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Helicopter News
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?
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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."
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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.
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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.
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