Contents - February, 2009

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FEATURES

12. POSITION & HOLD
    Helicopter safety-tackling a national crisis
    by Woody McClendon
    NTSB urges EMS community to examine and fix high fatality rates.

38. SPECIAL COMMEMORATION
    PHI marks 60 years of business
    Pro Pilot staff report
    Global operator flies more than 250 helicopters in support of oil and gas, EMS.

40. ENROUTE
    LASP-a flawed proposal
    by Javier Ferrea
    TSA is out of touch with daily realities of GA ops.

58. SPECIAL UNIT PROFILE
    US Customs & Border Protection widens air role
    by Brent Holman
    Miami Air & Marine Branch uses diverse fleet and interagency alliances.

66. LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT PROFILE
    Orange County Sheriff's Office Aviation Section
    by Brent Holman
    Central Florida agency flies Bell 407s and OH58s plus a Cessna 206.

72. TURBOPROP HISTORY
    TPs continue their key role in bizav
    by Doug Wilson
    Older engine designs still serve as new high-tech models emerge.

82. INTERNATIONAL OPS
    New eAPIS rules herald more accurate pilot reporting
    by Grant McLaren
    Why correct documentation will soon be more important than ever.

88. WEATHER BRIEF
    Precipitation precautions
    by Karsten Shein
    Rain and snow are more than simply water falling from the sky.

94. SUPPORT SERVICES
    MGAS and ITPS join forces
    by Grant McLaren
    Dallas-based combo expands fuel service, trip planning.

98. 2009 HELICOPTER PRODUCT SUPPORT SURVEY
    Turbine: 1 Bell, 2 Sikorsky, 3 MD, 4 AgustaWestland, 5 Eurocopter
    Piston: 1 Robinson, 2 Bell, 3 Schweizer
    by Pro Pilot staff
    Bell 1st for 15 years. Sikorsky 2nd for 6 years. MD up to 3rd from 5th. Robinson top piston helo for 6 years. 860 total operator evaluations.

110. OUTER MARKER INBOUND
     A look at the hidden side of product support
     by Peter Ginocchio
     Some overlooked aspects of what goes into successful aftermarket care.