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Helicopter News
$16.5M Upgrade For Carolinas HealthCare Helicopter Fleet
Category: Helicopter News
The Charlotte-based Carolinas HealthCare System plans to spend $16.5 million within 18 months to upgrade its aging medical helicopter fleet. This is good news in light of the medical helicopter crashes and the need for improved aircraft technology.
Three Eurocopter 135 helicopters will be purchased and upfited as air ambulances. MedCenter Air which is part of the Carolinas Health Care system, made 1,700 transports in 2008. This included rescuing patients from accidents to moving them from one hospital to another.
To defray the costs for the new choppers, the company will sell three of it's Bell 430, purchased between 1996 and 2002 for $4.5 million each. They may keep the fourth Bell helicopter as back-up.
Children's Hospital Gets State-of-the-art Medical Helicopter
Category: Helicopter News
Cook Children's Medical Center is nationally recognized as one of the top children's hospitals in the United States by providing care exclusively for the needs of children. It also has one of the largest pediatric transport programs in the nation, known as Teddy Bear Transport, which transports about 2,000 children a year, most for critical care.
Teddy Bear Transport will now add a state-of-the art American Eurocopter EC145 medical helicopter to its fleet which includes ambulance and fixed wing airplane transport. Teddy Bear's first helicopter came in 2004. The new EC145 not only upgrades Teddy Bear's fleet, it's becoming the choice for a growing number of other EMS operators both in the U.S. and around the world due to its combination of size, performance, and advanced technologies. The size of the cabin means better access to patients and that a parent can ride along with their child - and invaluable benefit.
Cook's Children's Teddy Bear Transport server the Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding area and was the first Texas neonatal transport service asked by the State of Texas to assist with Hurricane Rita evacuees in September.
Climb Aboard Liberty Helicopter Tours
Category: Helicopter News
If you happen to be in NYC, you might want to try a Liberty Helicopter tour of the city. While there is some history of tour helicopter crashes, Liberty has a good safety record and has been in business for 22 years.
Two facts that impresses Frieda the most is Liberty continuously receives the annual Safety Award from the Helicopter Association International and Liberty Helicopters is the founding member of T.O.P.S (Tour Operators Program of Safety) and is the ONLY helicopter in New York that is a member.
Their pilots receive annual recurrent Eurocopter factory training and all the crews are certified and inspected to meet the FAA standards.
Although Frieda isn't sure if she's ready for a helicopter tour of anything, Liberty does sound like a company she'd consider.
Bell's Historic Huey Helicopter Makes Final Flight
Category: Helicopter News
The last of the Bell Huey helicopters operated by the U.S. Navy continued to make history on May 7 when it made it's final flight and landed at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. The Huey HH-IN had been used as a rescue helicopter, but was removed from service and loaned to the park as a static display by the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola. It will be housed in the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion and it will be returned to it's familiar green and white color scheme.
Continue reading "Bell's Historic Huey Helicopter Makes Final Flight"
State of the Art Emergency Medical Helicopter Shown at Mayo
Category: Helicopter News
At a time when the medical helicopter transport community is experiencing far too many crashes and deaths, the news from the Mayo Clinic has to be most welcome. A new helicopter, designed to transfer critically medical and trauma patients who need fast transport has been introduced during the Air Medical Transport Conference and will be on display at the Minneapolis (MN) Convention Center from October 20-22. The helicopter will be part of a fleet known as Mayo One - the emergency medical helicopter service of Mayo Clinic - and is Mayo's first American Eurocopter EC145.
Continue reading "State of the Art Emergency Medical Helicopter Shown at Mayo"
New Rules for Medivac Heilcopters
Category: Helicopter News
Maryland has put new rules in force for crews on Medevac helicopters following last month's deadly crash that killed four of the five people on board. It's going to be a tough call for the EMS crews in some instances to answer the question "to fly or not to fly".
The injured who clearly have traumatic injuries will be flown out right away, but the new rules bring changes for the others. For patients who don't have obviously serious injuries, EMS crews will now have to consult with a Shock Trauma doctor before transport - a decision they have previously made on their own. The patients who fall between life threatening injuries and minor injuries will be the ones affected by the new rules.
