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.
Regulations and Government
EASA Grafts Cybersecurity Onto Certification Standards
New EASA cybersecurity standards include helicopters.
Avionics
Leonardo AW139 Gets Honeywell Primus Epic Upgrade
The new Honeywell Primus Epic Phase 8 software will be available in the Leonardo AW139 intermediate twin.
Rotorcraft
NHV's Airbus H175 Fleet Tops 40,000 Hours
NHV’s fleet accounts for more than 60 percent of the Airbus Helicopters H175’s 66,000 flight hours to date.
Aircraft
Electric Aircraft Maker Bye Raises $10M for eFlyers
Bye Aerospace aims to have its two-seat eFlyer all-electric aircraft ready to enter service in 2021, followed by the four-seat eFlyer 4.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bell Buys Chinese MRO Zhenjiang Aerochine Aviation
Bell is acquiring Zhenjiang Aerochine Aviation Limited to increase its MRO capacity in China.
ATC
FAA's New Urban Air Mobility ConOps Raises Questions
Morphing existing helicopter VFR corridors into dedicated urban air mobility routes is among the challenges identified by critics of ConOps 1.0.
Avionics
Garmin Adds TXi Compatibility for Meridian, SR22
Owners of airplanes with older instrumentation can gain new funcationality by installing Garmin TXi displays.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Marks 60 Years in Japan
Airbus Helicopters marks 60 years in Japan with new maintenance facility, orders.
Aircraft
Other Voices: Playing the Pandemic Roulette
The coronavirus pandemic has completely upended the plans of pilots all over the world.
Aircraft
Electric Aircraft Symposium Set To Go Ahead Online
From July 28 to 30, the Electric Aircraft Symposium will focus on both eVTOL models and electric fixed-wing aircraft.
Aircraft
Leonardo Lands First Commercial IFR AW119Kx Order
Leonardo announced the first commercial and EMS order for its IFR-certified AW119Kx single-engine helicopter.
Training and Workforce
FlightAware Live Traffic Feeds Microsoft’s New Sim
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 will include real-time live traffic from all over the world, provided by FlightAware.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Laserer Gets Federal Prison
A California man who lasered a sheriff’s helicopter in 2017 has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.
Accidents
NTSB: Los Angeles Newscopter Hit Drone
A-Star sustained minor damage after "an inflight collision with a hard object of polycarbonate construction."
Avionics
Garmin GI 275 Displays Approved for Helicopters
Helicopter operators can now install Garmin's GI 275 electronic flight instruments.
Rotorcraft
Congressmen Continue Push for Safer Helo Fuel Tanks
Two Colorado congressman are continuing push for mandatory crash resistant fuel systems (CRFS) in all helicopter air ambulances.
Regulations and Government
Counterfeit Kamov Helicopter Ring Busted
Moldovan police raided a factory in Cruileni allegedly making unauthorized copies of Russian Kamov-26 coaxial rotor utility helicopters.
Aircraft
Stratos 716X Personal Jet Makes First Flight
The Stratos 716X single-engine, 4-6 seat personal jet made its first flight July 2 from the company’s plant in Redmond, Oregon .
Rotorcraft
Airbus H160 Gets EASA Nod
Airbus Helicopters’ medium twin H160 received EASA type certification approval on July 1.
Rotorcraft
Horizon Academy's Bell 505 Fleet Tops 1,000 Hours
UAE's Horizon International Flight Academy achieved the milestone with the 12 Bell 505 light singles it's received since January.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety Mixes Reality in New Simulator
FlightSafety's new mixed-reality training devices will expand pilot training opportunities and help lower training costs.
Training and Workforce
Desktop Simulators Shine During Pandemic
For pilots stuck without the ability to stay current by flying, desktop simulation offers are potent alternative.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Swiss Researchers Develop Fast 'Detect and Avoid' Tech
New detect and avoid technology identifies other fast-moving objects in as little as 3.5 milliseconds.
Rotorcraft
Aaron Brings Helicopter Upset Training to Southern Utah
Chuck Aaron's helicopter upset and instrument training coming to Southern Utah University.
Aircraft
Tom Casey Finally Flies West
Tom Casey was never officially recognized for his record-breaking round-the-world seaplane flight in 1990.
Rotorcraft
Bell Expanding Virtual Training Offerings
Bell is expanding its virtual training offerings during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rotorcraft
HAI Members Pledge 'Covid Clean'
The Helicopter Association International's "Covid Clean" program seeks to reassure rotorcraft customers.
Maintenance and Modifications
EASA Approves Five-blade Airbus H145
Customer deliveries of the new Airbus Helicopters H145 D3 will begin later this summer.
Regulations and Government
Hawaii Pols Seek End to Part 135 Exemptions
Sens Schatz, Hirono introduce legislation to mandate 135 for air tour, skydiving ops.
