull advances from the defunct presidential helicopter project. The Owego site will receive $179 million as part of a joint contract with Sikorsky Aircraft that will support the helicopter fleet.
According to U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey’s office, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)’s work will help the Navy sustain current aircraft and avoid a more costly replacement of the fleet.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Updates Helicopter Fleet
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Channel 5 Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing
WCVB-TV (Channel 5) said their helicopter made what is called a 'precautionary landing' and there were no injuries. The pilot landed it in an area near Beacon and Charles streets where there are few trees. A witness said he heard no engine noise when the craft was landing.
Channel 5 helicopter makes emergency landing - The Boston Globe
WCVB-TV (Channel 5) said their helicopter made what is called a 'precautionary landing' and there were no injuries. The pilot landed it in an area near Beacon and Charles streets where there are few trees. A witness said he heard no engine noise when the craft was landing.
Channel 5 helicopter makes emergency landing - The Boston Globe
A WCVB-TV (Channel 5) news helicopter made an emergency landing yesterday evening on Boston Common.The red helicopter with “Sky5’’ on it could be seen apparently undamaged on a bed of icy snow on the Common near Beacon and Charles streets shortly after 6 p.m.
The station said the helicopter made what is called a precautionary landing and there were no injuries to the pilot or passenger. The Boston Fire Department said firefighters were called to the scene at 6:02 p.m. and no injuries were reported.
Swarms of police and firefighters surrounded the scene shortly after the incident. A small crowd of spectators also gathered.
Thomas Golden, 21, of Pembroke, was driving the Zamboni machine at the Frog Pond skating rink when, he said, he saw the lights of the helicopter come over a building on Tremont Street. He said the craft flew around the Common, on the Boylston Street side, and then over to the area near Beacon and Charles, which is one of the few sections where there are no trees.
“It maybe took 15 seconds to get down a thousand feet,’’ he said. “He was wicked low, wicked fast.
“He went down hard. I thought he crashed. Props to that pilot. That was incredible.’’
Golden said there was no engine noise from the helicopter shortly before the landing.
“My co-workers thought I was lying. It was quiet. No one else heard it,’’ he said.
He said he and several other Frog Pond workers ran over to the scene to see what happened. They were told by a park ranger that the pilot and passenger were OK.
A spokesman for the TV station did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The station said the helicopter made what is called a precautionary landing and there were no injuries to the pilot or passenger. The Boston Fire Department said firefighters were called to the scene at 6:02 p.m. and no injuries were reported.
Swarms of police and firefighters surrounded the scene shortly after the incident. A small crowd of spectators also gathered.
Thomas Golden, 21, of Pembroke, was driving the Zamboni machine at the Frog Pond skating rink when, he said, he saw the lights of the helicopter come over a building on Tremont Street. He said the craft flew around the Common, on the Boylston Street side, and then over to the area near Beacon and Charles, which is one of the few sections where there are no trees.
“It maybe took 15 seconds to get down a thousand feet,’’ he said. “He was wicked low, wicked fast.
“He went down hard. I thought he crashed. Props to that pilot. That was incredible.’’
Golden said there was no engine noise from the helicopter shortly before the landing.
“My co-workers thought I was lying. It was quiet. No one else heard it,’’ he said.
He said he and several other Frog Pond workers ran over to the scene to see what happened. They were told by a park ranger that the pilot and passenger were OK.
A spokesman for the TV station did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
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Pilot Lands Helicopter, Then Dies!
MINERAL WELLS, Texas — A private helicopter made a safe landing in a state park in North Texas before the pilot was found dead in the cockpit.
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler says foul play is not suspected and the chopper did not crash. The helicopter was discovered Friday morning at Mineral Wells State Park, about 45 miles west of Fort Worth.
Fowler told The Associated Press that his office Thursday night received a report of a helicopter, based in nearby Weatherford, that was overdue.
Radar tracking helped guide searchers to the last known area of the four-seat helicopter.
Fowler says there was no sign of a hard landing or trauma on the pilot, who owned the aircraft.
The name of the pilot was not immediately released. An autopsy has been ordered.
