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Nov
13
2023
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Posted by Admin
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On 25 Aug. 2023, surrounded by employees, dignitaries, and media, Airbus Helicopters celebrated its 20th anniversary of manufacturing helicopters at its facility in Columbus, Mississippi.
It all began in 2003, when Airbus Helicopters (then Eurocopter) committed to building a manufacturing facility in Columbus, Mississippi, in order to broaden its footprint in North America. By 2004, the location grew from a small facility and seven personnel to 85,000 square feet and 100 personnel when it landed an AS365 Dauphin re-engining contract with the U.S. Coast Guard.
By 2006, the company achieved a major milestone, and solidified the future of the Columbus plant, when it was awarded the contract to produce the UH-72A for the U.S. Army. Since its humble beginnings, the facility today has grown to employ a skilled team of 300+ personnel (35% military veterans) and has completed nearly 1,700 helicopters. The Columbus facility is an important part of the Airbus business picture as it accounts for 20% of the helicopters manufactured by the company globally. The success of the Columbus facility has not only brought the aerospace industry to the region, but significant economic development as well.
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Tags:
Airbus Helicopters
Columbus Mississippi facility
UH-72A facility
Categories:
Company Profiles
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Nov
06
2023
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Posted by Admin
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I recall that when I was an emergency medical services pilot back in the 90s, I wrote many times that it was my belief that training was the key to reducing the high accident rate in EMS. Although I flew an S-76 with an autopilot and glass cockpit, technology was not as prevalent for light-single helicopters.
For the most part back then, we received our initial part 135 training, then our annual recurrent training (which was pretty light) only once per year. For most operators, training involved shooting an instrument approach and performing an unusual attitude recovery under a view limiting device (foggles) during VMC conditions. Given the lack of technology, as compared to today, it’s difficult to fault the operators. I always used to say that if the operators could not train themselves to be safer, they would eventually be regulated and “technologied” into safety.
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Tags:
Helicopter Technology
Helicopter Training
Rotor Pro Editor's Letter
Categories:
Regulatory
Training
Opinion-Editorial
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Nov
06
2023
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Posted by Admin
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Technology That Gives You Edge
Technology is increasingly being recognized as a lifesaving resource in the world of helicopter flight training. With rising accessibility to advanced training equipment, pilots can safely and more consistently confront and practice real-life scenarios in ways not achievable before.
Adding Flight Simulator Training Devices (FSTDs) to a training regimen particularly opens the door to the exposure and practice of emergency procedures – conditions often too risky to experience through in-aircraft training. So, not only is greater proficiency achieved on the fundamental level, enhanced threat awareness instills pilots with a bolder confidence and edge to take to the cockpit.
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Tags:
Frasca Flight Simulation
FTDs Level 1-3
Categories:
Training
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Oct
30
2023
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Posted by Admin
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The growing use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and the anticipated rollout of eVTOLs (manned electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles) will have a far reaching impact in manned flight, as helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft must share the heavens with them. But how will UAVs and eVTOLs affect helicopter communications, especially in controlled airspace, and what will this mean for helicopter pilots and operators? Here’s what Rotor Pro has been able to find out.
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Tags:
UAV pilots
V-150 SKELDAR
V-200 SKELDAR
Categories:
Regulatory
Helicopter Sectors
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Oct
23
2023
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Posted by Admin
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We all consider ourselves to be professional pilots and as such, we study and memorize everything we can about how we conduct our daily operations, to include the National Airspace System. We use the charts in the AIM, VFR Sectionals and Terminal Area Charts, and tablets with navigation applications. We refer to 14 CFR § 91.126-135. We check—and double check—the weather so we can remain compliant with 14 CFR § 91.155. VFR, IFR, GPS/WAAS, ATC - it all blends into this magnificent (and admittedly complex) system.
But where did all this come from?
Part of it began during WWII. Thomas Causby (and his flock of chickens) owned a parcel of land about a half mile from Lindley Field in Greensboro, North Carolina. The United States government, via what was then the Department of the Army, used Lindley Field for training bomber and fighter pilots. And they used it a lot. So much in fact, that quite a few (over 150) of Mr. Causby’s chickens died due to the noise and vibrations from the constant takeoffs and landings. The location of Mr. Causby’s property placed the landing and departing aircraft approximately 85 feet over the farm (and only 20 feet above the farm's highest object). Mr. Causby filed an inverse condemnation lawsuit against the government for damages, claiming that the airport’s activity had cost him his business and that the United States had “taken” without compensation his rightful property from him. He claimed that this was a clear violation of the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.
