Heli Ops

Paul, Check your emails. All is not what is seems. Neville

After a couple of PMs with Kyle I thought I would post this. CA Aviation is a great forum and there are a lot of great people here and Kyle has done a fantastic job getting it to where it is today, the leading meeting place for everyone involved in the Canadian helicopter industry. However I will ashamedly admit that I have probably overstepped my mark in promoting my magazine here. And in pure ignorance I have to admit I have actually never read the rules here on the forum. As I have blatantly overstepped the boundaries set by Kyle I owe him and all members here an apology. As Kyle pointed out he has let me get away with many posts giving away the magazine so I suppose I have pushed the boundary just that little bit further each time, and again for that I apologise. The forum is a place for discussion about the industry and in reality the last thing you want to read about is helicopter magazines. Also the previous post I made was not to attack Kyle or even made insinuations against Mike from Vertical. I know Mike and Linda and they are awesome people, even though we dont see eye to eye anymore, and I have enormous respect for what they have accomplished since he left Helicopters magazine. I have never met Kyle but he has always been a gracious webmaster who has let me give away magazines probably when he shouldnt, and I am sorry if I have caused him angst by coming across as though I was attacking him. Again I publicly apologise for that. The comment about it being his sandpit was not meant to demean the integrity of the forum, its just a saying I commonly use and no slight against Kyle was intended by it. So bottom line, dont anyone think Kyle has done anything wrong by deleting the posts I have made, when in fact all he was doing was standing by the rules I should have been obeying in the first place. So sorry for causing this heartache and I will go back to doing what this forum is intended for, giving each other shite and talking about the Canadian helicopter industry. And Kyle - I sincerely apologise publicly for overstepping the boundaries and it wont happen again. And Mike - Maybe I can take a leaf out of your book where less is more. Neville aka Heli Ops

For the record I was not attacking Kyle personally here, if it has come across that way then I apologise openly to him. I have explained in a PM to him that the post was merely a way to inform everyone who emailed me about the deletion of the posts rather than reply to all those that contacted me. Thats the only reason, nothing more, nothing less. Heli Ops

Actually Kyle is the owner of this site so is actually the majority. Like the old saying goes its his sandpit and he can make whatever rules he wants. Bottom line I am not the one that loses out here. Am I concerned about the favouritisim here, no not really. Just means I will give away copies of the mag elsewhere. Thanks again all and hope you enjoy your copies. Cheers. Heli Ops :up:

Just got a PM from Kyle saying he will not allow me to give away any more magazines here on the Rotorheads forum, since he classes it as advertising. There will be no more offers or posts on this and he has deleted the ones that were there, seems one of the members here had a word in his ear, and I have a pretty good idea who, but hey, its Kyle's sandpit and he makes the rules. Seems like he has also deleted the links to the other photo gallery. Funny though I see the Vertical Out West thread is still there as well as the link promoting their desktop calendars. Thanks to those that responded and enjoy your mags. Regards Heli Ops