Governor Martin O'Malley stated the state wants to maintain the best Medevac and Shock Trauma system in the world. There is also a panel which is critiquing the process used to determine when and if a Medevac unit is necessary. Shock Trauma doctors say that more often than not, a unit is needed. The concern from the medical community is people dying because of too much scrutiny imposed on a system they feel is working just fine as it is.
Flight Simulator Helps Eurocopter's Committed to Flight Safety
Category: Helicopter News
HeliSim and Eurocopter have officially inaugurated the first EC225 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) in France, enhancing Eurocopter's commitment to training it customers with the top priority being flight safety.
The EC225 is Eurocopter's latest development in the 11-tons transport helicopter segment with a new 5 bladed main rotor which provides optimum reliability and lift performance. It also has a full de-icing/anti-icing system to enhance operational effectiveness and safety. This helicopter was originally designed for SAR (Search and Rescue), but has become used increasingly in the oil and gas market. The new EC225 FFS is providing simulated alternatives to real flight and thus increasing the flight safety.
The FFS guarantees the most representative synthetic EC225 and the latest aircraft configuration, with through-life upgrades, based on a Eurocopter data package and flight loop software using genuine aircraft manufacturer software. This unique simulation data package is the key element of Eurocopter's stringent policy to accept no compromise on safety, which to a paramount degree depends on first-class training. Flight profiles will be adjustable to any customer's mission profile and any working environment.
Eurocopter was established in 1992 as the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocpoter Group and is a Division of EADS - a world leader in aerospace, defense, and related services. In 2007, Eurocpoter took its position as the world's #1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market with 53 percent of the market share. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.
American Eurocopter Awarded Homeland Security Contract
Category: Helicopter News
American Eurocopter LLC has announced a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Light Enforcement Helicopter (LEH). This multimillion contract will provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection with 50 more AS350B3 helicopters with the first chopper's scheduled delivery in 2009 with one delivery scheduled every 45 days thereafter. The helicopters will be built at American Eurocopter's Mississippi plant.
The AS350 Ecureuil/AStar is a single-engine helicopter is powerful enough that it became the first helicopter to land on Mount Everest. It's popular in the United States - being used by the FBI, DEA, Department of Justice, police departments, and other state.federal agencies. While the twin engine AS355 is said to be safer over cities, the AS350 is said to be totally suited for mountainous areas and hot areas. It is well known for its high performance, safety, and less operating costs. The AS350 B3 is "the high performance" version of the single engine Ecureuil range.
American Eurocopter LLC has announced a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Light Enforcement Helicopter (LEH). This multimillion contract will provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection with 50 more AS350B3 helicopters with the first chopper's scheduled delivery in 2009 with one delivery scheduled every 45 days thereafter. The helicopters will be built at American Eurocopter's Mississippi plant.
The AS350 Ecureuil/AStar is a single-engine helicopter is powerful enough that it became the first helicopter to land on Mount Everest. It's popular in the United States - being used by the FBI, DEA, Department of Justice, police departments, and other state.federal agencies. While the twin engine AS355 is said to be safer over cities, the AS350 is said to be totally suited for mountainous areas and hot areas. It is well known for its high performance, safety, and less operating costs. The AS350 B3 is "the high performance" version of the single engine Ecureuil range.
Mr. Crouse Quoted by Rotohub
Category: Aviation News
The following article has been released by Rotohub, Sikorsky Bell, and Eurocopter.
Raleigh, NC September 10, 2008 -- The Sept. 4 crash of the United States Coast Guard Eurocopter HH-65 "Dauphin" helicopter and the loss of four service members comes on the heels of three other high-profile crashes and points to the ongoing need for increased efforts in helicopter safety, says a prominent aviation law attorney.
Devices such as cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders -- two electronic tools which could help pinpoint the causes of fatal helicopter crashes -- are the exception rather than the norm in most helicopters and light aircraft, says Raleigh, N.C. lawyer James T. Crouse, a former U.S. Army helicopter test pilot.
"These devices are available and should be mandated," Crouse says. "Similar devices have been utilized in the automotive industry for years, and are now affordable for use in smaller aircraft in aviation such as helicopters."
Crouse is the senior partner in the Crouse Law Firm, which concentrates in aviation accident law at the local, national and international level, representing the families of persons injured in civilian and military aviation accidents, including helicopter crashes.
Crouse has long been an advocate of greater safety devices in helicopters and has written extensively about the causes of helicopter accidents.
