Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
GI 275 Simplifies Avionics Upgrades in Part 27 Helos
Garmin's new GI 275 electronic flight instruments feature touchscreen and dual concentric knob control.
Rotorcraft
NASA Readies Mars Helicopter for First Flight
NASA Ingenuity helicopter could fly on Mars sometime in early April.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Begins Assembly of Racer Compound Helicopter
Airbus Racer isexpected to demonstrate increased speed and reduced emissions and noise.
Rotorcraft
Bell Opens Manufacturing Technology Center
Bell's Manufacturing Technology Center is designed to change the way rotorcraft are made.
Rotorcraft
HAI Honors California Nat. Guard for Creek Fire Rescue
Honored by HAI, the California National Guard 40th Combat Aviation Brigade used a Chinook and Black Hawk to rescue 242 trapped by the Creek Fire.
Rotorcraft
Honeywell Adds Major Upgrades to Helicopter Avionics
Honeywell's latest avionics upgrades to synthetic vision, radar, and EGPWS are available for Leonardo's AW139.
Rotorcraft
StandardAero Continues Expansion in Helo MRO, STCs
One of StandardAero's newest STCs is an autopilot for light single helicopters.
Rotorcraft
EASA Recommends Fuel Lever Mods for Airbus Helo Singles
Airbus developed fuel lever modification in the wake of fatal 2018 NYC "door off" helitour flight.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Expanding Customer Support Program
Airbus HCare now covers 2,400 helicopters and will be expanded to include legacy aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Bell's New Army Rotorcraft Programs Charging Ahead
Assembly has begun on the Bell 360 Invictus while the V-280 tiltrotor continues flight testing.
Rotorcraft
Many Obstacles Prevent Single-Engine IFR Helo Cert
Regulatory restrictions, costs, and operator and pilot mentality all have combined to serve as a disincentive for IFR flight in single-engine helicopters.
Rotorcraft
HAI Pilot of the Year Robert McCabe Brought Lessons to USCG
HAI's Pilot of the Year, USCG Lt. Cdr. Robert McCabe, demonstrated his skills coaching a pilot through disorientation and shared the lessons learned.
Rotorcraft
Robinson Helicopter Hits Milestone, Sees Daylight
Torrance, California-based Robinson Helicopter started off the year with the delivery of its 13,000th rotorcraft.
Rotorcraft
Bell Finds Additional Opportunities with Wichita Office
Bell opened the Wichita site in August 2020 to support its efforts to win contracts on two substantial future vertical lift programs for the U.S. Army.
Rotorcraft
U.S. AAM Market To Generate $115B Annually by 2035
The joint Deloitte/AIA study sees the AAM market, including flying taxis and cargo drones, to generate the equivalent of 0.5 percent of U.S. GDP by 2035.
Rotorcraft
Bell Nears Milestones With 525, 505 Helos
Bell looks to wrap up certification flight testing of the 525 Relentless in the first half of 2021.
Rotorcraft
Hillsboro Aero Academy Keeps the Rotors Turning
Although flight hours dropped significantly during the Covid pandemic, Hillsboro Aero Academy has been able to keep its fleet busy.
Rotorcraft
Hill Reveals More Features for HX50 Helicopter
Hill HX50 to have options including folding blades and landing gear skids.
Rotorcraft
Used Helicopter Market Attains Shaky Hover
Pandemic, falling energy prices, overhang used helicopter market.
Rotorcraft
HAI Salutes Michael Hynes for Lifetime Achievement
Michael Hynes, HAI's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, has had a 65-year career that has included Brantly helicopter production and as an educator.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Donation Helps Launch RedTail Academy
An anonymous donation of a Sikorsky helicopter is helping a chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen to launch RedTail Flight Academy.
Rotorcraft
Erickson To Begin Flying Optionally-piloted Air Crane Next Year
Erickson said it would begin flying an optionally-piloted S-64F+ in 2022 and that it aimed for first customer deliveries in 2024.
Accidents
NTSB Chair Pushes for More Helicopter IFR
In the wake of the Kobe Bryant crash report, NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt is pressing for more IFR helicopter operations.
Regulations and Government
New York City Helicopter Access War Heats Up
New York City is considering legislation that would effectively shut down heliports there.
Rotorcraft
HAI Expanding International Reach, Safety Programs
While HAI head James Viola's year didn't go exactly as planned, his association is making progress on a number of fronts from new members to safety.
Rotorcraft
Kopter Restarts SH09 Helicopter Flight-test Program
The Kopter prototype was retrofitted with new rotor components, Garmin G3000H avionics.
Rotorcraft
CHC AW139s To Fly with HTAWS In Brazil
CHC is partnering with Shell and Leonardo to launch Leonardo's Helicopter’s Enhanced Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System in Brazil.
Airports
Aviation Groups Unite To Oppose NYC Helo Restrictions
Two bills being considered for New York City could restrict as many as 80 percent of helicopter operations in the city.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo's 2020 Helicopter Deliveries Fall 29 Percent
Leonardo delivery drop offset by increased military and support sales.
Charter & Fractional
Fly Lindy Plans Per-seat New York City-D.C. Helo Service
Fly Lindy plans to offer per-seat, scheduled helicopter charter shuttle service between New York City, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore starting in June.
