THREE AgustaWestland A109 Power helicopters have entered service with the RAF, based at Northolt, west London. The aircraft will be used for military and government communications. RAF pilots underwent type conversion training in March at AgustaWestland's Vergiate facility in Italy and at Sloane Helicopters in the UK. The five-year agreement is for 900 hours per year under a Civil Owned Military Registered (COMR) helicopter contract. W: w ... more

EUROCOPTER can do no wrong, it seems. The French-German company, wholly owned by EADS, has an order backlog of 500 for its top-selling model, the EC 135 light twin. 50% of the orders for the US. It has just opened a subsidiary in Moscow, called Eurocopter Vostok, to handle the existing 35 Eurocopter aircraft in Russia and future sales. Meanwhile, Japan has bought a top of the range EC 225 for transporting VIPs such as the Emperor, Prime Min ... more

THE ARMY'S Gazelle maintenance is now being handled entirely by a private company. FB Heliservices has opened a workshop at the Army's aviation base at Middle Wallop, known as the Gazelle Depth Support Hub. Last year, FB Heliservices renovated a classic Skeeter helicopter back to flying condition. It will be operated by the Middle Wallop Historic Aircraft Flight and is seen here being flown by FB's instructor Rod Lambert. W: www.fbheliser ... more

STANLEY Hiller Junior died last month, aged 81. Son of a famous aviation pioneer, also named Stanley, Hiller Junior was an engineer who produced many rotary innovations including the first helicopter flown in the western United States, the world's first successful co-axial helicopter, the one-man foldable 'Rotorcycle' and the 'Hornet', powered by rotor tip jets. W: www.hiller.org ... more

SIKORSKY'S giant S-92 has been cleared for flight into known icing conditions by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).The 19-seat S-92 is fitted with Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS), and was tested by EASA, the FAA and Transport Canada in Alaska last winter. RIPS determines the temperature and moisture content of the surrounding air and applies heat to the main and tail rotor blades to remove ice build-up. * A new S-92 flight simul ... more

FALKLANDS war pilot the Duke of York has become the Honorary Chief Pilot for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Prince Andrew visited the helicopter's HQ at Leeds Bradford Airport last month and met volunteers, patients, fundraisers and supporters. He unveiled the unit's new computerised Dedicated Air Desk and said, "The role of being Honorary Chief Pilot for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance is one I accept with great pleasure."The Dedicated ... more

A PILOT accused of flying low over a neighbours garden during an open day has been cleared.Magistrates in Sherborne, Dorset found Martin Perrett, 49, of Buckland Newton, Dorset not guilty in a case brought by the CAA Enforcement Branch. Mr Perrett denied breaking Rule 5 which specifies no flying within 500ft of a person or structure.Mr Perrett's neighbours, William Gueterbock, 75, and his wife, Jeanette, had opened their gardens to the pu ... more

ARGYLL and Bute Council has appointed Airport Operational Services to operate Oban Airport, providing Air/Ground RT, weather info and reception services. The previous operator, Total Logistics (TLC) is still providing 100LL and Jet A1 fuel at the Airport. The Air/Ground service operates on frequency 118.050 and the NDB "OBN" operates on 404.0. Work started in February to upgrade the airport to obtain a CAA licence. Works include ... more

DUXFORD Airfield, home of Europe's premier aviation museum, is introducing 'Bonus Days' for the 2006 flying season. Arrive in a qualifying aircraft on a Bonus Day and benefit from a special landing fee of £7 and discounted admission  to the museum facilities (£7). Children are free. Coming up: 6 May, Cessna Bonus Day (arrive in any Cessna single); 3 June, Piper Bonus Day (arrive in any Piper single); 15 July, Taildragger Bonus Day ... more

FRENCH farmer Jean Louis Delahaye is creating an Aero Resort comprising two grass runways, an aeroplane hangar, a restaurant, a holiday cottage and a programme of wood-built houses (known as Air Villas), and an indoor heated swimming pool. Aero Delahaye, where there is already a thriving airfield specialising in microlights, is on Val du Fresne Farm, at Verchocq in the Pas de Calais, 40 km from Le Touquet. W: www.aero-delahaye.com ... more

CLASS D airspace is being proposed for Coventry Airport. Increasing regional jet traffic at the airport plus the proximity to Birmingham International are the reasons. A chart shows the proposed CTA covering a wide area of what has been Class G airspace. Many aircraft operators at the airport and at surrounding strips and airfields are againist the changes which are going through a consultation period. W: www.coventryairport.co.uk ... more

BRRR! This looks cold! Nine brand new 260hp Grob 120A-C aerobatic trainers were delivered to Canadian flight training company Allied Wings in April (so much snow still, in April!). They're equipped to meet Canadian Air Force requirements with an IFR fit and additional cockpit heating (not surprising) and, astonishingly, air-conditioning for hot days (really?). W: www.grob-aerospace.de ... more

THE FIRST UK aerobatic competition of the 2006 season, the Icicle Trophy at Sandtoft on 8 April, was won by Mark Jefferies flying his Exxon Elite-sponsored Extra 300. Runner-up was his team-mate Kester Scrope. Gary Ferriman took the bronze.The event lived up to its name, with a cold, biting, 25 knot wind making conditions difficult. The competition was open to both unlimited and advanced pilots. The Intermediate contest was won by James Bro ... more