Up and Running

In the wake of an 08 March 2023 announcement that it had developed a new RPM governor for its piston helicopter models, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation—the Michigan-based American designer and manufacturer of piston and turbine-engine helicopters—set forth that it had sold an impressive 12 helicopters at the Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) Heli-Expo 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

HAI Partners with Helicopter Institute of Fort Worth

The Helicopter Association International (HAI)—a non-profit professional trade association dedicated to the advancement of the civil helicopter industry—announced on 07 March 2023 that it had partnered with the Helicopter Institute of Fort Worth, Texas—a training concern offering FAA-approved curricula to persons seeking rotary-wing pilot certification—for purpose of streamlining and simplifying its members’ efforts to keep their air-crews’ training, testing, qualifications, certifications, and compliance up to date.

USAF Deliveries Expected in 2024

The replacement for the UH-1N Huey helicopter has entered serial production, with the first of 13 MH-139A Grey Wolf aircraft in construction. The aircraft are the result of a $285 million USAF contract that include aircraft, sustainment, and support services. The first deliveries of Grey Wolves are expected to begin in 2024. The MH-139A is a quantitative increase over the outgoing UH-1N, boasting a 50% increase in speed and range, and a 5,000 lb increase in max gross weight. The design comes courtesy of Italian manufacturer Leonardo, who produces it at its plant in northeast Philadelphia, while Boeing will take care of the militarization, installation, and post-delivery support issues for the aircraft.

Richard Nelm’s Celebrates Centennial with Ride in Stinson AT-19

A World War II vet got to go for a nostalgic ride aboard one of the Commemorative Air Force’s Stinson AT-19s, complete with a birthday celebration for his 100th. The ceremony included an Honor Guard flag ceremony and special guest speakers, with remarks by Nelms as he reminisced about his time with the 447th Bomb Group in Rattlesden, England. Nelms enlisted in 1942, and was assigned to serve as a bomber pilot with the 8th Air Force.

Perils of Not Paying the Proverbial Piper

In the wake of significant and profitable action at the Boeing-India confluence, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has canceled the registration of two SpiceJet, Boeing-737 MAX aircraft. The cancellations of the jets’ Indian registration’s were made at the concordant requests of a foreign-based lessor and the Indian aviation regulator.

Also: DOT Investigates SecTrans, Cirrus Engineer Killed in SR22, Delta Contract, WWII Target Drone

The first Learjet to be delivered by Bill Lear’s upstart company to a paying customer has returned to its Wichita birthplace where a group of aviation enthusiasts have set forth their commitment to return the jet to airworthiness. The aircraft, a Lear-23, serial-number 23-003, registration N200Y, was manufactured in 1964 and is the third specimen of the sleek LR-23 to grace this world. DarkAero-1, a single-reciprocating-engine, low-wing, retractable-tricycle-undercarriage, normal category airplane finished February 2023 focused on the sleek aircraft’

A Whump, Whump, Whump in the Night

REB Technologies Inc. of Bedford, Texas—colloquially REBTECH—announced on 06 March 2023 that it had completed a Night-Vision (NVIS) STC modification of a Robinson R-44 helicopter operated by Southern Utah University (SUU). The augmentation occasions the sixth instance in which REBTECH has modified an SUU R-44 for Night-Vision Goggle (NVG) flight. The rotorcraft are utilized by the school’s flight-training academy in Cedar City, Utah.

FMS Contract Sees Purchase of Specially Equipped C-208 EX

The Belize Ministry of National Defense & Border Security has purchased one of Textron's specially equipped, multi-mission Grand Caravan EX models through the Foreign Military Sale program. The sale is a shot in the arm for the multi use turboprop aircraft, offering an affordable, reliable platform for a range of security missions for the service. Unlike purely civilian Caravans, the Belize purchase will be equipped with an Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) sensor, operator mission console, tactical radios and data link capability.

Kootenai Sheriff’s will Operate Bell 206 on $71,500/yr Budget

Kootenai county, Idaho has embarked on a different sort of fleet management after they purchased a 1994 Bell 206 with donated funds, planning to operate the unit on an all-volunteer basis with a limited budget. The Kootenai County Regional Air Support Unit was founded as a 501(c)(3), and will operate their $500,000 helo with volunteer pilots flying search and rescue missions. While the Bell 206 was purchased sans appropriate SAR equipment, the Sheriff’s office will put up $100,000 in asset forfeiture funding to purchase a thermal camera, spotlighting, and cabling.

