Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
Milestone Leasing Three AW139s to Thai Aviation
The intermediate twin AW139s will be used by Thai Aviation Services to support an offshore production and exploration contract in the Gulf of Thailand.
Rotorcraft
Army Accepts First Airbus Helicopters UH-72B
The UH-72B incorporates all the technologies in the latest H145.
Rotorcraft
Vertiport Chicago Primed for eVTOL Future
Vertiport Chicago adds customers including Blade, anticipates future eVTOL operations.
Rotorcraft
CHC Completes Babcock Acquisition
CHC Helicopter Group (CHC) has completed its acquisition of Babcock International’s offshore oil-and-gas aviation business.
Rotorcraft
United Rotorcraft Orders Five More Black Hawks
Air Methods unit will convert Sikorsky S-70s into Firehawk firefighters.
Rotorcraft
North American Guimbal Fleet Tops 50,000 Hours
Nearly 300 Cabri G2s have been delivered worldwide.
Aircraft
Bristow Orders 50 eSTOLs To Launch Air Services in 2026
Helicopter operator Bristow intends to buy up to 50 hybrid-electric STOL airplanes being developed by Electra Aero for air services starting in 2026.
Rotorcraft
Hill Helicopters To Offer Skid Gear Model
Hill Helicopters said it would offer its turbine single with an option of either wheeled or skid gear.
Airports
New York/New Jersey Helicopter Traffic Draws Fresh Fire
Critics target heliports, civil operations
Rotorcraft
Lockheed Shuttering Sikorsky Coatesville
Lockheed Martin says it is closing Sikorsky's Coatesville, Pennsylvania plant early next year.
Rotorcraft
Heli Yachting: Taking Your Airport with You
Like private aviation, large, oceangoing yachts carrying their own helicopters are seeing strong use during the pandemic.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Indian Aircraft Lessor Taps General Aviation
Mumbai-based Vman Aero Services aims to be among the first companies entering the general aviation aircraft leasing market in India.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Lands Order for Four IFR AW119Kx Singles
Western New York air ambulance provider Mercy Flight Central has ordered four IFR certified Leonardo Helicopters AW119Kx singles.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Delivers Five-blade H145s to Germany's ADAC
German air ambulance provider ADAC has taken delivery of two five-bladed Airbus H145s and announced plans to upgrade its H145 fleet to the same config.
Regulations and Government
Helo Pilot Charged after Airlifting Ice Cream Cake
Dairy Queen drop-in lands helicopter pilot in the dock.
Rotorcraft
Scared Passengers Sue Helicopter Operator
Passengers sue for mental distress after crew recovers from botched oil rig approaches, vortex ring state spin.
Aircraft
Leonardo’s AW609 Tiltrotor Progresses Toward Certification
Leonardo’s AW609 Tiltrotor Progresses Toward Certification
Rotorcraft
First Five-blade Airbus H145 Delivered in North America
Canadian air ambulance operator Stars has become the first North American operator of the five-bladed Airbus Helicopters H145 light twin.
Rotorcraft
Erickson Puts Itself in Play
Erickson seeks partner to help fund new technology, MRO expansion.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Edging Toward Profitability
Helicopter operator Bristow Group narrows loss on increasing revenues.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo AW109 Light Twin Helicopter Turns 50
Leonardo's light twin helicopter made its first flight in 1971.
Rotorcraft
Opener Readies BlackFly eVTOL for Sales This Fall
Opener will offer single-seat eVTOL as Part 103 Light Sport aircraft.
Aircraft
Bell Unveils Military HSVTOL Vehicle Concepts
Bell’s vision is for a family of military air vehicles that can achieve speeds beyond those offered by the company’s current tiltrotor technology.
Rotorcraft
F. Lee Bailey's Enstrom Tenure Creative, Chaotic
Famed trial attorney and aviator F. Lee Bailey guided Enstrom Helicopter through a decade of achievement.
Rotorcraft
Commercial Helos Drive Bell's Q2 Deliveries, Revenue
Bell's profit in the second quarter of 2021 declined largely because of costs related to its Army Future Vertical Lift competition offerings.
Rotorcraft
Curti Brings Turbine Kit Copter to AirVenture
The Curti Zefhir kit helicopter carries a price of $500,000 during AirVenture.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Opens MAKS with Big Order, New Variants
Russian Helicopters is pushing new variants of popular legacy aircraft at Moscow's MAKS-2021 show.
Avionics
Garmin Autopilot Certified in Bell 505
The Bell 505 is the second helicopter model to be certified for installation of Garmin's GFC 600H helicopter flight control system.
Rotorcraft
Kit Copter Maker RX Enters eVTOL Market
Former Rotorway kit helicopter company entering the eVTOL market in partnership with Advanced Tactics.
Engines
Hartzell Acquires Pre-heat Product Maker Tanis
Hartzell Propeller will move Tanis production to Ohio.
