Archives :: Rotor & Wing Magazine :: Issue
Displaying 221 - 240 of 2877 stories.
December 1, 2012
There will always be aviation incidents or accidents due to circumstances beyond the control of the pilot. Unforeseen component failure has terminated many a flight prematurely. But some of the hardest accident reports for me to read are the ones that involve true pilot error—the type of error that can come from years of incident-free flying bringing insidious complacency or oversight. Student pilots...December 1, 2012
Approaching the beginning of my fifth decade, I look back to those old western movies with high regard, remembering as a boy being thrilled by the arrival (just in the nick of time naturally) of the cavalry with their white hats, yellow neckerchiefs, white gloves and blue uniforms with the distinctive yellow stripe down the trousers. The image was one that endured, from Randolph Scott in 7th Cavalry to...November 14, 2012
Three Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit EC145s flying over London’s Tower Bridge adorned with the rings of the Olympic Games. When London won the right to host the 2012 summer Olympics in Singapore on July 6, 2005, coming from behind to “win by a nose at the post” from what had been considered the favorite bid city, the French capital Paris, most of the country was overjoyed. But with...November 1, 2012
A line of S-76Ds at Sikorsky’s plant in Coatesville, Pa. Bond Aviation Group CEO Richard Mintern visited Sikorsky’s commercial manufacturing plant in Coatesville, Pa. in early October to examine the initial two baseline S-92s that are part of a 16-aircraft order placed during Heli-Expo in February 2012. Bond Aviation’s group fleet and engineering director, Martin Whittaker, came along to...November 1, 2012
UAE Sikorsky Black Hawk on display at the 2011 Dubai Airshow. While much of the rest of the world worries about where its next meal is coming from, the petro-rich Middle East is still a robust market, particularly in the realm of military sales, according to Dan Darling, Middle East military markets analyst for Forecast International. For 2013 alone, the six states of the Gulf Cooperative Council...November 1, 2012
Proper engine maintenance guarantees a long-lasting, efficient source of power for the helicopter. Regular and thorough helicopter engine maintenance ensures safety, compliance with legal obligations, peace of mind, and enhanced flying pleasure. According to the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference, engine-related mechanical malfunctions are one of the leading causes of helicopter accidents. Powerplant...November 1, 2012
Conceptual image from Honeywell illustrates in-flight connectivity for aircraft. Helicopter image added by Graphic Designer Gretchen Saval. Without question, the Internet is woven into the daily lives of just about all of us. Technology has broken the bonds of the wires that once tethered us to our desktops, and wireless networks have become more the rule than the exception. The ability to send and receive...November 1, 2012
EMS Accident Agreement Terry Terrell’s comments about the causes of HEMS accidents (See October 2012, EMS Helicopter Safety 2012 Perspective, page 62) are spot on. I have 45 years in the industry and this is a great concise description of what makes EMS flying the most dangerous job in the U.S. Pilots must learn that if they don’t return safely today they can never save anyone again. This could...November 1, 2012
Lee Benson is a retired senior pilot for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Before he was named senior pilot, Lee ran the aviation section’s safety and training programs, including organizing the section’s yearly safety meeting with other public agencies and the press. Andrew Drwiega, Military Editor, is a senior defense journalist with a particular focus on international military...November 1, 2012
In early October Sikorsky Global Helicopters (SGH) invited Rotor & Wing to its commercial production facility in Coatesville, Pa. The site of the former Keystone Helicopter, which Sikorsky acquired in 2005, Coatesville houses the production of the S-92, the S-76D—which received an FAA type certificate on Oct. 12—the S-300C and airframe assembly for the CH-148 Canadian Maritime Helicopter...November 1, 2012
It was in October, about nine years ago. Mike and I had just landed after a routine night patrol. As I was completing my post-flight inspection and he was returning the nozzle to the fuel pump, I saw a car stop on the road off the end of the runway. This wasn’t unusual, since people frequently stopped whenever they saw us outside, probably to see if we were going to takeoff. But that’s where...November 1, 2012
I’m an Army National Guard pilot and my unit recently went through an “ARMS” inspection. It occurs about every three years and is a detailed inspection of everything an aviation unit does, which includes checkrides for the unit pilots. During this most recent inspection I made some mental observations about training that I’d like to share. First off, there is no cramming for...November 1, 2012
After having been virtually absent from the media for more than one year, Pascal Chretien, the designer and pilot of the world’s first electrically powered helicopter, accepted an interview with Rotor & Wing. He reflected on the flight tests that took place in the summer of 2011 near Aix-en-Provence, France. There, with help from Solution F, a small company specializing in motorsports, he managed...November 1, 2012
Despite approvals from 11 other countries, FAA denied a request to increase the weight of the Bell 429 to 7,500 lbs. Going against the grain of other regulatory agencies around the globe and the requests of Bell 429 operators in the U.S., FAA has denied a request from Bell Helicopter to increase the max gross weight of the variant from 7,000 to 7,500 lbs. Transport Canada approved the weight increase...November 1, 2012
Eurocopter subsidiary, Helibras, has established a manufacturing plant in Itajuba that will focus on the production, assembly and maintenance of the EC725 in Brazil. The initial production at the facility will focus on a...November 1, 2012
Becker Avionics has obtained a contract to equip the University of Utah AirMed’s Eurocopter EC145 with its DVCS6100 digital audio system. The helicopter replaces an older Bell 407. Air Methods, which operates...November 1, 2012
The U.S. Navy has exercised a $41-million option involving its VH Presidential Helicopter contract with Sikorsky...November 1, 2012
AgustaWestland has selected the Curtis-Wright Controls Avionics & Electronics (CWC-AE) division to provide the AW169 with accident data and voice recorders. The “black...November 1, 2012
Rockwell Collins has appointed Kelly Ortberg as president of the company. Rockwell Collins also established the office of the chief executive position, where Ortberg will join Clay Jones, chairman and chief executive. Ortberg has worked for Rockwell Collins since 1987 as was formerly chief operating officer of government systems. Keystone Med-Flight has named Heidi Ames as chief pilot for the company. Ames...November 1, 2012
Aviation Maintenance Software CORRIDOR is industry-proven software developed to streamline the aviation maintenance process. Created by aviation professionals more than 15 years ago, CORRIDOR continues to improve efficiency, reduce errors, increase control and visibility, reduce costs, and elevate customer service levels for rotor and fixed wing service providers. CORRIDOR handles all functions in real...
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