Helicopters - VibeWire Magazine

CASA calls for industry to dob in dodgy helicopter operators

Guest authors
November 12, 2025
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In an industry briefing column, chief executive Pip Spence said it would be “remiss of [her] not to reiterate the need for everyone to play a role in keeping aviation safe” following events over recent months that “led to a focus on helicopters in the …

Sikorsky looks to hire 100 more Seahawk support staff

Guest authors
November 6, 2025
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The subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, which sustains and maintains the Australian Defence Force’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter fleet, is expected to provide another 100 positions of growth by 2028, including 60 roles in maintenance.

Toll Ambulance Rescue hits flight-hour milestone

Guest authors
November 4, 2025
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The NSW Ambulance Aeromedical Rescue Helicopter service, operated by Toll since 2017, has flown over 24,000 critical care missions with its fleet of eight Leonardo AW139 helicopters, and performs more than 2,500 patient missions per year.

Army puts Black Hawks to the test in counter-terror training

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October 28, 2025
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The exercise, involving both air and ground crews, will be conducted across the greater Sydney, Wollongong and Goulburn regions. Soldiers and aviators will face complex, high-end simulated threat scenarios designed to test their readiness and coordinat…

Qld government launches aerial blitz on fire ants

Guest authors
October 20, 2025
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As part of a $24 million scheme to contain the pests, the government says its aerial control program will disperse two rounds of treatment across 106,000 hectares by mid-2026, with eradication treatments also to be delivered year-round rather than seas…

Eurocopter pilot escapes burning helicopter after wirestrike

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October 2, 2025
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A Eurocopter AS 350 (registration unknown), which was conducting agricultural spraying operations near Holbrook, NSW, on 3 September, hit a wire with its skids and lost control, crashing into the ground and catching fire; despite this, the pilot was ab…

Deadly Arnhem Land bird strike was all but unavoidable, says ATSB

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September 30, 2025
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The Bell 206L-3 LongRanger helicopter VH-JMM was operating charter services in Arnhem Land on 14 July this year when it hit a white‑bellied sea eagle, which flew through the windscreen and caused serious upper body injuries to the passenger. The bird d…

Long-serving Black Hawk arrives at Australian War Memorial

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September 29, 2025
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Black Hawk A25-112, originally produced by American defence company Sikorsky, was operated by the Australian Defence Force alongside other aircraft seeing operational service in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, East Timor and Pakistan.

StarFlight to bring trio of new helicopters to Tasmania

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September 24, 2025
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The aircraft, which will perform missions for Ambulance Tasmania and Tasmania Police, are expected to enter service from late 2027, and will be based in Hobart. It comes as StarFlight prepares to take over the state’s EMS contract from existing provide…

Babcock signs new $250m Border Force contract

Guest authors
September 17, 2025
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Under the agreement, Babcock will deliver two new Airbus H145 D3 helicopters, equipped with advanced sensors, mission management systems, and long-range fuel tanks, enhancing surveillance and response capability in the strategically critical Torres Str…