Update here: Pilot of downed helicopter found in Parker County has been identified | Local News | New...
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler says foul play is not suspected and the chopper did not crash. The helicopter was discovered Friday morning at Mineral Wells State Park, about 45 miles west of Fort Worth.
Fowler told The Associated Press that his office Thursday night received a report of a helicopter, based in nearby Weatherford, that was overdue.
Radar tracking helped guide searchers to the last known area of the four-seat helicopter.
Fowler says there was no sign of a hard landing or trauma on the pilot, who owned the aircraft.
The name of the pilot was not immediately released. An autopsy has been ordered.
Update here: Pilot of downed helicopter found in Parker County has been identified | Local News | New...
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Wheatherstone Air's relatively new AW139 makes a recent visit to NYs West 30th Street Heliport with news that the Teterboro operator's operations are 'going strong' and with no reported problems on the 139
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Cayuse; with all due respect I can't accept responsibility for any inaccuracies resulting from news people send me and I generally don't quiz those who mail me items because PPRuNe is not an aviation publication but an aviation forum!
The great thing about it is that those with more up-to-date or accurate information are able to post this - and which input is most welcome.
HM
The great thing about it is that those with more up-to-date or accurate information are able to post this - and which input is most welcome.
HM
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Bristow Academy seeks discounts from Titusville to expand, add jobs
Flight school wants city help | floridatoday.com | FLORIDA TODAY
TITUSVILLE — A Titusville helicopter pilot training school will ask the city council for discounts on its building permit fees, as it seeks to expand its local operations and add nearly 100 employees.
Bristow Academy previously announced plans to build a 40,000-square-foot maintenance facility, a 13,500-square-foot flight operations center and a concrete aircraft ramp at its complex at Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville.
The total proposed capital improvements exceed $10 million.
The new facilities would allow Bristol to add 97 full-time employees to its Titusville staff of 160. Most of the employees would be flight instructors, generally earning between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, depending on their experience, according to Nick Mayhew, Bristol Academy's Titusville general manager.
Bristow and the airport are seeking council approval for waiving about $33,085, which represents half of the costs of three fees: building permits, utility construction and site.
Mayhew said the incentives "will help us maintain flexibility and allow us to grow."
With its current staff levels and its current 250 students taking classes at any one time, Mayhew estimates that the company brings about $100 million a year into the local economy. That figure takes into account spending by students and their families while they live in Brevard County, tuition payments and spending by Bristow employees, as well as various spinoff economic impacts.
Many of Bristow's students are from other parts of the country or from other countries.
The planned expansion could increase local student enrollment by up to 125 at any one time, Mayhew said.
Titusville-based Bristow Academy is the world's largest civilian helicopter school.
Mayhew said the expansion also could result in Bristow adding as many as 20 helicopters to its 55-helicopter fleet in Titusville.
Bristow Academy previously announced plans to build a 40,000-square-foot maintenance facility, a 13,500-square-foot flight operations center and a concrete aircraft ramp at its complex at Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville.
The total proposed capital improvements exceed $10 million.
The new facilities would allow Bristol to add 97 full-time employees to its Titusville staff of 160. Most of the employees would be flight instructors, generally earning between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, depending on their experience, according to Nick Mayhew, Bristol Academy's Titusville general manager.
Bristow and the airport are seeking council approval for waiving about $33,085, which represents half of the costs of three fees: building permits, utility construction and site.
Mayhew said the incentives "will help us maintain flexibility and allow us to grow."
With its current staff levels and its current 250 students taking classes at any one time, Mayhew estimates that the company brings about $100 million a year into the local economy. That figure takes into account spending by students and their families while they live in Brevard County, tuition payments and spending by Bristow employees, as well as various spinoff economic impacts.
Many of Bristow's students are from other parts of the country or from other countries.
The planned expansion could increase local student enrollment by up to 125 at any one time, Mayhew said.
Titusville-based Bristow Academy is the world's largest civilian helicopter school.
Mayhew said the expansion also could result in Bristow adding as many as 20 helicopters to its 55-helicopter fleet in Titusville.