The Coast Guard crash in Hawaii may have been caused by a problem with the aircraft's main rotor system, Crouse says, perhaps as a result of interference by a cable that could have snapped during a simulated rescue operation involving the aircraft's winch.
"Fortunately, the aircraft had a flight data recorder which, along with other portions of the aircraft, has been recovered," Crouse says. Four survivors have also been able to give information to investigators, according to Crouse.
The need for greater helicopter safety is underscored by the Coast Guard crash and several other recent incidents:
An Aug 8. crash of a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter in Northern California's Trinity Alps took the lives of seven firefighters and two others. "The crash is still under investigation, but given the fact that it was a heavily loaded helicopter at a fairly high density altitude, the aircraft was within the danger zone of helicopter operations where any problem with lift can cause the aircraft to have difficulty maintaining altitude," Crouse says.
On Aug. 29, a Robinson helicopter crashed in southwestern Missouri. Very little information has been released on that accident. "This is a popular helicopter due to its relatively low cost, and its simple design makes it popular with new helicopter pilots," Crouse says. "The fact that the helicopter was seen flying normally and then nose-dived points to a failure of a component."
On Aug. 31, an Air Evac medical helicopter crashed near Burney, Indiana, killing the pilot, flight nurse and paramedic. Reportedly, the Bell Model 206 Long Ranger helicopter's main rotor system was found 200 yards from the main crash site, possibly indicating a catastrophic failure of the main rotor system, says Crouse. The crash marked the fifth time in recent years that a medical helicopter operated by Air Evac EMS has crashed, and the second fatal accident in Indiana for the West Plains, Missouri company.
Crouse says that major steps are being taken in helicopter safety through the work of such organizations as the International Helicopter Safety Team, formed by industry and government groups to study the causes of accidents and to make recommendations on their prevention.
Those efforts are commendable, but Crouse notes that data recorders are still not required on helicopters--or other "light" aircraft. This is a limitation for the accident investigators, Crouse says. "The investigators still rely upon an analysis of the wreckage--which they have been doing for decades. We could get closer to the cause if we had this electronic information. The capability is there, why not use it?"
Crouse added: "Whether the cause of each of these crashes can be determined remains to be seen. But the families, operators and manufacturers need to know what happened. Without this knowledge, there is a strong risk that crashes will continue to occur due to the same, undetermined, causes."
About Crouse Law Offices:
Crouse Law Offices in Raleigh, N.C. is headed by attorney James T. Crouse, a pilot and lawyer with more than three decades of aviation and legal experience. Mr. Crouse also teaches aviation law at Duke University Law School. For more information, visit the firm's Websites at http://www.crouselaw.com/index.html and http://www.helicopterlawyers.com/
Prominent Aviation Attorney, James T. Crouse, Co-Authors Aviation Law Book
Although this may not be the novel with which one snuggles up on a cold rainy day beside the roaring fire, it is setting the academic world of aviation on fire. Mr. Crouse and the other authors did not intend for this to be an engaging book for the general public, but instead they set out to produce a product that is academically correct and challenging, relevant to the field of aviation law, comprehensive, and yet not bore the read out of the cockpit! The book is entertaining for both the professor and the student and has received glowing reviews. Two of the authors are full time professors of law, one is an adjunct professor who still practices, and Mr. Crouse has his own law firm in N.C. specializing in aviation law and has taught this subject at the prestigious Duke University Law School.
While Frieda doesn't even attempt to make you think she has read this fascinating book - or even intends to, she has read the reviews by those far more knowledgeable, qualified, and capable to understand the "legalese" and case studies found in this 976 page tome.
According to the Carolina Academic Press:
The text--fresh and crisply written--is organized into six chapters that can be taught as sequenced or in an instructor's preferred order. After an introductory chapter that explains the principles of flight, identifies the sources of aviation law, and reflects on the ethical challenges faced by aviation practitioners, the book proceeds to look at the legal issues surrounding aircraft, airmen (pilots, mechanics, flight attendants), airlines (both passenger and cargo), and airports.
