03 Aug 10. American Eurocopter announced today that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has purchased 12 AS350 B2 helicopters. The helicopters will be placed into service with the department’s Aero Bureau as part of an upgrade plan for its current fleet. The order also has provisions for options that would allow the department to add two additional helicopters in the future to meet the deployment levels needed to help ensure the safety of department personnel and the surrounding community. (Source: ASD Network)

04 Aug 10. Thales seeks SME innovation for aviation security*. Thales UK and Intellect (*supported by the cross-government INSTINCT programme) have launched a project to identify and trial new technologies, solutions and ideas from any small, medium or large-sized business or academic institution that can be used to enhance aviation security. Known as the INSTINCT-Technology Demonstrator 2 (TD2), this is a dynamic, innovative project that is designed to discover, trial and showcase emergent security technologies, solutions and ideas. These will be validated through trials and analysis conducted in a combination of live physical environments, including UK Airports and synthetic environments. Support to develop technologies, solutions or ideas into real products that can be quickly implemented within the aviation security environment is a key deliverable for the INSTINCT-TD2 project, as is the awareness of these ‘products’ and their capabilities by the airport, airline and security authorities and companies. Participation in the project is sought from any person, company or academic institution (‘demonstrators’), regardless of size or location, that has a technology, solution or idea that could improve aviation security at any stage in the air travel process, from the point of planning and booking a trip, through to boarding an aircraft. Ideally this would improve, or at least not affect, passenger experience and/or airport revenues.
Specific benefits to successful demonstrators include:
*the opportunity to share in a cash prize from a prize fund of £50,000, provided by Thales;
*the opportunity to test their technology, solution or idea in a real environment that they wouldn’t normally be able to access;
*gaining invaluable knowledge of the aviation security environment and the application of their technology within this market;
*access to aviation and industry experts to help them to trial, demonstrate and market their technology in the best possible way;
*access to a wide range of potential customers and end users;
*coaching and support in the development of their technology, solution or idea into a marketable product and business planning;
*financial support to offset reasonable costs associated with taking part in the trials, subject to status;
*protection of intellectual property; and full support and guidance throughout the entire project.