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Mar
26
2024
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Posted by Admin
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Imagine: Sometime in the near future, a combined team of drones and helicopters is dispatched to battle a major forest fire. The drones fan out to identify hot spots, locate survivors, and spray fire suppressants in key areas. The helicopters follow to pick up survivors, apply larger amounts of fire suppressants, and either manage the drones in the air or just coordinate with them due to the drones’ autonomous/ground-controlled flight systems.
This may sound like something out of a science-fiction novel. But it is actually a reasonable projection of where rotorcraft technology is headed in the not-so-distant future. Here’s where we stand right now…
[Read More...]
Tags:
EHang
MUM-T
MUMT_MQ-8C_FireScout
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
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Mar
25
2024
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Posted by Admin
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The introduction of radar (also known as radio) altimeters to the helicopter industry began as a highly accurate tool to validate actual height above ground during Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight operations. Like the fixed wing world, a helicopter being flown on an IFR approach needs accurate information on height above ground to continue to a safe landing.
As the helicopter industry introduced additional technologies, the requirement for a radar altimeter in a helicopter expanded. It was determined that a radar altimeter would be required equipment for NVG modified cockpits and stated accordingly in 14 CFR 91.205(h)(7). After April 24th, 2017, the FAA expanded the requirement for radar altimeter installation and use in Part 135 operations with the introduction of 14 CFR Part 135.160(a): Radio Altimeters for Rotorcraft Operations.
The clear intent of the regulation was to improve aviation safety. Providing the pilot with a highly accurate tool to know their actual height above ground would reduce controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents.
[Read More...]
Tags:
NVG modified cockpits
Radar Altimeter
Radar Altimeters and 5G Exemptions
Categories:
Regulatory
Opinion-Editorial
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Mar
18
2024
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Posted by Admin
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It is a vast untamed wilderness where lions, rhinos, elephants and other wild animals roam freely, but the massive park’s borders are sometimes breached by a network of highly skilled and motivated poachers. High temperatures often reach north of 110o (F) in the summer months. These are some of the formidable challenges that the South African National Parks (SANParks) Air Services has to navigate.
The Kruger National Park borders Mozambique on the eastern side and Zimbabwe on the northern side. SANParks Air Services provides the aerial support required for over 2 million hectares, as well as the other 19 parks of SANParks across South Africa. Poachers are a huge problem, although the battle is slowly being won, and rhino poaching has stabilized and reduced over the past years.
Despite back-breaking work from a dedicated and passionate SANParks team, Kruger National Park rhino populations have continued to plummet due to rhino poaching (according to the population count from 2020). Recently published research estimates that there are about 2,607 white rhinos remaining in the Kruger National Park, while black rhinos are estimated to number just 202. This represents a population decline of 75% for white rhinos since 2011 (from 10,621) and 51% for black rhino since 2013 (from 415).
[Read More...]
Tags:
helicopters antipoaching
sanparks air services
south africa sanparks aviation
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
Company Profiles
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Mar
11
2024
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Posted by Admin
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What is your current position?
I currently work as the assistant chief helicopter pilot at Tampa Bay Aviation. Tampa Bay Aviation is the largest helicopter flight school in the area; we have four locations across the bay (KCLW, KPIE, KSPG, and KVDF). Tampa Bay Aviation offers Part 141 and Part 61 courses from private through CFI, and CFII and ATP Part 61. We also work with the VA, so we can accommodate veterans as well. We are one of the largest fixed-wing and helicopter flight schools on Florida’s west coast. I also work as a part-time ENG pilot for Sky Helicopters, and a part-time charter pilot and check airman for Skyway Aviation.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Joshua Montour Tampa Bay Aviation
Meet A Rotor Pro
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
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Mar
04
2024
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Posted by Admin
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COMMAND HELICOPTERS INC.
v.
The CITY OF CHICAGO
United States District Court, N.D. Illinois, E.D.
No. 88 C 3480.
