Boeing is developing an upgraded CH-47F Chinook featuring modifications to increase the heavy-lift helicopter’s lifting power. Funded under a recent US$276 million US Army contract, Boeing will build and test three CH-47F Block II Chinooks to validate technology advancements including a more efficient drivetrain and new swept-tip rotor blades – designed to lift an additional 680kg on their own.
Sikorsky Helitech, Kaan Air Australia and StarFlight Australia have signed an agreement to bring an initial 10 ex-US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters into Australia to be refurbished for use locally in aerial firefighting, emergency services and disaster relief operations. Sikorsky Helitech will carry out the ‘as new’ condition refurbishments at its Pinkenba facility on
A German Army Aviation Corps Airbus Helicopters UH Tiger crashed while on a UN peacekeeping mission in Mali on July 26, killing both crew on board. The UH Tiger reportedly came down in the West African nation’s desert just after midday local time 70km north-east of Gao International Airport while the helicopter was monitoring ground
Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia has won contract extensions for two helicopter rescue services in Queensland. The company said it would continue to provide helicopter emergency services for RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter Service in Mackay and RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Service until “at least” 2024 with Bell 412 aircraft. It has been working with the two
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority Norway announced on July 7 2017 plans to lift restrictions on all commercially operated UK and Norwegian registered H225LP and AS332L2 Super Puma helicopters following the global grounding that was imposed after a fatal accident involving the type in Norway in April 2016. Despite
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Bell Helicopter an experimental certificate renewal on July 7 2017, allowing the helicopter manufacturer to resume its flight test program of the 525 Relentless super-medium helicopter. The return to flight came exactly one year and one day after Bell’s first Relentless prototype, N525TA, was destroyed when it came down