Dominic Perry

News editor on Rides bikes, sometimes quite quickly.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

Congratulations to @DassaultFalcon for the successful first flight of its new Falcon 10X business jet. Lasted 2h 30min and included an ascent to 40,000ft.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

NMH is all done and dusted: AW149 will be the RAF's next battlefield helicopter. Staff at @LDO_Helicopters site in Yeovil were informed of the selection earlier today. Expect official MoD confirmation tomorrow.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

A quick update on the NMH shenanigans in the UK: Sources are telling me it's more or less a done deal, they're just waiting for the final, official confirmation. Should come later today. (Probably, perhaps etc etc.)

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

Meanwhile, EASA has issued an emergency airworthiness directive to operators of the type, mandating replacement of certain upper and lower pitch rod end bearings. Parts must not exceed 165 flight hours.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

Preliminary investigations into the H160 incident off the coast of Brazil on 2 January reveal crew felt "significant vibrations" prior to the ditching. Examination of helicopter by Brazil's CENIPA shows damage to the main rotor and tail rotor driveline. https://t.co/cdgk4AzLyN

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

This includes a fractured pitch link control rod on one main rotor blade. Surface examination suggests a possible fatigue fracture. Additional examination is now being conducted. No conclusions on cause have been reached.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

Potentially footage of the @VerticalAero VX4 performing its first CTOL take-off and landing flight. The presence of a possible chase aircraft (?) is certainly interesting.

[JS ✈️ 🇬🇧 @steerwithmyrear]

Vertical Aerospace VX4 venturing out of the circuit at Kemble right now.

[Craig Hoyle @FlightAcesHigh]

NMH acquisition moves forward, as Leonardo Helicopters submits ‘best offer’ to UK MoD @DefenceHQ. Nice update from @fg_domperry - including potential African customer interest in @RoyalAirForce retired Puma HC2s... https://t.co/hcQbsBLqLv

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

@penandpaper1989 @AirbusHeli I spy a theme.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

A new offering from @Robinson_Heli - meet the R88. 8 pax, two-blade main rotor, design for utility operations. $3.3m. Pretty.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

@GarethJennings3 It's still treated as a 'competition' in procurement speak even if there are no other bidders. So Leonardo's bid is evaluated within that framework; there's no alternative competing against it though. Negotiations very much continuing.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

@Rotorfocus

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

@PaulKennard18 @bradleyjaykoch @BeakerBate @British_Airways There is a suggestion that many will simply sign up to Iberia’s loyalty programme as the tier levels are easier to attain and you get the same IAG/Oneworld lounge access and Avios.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

Dear @British_Airways I appreciate flights get cancelled for reasons beyond your control but to abandon a plane-load of passengers at Arricefe at midnight with no help finding hotels is beyond dreadful. An entire swim team was left to sleep on the airport floor, for example.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

@British_Airways And a message from your holidays team suggests that no-one had a clue, or was in control of the situation, or cared very much either way.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

@British_Airways I’d say your email is ambiguous at best. Besides, that’s still washing your hands of the problem - how were people meant to find a hotel room after midnight on a holiday island when it’s still the half-term holidays?

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

@PaulKennard18 @British_Airways Post script: the rescheduled flight has no food on board and the crew has just announced we are having to make a fuel stop in Faro and will be back to Gatwick at midnight… FFS.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

Hearing that the final bits of paperwork relating to @Lilium acquisition might be done. Employees told at 'all wings' meeting today. Reassured on wages too...

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

Will continue to fly for around another year as it continues technology research. Battery in particular is the key item holding up programme launch as currentlyu it cannot manage mission of 4pax over 80-100km.

[Dominic Perry @fg_domperry]

Any hope that @AirbusHeli would join the UAM fray with the launch of CityAirbus NextGen as a programme has been quashed by CEO @BrunoEven who says that key technologies are not ready yet. Test flights will continue following first flight last yr but then will be paused.