691 F. Supp. 1148 (1988)
On the utility side of our industry, rotary-wing aircraft accomplish a high volume of different tasks, ranging from firefighting to survey work to long-line external loads. One such task once brought about an appellate court decision that helped specifically define our rights to do that work in metropolitan areas as seen by the U.S. Constitution. Today, we will discuss Article VI and the 10th Amendment. Yes, the Constitution applies to what we do with our aircraft.
[Read More...]
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Feb
23
2024
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Posted by Admin
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You’ve likely heard of famed aviation pioneer Antony Fokker, “The Flying Dutchman.” Well, Bart Reijnen could too be called “The Flying Dutchman,” as the native of the Netherlands has flown and lived all over Europe throughout his aerospace career. He also recently jumped over the pond late last year to land in Grand Prairie, Texas, where he has taken control as president of Airbus Helicopters Inc.-North America. By “aerospace career,” we mean just that: aero-space. Reijnen has worked in both ‘aero’ aircraft aviation both as an engineer and executive. He’s also worked in the ‘space’ space, playing a role in the ambitious Artemis program plan to return humanity to the moon by 2026.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Airbus Helicopter North America
Bart Reijnen
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Feb
16
2024
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Posted by Admin
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For my entire 30-year working life, I have referred to my work as a pilot, helicopter operator, and media company owner as being in the “helicopter industry.” It’s pretty much all I have known.
However back in 2020, we saw a significant shift in the industry’s perspective of what the future might look like. It involved terms like “eVTOL,” “unmanned,” and “AAM” (advanced air mobility.) This shift came not only in the form of conversations, but rapidly morphed into actions by investors, regulators, and OEMs.
I remember asking several industry colleagues of stature if they thought this movement towards new platforms was real, or was it pie-in-the-sky futurecasting. The responses I got were 50/50.
[Read More...]
Tags:
HeliExpo 2024
Rotor Pro Editor's Letter
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
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Feb
12
2024
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Posted by Admin
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HALO Aviation is headquartered at the Ultimate Heliport in Gauteng, South Africa.
Their ICU air ambulance fleet consists of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and fixed-wing aircraft, and are among the most technologically advanced on the continent and equipped with advanced lifesaving equipment.
HALO has a large footprint and serves Africa and South Africans from multiple operation centres around the country. It is composed of passionate professionals with a calling to serve and save lives; they are reliable rapid responders with a proven track record.
[Read More...]
Tags:
HALO Aviation Gauteng South Africa
Helicopter Operators Africa
HEMS Africa
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Company Profiles
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Feb
05
2024
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Posted by Admin
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In the last James Bond film starring Daniel Craig, No Time to Die, Chris Sharpe with Black Wolf Helicopters was tapped to body double as a secret agent while rappelling from a helicopter in a tuxedo. “I’m British, so it was natural,” Sharpe said. The global movie release had a premier in Guatemala. He was asked to rappel twice at a pre-showing and at the premiere to deliver a cake in a box to a VIP. Following the cake delivery, the party, dressed in tuxedos and formal gowns, went to the movie premiere.
Sharpe is a chief aircrewman and medic with Black Wolf Helicopters in Guatemala City, Guatemala. They provide services like search and rescue, helicopter emergency management, and training for other helicopter operators, but in their spare time, they dally in film crew support.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Black Wolf Helicopters
Helicopter Film Crew Support
Helicopteros de Guatemala
Categories:
Company Profiles
Helicopter Sectors
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Jan
29
2024
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Posted by Admin
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RPMN: What is your current position?
I am currently a standardization pilot for the factory training department, as well as a production test pilot with MD Helicopters LLC in Mesa Arizona. We specialize in initial and recurrent advanced emergency procedure training in all MD airframes as well as maintenance test pilot courses. It’s the absolute dream job, as I get to work with pilots in such a multifaceted industry. There aren't a great number of MD Pilots in the world, but every single one of them brings something significant to the table and are absolute powerhouse in their career field and I'm lucky to get to fly and learn from a great number of them.
[Read More...]
Tags:
CJ Schneider
MD Helicopters
Meet A Rotor Pro
Categories:
Career Development
Opinion-Editorial
Human Interest