Airbus Helicopters’ H160 intermediate twin has received Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) type certification, and the initial delivery in that country will be to an undisclosed private buyer, the company told AIN. The H160 received EASA certification on July 1, 2020, and FAA validation on June 30, 2023. Civil market customers have ordered more than 100, and the fleet has accumulated more than 2,800 flight hours.

The helicopter also is certified in Japan, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Airbus has received substantial parapublic and military orders for the H160 including 50 from China’s GDAT and 10 from the National Gendarmerie—the French National Police—as part of a contract for the procurement of 169 militarized versions designated H160Ms for the French Ministry of Armed Forces. Offshore operator PHI is operating the helicopter in the Gulf of Mexico and ordered eight additional H160s in September.

The H160 has a mtow of 13,436 pounds with seating for up to 12 passengers and two crew. It has a cruise speed of up to 150 knots, a service ceiling of 20,000 feet, and a range of 475 nm with standard tanks. It is powered by a pair of 1,300 shp Safran Arrano 1A engines and features noise-reducing Blue Edge rotor blades, a canted Fenestron tail rotor, and Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix avionics.

With the U.S. Senate still appearing at loggerheads over a long-term FAA reauthorization bill, House Transportation and Infrastructure leaders have introduced another short-term extension of the agency’s operating authority and aviation excise taxes, this time to March 8.

The bill offered by T&I Chairman Sam Graves (R-Missouri) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Washington) would provide more time not only for the Senate to work through its issues over the bill, but also for the House and Senate to hash out the differences of their FAA reauthorization packages.

Shortly before the FAA’s authorization was set to expire at the end of September, lawmakers pushed through an extension to the end of the year. But few legislative days remain this year as both chambers plan to break for the holidays at the end of this week.

While understanding the necessity of another extension, general aviation groups have urged lawmakers to reach an agreement, saying that continued short-term extensions of the FAA’s authorization “challenge the certainty that industry and the FAA depend on to enable long-term planning and investment in many critical areas required to ensure the safety of the NAS and America’s global leadership in aviation.”

The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) this year certified 41 aircraft brokers who met all of the requirements and passed the IADA-certified broker exam. To apply for IADA certification, a broker must be employed by an IADA-accredited dealer or OEM for at least a year, but the association recommends a minimum of two to three years of experience as an aircraft broker.

“These 41 newly IADA-certified aircraft brokers have all met or exceeded the stringent requirements and passed a comprehensive examination administered by a third party,” said IADA executive director Wayne Starling. “The entire IADA organization is proud of their extraordinary professionalism and commitment to transparent aircraft transactions.”

According to IADA, the purpose of broker certification is to validate knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to be a successful aircraft broker; standardize IADA aircraft brokers; increase brokers’ prominence within the industry; and provide objective third-party certification of aircraft brokers working for IADA-accredited dealers.

The IADA broker testing process is administered by Joseph Allen Aviation Consulting, an independent third party specializing in instructional design and learning management, after candidates complete IADA U online courses. An IADA-certified aircraft broker designation is not transferrable if a broker leaves the employ of an IADA-accredited dealer.

A former helicopter air ambulance pilot has been charged with flying under the influence of alcohol while transporting a passenger. The federal government is charging Morgan J. Wiljanen, 46, of Louisville, Kentucky, with allegedly piloting Air Evac Flight 79, a 2009 Bell 206L-4 registered as N473AE, from Corbin to Richmond, Kentucky, while intoxicated on or around March 21, 2023. The intended destination was the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington.

Wiljanen appeared in federal court in London, Kentucky, on November 7 and pled not guilty. However, court documents suggest that he is negotiating a plea deal. He is charged with “unlawfully operating an air common carrier while under the influence of alcohol,” a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 342.

Wiljanen holds a rotorcraft instrument instructor rating and an airframe and powerplant mechanic certification.

AIN contacted Global Medical Response, the parent company of Air Evac, for comment. It had not yet responded at press time.

Private flight provider Flexjet recently concluded a simulation exercise with Eve Air Mobility focused on how eVTOLs could be integrated with its existing helicopter and airplane services. The four-day project was conducted last month from Flexjet’s Tactical Control Centre at the London-area Farnborough Airport, using the Urban Air Traffic Management software that Eve intends to make available to its customers and other eVTOL operators.

During the simulation, the cloud-based Urban ATM platform was used to “shadow” live rotorcraft movements as if they were eVTOL aircraft. Flexjet’s UK division operates 11 helicopters, and in June 2021 the group’s Halo business unit made a provisional commitment to add up to 200 of Eve’s four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to its fleet following anticipated type certification in late 2026.

Eve and Flexjet were able to use some empty-leg helicopter flights to trial scenarios such as a possible need to divert to a small airfield like Dunsfold during a flight from Farnborough to Biggin Hill Airport. The companies are working on the assumption that, at least in initial eVTOL operations, they will not be able to fly in IFR and/or known icing conditions, and in these cases, the plan would be to switch customers to a helicopter at short notice.