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Tags:
AIM
National Airspace System
VFR Terminal Sectionals
Categories:
Regulatory
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Oct
16
2023
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Posted by Admin
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In recent months, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has joined forces with the Veterans Administration (VA) in a collaborative effort to identify pilots who, whether intentionally or unintentionally, have failed to accurately disclose receiving disability benefits.
In the early part of 2022, the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine launched a ‘Special Project’ investigation aimed at identifying military veteran pilots who may not have properly disclosed their disability benefits to the FAA on their pilot medical applications. As Aviation Lawyer, Anthony Ison, explains in his AOPA article Airman Receiving VA Disability Benefits: A Time Sensitive Warning, it appears that the VA has granted the FAA access to their Veterans Disability Compensation records. Armed with this documentation, the FAA is, subsequently, cross referencing their own files in order to identify any pilot who may not have properly disclosed all of their VA Disability benefits.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Airman receiving VA Disability benefits
FAA Form 8500-8
MedXpress
Categories:
Career Development
Regulatory
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Oct
09
2023
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Posted by Admin
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Nine years! That’s how long it’s been since the last major update to the National Weather Service Aviation Platform. And from the early beta testing results, the wait will have been worth it. A new AviationWeather.gov is coming soon!
Much has changed in the last decade regarding computer programming capabilities, and all of that technological prowess certainly shows in the new platform. The modernized code provides enhanced stability and improved supportability for users.
[Read More...]
Tags:
aviation weather center
weather.gov
Categories:
Safety
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Oct
02
2023
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Posted by Admin
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Every year there are reports of fatal accidents where the pilot became spatially disoriented and crashed due to flying into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions. According to the US Helicopter Safety Team, since the year 2000, there have been over 130 fatal accidents due to flying into visually degraded environments. These incidents occur regardless of pilot experience and are often the result of insufficient planning, decision-making, and inadequate training for the unexpected.
On 26 January 2020, an experienced helicopter pilot crashed into the mountains of Southern California. This tragedy claimed the lives of nine people, including Kobe Bryant and his daughter. The National Transportation Safety Board found that pilot error was the primary cause of the crash. The pilot flew into low-level clouds, became spatially disoriented, and collided with a nearby hillside while attempting to navigate in a visually degraded environment, despite having over 8,000 flight hours, including more than 1,000 hours in the Sikorsky S-76. This pilot also served as a company check airman and chief pilot for the company. Even the most experienced and qualified pilots are not immune to the dangers of spatial disorientation. The helicopter industry and the University of North Dakota (UND) are searching for solutions that could help prevent tragedies like this.
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Tags:
Environmental Tectonics Corp.
UND
University of North Dakota Aerospace
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Sep
25
2023
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Posted by Admin
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I am currently the vice president and general manager for Precision Aircraft Services located in Peachtree City, Georgia. PAS is an Airbus premium service center, MD Helicopters service center, and Robinson service center. We maintain a wide array of avionics dealerships such as Garmin, Avidyne and Genesys, etc. We provide inspection and MRO services for all types of helicopter operations. All our mechanics come from the field and understand customer urgency so our customers get my cell number and can call anytime in need.
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Tags:
Mark Tyler
MRO Services
Precision Aircraft Services
Categories:
Human Interest
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Sep
18
2023
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Posted by Admin
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With a population over one million people, Charlotte, North Carolina, the seat of Mecklenburg County, is the largest city in the state, and 15th largest in the U.S.
Formed in 1762, Mecklenburg County, which lies at the intersection of several major U.S. highways, has become a business hub for many industries such as banking, manufacturing, and high-tech medicine. Additionally, given its many universities and outdoor attractions, the region also draws sports fans, academics, as well as adventure enthusiasts.
Atrium Health, formerly Carolinas HealthCare System, is a hospital network with more than 70,000 employees and part of Advocate Health. It operates 40 hospitals, seven freestanding emergency departments, over 30 urgent care centers, and more than 1,400 care locations in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Airbus Helicopters
Atrium Health
Rotor Pro
Categories:
Company Profiles