HelicoptersSikorsky details CH-53 modernization goals

Washington, Usa - Developed by the US Marine Corps and Sikorsky Aircraft

The US Marine Corps and Sikorsky Aircraft are developing a modernization and Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for the CH-53E that would improve operational capability, increase range, payload and... more

HelicoptersRussia to deliver Ka-31 helicopters to India

Moscow, Russia - The delivery will start this year

India purchased 9 helicopters Ka-31 in Russia. The delivery of Ka-31 radar early warning helicopters is to begin later this year and will be continued in 2003. The Indian navy is to receive helicopters... more

HelicoptersBAE Systems shows AESA Seaspray 7000E radar

Farnborough, UK - It has 30% improved detection capability

BAE Systems’ new Seaspray 7000E Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar has 30% improved detection capability says Steve Marlow, VP Export Naval Helicopter Systems. An E-processor and AESA h... more

HelicoptersNew helicopters on the job in Canada

Vancouver, Canada - The Cormorant is made by a British-Italian consortium

The first of Canada's new search and rescue helicopters officially went into service in Vancouver. The Cormorant chopper is the first to enter service of an eventual fleet of 15 helicopters being made... more

HelicoptersHAL and Turbomeca talk about ALH engine

New Delhi, India - The terms of the contract have not been worked out as yet

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has entered into a dialogue with M/s Turbomeca, part of M/s Snecma Group of France to jointly develop and produce an engine called the Shakti for the Advance Light... more

HelicoptersBae Systems signs Mi-172 marketing agreement with Kazan and Kelowna Flightcraft

London, UK - New systems provide an increased operational capability

British Bae Systems, Kazan of Russia and Canada's Kelowna Flightcraft have concluded and signed an international marketing agreement for the Mi-172 medium-utility and transport helicopter. Under the partnership,... more

HelicoptersGoodrich receives a contract from U.S. Army

Farnborough, UK - A USD 8.9m worth deal

Goodrich Corporation has received a contract for USD 8.9m from the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command of Fort Eustis, Virginia, to supply the Goodrich Integrated... more

HelicoptersTurkey awards helicopter upgrade contract to Israel

Ankara, Turkey - A USD 110m-worth contract

A contract to upgrade 300 military helicopters was awarded to Israel by Turkey. The agreement to this effect was signed by officials from the Turkish Defence Industry Undersecretariat and Israeli Military... more

HelicoptersBell Helicopter increases its revenue and decreases its profit

Providence, Usa - According to Bell parent Textron's second quarter results

Bell Helicopter revenues increased USD 4m primarily due to higher sales to the U.S. Government on the V-22 program and the H-1 upgrade contract, partially offset by lower foreign military sales and lower... more

HelicoptersMesa, Las Vegas Police Departments Select MD 500s

Tucson, Usa - Both MD 500E and MD 530F are engineered for operating in hot weather

MD Helicopters, Inc., (MDHI) has confirmed sales of two MD 500 Series helicopters to two police departments in the Western United States. The Mesa, Arizona, Police Department (one MD 500E) and the Las... more

HelicoptersUS Helicopter wins contract to refurbish 30 UH-1H for US Army

Ozark, Usa - A deal of over USD 21m worth

U.S. Helicopter Inc., Ozark, Alabama, was awarded a delivery order amount of USD 21,640,293 as part of a USD 94,135,402 firm-fixed-price contract for refurbishment of 30 UH-1H Huey helicopters. Work will... more

HelicoptersMagellan Aerospace wins orders for EH101 work

Toronto, Canada - A deal of over USD 20m worth

Magellan Aerospace Corporation announced new orders worth over USD 20m dollars to manufacture aerostructure assemblies for the AgustaWestland EH101/Cormorant helicopter. Magellan's Bristol facility will... more

HelicoptersSpain to send aeronaval forces to North Africa

Madrid, Spain - After Morocco occupied a desert island

After Morocco's occupation of Perejil (Parsley) island, Spanish government decided to send aeronaval forces to the northern coast of Morocco, including 8 helicopters "Cougar". The little island lies about... more

HelicoptersStill missing Mi-6 helicopter vanished in northern Russia

Norilsk, Russia - The 21 people on board are provided with food at least for 10 days

Searches for Mi-6 helicopter lost in Taimyr peninsula have brought no results yet. There is no information about the fate of its crew and passengers. However, the rescuers express suppositions, that the... more

HelicoptersStill missing Mi-6 helicopter vanished in northern Russia

Norilsk, Russia - The 21 people on board are provided with food at least for 10 days

Searches for Mi-6 helicopter lost in Taimyr peninsula have brought no results yet. There is no information about the fate of its crew and passengers. However, the rescuers express suppositions, that the... more

HelicoptersNew Chinese military helicopter obtained a model certification

Beijing, China - Civil Aviation Administration of China okayed H410A

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) certified H410H helicopter, the improved version of Zhi-9 manufactured by Hafei Aviation Industry Co Ltd. "This was a major event for China's... more

