Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
Bell Nears Final Fix for Cracked 505 Collectives
The company says it has enough stock of replacement collective sticks to cover the entire 505 fleet.
Rotorcraft
Bell Commercial Helo Deliveries Edge Higher in Q1
Those deliveries also pushed the company's revenue higher while profits were down from R&D spending on the Army's Future Vertical Lift programs.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Opens $80M Philadelphia Training Center
The new Leonardo academy will be operated by Rotorsim, a joint venture between Leonardo and CAE.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Orders Plunge 26 Percent
While Airbus Helicopters orders and deliveries drop, increasing service revenues improve the bottom line.
Rotorcraft
New Team, New Focus at MD Helicopters
MD Helicopters hopes improved customer support will make it a player again in the commercial helicopter market.
Engines
StandardAero Awarded Cert for LRUs, Accessories Repair
The company's Accessories Center of Excellence facilities are certified by Honeywell and Triumph Group for repair of helo and turboprop engine LRUs.
Rotorcraft
EASA Approves VR Device for Helicopter Flight Training
EASA approves VRM's VR flight simulation training device for the Robinson R22.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Fitting Helicopter Flightlab With Autonomous Capability
Airbus plans complete demonstration of autonomous helicopter Flightlab in 2023.
Rotorcraft
ASG: Dozens of Helicopters in Storage, Crates in China
China is still dominating sales of helicopter but more than 80 are in crates or in storage, raising concerns about the viability of the market, ASG said.
Rotorcraft
UK Rotorcraft Show Gets Refresh for 2021
Helitech 2021 is set to return to the ExCeL convention center on October 5 and 6, featuring more than 300 exhibitors, a live fly-in, and some 100 seminars.
Avionics
Hill Unveils Digital Cockpit for HX50 Helicopter
Hill's HX50 digital cockpit is designed to minimize pilot workload.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Helicopters Rebrands Kopter SH09 as the AW09
With AW09 service entry projected for early 2024, Leonardo is making plans to work on a hybrid-electric helicopter in the second half of the decade.
Regulations and Government
NASA Helicopter Flies on Mars
Ingenuity becomes the first aircraft to conduct controlled, powered flight on another planet.
Aircraft
Airbus Conducts Helicopter Refueling Trials with A400M Airlifter
The latest test campaign has achieved most of the objectives required to clear the A400M to refuel helicopters in flight.
Engines
Airbus AStar Gets Power Boost
EASA has certified a 10 percent power upgrade for the Safran Arriel 2D engine in the Airbus Helicopters H125 single.
Rotorcraft
French Military Orders More Super Pumas
Purchase of eight more Airbus H225Ms is part of French government's sitmulus plan to aid the aerospace industry.
Regulations and Government
Biden Offshore Wind Boost Could Trigger Helicopter Boon
The Biden administration has indicated that it is going all-in on offshore wind, particularly in the New York Bight.
Rotorcraft
Safran Moving Forward on Hybridization, SAF for Helos
Safran anticipates handing over the Aneto-1X engines mid-year for 2022 Airbus Helicopters Racer flight trials that will prove out an "eco mode."
Rotorcraft
Pandemic Spurs Airbus Helicopters Training Changes
Airbus Helicopters has enhanced its distance learning capabilities and is now making many of those permanent.
Rotorcraft
David Fox Receives Top Mx Honors from HAI
HAI recognized David Fox, who has a maintenance and training career spanning five decades, with its Maintenance Excellence Award.
Rotorcraft
HAI Honors John Cooper of Columbus Police Aviation Unit
John Cooper, the longest-serving pilot and safety and training officer for the Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police, is HAI's Law Enforcement Award Honoree.
Rotorcraft
Universal Avionics Gaining in Helicopter Marketplace
Universal Avionics sees plenty of opportunity for its ClearVision EFVS and SkyVis wearable HUD in the rotorcraft market.
Rotorcraft
Airbus VSR700 Optionally-piloted Helo Hits Speed Milestone
Airbus is expanding the flight envelope of its VSR700 optionally piloted vehicle (OPV), recently achieving forward speeds of 60 knots.
Rotorcraft
LCI Teams with LCM on Sloane EMS Deal
LCA recently leased two Leonardo AW109SPs to UK-based Sloane Helicopters through a co-investing vehicle formed with LCM Partners.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up, Bell Collaborate on First Step Toward UAM
The companies are working together to usher in what they claim will be the first step toward urban air mobility (UAM) operations.
Rotorcraft
Used Helicopter Sales Slump—Again
Aero Asset notes a "parallel decline in both transactions and supply.”
Accidents
L.A. Drone Pilot Avoids Prison
The operator of a drone that struck an LAPD AStar last year has been sentenced to a $500 fine and probation.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Lands Asia-Pac O&G Launch Customer for H160
Derazona Helicopters in Indonesia has ordered an Airbus Helicopters H160 intermediate twin to service the local oil and gas sector.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Progressing on Training Center, AW609, TH-73A
Leonardo is readying to open its new training center in a few weeks and begin deliveries of its new TH-73A program.
Rotorcraft
HAI Honors UM Team for Organ Delivery Via Drone
Golden Hour honorees, the University of Maryland UAS Test Site Team and Medical Center, developed a drone with monitoring equipment to deliver organs.
