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Read all about the most recent news from around the world, showcasing updates from the vibrant world of Heliops
Read all about the most recent news from around the world, showcasing updates from the vibrant world of Heliops
Charles delves into the history a TV show that kicked off many a helicopter pilot career.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office has a unquestionable need for an effective aviation unit and the addition of a pair of Bell 407s provides a significant boost to its aerial capability.
The addition of two new Bell 412EPXs increases SBCSO's aerial capabilities, particularly in the search and rescue role.
The UH-60 Black Hawk is one of the safest and most robust helicopters ever built but because it has a military certification, in civilian hands it is placed in the Restricted Category.
The Italian high-end VIP and business air-services company Air Corporate recently introduced the Airbus H160 into its fleet to become the first VIP H160 operator in Europe
The City of Riverside Police department first established an air unit in 1971 with a single Bell 47G-5 dedicated to its ACE (aerial crime enforcement) program, to become one of the first law enforcement aviation units in the USA
Leonardo’s mid-size twin-engine AW139 is well suited to the search and rescue role. Avincis has recently put the type into full-time SAR service in Galicia, where it will replace the Sikorsky S76s that have served in the role since 2005.
Now the MV-22 is an integral part of the US military, what abot those pilots looking to transition from the MV-22 to the Leonard AW609? Tom Dailey examines the considerations to be made for a niche group of pilots.
Metro-Nashville Police Department Aviation recently added a pair of Airbus H125s to update its fleet of aging American helicopters. The new aircraft and technologies are set to increase the capability and effectiveness of this long-established LEA unit that covers the 532 square miles of Davidson County.
Beach Mosquito Control District (BMCD) in Florida’s Panama City Beach has introduced a brand-new Bell 505 into service, fitted with a newly designed, first-of-type tank system after years of operating aging OH58s.
Airbus Helicopters appear to be on something of a technology charge at the moment (no electrical power system pun intended). Their growing fleet of dedicated trials aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing, continue to break new ground
Declan examines the role civilian helicopters are playing in the peace keeping roles around the globe - from Afghanistan through to Sudan and all parts in between.
Liz McConaghy takes us inside gear that fits and gear that doesnt fit and how important it is to the flight crew - especially those in the back.
We chat with Swiss operator Air Zermatt about the challenges of high altitude rescues on the Matterhorn and adding a third Bell 429 to the fleet.
Windward Aviation’s owner Don Shearer started the company in 1990 and became the largest supplier of helicopter utility services in the state of Hawaii. Despite a long history of specializing in operations with the single-engine MD500 series, Shearer had long bemoaned not having the safety features that are offered by a twin
A large Oregon power line construction company is setting impeccably high standards in helicopter operations and safety, establishing a dedicated, integrated aviation department to support their main business. The Wilson Construction Company is a superb example of how an aviation support component can be structured and operated.
In almost 90 years, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s mission has been unwavering – Improving the lives of the people of the Tennessee Valley. Evolving to meet the challenges of 21st Century, the largest public power utility in America uses its clean electricity generation as a strategic asset to drive economic growth across seven southern states
California has a history of numerous, intense wildfires in remote areas. Many of these have damaged or threatened power generation, transmission, and distribution networks, leading to a statewide framework of mitigation requirements.
When two companies that are leaders in complimentary fields merge, the combination of specialties can foster the development of products notably more advanced and capable than either could achieve alone.
It is generally believed that the acidification of Scandinavian lakes, which has been researched since the 1970s, is caused by human atmospheric pollution. Jimmy van Drunen visited Scandair Helicopter to observe the Swedish operator’s participation in widespread lime-spreading
Although the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has operated an aviation unit for some time, the last seven or eight years have seen cultural and operational reorganization within the unit and upgrading of its equipment, resulting in a dramatic increase in capabilities and performance
Powerline flying presents challenges and hazards that differ very little, no matter where in the world it is conducted. Procedures, methods, and policies to effectively cope with those risks, however, can vary between different counties or locales.
