Articles for category Company Profiles
|
Jul
07
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
In the verdant expanse of Flagler County, Florida, where wildlands interface with burgeoning communities, a unique and vital aerial asset stands ready to protect lives and property: the Flagler County Fire Rescue FireFlight Helicopter Program. More than just a worthy air ambulance or needed fire suppression tool, FireFlight is a multi-mission platform, a testament to proactive public safety, and a symbol of the county's commitment to its residents. Born from the ashes of devastating wildfires, this program has evolved into one of the most comprehensive and aggressive airborne emergency response units in the Southeast United States.
During our visit, Rotor Pro had the opportunity to meet and fly with Todd Whaley, FireFlight’s Director of Operations and Director of Maintenance, to learn more about the Flagler County program. It is a program that is definitely punching above its weight utilizing two pilots, six flight medics, and the Airbus H125 to perform a wide variety of missions in an effort to protect and service the citizens and visitors of Flagler County, Florida. Whaley, who has accumulated over 5,000 flight hours of flying experience, has been pivotal in shaping the program.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Company Profiles
|
Jun
16
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Having responded last year to 263 wildfires that burned over 134,000 acres, the Nevada Division of Forestry relies heavily on its fleet of helicopters. Martin Scharenborg & Ramon Wenink visited and flew with the Nevada Division of Forestry Air Operations to learn about their mission and the challenges they are facing.
With thousands of wildfires nationwide occurring annually, the use of airborne assets prove to be of great value in fighting these fires. Therefore the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF), founded in 1957, started its own aviation program in 1959 by converting a Beechcraft C-45 Torpedo bomber into an air tanker for firefighting. It took another 15 years when the first helicopters were acquired with assistance of the U.S. Forest Service. Three Bell TH-13Ts from surplus U.S. Army stocks entered service in 1974 primarily for aerial fire reconnaissance. Although there was a strong need for a strong and capable firefighting helicopter , the three Sioux helicopters soldiered on and remained in service until 1991. In 1993 the U.S. Forest Service assisted again in acquiring surplus Army helicopters for the NDF. The Bell UH-1H Huey was selected because of its powerful engine and the ability to transport a considerable number of firefighters in the back of the aircraft. Eventually three UH-1Hs entered service from 1994 and that year is seen as the birth of the current NDF’s ‘Battle Born Helitack Program.’ From 2006, the fleet of UH-1H helicopters received several upgrades to meet present and future requirements. In 2019 one UH-1H was retired and replaced by an Eagle Copters ‘Eagle Single,’ a Bell 212 conversion.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Helitack
Nevada Division of Forestry Air Operations
Categories:
Company Profiles
|
Jun
02
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Just prior to Verticon 2025, Rotor Pro visited Donauwörth, Germany, to learn what the vertical lift industry can expect to see in 2025 from Airbus Helicopters. With nearly 8,000 employees, the facility is home to Airbus Helicopters’ second largest manufacturing facility in the world. Donauwörth is home to not only the development center of the CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype, but also the production lines of the H135, H145, and the military NH90 helicopters.
Looking into the rear-view mirror, Airbus Helicopters had a strong 2024. 455 gross orders (net: 450) showed a steady market growth with a strong performance last year for its light, light twin-engined, and heavy helicopters. Orders came from 182 customers in 42 countries. The Company delivered 361 helicopters in 2024, resulting in a preliminary 57% share of the civil and parapublic market.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters Pioneer Lab
CityAirbus NextGen
H140
H160
Categories:
Company Profiles
Helicopter Sectors
|
May
19
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Around the corner from Helsinki International Airport, Coptersafety stands as a center of excellence in the helicopter pilot training world. This innovative company has carved a niche for itself by focusing exclusively on simulator-based training, pushing the boundaries of safety and proficiency within the demanding world of helicopter operations. “Our mission at Coptersafety has always been to increase safety in the rotorcraft industry, with bespoke [custom tailored] training services for helicopter pilots around the world,” said Hannu Marjoniemi, CEO and co-founder of Coptersafety.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Coptersafety
helicopter pilot training
rotorcraft safety
simulator-based training
Categories:
Company Profiles
|
May
12
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
We catch Gretchen Johnson in a rare hour of relatively free time. She was in Orlando, having headed south from her metro-Atlanta home, when she said in a cultured, soft Southern accent that would make Scarlett O’Hara sit up and take notice, “Thank you so much for choosing to spend an hour with me; I’m flattered. Hopefully, something I say will be worth repeating. It’s wonderful being down here in Florida because now Miss Georgia can’t decide whether she’s winter or spring.”
