INDUSTRY NEWS

ORLANDO PROGRAM CEASES OPERATIONS

Med-Flight, sponsored by Humana Hospital Lucerne (Orlando, FL) dis- continued services May 31st. The date marked the fifth anniversary of ser- vice, the first of three in Orlando.

During its five years, MedFlight transported nearly 3,000 patients with a perfect safety record. The decision to close the program was made by a new hospital administration and was based on economic reasons as well as chang- ing hospital goals. The hospital felt it was too small to continue to support the safe, quality type of program it had strived to achieve.

The program closure is the first reported for 1989.

AEROSPATIALE ANNOUNCES UPDATES

Uprated versions of two helicopters used in air medical transport have been announced by Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation. The major

modification in the AS 350B-2 is the ad- dition of a new Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 gas turbine. The new engine increases the maximum power by 48 shaft horse- power, up to 742 shp.

The SA 365N-2's ceil ings and speeds have been enhanced with the addition of two new Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 engines, each rated at 734 shp.

Performance data for these helicop- ters is available from Aerospatiale by calling J. Pat Walker at 214-641-3679.

NEW A-109 AIR CONDITIONER

August Aerospace Corporation an- nounced the order availability of a new lighter-weight freon air conditioning system for the A109 helicopter. By in- corporating advanced technology materials with a reduced number of blowers, the weight has been reduced from 93 to 75 lbs, a 19% reduction, while maintaining the same BTu Out- put. The work was performed by Ad- vanced Flight Systems of Teterboro,

NJ, a subsidiary of Custom Aircraft Completions. Deliveries of the new units will start in late summer.

COUNT CORRADO AGUSTA DIES

Count Corrado Agusta, Honorary Chairman of Gruppo Agusta, passed away suddenly June 14th in his home in St. Moritz. Count Corrado Agusta was a major figure in the helicopter world.

From 1971 to 1983, he was Chair- man of the company established by his father. Under his leadership the com- pany grew substantially from a mere licensee to a developer and manufac- turer of its own product line.

Over the years Count Corrado Agusta established strong personal and business ties with major American companies in the helicopter industry and was very much appreciated for his leadership and contribution to interna- tional collaborations, of which he was a strong promoter.