HelicoptersNew helicopter R44 Raven II: correction of estimated performance data

Torrance, Usa - We apologize for any inconvenience

The helicopter manufacturer Robinson announced that its press release concerning its new R44 Rave II contained errors in the estimated performance data. We apologize for any inconvenience. The correct... more

HelicoptersHeliTeamGB, a winning team welcomes new sponsors

Cirencester, UK - In view of next Helicopter World Championships

Press release: "HeliTeamGB members won seven of the major prizes at the recent British National Helicopter Championships in June. Members of HeliteamGB were competing against 22 other crews including professional... more

HelicoptersTaiwanese helicopters rescue 133 mainland China fishermen from burning boat

Taipei, Taiwan - Their floating dormitory boat was moved offshore by a storm

Rescue specialists aboard four Navy Sea Gull helicopters and patrol boats yesterday rescued 133 mainland Chinese fishermen from a burning boat, while the on-board cook remained missing. The boat, a floating... more

HelicoptersWeston-Super-HeliDays 2002

London, Uk - Fri. 26th, Sat. 27th, Sun. 28th July

The end of July sees loads of helicopters descending on the seaside at Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset for Europe's biggest and most unusual public helicopter event. Now in it's 12th year, the Weston-Super-HeliDays... more

HelicoptersNew investments for Keystone Helicopter Corp

West Chester, Usa - The new owner plans to spend up to USD 75m within 5 years

As it approaches its 50th anniversary, Keystone Helicopter Corp., founded in 1953 by a World War II Flying Tigers veteran, is gaining real lift from Steve Townes, its new owner, who plans to spend up to... more

HelicoptersNew investments for Keyston Helicopter Corp

West Chester, Usa - The new owner plans to spend up to USD 75m within 5 years

As it approaches its 50th anniversary, Keystone Helicopter Corp., founded in 1953 by a World War II Flying Tigers veteran, is gaining real lift from Steve Townes, its new owner, who plans to spend up to... more

HelicoptersChina's first Robinson R44 helicopter

Beijing, China - It has been delivered to Zhengzhou police

Robinson delivered its first R44 Police Helicopter in China to the police of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province. Two police officers from Zhengzhou have already received training in the R44 helicopter... more

HelicoptersRobinson launches its new R44 Raven II

Torrance, Usa - Faa certification expected within early September

Robinson Helicopter Company has announced that it will now accept orders for its new R44 Raven II. The aircraft has more power, a higher gross weight (1134 kilos, empty weight 680 kilos), 28-volt electrical... more

HelicoptersRussian analyst says helicopter sale to Pakistan civilian, not military

Moscow, Russia - India has been Russia's only strategic and military partner in South Asia

The export of Mi-17 helicopters by the Ulan-Ude aircraft-building enterprise cannot be qualified as a military deal, as these helicopters were made in a civilian version, said deputy director of the centre... more

HelicoptersAgust/Bell will sell 39 AB139s to US Coast Guard

Washington, Usa - According the terms of the US Coast Guard's wide-ranging Deepwater modernisation program

Lockheed Martin/Northrup Grumman's win in the US Coastguard's wide-ranging Deepwater modernisation programme is good news for Agusta/Bell - up to 39 AB139s are involved in the deal - and bad news for Bell/Agusta... more

HelicoptersPolice in former Kazakh capital to get helicopters

Almaty, Kazakhistan - Two Mi-35s starting from next August

Starting from August 2002, Kazakh police will use two Mi-35 helicopters to patrol the former capital Almaty. The helicopters would be equipped with video and communication systems. The administration... more

HelicoptersRussian plant developing new version of Mi-8 helicopter

Kazan, Russia - It will be powered by a new Klimov engine

The Kazan helicopter plant (KVZ) in cooperation with Moscow's Mil helicopter plant is developing a new variant of the Mi-8 Hip helicopter designated Mi- 8MTV 7. The new helicopter will be powered by a... more

HelicoptersUS delays delivery of helicopters and planes to Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan - For unknown reasons

The US has begun delivery of motor vehicles and communication equipment to Pakistan for conducting surveillance at the Pak-Afghan border to prevent infiltration of Al-Qeada terrorists but delayed the handing... more

HelicoptersRussia sells eight Mi-171 transport helicopters to Pakistan

Moscow, Russia - Mi-171 is a modernised version of Mi-17 fitted with nightflying avionics

Russia's major aircraft plant Ulan-Ude has shipped the first batch of four Mi-171 transport helicopters to Pakistan and four choppers will be airlifted by the end of the week. Though the contract with... more

HelicoptersElta awarded a USD 5.6m contract for Missile Warning Systems

Tel Aviv, Israele - A device to protect Israel Air Force Black Hawk

The Israel Air Force has purchased Elta's proven Electronic Missile Warning Systems to protect its new fleet of Black Hawk helicopters. Elta Electronics Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Israel... more

HelicoptersSudanese rebels announced to have shot down a Sudanese army helicopter gunship

Cairo, Egypt - SPLA has been fighting for self determination of south Sudan since 1983

Forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in Western Upper Nile claimed to have shot down and destroyed an helicopter gunship of the Sudanese army around the oilfields, in the south of the country.... more

HelicoptersBAE Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries showed interest in the ALH project

Bangalore, India - The light helicopter manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd

The two aeronautical manufacturers British Aerospace Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries, have evinced keen interest to co-operate with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to take its advanced light helicopter... more

HelicoptersLybia gives 4 military helicopters to Namibia

Tripoli, Libya - Two Mi-8s and two Mi-25 Hinds

Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi's Libyan government donated 4 military helicopters to the African state of Namibia. The aircraft, two Mi-8s and two Mi-25 Hinds, have been delivered earlier this year and Namibian pilots... more

HelicoptersIsrael orders eight AH-64D Apache Longbows

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter was awarded a USD 51.8m modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for delivery of eight Longbow AH-64D, government of Israel-unique new build aircraft and all efforts associated... more

HelicoptersBoeing delivers 30th AH-64D Apache to Royal Netherlands Air Force

Mesa, Usa - The first AH-64D for The Netherlands was delivered in April 1998

The Royal Netherlands Air Force, or RNLAF, has accepted delivery of its 30th Boeing AH-64D Apache multirole combat helicopter in a ceremony held at Boeing in Mesa. The commander in chief of the RNLAF,... more

HelicoptersMDHI further expands presence in China with MD 500 sale

Beijing, China

MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) today announced the sale of a single-engine MD 500E to a customer in the People’s Republic of China. Three MD helicopters have been sold in the last 18 months to customers i... more

HelicoptersSpain commits itself with Eu to buy 24 helicopters

Madrid, Spain - A EUR 1.2bn worth deal

Spanish government committed itself with Eu to buy 24 helicopters by 2007, a EUR 1.2bn worth deal. The choice to be made is between the "Tiger", manufactured by European Eads, and "Apache", by Boeing. Political... more

HelicoptersSimulation of a crash between two helicopters for emergency rescue exercise

Brussels, Belgium - Next June 4 at Koksijde Air Force base in Belgium

A simulated emergency rescue exercise will be carried on next June 4 at Koksijde Air Force base in Belgium. A crash between two helicopters with civilians and soldiers on board will be simulated to improve... more

HelicoptersHelicopters in rural Chinese province to combat crime

China

Faced with rising crime in remote rural areas, a central Chinese province has created a helicopter-borne fast-reaction police unit, as diffused by local sources. Officers in the unit in Henan province... more

HelicoptersSecond Comanche flies with new software and engines

West Palm Beach, Florida

The RAH-66 Comanche prototype No. 2 made its first flight with the newly installed Mission Equipment Package (MEP) software and new engines here today, reaching the critical milestone weeks ahead of schedule.... more

HelicoptersAgrotors buys Paper corporation

USA

AgRotors Inc., a helicopter services company from Gettysburg, Pa., is buying International Paper Co.'ss helicopter operation here to create a new Southern Division. The new division will probably... more

HelicoptersSt. Lucie County Sheriff's A119 Koala In Service

St. Lucie, USA

Agusta Aerospace Corp., an AgustaWestland company, has delivered in early May, 2002, an Agusta A119 Koala to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office and Fire District. The aircraft, purchased jointly by... more

HelicoptersBae Systems Avionics signed a huge contract with AgustaWestland

London, Great Britain

Bae System Avionics has recently signed a multi-million pound development contract with AgustaWestland to develop an helicopter electric flight control system Bae Systems will be a member of a team,... more

HelicoptersKeystone Helicopter Airframe maintenance division earns FAA's Diamond Award

Washington, USA

Keystone Helicopter's Airframe Maintenance Division recently received the annual FAA Diamond Certificate in recognition of its commitment to safety and training. Keystone earned this prestigious award... more

HelicoptersBelgian Navy helicopter seized a large drugs haul in the Caribbean

Brussels, Belgium - 900kg of cocaine

Last week an "Alouette III" helicopter of the Belgian Navy, took part to a joint anti-drugs operation with a Dutch Navy ship in the Caribbean sea, seizing 900kg of cocaine. "Alouette III" and its crew... more

HelicoptersCongress' green light to sell Apache to Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan

The US government has approved the sale of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters to Taiwan, to help boost its capability to fend off any invasion from China, a report said on Friday. The USD1.29bn... more

HelicoptersMD Helicopters not involved in RDM financial operations

The Netherlands

The Netherlands' RDM Holding and Stork Group said they have signed a declaration of intent for a consolidation of the Dutch defense industry that would include RDM's acquisition of the land systems activities... more

HelicoptersDenver police forced to cut hours due to money lack

Denver, USA

The Denver Police Department, which is facing a nearly $9 million budget crunch, has decided to cut by more than half the number of hours it will fly its helicopter. The helicopter, which costs... more

HelicoptersSan Francesco police experiences difficulties for helos use

San Francisco, USA

Unlike the police departments in other major cities, San Francisco's Police Department doesn't still have a helicopter. Or, at least, it has a helicopter -- for now -- but the helicopter doesn't... more