“Tucker Has Probably Done More For Helicopter Safety Than Any Man Alive”

A familiar face and well-known instructor at Robinson Helicopter’s safety course, Tim Tucker is the latest recipient of the prestigious Cumberbatch Trophy. First awarded in 1936, the trophy is given yearly by the Honorable Company of Air Pilots, formerly the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. The 2021 award was handed over in their 600 year-old London Guildhall. Robinson Helicopters’ founder Frank Robinson noted many early purchases to come from less-experienced pilots, leaving a decided gap in affordable education in the most dangerous phases of ownership and flight training. Tim Tucker purchased his first Robinson R22, serial number 003, fo

A Light, Affordable Single for Emergency Medical Missions

Bell Textron and Arrow Aviation have announced their newest configuration for the Bell 505, a medical kit designed and manufactured by Arrow partner, HELIFAB. When looking for an affordable, modern, light helicopter perfectly suited to emergency medical transportation, Arrow found the Bell 505 the perfect aircraft for the job. Arrow Aviation and its collocated partner, Helifab, work together to bring a variety of STC products to market, with full support for maintenance and installation across a range of helicopters. The medical configuration will allow one stretcher to lay lengthwise, with the patient’s head alongside the forward-facing rear seat and their feet beside the pilot&rsquo

AD 2021-22-13 Requires Performing An RTC On Certain Part-Numbered Hoist Assemblies

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the determination that the requirement to accomplish a rated load check (RTC) on certain hoist assemblies may have been inadvertently left out of some aircraft maintenance publications (AMPs). This AD requires performing an RTC on certain part-numbered hoist assemblies with certain part-numbered hoist cables installed and corrective actions if any discrepancies are found as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condit