With operators worldwide struggling to find and employ the right aircrew for their needs, prospective hires often have several employment options to consider. Financial remuneration can be an important factor, but Metro Aviation illustrates that selecting the right position should be predicated on an appreciation of the entire employment package.
Air Methods subsidiary Mercy Air recently put a 429 fitted with a lightweight interior into service from its base at Hemet, California, its first in the PacWest region and the first to be put into a community-based service, as opposed to a hospital-based inter-facility operation
The Hughes/MD500 has been an iconic sight in New Zealand skies for decades from the time that American Mel Cain imported the very first one for venison recovery; an industry that would account for the majority of 500s imported into New Zealand.
Mountain Blade Runner is the brainchild of Bryson Gray and wife Skyla, who started the company when Gray was just 21 years old. The couple targeted the business at aerial work in mountainous terrain and now, still only in their early thirties, operate a busy fleet of seven helicopters
After around five decades of operating the venerable MD500 series airframes, Las Vegas Metro PD has introduced the Airbus H125 into its aerial law enforcement operation, as senior Air Support Unit personnel discussed with Ned Dawson.
Operating from Dubai International Airport, the Dubai Air Wing serves the aviation needs of the government of the Emirate of Dubai. Although a single entity, the Air Wing includes separately named ‘divisions’, including the Dubai Police Air Wing and the Dubai Royal Flight
Mosquito Squadron? No, not that beautifully sleek wooden De Havilland aircraft from the 1940s, but a mixed fleet of more contemporary fixed and rotary wing aircraft, operated as part of an integrated approach to mosquito control in the Collier Mosquito Control District
In a slight variation from normal agricultural operations, a helicopter operator in The Netherlands has been carrying out some interesting and ecologically advantageous spreading operations over recent months, as Jimmy van Drunen reports.
Replacing an aging Bell 407 with a brand-new Bell 429 has given the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office the opportunity to expand its capabilities, particularly in the rescue role. Jason Jorgensen looks at the aviation unit’s newest machine and how it enhances the department’s mission.
Airbus Helicopters appear to be on something of a Research and Technology charge. In recent months, Heli Ops has covered the progress of the RACER (Rapid and Cost-Effective Rotorcraft) project, as it leverages the flight test experience and lessons of the X3 lift/thrust compounded 'tractor' propeller demonstrator into the final assembly of the 'pusher' propeller RACER prototype.
Ned Dawson reports how, over the span of several years, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit has expanded its mission profile and capabilities under the leadership of Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.
Until very recently, no commercial helicopter operators existed in the Sultanate of Oman. The owners of Al Sharqiya Aviation, however were among several groups seeking to be the first
The vertical flight industry is seemingly continuing to witness new start-up companies and an ever-broadening array of air vehicles targeting a perceived future market for personal and urban aerial mobility markets.
While some companies endeavour to capture market share by catering to the broadest possible clientele, Pacific Crown Helicopters thrives by concentrating on providing the fullest range of maintenance support to helicopters from a single manufacturer, with particular emphasis on a single model series
The Fontana Police Department first started air support operations in the late nineties, when they contracted to provide officers to fly as TFOs (tactical flight officers) with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department aviation unit. The Fontana Police department air support unit then started its own stand-alone law enforcement aviation operation in 2005.
Fresh into service after recent delivery are a pair of new Airbus H130-T2s, with which Nautilus Aviation services scenic flight contracts for two of the Quicksilver Group’s reef-tour operations on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s eastern coast.
Hot, wet conditions in coastal Florida encourage large-scale breeding of mosquitos and the pesky, blood-sucking females not only cause discomfort and nuisance but can also spread a range of diseases. To combat the pests, several counties run mosquito control programs
One Alaskan couple recently turned the experience of taking delivery of their new helicopter into an international odyssey, travelling from Canada to Alaska, circumnavigating most of the USA and venturing into south America and the Caribbean along the way.
Specialist VIP helicopter transport operators are a rarity in the New Zealand aviation market, but Volta Aviation is a young company that now operates a high-end corporate charter and VIP operation with the Sikorsky S-76, from its base at Auckland’s Ardmore Airport.
