Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines. Tony has covered avionics, unmanned vehicles, the supply chain and cyberwarfare.
FCOM’s development is the result of the creation of the HeliOffshore industry association, which has charged member helicopter manufacturers and operators with developing improved safety measures and building standards across the industry.
During the NATO operation over Libya in 2011, European nations were criticized for a lack of aerial refueling assets and their need to depend on the U.S. for assistance. But plans for multinational tanker purchases may soon reverse that trend.
Judge Lord Michael Jones on June 19 upheld a demand made last month by Frank Mulholland, the Lord Advocate for Scotland, for the release of the cockpit voice recording from the CHC Scotia-operated AS332L2 Super Puma helicopter that crashed into the sea shortly before it was due to land at Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands on Aug. 23, 2013, killing four of the 18 people onboard.