Make up your cotton-pickin’ mind, Miss Georgia!
It would be wrong to base an assumption on Johnson’s accent and Southern manners that she’s some antebellum belle. The CEO and founder of DaVinciSKY was in Orlando for a “Women in Power” symposium—and that could be a clever pun because Johnson’s flagship company and its subsidiaries feature helicopters in power-line construction, inspection, and maintenance.
[Read More...]
Tags:
DaVinciSKY
power line patrol helicopter
Utility Helicopter
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
Human Interest
Company Profiles
|
Apr
07
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the design and operation of helicopters, ushering in a new era of innovation and efficiency. By leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms and data analytics, AI enables more autonomous flight capabilities, improves predictive maintenance, optimizes flight paths, and enhances safety measures.
From revolutionizing helicopter design and testing to supporting real-time decision-making in complex operational environments, AI is pivotal in reshaping the future of rotary-wing aviation. This integration of cutting-edge technology promises to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance the overall performance of helicopter fleets worldwide.
For Leonardo Helicopters, AI is integral to achieving its mission to its customers. Leonardo's primary objective is to guarantee in-flight safety by delivering helicopters featuring the highest safety levels. This approach to safety is at the heart of all activities, from design and production to customer services, ensuring that all aircraft meet the most rigorous safety standards.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Leonardo Helicopters
Leonardo Helicopters Diagnostic Service Tower - AI
Categories:
Company Profiles
|
Mar
31
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Ironically, flying unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can often sound like buzzing mosquitoes. You can hear them buzzing in on approach, and eventually, when close enough, you can see them peering down at you from above. Yet, UAS is a new solution to controlling mosquito populations in Lee County, Florida. Mosquitoes serve many purposes in a healthy balanced ecosystem. In fact, mosquitoes are considered pollinators, as much as any bee or butterfly. Having said that, the average citizen likely believes that they have no useful purpose, because their proliferation of peskiness knows no end. They irritate us on beaches, hiking, and working with animals. They can cause serious disease and eventually death for mammals, reptiles and birds, and they are incessantly difficult to kill. Mosquito diseases can affect humans, horses, birds, dogs, cats, and more.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Lee County Mosquito Control Aviation Unit
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
Company Profiles
|
Mar
17
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
It’s a bright and sunny autumn morning at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. While on the adjacent ramps it is still quiet, the ramp of HMLA-773 (-) is already packed with Bell UH-1Y Venom and Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters being prepared for the day’s flying by the busy maintenance crews. Although being a Marine Reserve Unit, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 plays a key role in the organization and operations of the United States Marine Corps.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
Company Profiles
Helicopter Sectors
|
Mar
07
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
This year DART Aerospace is celebrating 50 years in the rotorcraft industry. Interesting to see how it all started.
The Summer Olympic Games were coming to Montreal in 1976. Jim Bradley and his family created a company to sell souvenirs to the throngs of visitors from around the globe coming to Canada. As they were gearing up in 1975, another opportunity came to Bradley in an industry far from souvenirs—a small helicopter job for the installation of an HF Whip Antenna on a Sikorsky helicopter. Bradley seized on that opportunity, and thus 50 years ago, DART Aerospace was born. The business now sells rotorcraft products and services to customers in almost every nation on Earth. “It’s funny how companies start and how they evolve over time,” says DART’s current president, Ryan Williamson. He speaks from experience, for he came to aerospace from an industry as unrelated to helicopters as Olympic souvenirs—the furniture manufacturing business.
[Read More...]
Tags:
DART Aerospace
Jim Bradley
Ryan Williamson
SEI Bambi Bucket
Simplex
Categories:
Company Profiles
|
Mar
03
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
NHV at Esbjerg Airport
Esbjerg Airport, on Denmark’s west coast, has long been a key aviation and transport hub. Among its notable operators is NHV (Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen), recognizable by its bright yellow helicopters. NHV plays a crucial role in offshore helicopter transport, particularly in the North Sea.
Esbjerg Airport is a key base for NHV A/S, supporting offshore personnel and equipment transport, including wind energy services in the North Sea. Its proximity to major oil and gas fields makes it ideal for NHV’s passenger, cargo, and training operations.
NHV operates three H175 helicopters at Esbjerg, employing 36 staff: 14 pilots, 14 technicians, and eight office personnel.
[Read More...]
Tags:
NHV
NHV (Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen)
Offshore Helicopters
Categories:
Company Profiles