Year after year, we see multiple general aviation accidents and fatalities involving visual flight rules (VFR) flights continuing into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Does 14 CFR 91.157 entice pilots to continue flight in dangerous weather conditions?
In May of 2021, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptists air ambulance program celebrated a 35-year history since its first flight in May 1986. During that time, the AirCare program has transported nearly 26,000 patients
The Politie afdeling luchtvaart also known as Dienst Luchtvaartpolitie (Police Aviation Service) is a branch of the Dutch National Police Corps, providing police aviation services throughout the Netherlands with its nine-strong fleet of EC135s and AW139s
At a time where the focus of rotorcraft development is on the military, Paul Kennard provides an overview of new technologies being developed by Airbus for the civil helicopter market under its RACER (Rapid And Cost Effective) Rotorcraft program.
The Air Operations Unit of the Iron County Sheriff's Office located in Cedar City, Utah, is unique not only for operating in a beautiful yet unforgiving mountainous environment but also its partnership with an institution of higher learning, Southern Utah University.
International cooperation between several European agencies has resulted in the creation of a dedicated HEMS service based in Liechtenstein and carrying out HEMS missions into all the countries surrounding the tiny principality
Unlike small single-engine helicopters, which are frequently pilot-only operations, operating larger, more complex machines on precision utility work requires a team of personnel, each with their own specialty and tasks.
Utilizing the technology of onboard cameras and extensive helicopter-based aerial footage, Australia’s 1986-1987 defense of the America’s Cup sparked a dramatic advance in what was achievable in live broadcast coverage.
Flying helicopters at high altitudes in the mountains is a notoriously difficult affair. Few companies conduct daily operations in those climates and fewer still, choose to do so in small, piston-engine helicopters.
Rotex Helicopter is the only European operator of the K-max K1200, a unique type designed exclusively for the lifting role and capable of lifting more than its own weight.
There has been a significant move away from training in touch down autorotations. Has this move served the industry or created a new
problem? Glen White explores.
If air was visible, it would be seen as a fluid swirling around us with a flow often appearing to be random, but sometimes with defined patterns, like the patterns seen in a fast-flowing stream with rocks and boulders. We would see turbulence as waves of air rushing towards and crashing around us, much as we experience with surf at the beach.
The Bulgarian Border Police is among the latest frontier guard services in Europe to develop its own aviation unit. Specialised in patrolling and surveillance, the Sofia-based air unit currently operates modern law enforcement technologies to protect the increasingly problematic southern external borders of the European Union.
Europe’s highest mountain, the 4,807-meter Mont Blanc, comes into view as the helicopter approaches the nearer peaks to finally land on a small spot on a snow-capped mountain top. The winter sports enthusiasts on board get out and watch closely as the ski guide unloads their ski gear from the helicopter’s bucket.
On a clear and windless May morning in the heart of California’s Central Valley, Greg Grouleff Jr. follows in the footsteps of two preceding generations of his family, readying his specially modified Grouleff Aviation Robinson R66 for work, in near perfect conditions for aerial application of the various products the agriculture industry calls for.
In the heart of Europe lies the iconic alpine scenery of the famous Alp mountain range, with views that have stunned, shocked, and amazed admirers for generations. Catching the spectacular views from the air, however, comes at the cost of contending with some of the most perilous flying scenarios
Oxford Police Department’s aviation unit is new and, by worldwide law enforcement aviation standards, very small. For the size of the department however, it is surprisingly substantial, and the story of its development is an object lesson in how to achieve an optimum result through fierce determination, abundant creativity and adherence to high standards, but with limited resources.
Airbus Helicopters recently revealed the first details about its 'FlightLab' initiative. The press release was accompanied by a picture of a smart looking H130, and an infographic highlighting some of the technologies that the aircraft is intended to help mature.
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) recently put a new Bell 412EPX into service, with the next-gen’ variant of the proven 412 line plugging a gap in capability between the company’s H145 and S70/UH60 Blackhawk aircraft.
Six years ago, an idea of HeliCentre pilots and instructors to conduct four-day trip to France has grown into a five-day trip through Europe. In 2022, 18 pilots and instructors took part in