Helibras to upgrade Brazilian AS350s
Eurocopter subsidiary Helibras has been awarded a contract to upgrade 36 AS350 Squirrel helicopters operated by the Brazilian army. The upgrade, developed by Helibras and Sagem and to be performed at Helibras’s facilities in Itajubá in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, will comprise the structural rebuild of three aircraft, and the installation of three
Ditched Hudson A320 to be put on display
The US Airways Airbus A320 which successfully ditched in New York’s Hudson River will be put on display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The aircraft, which made a forced landing on the river with no major injuries after suffering a massive bird strike shortly after departure from LaGuardia Airport in January
France orders Meteor AAM
France has become the fourth country to order the MBDA Meteor advanced ramjet powered air-to-air missile. The missile will equip French Air Force and Navy Rafale fighters, joining Sweden’s Gripen, and the UK’s and Spain’s Eurofighter Typhoon as the third type to employ the weapon. French budget imperatives mean the 200 missiles it has ordered
All white Virgin points to 2011 relaunch
Virgin Blue has placed a brand new Boeing 737-800 into service featuring an anonymous all-white paint scheme as the airline prepares to relaunch with a new livery and branding in the first half of 2011. VB placed 737-8K8 VH-VUY into service just before Christmas, with the aircraft completely devoid of any airline logos and titles.
New helipad for Thursday Island
Queensland Health has opened a new helipad at the Thursday Island Hospital in the Torres Strait, replacing the old pad which had been found to be unsuitable. “The new helicopter landing site is better positioned and sized to suit the larger helicopters commonly employed today,” Australian Helicopters CEO Neil Shea said in a statement. “This
US regional orders more CRJ700s
US regional carrier SkyWest Airlines has ordered four Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets. The aircraft will be configured with 65 seats in two classes and will be employed under the Delta Connection brand. SkyWest and sister company Atlantic Southeast Airlines operate the largest CRJ in the world with 406 CRJ200s, CRJ700s and CRJ900s on fleet.