Medium Helicopter Program Sees Addition of Boeing as Training Partner

Boeing has joined the UK's H175M Task Force, aiming to meet the New Medium Helicopter program requirement. Boeing will take up a position as a "training services partner", leaving other companies in the fold to take up manufacturing and development roles. Boeing Defence UK will provide aircrew, groundcrew, and maintenance training should the 'super-medium class' Airbus H175M be selected. The team hopes that the H175M is selected to replace the Airbus Puma HC2.

General Atomics Sees Continued Interest in MQ-9B

General Atomics snagged a new contract with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) for 3 of their MQ-9B SkyGuardians. AFSOC now becomes the first US customer for the -9B model, an easy transition given its history operating the MQ-9A Reaper over the past 14 years. The new SkyGuardian will take up a "key role in developing AFSOC’s new Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E) concept," which expects the AFSOC to project air power from far beyond the horizon.

Improved Hot, High, and Heavy Performance for Bell UH-1H

StandardAero—a highly-regarded and independent provider of aircraft engine and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine component repair, engineering services, interior completions, and paint applications—announced on 06 March 2023 that it is about the business of completing Phase-2 and 3 of a 3-phase program to upgrade a Bell UH-1H helicopter belonging to Arizona’s Pinal County Sheriff Office (PCSO). The work will significantly improve the venerable Huey’s performance under the hot-weather, high-density-altitude, and heavy-gross-weight operating conditions a police helicopter in South-Central Arizona is apt to encounter.

Affected Fuel Tanks Could Require Downtime for 12+ Aircraft

Boeing’s KC-46 program will likely experience more delays, just like the 767 series aircraft currently awaiting fuel tank parts. Reportedly, a quality issue surrounding a delivery of center fuel tanks made by subcontractor Triumph Group’s aerospace structures arm. The tanks, as delivered to Boeing, were incorrectly cleaned before painting, leaving their paint application somewhat inadequate.

From 2014 (YouTube Version:) Stunning Application of RPV Helo Tech By Yamaha

During his visit at the 2014 convention of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell talked with Steve Markofski who is with the New Business Planning division of Yamaha Motor USA. If you have ever shown any interest in the operation of model helicopters, you’ve got to see these big brother variations. Found on display were their RMAX and brand-new FAZER remote-controlled helicopters.

Also: UND Adds Aerospace Engineering, NBAA Scholarships, Flt School Threatened, John King on MOCA

The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators set forth that the aviation industry is suffering an epidemic of flight-test applicants failing to even qualify for their written tests and check-rides. Attendees of a 2022 OSH meeting of senior [FAA] Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) and FAA personnel estimated that—owing to incorrect endorsements and/or inadequate pilot experience—one-in-five check-ride applicants never even qualifies to start his FAA Flight Test due to incorrect logbook endorsements. Clay Lacy Aviation has bolstered its commitment to gen

Also: DOT Investigates SecTrans, Cirrus Engineer Killed in SR22, Delta Contract, WWII Target Drone

The first Learjet to be delivered by Bill Lear’s upstart company to a paying customer has returned to its Wichita birthplace where a group of aviation enthusiasts have set forth their commitment to return the jet to airworthiness. The aircraft, a Lear-23, serial-number 23-003, registration N200Y, was manufactured in 1964 and is the third specimen of the sleek LR-23 to grace this world. DarkAero-1, a single-reciprocating-engine, low-wing, retractable-tricycle-undercarriage, normal category airpla

Radar Contact Lost

Used by ATC to inform a pilot that the surveillance data used to determine the aircraft's position is no longer being received, or is no longer reliable and radar service is no longer being provided. The loss may be attributed to several factors including the aircraft merging with weather or ground clutter, the aircraft operating below radar line of sight coverage, the aircraft entering an area of poor radar return, failure of the aircraft's equipment, or failure of the surveillance equipment.

“With the new HAI Flight Training and Checking Program, members can keep their aircrews flying. They will not be grounded waiting for a check-ride or because a pilot does not have the proper type rating or missed recurrent training. It really is a fast pass through all things training and checking.” Source: HAI president and CEO James Viola, chatting about their having partnered with the Helicopter Institute of Fort Worth, Texas—a training concern offering FAA approved curricula to persons seeking rotary-wing pilot certification—for purpose of streamlining and simplifying its members’ efforts to keep their air-crews’ training, testing, qualifications, certifications, and compliance up to date.