A particularly distinguishing feature of the book is its focus on the social history of aviation. Thus, sprinkled liberally throughout the notes are references to the men and women who have become part of aviation lore, including the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, Chuck Yeager, D.B. Cooper, and Jessica Dubroff. Also covered are notable historical incidents, such as the 1948 Berlin Airlift, the 1960 U-2 spy plane crisis, the 1976 Entebbe Airport raid, and the 1983 U.S.S.R. shoot-down of a civilian airliner. As one would expect, special attention is paid to 9/11 and its aftermath--from the renaming of Newark International Airport to the numerous changes that have been made in boarding procedures to the dispute over how to compensate the victims and their families.
The notes also draw heavily from popular culture. Thus, students learn not only from treaties, cases, and statutes, but from such varied and fun fare as Erica Jong's Fear of Flying, Donald Trump's The Apprentice, and that TV show "about nothing" (Seinfeld). As a result, students are far more likely to come to class prepared, excited, and eager to participate.
Lastly, the Teacher's Manual will help both new and experienced instructors get the most out of the book. In addition to comprehensively analyzing the text, it offers tips for preparing extra credit assignments, leading field trips, tapping guest speakers, and incorporating video clips into class presentations.
Other reviews also praise this remarkable work on the complex and intriguing subject of aviation law.
"All told this is an extremely comprehensive and ambitious project which succeeds in providing the student with readily available materials for a vast assortment of topics in a vast and interesting field. This book - and its accompanying teacher's manual - will surely make the life of any aviation law instructor considerably easier. I highly recommend it." --Transportation Law Journal (Spring 2006)
"Aviation Law is an outstanding text reflective of the collective practical experience, knowledge and quality of its authors. The textbook captures the excitement and compassion that most of us share in this profession through its presentation, organization, case law, notes and problems. It is academically stimulating and includes a very helpful and insightful teacher's manual. . . ." --ABA Air & Space Lawyer (Spring 2006)
"This is a great book. It includes a seven-page table of contents, a five-page table of cases, 676 pages of text and notes, followed by thirty appendices (259 pages), and a five-page index. A ninety-page Teacher's Manual supplements the case book and provides users with insight into the selection and editing of cases." --Journal of Air Law and Commerce (Fall 2006)
On second thought, anyone interested in teaching or becoming a student of aviation law, will find this find this book fascinating - roaring fire or not!
Osprey Reportedly Operating Well in Iraq
Category: Helicopter News
The first Ospreys were sent to Iraq in September and have been flying missions since October - so far so good, is the report. The Marine Corps and critics are closely watching the performance of this hybrid aircraft which takes off and lands like a helicopter and flies like an airplane at over 400 mph with it's tilt-rotor propellers.
The aircraft did not have a very good development which cost the Marines $20 billion and 30 lives during training missions. There have been other incidents with the Osprey in which no one died including a crash, fires, stalled engines, and software problems. Although the Marines will not disclose how many missions it has flown, they are reporting "the squadron has performed exactly as projected". Whatever that means. One of the issues is the Osprey's ability to withstand ground fire attack and to respond successfully since it has only rear mounted machine guns at this time. According to one former Pentagon official, it is believed the Corps is limiting the use of the Osprey to avoid combat areas. So far we will have to take the Marine Corps' word that all is well - no data is being released.
That may be because Gen. James Mattis, former commander of Marine Corps Forces, Central Command, ordered in September that a tight lid be kept on the Osprey's operations, according to a Marine Corps source familiar with that directive.
So far the only known problem came when one Osprey had to make a second unscheduled landing in Jordan because of an undisclosed mechanical issue. The Marine Corps continues to defend the aircraft, has received more than 52 from the manufacturer, and has ordered more that 360 for combat assault and support missions - plus the U.S. Air Force Command is reportedly buying about 50 Ospreys.
Why then, Frieda wonders, is such a tight lid being kept on the operational data of the world's most exciting helicopter?
Helicopters Back On Job After Deadly Mid-Air
Three months ago on July 27, helicopters from all five Phoenix television stations were following a low speed police chase on the ground when one chopper flew into another, causing both to crash killing their pilots and photojournalists. Since that incident, there has been a rethinking of procedures involving television pilots - mainly allowing pilots to double as reporters (instead of giving their full concentration to flying the craft) and the lack of rules requiring minimum space between crafts.
It amazes Frieda that 4 men have to die before a dangerous situation is examined and common sense precautions are considered and, hopefully, put into place. Does this mean "they" had no idea of the hazards prior to the helicopters midair/crash or that "chomping at the bit" to be the first to report news is more important that safety?
