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The OEM has signed purchase agreements for three Bell 429s for VIP operators in the United Kingdom and Estonia. “We continue to see a growing demand for our corporate-configured aircraft in the region, especially with the Bell 429,” says Robin Wendling, managing director, Europe, for Bell.

The VAI Southeast Asia Aviation Safety Conference, which takes place May 27–29 in Bali, Indonesia, will feature sessions focused on operational challenges, including an open discussion with VAI President and CEO François Lassale about regional hazards, safety risks, and what actually works.

Max Lunov of Airborne Group and crew member Nazar Doroshkevych recently flew their new Bell 505 across the Atlantic, covering 10,000 km (6,214 miles) in VFR conditions without autopilot. Over 55 flight hours, they set multiple endurance records for the aircraft, crossing 10 countries in two weeks.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-02-17, which applies to certain Sikorsky S-70 helicopters. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions of AD 2020-02-17 but would expand its applicability and requirements for tail-rotor blade inspections, modifications, and maintenance updates to address a safety issue.

The FAA is proposing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell 505 helicopters after a production issue was reported involving an improperly installed washer on the tail-rotor pitch link assembly. The directive would require a one-time visual inspection for proper installation of the washer and any necessary corrective actions to address the safety risk.

Safran Helicopter Engines has opened a larger, more sustainable maintenance, repair, and support facility in Norderstedt to expand its European helicopter engine services with 24/7 operations and a focus on carbon-neutral design.

Lockheed Martin has invested $25 million in Fortem Technologies to scale production and enhance deployment of integrated counter–unmanned aircraft system (UAS) solutions within Lockheed Martin’s Sanctum ecosystem.

The FAA has released an airworthiness concern sheet about three separate service difficulty reports from a US repair station regarding cracked main-rotor tension links on the Leonardo AW139.

VAI and the other members of the Modern Skies Coalition have issued a statement supporting the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Air Traffic Control (ATC) Modernization Summit, which took place Apr. 21 in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about the 21 operators, manufacturers, and suppliers that became members of VAI last month.