just false optimism. The interviews are
available in the Blog and Video Archive.
Tuesday, Feb. 23:
Joy Finnegan, Rotor & Wing
Dinner with a Legend
Monday on the floor of the Heli-Expo
seemed only a bit slower-paced than
the day before and business was taking
place. Era Group agreed to purchase 10
AW139 medium twin helicopters from
Agusta Westland. Era Group boasts a large
AgustaWestland fleet today, including
22 AW119Ke single engine, seven
AW109 Power light twin and 17 AW139
helicopters.
Air Methods Corp. has ordered eight
EC130 and four AS350B3 helicopters.
American Eurocopter President & CEO
Marc Paganini said: “Air Methods is a val-
ued, long-time customer and we respect
their continued commitment to the air
medical industry and to incorporating
advanced technology to increase the safe
operation of their aircraft.”
A highlight of Heli-Expo 2010 for
me will be the opportunity to spend an
evening with a legend. Being a neophyte
in the helicopter world I was surprised
to get a call inviting me to dinner with
Frank Robinson. A true original, Robinson
embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and
passion that makes the helicopter world
so unique. With the announcement of the
pricing for the R66, at $770,000, earlier
this month, it looks like Robinson Heli-
copter will have more success.
as other OEMs, are supporting the study
through the provision of information
and attending meetings alongside
government agencies. Although there is
no pre-decision for a tandem rotorcraft
however, Bertling now considers that a
tandem-configured aircraft will probably
offer the best solution to the perceived
requirement, although again there is
currently no formal request for either
information or proposal from any official
agency or government in Europe.
John Persinos, Aviation Today
Last Day of the Show
Dr. Lutz Bertling, Eurocopter’s CEO, took
time out of his schedule to talk to Rotor &
Wing’s Military Editor, Andrew Drwiega:
Talk of the development of a larger
heavy lift rotorcraft has rumbled along
for a number of years. One of the studies
into this subject is currently underway,
driven by the European Defence Agency
(EDA). It is focused on the Future Heavy
Transport Helicopter and although it is
being passively supported by the helicopter
OEMs, they are not in the driving seat.
Bertling explained that Eurocopter, as well
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