Wanaka Helicopters’ Advanced Mountain Flying Training. New Zealand’s National Qualifications Authority (NZQA) recently approved Wanaka Helicopters’ world-leading advanced mountain flying training course as a nationally recognised educational qualification. Rob Neil visited Wanaka Helicopters to find out what this means for the company and its national and international students. Wire Strike—Avoiding the Hard Lessons Bob Feerst of Utilities/Aviation Specialists Inc, who is coming to ...

Cessna has revealed details of a new large-cabin intercontinental aircraft—its largest business jet to date—to be known as the Model 850 Citation Columbus, which, according to Cessna, has been designed to be one of the most advanced, fuel-efficient, cleanest business jets ever conceived. Cessna expects the development programme to cost around US$750 million. The Citation Columbus, which will have an aluminium ...

In 2007, Eurocopter took orders valued at more than 6.5 billion Euros and delivered 488 helicopters of all models (civil and military), surpassing, by significant margins, its previous record totals set in 2006. By the end of 2007, the company’s order backlog exceeded 13 billion Euros. Around 51 percent of Eurocopter’s 2007 turnover derived from civil and parapublic sales, the remaining ...

On 28 February, Boeing delivered its 1,400th 747. The aircraft was a 747-400 Freighter, which was delivered to GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) for lease to AirBridgeCargo Airlines, a subsidiary of the Volga-Dnepr Group. It is the seventh 747 freighter in the AirBridgeCargo Airlines fleet, where it joins five 747-200/-300 Freighters and a 747-400 Freighter. The Volga-Dnepr Group has also ordered ...

New Zealand is blessed with having many great flight schools and many great places to learn to fly, but Wanaka is truly unbeatable as a location for real mountain-flying training. As Rob Neil reports, Wanaka Helicopters recently received NZQA accreditation for its training programme, including its brand new advanced mountain-flying training courses that are unlikely to be bettered anywhere in ...

A ski-equipped LC-130 Polar Hercules will be appearing at Warbirds Over Wanaka this year. The aircraft, which belongs to the New York Air National Guard and is used for Antarctic support, will be on static display at the airshow. The original C130 Hercules first flew in 1954; in 1959, early wheeled versions began flying to the Antarctic in support of Operation ...

On time, on budget and according to specifications, the first fabulous Falcomposite Furio (Pacific Wings cover feature September 2007) has flown successfully at Auckland, New Zealand after a remarkably short two-year development programme. After its first flight on 6 February, the Furio was publicly unveiled at a ceremony at Falcomposite's Ardmore premises  six days later. Pacific Wings will be following ...

Well-known and highly respected New Zealand aviation figure, Ron Chippindale was killed in a road crash in Wellington on 12 February. Mr Chippindale, who was a pedestrian at the time, was killed by teenaged driver who lost control of the early model V8 Ford Falcon he was driving. Ron Chippindale was born in England but lived most of his life in New ...