Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Racer First Flight Pushed to 2022
Airbus will begin final assembly of the first Racer compound helicopter in the coming weeks.
Rotorcraft
Milestone To Lease 11 Airbus H225s to Air Center Helos
The leasing deal will bring Air Center Helicopters' leased Airbus H225 fleet from Milestone Aviation to 18 aircraft.
Rotorcraft
HAI Safety Programs Help Reduce Operational Risks
HAI encourages industry to use its vast menu of helicopter safety programs that address culture, processes, training, and technology.
Accidents
'Fifty-Six Seconds To Live'
U.S. Helicopter Safety Team releases video on the perils of flying VFR into IMC.
Accidents
NTSB: Bryant's Pilot Disregarded Training
Pilot, operator faulted by NTSB in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Bristow Sees No Recovery for Offshore Helicopters in 2021
Helicopter services company Bristow continues fleet downsizing, quarterly losses.
Rotorcraft
Bell Marks First European Delivery of 505 NXi
Bell recently delivered the first European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-certified Bell 505 NXi.
Rotorcraft
Highly-modified Kopter Begins Flight Testing
The flight test crew of a modified Kopter SH09 reported improved handling and stability.
Regulations and Government
Trump Helipad in Palm Beach To Be Demolished
The helipad at former President Trump’s Florida Mar-a-Lago club is being removed.
Rotorcraft
FAA Aviation Weather Cams Coming To Hawaii
FAA begins work required for installation of the first 10 weather cam systems in Hawaii.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo's AW139 Helicopter Turns 20
The worldwide fleet of 1,100 AW139 twin engined rotorcraft have amassed more than three million flight hours since the model was placed into service.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helos Help in Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Effort
The company reports that its aircraft are being used around the world to distribute the vaccines to isolated areas.
Rotorcraft
Directional Aviation Buying Helo Operator AAG
Kenn Ricci’s Directional Aviation Group unit OneSky Flight is acquiring helicopter charter operator AAG from Sikorsky.
Accidents
Wrong Engine Shutdown Triggers Helicopter Fatal
An Airbus BK117 C2 crashed after the pilot shut down the No. 1 engine after the No. 2 engine began to fail.
Rotorcraft
Pentagon Will Track D.C. Helicopter Noise
Few practical options exist for mitigating helicopter noise in the Washington, D.C. area.
Regulations and Government
Capitol Hill Targets Helicopter Safety, Tourism
The new Congress begins with the introduction of bills calling for mandatory HTAWS, seeking limits on air tours.
Rotorcraft
FAA Special Condition Suggests Bell 525 Nears Certification
Bell officially launched the 19-passenger 525 in 2012.
Rotorcraft
Bell's 4Q Helo Deliveries Slip, but Recovery Expected
Bell delivered 19 fewer commercial helicopters in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Rotorcraft
Erickson: Wildfires Are Going To Get Worse
Helicopter services company Erickson responding to growing wildfire threat.
Regulations and Government
Nuke-sniffing Helicopter Deployed to Tampa
A Bell 412 will conduct radiation mapping and sensing flights over the site of Super Bowl LV.
Rotorcraft
Vertical Flight Society Moves Annual Show Online
The Vertical Flight Society saw its membership rise during 2020 and has announced a new partnership with the U.S. Army to support skills training.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopter Deliveries Dip 9.6% in 2020
Airbus Helicopters maintained a 48 percent share of the worldwide civil and parapublic market in 2020.
Rotorcraft
Offshore Wind Needs New Helicopters Worth $1 Billion
A new report predicts that the helicopter fleet servicing the offshore wind electricity market will increase by 100 by 2030.
Accidents
Drone Injures Helicopter Crewmember
Drone pierces windshield of Chilean Navy UH-57B, injuring front seat crewmember.
Rotorcraft
"Defiant X" Enters U.S. Army FLRAA Derby
Sikorsky and Boeing unveiled a slicker version of their SB-1 “Defiant” for the U.S. Army's $40 billion future long range assault aircraft competition.
Rotorcraft
Optionally Piloted K-Max To Begin Testing by Midyear
Kaman's optionally piloted vehicle module for the K-Max helicopter will enter ground and flight testing during the first half of 2021.
Rotorcraft
VFS Cancels In-person Forum 77
The Vertical Flight Society has canceled its annual in-person Forum gathering due to continuing covid concerns.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Flightlab To Test UAM Technologies
Airbus flying laboratory dedicated to evaluating future UAM and helicopter innovations.
Rotorcraft
HAI Cancels Heli-Expo 2021 Trade Show
The Helicopter Association International has cancelled its annual Heli-Expo trade show scheduled for March 22 to 25 in New Orleans.
Rotorcraft
Bell 412 Turns 40
Since 1981, Bell has delivered more than 1,100 412 medium twins across 11 different variants.
