TAIL ROTORS
The latest Civil News Updates from around the world, including items from out-of-the-way operators in out-of-the-way places. Typical News extract from the current issue ...
Dateline: 28th April 2008
* A city banker in London has been jailed for four months after being found guilty of endangering an aircraft by shining a high-powered torch towards a helicopter landing at a helipad in Canary Wharf.
The 31 year old man, Aldous Voice, claimed he was using the 5 million candlepower lamp from his kitchen window to disperse anti social gatherings in the neighbourhood and did not shine the light directly at the helicopter. However the * * AgustaWestland Turkish distributor, Kaan Havacilik in Istanbul, recently ordered six new helicopters from the manufacturer, bringing to more than 20 the number of AgustaWestland commercial aircraft purchased in the country.
The new orders include one AW119Ke single engine, one AW109E Power, three A109S Grand and one AW139 and adds to previous orders placed by the distributor.
* Property Services company The Erinaceous Group, which owns Fairoaks and Shoreham Airports in the UK, called in administrators KCPG on 14 April after failing to overcome massive debts. Both airfields were temporarily closed as a result pending a resolution of insurance and licencing issues.
At this point a second company, Longmint Aviation which is owned by the same key directors, is not affected. Longmint owns several UK helicopter operators, including the Alan Mann Group at Fairoaks, Fast Helicopters at Shoreham and Thruxton, and Sterling Helicopters at Norwich.