Heli-Expo 2009 set an attendance record despite the economic downturn, according to a closing day statement from Helicopter Association International. While a total of 17,373 people attended the show last year, this year’s final figures was 17,995, the association said as the show ended on Feb. 24. The 585 exhibitors reported high activity at their […]
News
Eclipse fails as financing evaporates
Eclipse Aviation sent an email to its remaining employees late in the day on Feb. 24, ending an effort by the company’s chairman and CEO, Roel Pieper, to buy the firm out of bankruptcy. The email said that the board of directors will support a group of creditors who have asked that the courts liquidate […]
RotorWay to build turbine trainer
RotorWay is planning an FAA-certified, two-seat, turbine helicopter that it hopes to have flying in time for EAA’s AirVenture this July. The first production helicopter in RotorWay’s 40-year history will fill “the pressing, unmet market for a moderately priced, two-seat, turbine helicopter for use in training programs, commercial environments, private piloting, aerial photography, film and […]
Sikorsky merges Schweizer into Global Helicopters unit
Sikorsky announced the formation of Sikorsky Global Helicopters on Feb. 23. It is a new umbrella business unit for the manufacturer’s commercial helicopters. The new operation will include Sikorsky S-76, S-92, H-92 helicopters and the Schweizer helicopter line. Schweitzer’s S-300c, S-300CBi, S-333 and S-434 henceforth will be marketed as Sikorsky helicopters. “The Schweizer name will […]
Helo builders bullish
Executives at two of the world’s largest helicopter builders insist that their industry is continuing to flourish, even in the face of a severe economic downturn. Speaking at Heli-Expo on Feb. 23, AgustaWestland CEO Giuseppe Orsi said the civil rotorcraft market is likely to suffer less from the economic downturn than the business jet market. […]
LASP to face legal challenge
A private aircraft operator in the Northeast is seeking co-signatories for a legal challenge to the Transportation Safety Administration‘s plan to impose new security procedures on aircraft weighing 12,500 lb and more. The brief, from Bruce Rose of Carrington Capital at Greenwich, Conn., the parent firm of Peregrine Jet and its three-aircraft flight department, contends […]
Going to Sun ‘n Fun?
General Aviation News, which produces Sun ‘n Fun Today, the daily newspaper at the annual Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida, is looking for pilots interested in writing for the air show daily. The daily covers everything from the latest news from exhibitors to what’s going on in the campgrounds during the show, which […]
Around the world in 11 days
Scott Kasprowicz, an adventurer and helicopter pilot who, along with his co-pilot, circumnavigated the globe, setting an around the world speed record, will discuss his “grand adventure” March 21 at the Virginia Helicopter Association‘s meeting at the HeloAir Hangar at Richmond International Airport. Last August, Kasprowicz, a retired business executive and Virginia’s former deputy secretary […]
Aircraft Spruce acquires SkySports
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. has acquired SkySports International. Located in Linden, Mich., SkySports was founded in 1979 by Marshall MacFarlane. It produces its own line of single and dual fuel systems and fuel probes, and also carries a complete line of products such as instruments, radios, GPS, strobes, Comtronics helmet/intercom systems, winter instruments, and […]