General Aviation
News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Rotorcraft
Bristow's UK SAR Contract Extended
Bristow’s contract to provide search and rescue (SAR) services in the UK has been extended through 2026.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
More Insurance Pain Forecast for Rotor Industry
Helicopter insurance premiums are rising in a "hard market" that could last another two years.
Rotorcraft
Russia Developing Fast Hybrid Helicopter with AI
The Russian concept helicopter driven by a hybrid power plant and artificial intelligence.
ATC
Leonardo, ENAV Pair on Helicopter PBN
Leonardo and ENAV partner on developing more PBN options for helicopter operations.
Rotorcraft
Aero Asset: Medium Helo Inventory Explodes
Nearly $1 billion worth of used rotorcraft remain on the market with a large increase in the inventory of medium twins.
Rotorcraft
Milestone Commits To Six Airbus H160s
Helicopter lessor Milestone Aviation is adding six Airbus H160 medium twin helicopters to its order book.
Rotorcraft
Bell 407GXi Gives Aeromed Operator SE/SPIFR Capability
Halo-Flight has begun operating a Bell 407GXi single engine, single pilot IFR (SPIFR).
Garmin Unveils D2 Air Aviation Smartwatch
It has a simpler user interface with just two buttons and an Amoled touchscreen.
Airports
Torqued: GA Road Trips in the Time of Coronavirus
Despite the pandemic, those of us who live and breathe aviation can't stay away from airports and aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Delivers H145D3 to Norwegian Air Ambulance
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first five-blade H145 D3 to the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
UAS Groups Prod DOT on Remote ID Rule
DOT and FAA urged not to delay rulemaking covering remote identification requirements (ID) for unmanned aerial systems.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Reliable Robotics Flies Unmanned Cessnas
Gaining experience with unmanned aircraft should give Reliable Robotics a leg up on the race to bring new technologies to market.
Charter & Fractional
Eco Helicopters Launching Urban Air Mobility Operations
Eco Helicopters is laying plans to launch a fleet of electric-powered helicopters for charter flights in southern California.
Rotorcraft
Omni Introduces Airbus H175 To Brazil
Omni Taxi Aereo will be the first operator for the Airbus H175 super-medium helicopter in Brazil.
Rotorcraft
Bell 505 Fleet Hits 50,000 Flight Hours
The fleet of more than 260 in-service Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light single turbine helicopters has accumulated more than 50,000 flight hours.
Rotorcraft
Hill Unveils HX50 Helo Interior
HX50 helicopter interior designed to mirror that of a premium luxury automobile.
Accidents
Bryant's Widow Names Helo Flight Broker in Suit
The operator of the fatal flight that killed Kobe Bryant, OC Helicopters, has been added to the defendant list.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Helo Lessor LCI Partners With Sumitomo Mitsui Finance
LCI and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing have agreed to establish a joint-venture helicopter leasing business.
Avionics
FAA Certifies AV-30-C Multi-mode Instrument
Owners of certified light aircraft can now replace older electromechanical instruments with uAvionix's new AV-30-C multi-mode instrument.
Maintenance and Modifications
NASA Selects Airbus HCare for H135s
NASA has signed a $15 million HCare Infinite maintenance agreement with Airbus Helicopters.
Avionics
AFV Adds Another Company to Aviation Stable
AFV Partners' purchase of Seattle Avionics signals a new level of competition in the aviation chart data market.
Rotorcraft
Wind Could Rescue Offshore Helicopter Industry
Study predicts $166 billion investment in U.S. offshore wind by 2035.
Rotorcraft
HAI Looks To Reboot Safety Accreditation Program
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is looking to reboot its Accreditation Program of Safety (APS) later this year.
Covid Crisis Spurs $2B Plunge in 1H20 Genav Billings
All sectors of general aviation experienced a downturn in the first half of 2020, according to statistics released by GAMA.
Rotorcraft
Airbus H160 Pioneers Flight Control Safety Features
The Airbus H160's full-time automatic flight control system makes the pilot's job much easier.
Government Watchdog Questions FAA's BasicMed Oversight
The DOT Office of Inspector General recommended that the FAA improve its processes for verifying BasicMed eligibility and safety monitoring.
Maintenance and Modifications
Foresight MX HUMS Approved for AStars
GPMS has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification approval for its Foresight MX health monitoring system on the Airbus AS350.
Maintenance and Modifications
Erickson Acquires Type Certificate for Bell 214
Bell has begun type certificate (TC) transfer for the model 214ST and B/B1 helicopters to Erickson.
Rotorcraft
Tokyo Government Evaluating Leonardo AW609 Tiltrotor
Tokyo’s Metropolitan Government is evaluating the Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor to deliver service to Ogasawara island.
Maintenance and Modifications
Review of the Depstech WiFi HD Wireless Borescope Camera - AIN Gadget Central
Review of the Depstech WiFi HD Wireless Borescope Camera - AIN Gadget Central