MD HELICOPTERS RECAPITALIZES BALANCE SHEET WITH NEW CONTROLLING PARTY PRODUCT LINE FUTURE, CUSTOMER SUPPORT ASSURED MESA, AZ, July 21, 2005 - MD Helicopters, Inc., a manufacturer of light helicopters, completed a significant restructuring transaction on July 8, 2005. As part of the transaction, Patriarch Partners, LLC, a New York based financial firm with approximately $4.5 billion under management, acquired a controlling interest in MD Helicopters, Inc. The restructuring ensures that MDHI will have adequate working capital to continue production of existing product lines, aggressively improve customer support and fulfill existing orders. Following the recapitalization, MDHI is an independent Arizona-based company. As part of the recapitalization, RDM, a Netherlands-based group, has retained a minority interest through one of its operating companies. RDM purchased the light helicopter operations from The Boeing Company in 1999. "I am very pleased with this transaction as it is fully in line with our efforts over the past years to support the company and its products," said Joep van den Nieuwenhuijzen, RDM's owner. "This recapitalization assures our customers that MD Helicopters will have sufficient working capital to be a strong, viable company fully able to support its products and its customers in their operations," said Henk Schaeken, CEO of MD Helicopters. "We are proud to add MDHI to our company portfolio. We believe that the demand for MD Helicopters' products is deep and strong. We are pleased to be part of this great product line's future. The strength of Patriarch Partners and the depth of our asset base provides the long-term financial and strategic support that the Company needs to rise to its natural level in the light helicopter market," said Lynn Tilton, the Chief Executive Officer of Patriarch Partners. MD Helicopters manufactures the MD 500Ò, MD 520NÒ, MD 600NÒ and MD ExplorerÒ series of light commercial and military helicopters. MD Helicopters' products distinguish themselves by the proprietary NotarÒ no tail rotor technology. Company operations will continue to be based at existing facilities in Mesa, Arizona. Schaeken said MD Helicopters' immediate goal is to restore customer confidence in the Company and in its ability to support its products. "We will be meeting with our customers and suppliers as soon as possible to restore their confidences in our long-term viability and the solid working relationships we once enjoyed," Schaeken said. MD Helicopters has ignited its supply chain and production line. The company has a backlog of 17 helicopters, including recent orders by the police departments of Houston, Glendale and Columbus and two private owners. MD Helicopters also intends to bid its MD Explorer for the US Army's Light Utility Helicopter program. In light of ongoing product improvements, the product line of MD Helicopters continues to be a favorite with military, law enforcement, commercial and private helicopters worldwide. The addition of the NotarÒ no tail rotor system provides significant operating efficiencies that distinguish the line from those of competitors. After 13 years in service, NotarÒ-equipped helicopters continue to be among the quietest and safest aircraft in operation. "Our association with Patriarch Partners provides assurances to our customers, suppliers and our employees that MD Helicopters will, once again, be a major supplier to the helicopter industry," Schaeken said. "Our new working capital facility and the strength of our investors, provides for all concerned the confidence that MD Helicopters is in the helicopter business to stay." The MD Helicopters family includes the twin-engine MD Explorer®, MD 600N®, and the MD 500® Series, including the MD 520N®, MD 500E® and the MD 530F®. Only MD helicopters feature the NOTAR anti-torque system, which is standard equipment on the MD ExplorerÒ, MD 600NÒ and the MD 520NÒ. NOTARÒ system-equipped aircraft are more quiet and have superior safety records than helicopters with conventional tail rotors.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS MESSAGE AROUND YOUR OFFICE AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE TAKES PART THIS FRIDAY @ 15:00 Hours!!! The Leaders of the world are asking for your support to combat terrorism and we are being encouraged to demonstrate against these terrorists this Friday at 15:00 hours. It is a well-known fact that the Taliban are against alcohol consumption and think it is sinful to look at a naked woman. Therefore, at 15:00 hours this Friday, all women should run naked through the office while men chase them with a beer in their hands. This is the best way to show our disgust for the Taliban and will hopefully help us in detecting the terrorists amongst us, so anybody who does not do as proposed will be deemed a terrorist, denounced to the world and shot :up: :up: :up: :up:

Holy Crap - Didnt think this would generate this sort of discussion. Just thought it was an interesting video.

Didnt say i believed it, just thought it was interesting viewing.

Came across this and it gets you thinking. Pentagon Video

Nick - You are dreaming, Canon all the way. The best Nikon digital is a 12 megapixel camera, yet I have the top of the line Canon EOS1DS MK II and its a 16.2 megapixel camera, and the focusing system is much better. :up: :up:

Latest is major rescue effort going on at Kings Cross station where they are trying to free people injured and trapped on the train. Reports of fatalities on this train has been confirmed.

Just been on the phone to friends in London and total of six bombs have gone off to sar. The guys at Virgin HEMS (MD Explorer based in London) are flat out shuttling patients from downtown to their hospital. More info as it comes to hand.

Just watching the news and multiple bomb blasts have rocked London this morning, right in the middle of rush hour. At this stage there have been a total of five explosions, both on the underground as well as on some double decker buses. Only report I have seen so far mentions 90 casualties at one of the blasts in Aldgate. More as it comes to hand.

Southern Oregon man dies in helicopter crash 07/07/2005 Associated Press A helicopter crash in Italy killed an Erickson Air-Crane mechanic and injured three other people, a company official said. Marty Erickson, 49, of Rogue River died. Erickson pilot Chris Woods, 31, of Washington state, Erickson mechanic Troy Niemeyer, 30, of Eagle Point and Italian pilot Floriano Finmore, 50, sustained minor injuries in Wednesday's crash, said Dennis Hubbard, the company spokesman. Details were sketchy on how the crash occurred. Hubbard could not confirm an Italian newspaper report that said the helicopter went down five minutes after taking off from a Rome airport. The helicopter was built by Erickson Air-Crane in Central Point for use by the Italian forest service. The helicopters are equipped for firefighting with a 2,650-gallon tank system and foam cannon. Hubbard said Erickson was not related to the Central Point company's founders. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, Hubbard said.