http://www.aviationtoday.com Aviation Today en-us 2013 Mon, 20 May 2013 13:10:24 EDT The Turkish Ministry of Health's air ambulance service will feature a fleet of Eurocopter EC135s, after THK Gokcen Aviation selected the twin-engine rotorcraft to begin operations in August.      EC135 in flight. Photos... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/medical/Eurocopter-EC135-Selected-for-Turkish-EMS-Operations_79241.html Wed, 15 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT The Turkish National Police (TNP) have received the first of two VIP outfitted Sikorsky S-92s, with the second scheduled for delivery later this year. They will be used for Head of State duties and join one existing S-92 in operation with the TNP since 2005. Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS)... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/police/Sikorsky-Further-Consolidates-Business-in-Turkey_79205.html Thu, 9 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT   China’s State Grid General Aviation (SGGA) has been assisting with relief efforts in the earthquake-stricken city of Ya’an in the Sichuan... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/disaster-relief/SGGA-Uses-Bell-407-to-Aid-Earthquake-Relief-Efforts-in-China_79187.html Wed, 8 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a total of nine new recommendations following the investigation of an August 2011 Eurocopter AS350 B2 crash in Mosby, Mo. Four people died in the accident. NTSB determined that four factors contributed to the crash—training, fatigue... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/medical/NTSB-Issues-PED-Safety-Guidelines-to-FAA-Air-Methods_79188.html Tue, 7 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT FAA has issued a group of four airworthiness directives (ADs) related to the Eurocopter AS350/355, 365 and the MBB/Eurocopter BK117. One of the ADs requires inspections of the Aerazur emergency flotation gear, including the attachment brackets on the AS350 (models B, BA, B1... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/FAA/FAA-Requires-New-Inspections-for-AS350-BK117_79132.html Fri, 3 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT The North American arm of AgustaWestland uncovered plans Tuesday to produce the AW169 at its sprawling U.S. manufacturing complex at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), becoming a second location to the OEM’s plant in Vergiate, Italy. (The company also lists its facility in Yeovil, UK as... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/police/AgustaWestland-Philadelphia-Branches-Out-to-Produce-AW169_79117.html Wed, 1 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT First of all, I hate partisan politics. There are too many times when it gets in the way of the nation’s—any nation’s—best interest. Second, while I knew the recent budget battle that raged on Capitol Hill was going to go down to the wire, I had good money that said a resolution was... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/police/Law-Enforcement-Notebook-Sequestration-Reservations_79175.html Wed, 1 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT Portland, Ore.-based Erickson Air-Crane has reached a stock purchase agreement to acquire Evergreen Helicopters, an operator of 64 aircraft—including helicopters and fixed-wing—with headquarters in McMinnville, Ore. The acquisition is set to almost double the size of Erickson as a company... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/fire/Erickson-to-Expand-Fleet-Services-with-Purchase-of-Evergreen-Helicopters_79150.html Wed, 1 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT In 1998 at the Heli Japan Conference held in Gifu, Japan, I attended a presentation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on what they thought future heliport design criteria should include. For instance, at that time the FAA was pushing a 4,800-foot straight line approach at a 3-degree slope... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/fire/Heliport-Standards-Where-the-Bears-Live_79172.html Wed, 1 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT NTSB’s investigation into an August 2011 helicopter EMS crash in Missouri (see story, page 16) made national headlines in early April after the safety board named text messaging and multitasking as one of the key factors that contributed to the Eurocopter AS350 B2 accident. Four people, including the... http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/medical/Focus-on-the-Task-at-Hand_79145.html Wed, 1 May 2013 0:00:00 EDT