Continue reading "Helicopters Back On Job After Deadly Mid-Air"
Helicopter Crash Kills Four,Sparks Wildland Fire
Category: Helicopter News
Washington State is experiencing it's worse wildland fire season in many years with no relief expected until well into fall. This is evident by the rapid fire growth when a helicopter crashed in the Cascades.
A helicopter from Classic Helicopter - a charter company - crashed in the amid the dry land, burst into flames, and started at least a 500 acre fire. The crash occurred about 60 miles east southeast of Seattle. Due to the land conditions and the rapidly growing fire, rescuers were unable to reach the crash site immediately to see if there were any survivors - all four were assumed dead - the pilot, the owner of a timber company, and two potential buyers from South Korea. The death of all aboard was confirmed when three of the bodies were recovered on Friday, the fourth was to be recovered on Saturday.
NTSB Recommendation Following Hawaiian Helicopter Crashes
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A Bali Hai Helicopter Tours helicopter crashed on the island of Kauai in September, 2004, killing the pilot and all four passengers on board for a sight seeing tour. On September 23, 2005, another chopper crashed killing three passengers.
After a thorough investigation of these crashes, the NTSB wants tougher new regulations on Hawaii tour helicopters.
Finding pilot error (poor decision making) while flying in bad weather caused both crashes, it also cited inadequate FAA administration surveillance was also a contributing factor. The investigation also found the Bali Hai Helicopter Tours had pilots flying up to eight hours a day without lunch or bathroom breaks which lead to exhaustion which in turn can lead to pilots making poor decisions - in these two cases, leading to loss of life.
The NTSB wants the FAA to require training in Hawaii weather patterns for pilots new to the islands - Frieda wonders why this isn't already being done - isn't it obvious this is needed? Why do people have to die before the right thing is done?
V-22 Osprey Helicopter's Safety Still Being Question
Category: Helicopter News
As written in an earlier article on the site, "Since the 1990s, the United States Marine Corps has been developing a revolutionary new aircraft designed to take off and land like a helicopter, then tilt it's wings to fly like an airplane, supposedly to fly faster and farther than the conventional helicopter. Sounds great if it weren't for one problem - it kept crashing and killing people and was grounded in 2000."
Continue reading "V-22 Osprey Helicopter's Safety Still Being Question"
Aircraft Crash? Crisis Management Course Could Help
Helicopter Association International (HAI) will present Coping with Crisis 101 - Managing an Aviation Disaster as a part of its Professional Education Series on November 9, 2006 at the Prince Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii. HAI says this has been one of the most popular programs in HAI's traveling series of educational programs.
See the course description,
See more on HAI's website.
Combat Helicopter Pilots Association Creates New Job Board
The Combat Helicopter Pilots Association (CHPA) issued a release announcing the launch of its new interactive job board. The CHPA Career Connector is designed to help employers attract qualified candidates for job vacancies, and to enable smooth career transitions for pilots seeking industry jobs. The CHPA Career Connector is a free service for job seekers and offers employers a highly targeted resource for online employment connections.
NBAA Fires at Larry King
Category: Airline Travel
In the category of "If you criticize my outfit you must be biased," NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) President Ed Bolen Reporter called Christiane Amanpour's report on general avaition security on CNN's Larry King Live show "irresponsible in its lack of balance." He then asked for an opportunity to present "a full picture of GA security." Let's see, think that will be a fair and unslanted look at the security issues surrounding general avaition--especially the business aspect of it?
Eurocopter Loses Choice of Law Fight in Arizona Case
Eurocopter SAS, a French company, lost in its attempt to have french law apply an insurance subrogation case brought against it in Arizona by United States Aviation Underwriters. USAU had paid Wyoming-based Roberts Aircraft Co. more than $1.5 for the loss of the helicopter.
Continue reading "Eurocopter Loses Choice of Law Fight in Arizona Case"
Combat Helicopter Pilots Association Membership Grows
Category: Helicopter News
The Combat Helicopter Pilots Association (CHPA) enrolled 65 new members in July, bringing its new member count for 2006 to 132 and propelling the organization to nearly 300 total members, according to the Aero-News Network.
Continue reading "Combat Helicopter Pilots Association Membership Grows"