Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Rotorcraft
CHC Buying Babcock's Offshore Aviation Unit
CHC is purchasing Babcock's offshore aviation business in the UK, Denmark, and Australia.
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.
Rotorcraft
Rotortrade Posts 'Resilient' 2020 Results
International helicopter reseller Rotortrade said it completed 27 transactions last year.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Delivers First Trekker in Indonesia
Customer FlyKomala will use the aircraft there to carry out a range of missions including passenger transport.
Rotorcraft
Babcock Offshore Posts Larger 2020 Loss
Babcock Mission Critical Services Offshore said it had a pre-tax loss of $30.285 million.
Rotorcraft
Bell Moves To Remedy Cracked 505 Collectives, Restrictions
Bell said corrective actions for cracked collective sticks on its model 505 light single helicopter are currently in engineering review.
Rotorcraft
Aero Asset: Heavy Twins Lead Used Helicopter Market Rebound
Consultancy Aero Asset said the used helicopter market showed "incredible resiliency" in the last half of 2020.
Rotorcraft
USHST Calls for Light Helo Stability, Autopilot Systems
The USHST has unveiled recommended practices document for developing stability augmentation systems and autopilots in light helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Construction Begins on Dubai Expo Helicopter Terminal
Leonardo, Falcon Aviation Services building new rotorcraft terminal for Dubai Expo 2020
Rotorcraft
Turkey Unveils Unmanned, Electric Attack Helicopter
Turkish Aerospace Industries expects to fly the new, electric-powered, unmanned T629 attack helicopter later this year.
Accidents
AINsight: Just Land
The crash that killed Kobe Bryant could have been avoided if the pilot just decided to land the helicopter instead of continuing the flight.
Rotorcraft
Israel Selects Sikorsky’s King Stallion Helicopter
Sikorsky’s latest heavylift helicopter has been chosen over the CH-47 to replace first-generation CH-53s in service with the Israeli Air Force.
Rotorcraft
Aireon To Provide ADS-B for Helos in North Sea
Aerion ADS-B system will monitor helicopter operations in the Bodo Oceanic flight region to altitudes of 10,000 feet.
Maintenance and Modifications
Cracked Collective Prompts Bell 505 Emergency AD
Transport Canada issues emergency airworthiness directive mandating inspection of collective sticks in Bell 505s.
Rotorcraft
U.S. Army Retires Bell TH-67 Trainers
The Bell 206 derivative served as the U.S. Army's primary training helicopter since 1993.
Rotorcraft
NASA Helicopter Lands On Mars
NASA's Ingenuity micro copter was parachuted onto the planet’s surface from the belly of the Perseverance rover.
Rotorcraft
Blade Expands Helicopter Rideshares into Chicago
Blade Urban Air Mobility announced that it would base helicopters at Vertiport Chicago.
Accidents
USHST Issues Guidelines To Combat Inadvertent IMC
The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) has developed a list of recommended practices focusing on spatial disorientation.
Aircraft
United Airlines to Operate eVTOL Aircraft As SPACs Hover For Merger Deals
United Airlines to Operate eVTOL Aircraft As SPACs Hover For Merger Deals
Maintenance and Modifications
Air Methods Expands Airbus HCare To EC135 Fleet
A new Airbus HCare support contract will cover Air Methods fleet of 80 EC135 light twins.
Rotorcraft
PHI To Operate Airbus H160s in Gulf of Mexico
Airbus Helicopters has broken into the U.S. offshore market with a deal to provide four H160s to PHI and Shell.
