Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
FAA Aviation Weather Cams Coming To Hawaii
FAA begins work required for installation of the first 10 weather cam systems in Hawaii.
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.
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
Directional Aviation Buying Helo Operator AAG
Kenn Ricci’s Directional Aviation Group unit OneSky Flight is acquiring helicopter charter operator AAG from Sikorsky.
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.
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.
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
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
Bell 412 Turns 40
Since 1981, Bell has delivered more than 1,100 412 medium twins across 11 different variants.
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.
Maintenance and Modifications
True Blue Power Unveils New Li-ion Chargers
True Blue Power designed its new TT28-12 Charger Pro and TT28-2 Charger Mx to simplify lithium-ion aircraft battery charging.
Rotorcraft
Milestone, NHV Partner on Airbus H145s
New five-bladed Airbus H145s will suport Germany's Federal Armed Services training program.
Accidents
NTSB: Winds Triggered 2018 Helitour Fatal
The NTSB has issued its final report on the 2018 Grand Canyon helitour crash.
Accidents
Pilot To Be Sentenced after Drone Hits LAPD Helicopter
Andrew Rene Hernandez, 22, could receive up to one year in federal prison.
Rotorcraft
Twin-engine Helo Sales Mixed in Fourth Quarter
Aero Asset’s quarterly Helicopter Market Trends report said sales were up from the third quarter of 2020 but lower than the fourth quarter of 2019.
Rotorcraft
Several OEMs Passing on Heli-Expo Show
Companies including Bell, Metro Aviation pull out of this year's Heli-Expo.
Rotorcraft
Australia Selects Apache Guardian for Recon Requirement
Slaying Vipers and culling Tigers, the Apache has been selected to answer the Australian Army Aviation Corps attack helicopter requirement.
Avionics
Compact Cockpit Video Recorder Wins New Zealand Nod
Eye In The Sky approved for installation in Airbus and Robinson helicopters.
Rotorcraft
HAI Doubles Down on In-person March Heli-Expo Show
The Helicopter Association International said it expects New Orleans to lift its Phase One covid restrictions in time for its annual trade show.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters H160 Readies for ENG Duty in Japan
All Nippon Helicopters will add a new Airbus H160 to its electronic newsgathering fleet in Japan.
