Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Maintenance and Modifications
Erickson Acquires Type Certificate for Bell 214
Bell has begun type certificate (TC) transfer for the model 214ST and B/B1 helicopters to Erickson.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Rebrands Helicopter Operation in Brazil
Bristow Group is rebranding its wholly-owned Brazilian subsidiary Aeroleo and is writing off its investment in another Brazilian operator Lider.
Rotorcraft
Airbus To Begin UH-72B Army Deliveries in 2021
The updated helicopter replaces the tailrotor on the UH-72A Lakota with a Fenestron.
Rotorcraft
Tokyo Government Evaluating Leonardo AW609 Tiltrotor
Tokyo’s Metropolitan Government is evaluating the Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor to deliver service to Ogasawara island.
Rotorcraft
First Block II Chinook for Special Operations Command
The latest special forces version of the Chinook is lighter and better-performing than its predecessor.
Rotorcraft
Lufthansa Aviation Training Adds First Helo Sim
Lufthansa Aviation Training marked an expansion in HEMS training with German approval of its Airbus H145/135 Level D full-flight simulator.
Rotorcraft
MD530F Helicopter Gets Gross Weight Increase
MD Helicopters has received FAA approval to increase the MD530F’s max gross take-off weight from 3,100 to 3,350 pounds.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Unveils New Mi-171Sh-VN ‘Hip’ Troop Carrier
Russian Helicopters is displaying an impressive range of its military products at the Army 2020 International Military-Technical Forum.
Maintenance and Modifications
MDHI Center Completes 5,000-hour Overhaul on MD 902
MDHI's factor service center's work on the CoxHealth MD 902 Explorer including a 5,000-hour airframe overhaul, inspections, repairs and modifications.
Accidents
Kobe Crash Copter Company Blaming ATC
Island Express Helicopters is blaming the fatal crash of its S-76 on air traffic controllers.
Maintenance and Modifications
Van Horn Receives STC/PMA for Upgraded Bell 206B Blades
Van Horn Aviation's newly approved Bell 206B main rotor blades have different carbon fiber ply counts and orientations, providing for a smoother ride.
Accidents
NTSB Illuminates Pilot Performance in AW139 Fatal
The Leonardo AW139 crashed on July 4, 2019 shortly after lifting off from a private helipad in the Bahamas.
Rotorcraft
Hill Helicopters Developing Turbine Light Single
UK-based Hill Helicopters has unveiled a new light turbine single helicopter design, the HX50.
Rotorcraft
K-Max Leaps From Unmanned to Autonomous Operations
Near Earth Autonomy and Kaman Aerospace have developed an intelligent autonomy system for the K-Max helicopter.
Rotorcraft
More Singapore Chinooks Go to Australia as Training Expands
The Singaporean training detachment at Oakey in Queensland is scheduled to receive the bulk of the new CH-47F helicopters that are to be delivered shortly.
Charter & Fractional
Sundance Helicopters Goes Bust in Las Vegas
Las Vegas-based Sundance Helicopters announced the permanent closure of its air tour operations after the Covid pandemic caused a steep drop in demand.
Rotorcraft
HAI Commits To Heli-Expo 2021 Show in New Orleans
In the face of continuing Covid safety concerns, HAI has reaffirmed its intention to hold its annual Heli-Expo trade show next March 22-25 in New Orleans.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Prepping Skid Kit for AW169
Leonardo is progressing with a skid kit for its AW169 medium twin helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Apollo Air Services Opens Cambridge Location
UK helicopter operator Apollo Air Services has established its first base in southern England at Cambridge CIty Airport
Rotorcraft
Bell Buyers Get Free SiriusXM
Bell is giving new buyers of its civil helicopters a free, three-month subscription to SiriusXM aviation weather and entertainment.
Rotorcraft
Mexican Market Shows Interest in Russian-made Ansat Light Helicopter
Mexican Market Shows Interest in Russian-made Ansat Light Helicopter
Rotorcraft
FAA International Rotorcraft Safety Conference Goes Virtual
Online registration for the FAA’s first virtual International Rotorcraft Safety Conference is now open.
Aircraft
How a Flight Simulator Gives Us an Early Glimpse of EmbraerX’s new eVTOL Aircraft
How a Flight Simulator Gives Us an Early Glimpse of EmbraerX’s new eVTOL Aircraft
Rotorcraft
Robinson Delivers 1,000th R66 Turbine Helicopter
The R66 fleet surpassed 1.2 million flight hours as Robinson delivered the 1,000th example.
Environment
NY North Shore Helo Route Extended to 2022
The FAA has extended the rule requiring pilots operating civil helicopters under VFR to use the New York North Shore helicopter route to Aug. 5, 2022.
Rotorcraft
Bell Opens New Manufacturing Tech Center in Texas
Bell's manufacturing technology center is a roadmap to future factories.
Rotorcraft
Bell Opens Wichita Facility
Bell's new Wichita facility was previously occupied by sister company Textron Aviation.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Breaks Ground on Temp Facility in Florida
Leonardo broke ground this week on its U.S. Navy TH-73A temporary support facility at the Peter Prince Airport in Milton, FL.
Rotorcraft
Air Ambulances Successfully Navigating Covid Skies
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the air ambulance industry is holding its own—for now.
