Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
France Funding Hybrid Airbus H125 Helicopter
Airbus Helicopters is poised to receive French government financial support to develop a hybrid powerplant for its H125 single.
Rotorcraft
Aircraft Lasered During George Floyd Protests
Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were lasered in at least three American cities during the recent George Floyd protests.
Rotorcraft
Coptersafety Qualifies AW139 Sim To Level-D
Helsinki-based Coptersafety has received FAA Level-D qualification from the FAA for its CAE AW139 full flight simulator.
Rotorcraft
HAI Calls For FDM in Piston Helicopters
The Helicopter Association International calls for installing flight recorders in all new helicopters, not just those with turbine engines.
Rotorcraft
Airbus E-Delivers New Helicopters to Helitrans
Norway’s Helitrans is the first customer to take delivery of new Airbus helicopters using the OEM’s e-Delivery process.
Rotorcraft
Bell V-280 Flies With GKN's Plastic Airframe Parts
The Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor recently began test flights with thermoplastic parts from GKN Aerospace.
Avionics
NTSB Calls On Helo OEMs To Install Recording Systems
The NTSB wants helicopter manufacturers to equip turbine-powered helicopters with crash-resistant systems to record data, audio, and images.
Rotorcraft
New Bell Buyers Get Garmin OnePak
Bell is offering buyers of new civil aircraft a free one-year subscription to Garmin OnePak database bundles and the Garmin Pilot app.
Rotorcraft
Canada's Universal Helicopters Shuts Down
Citing debt, Covid-19, Universal Helicopters ceases operations
Rotorcraft
Airbus, Bell Continue Rotor Research
Covid-19 has not stopped new rotor blade research and patents at Airbus and Bell.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
New Venture Jettisons Parked Offshore Helos
A new venture has been formed to help lenders to the offshore rotorcraft industry dispose of under-utilized assets.
Aircraft
GAMA: 1Q genav Deliveries See Covid-19 Impact
Though the first quarter of the year started well for general aviation manufacturers, as the Covid pandemic took hold, deliveries fell.
Accidents
Flight Safety Foundation Tackles VFR Helicopter Accidents
Flight Safety Foundation proposes strategy to reduce commercial VFR helicopter operations.
Rotorcraft
K-Max Operators Awarded Key Firefighting Contracts
Forty percent of all Type 1, large helicopters exclusive use USFS firefighting contracts awarded to Kaman K-Max operators.
Accidents
NTSB Faults Lacking Safety Culture in Aeromed Crash
The NTSB found that a helicopter air ambulance operator’s “inadequate management of safety” led to the fatal crash of a Survival Fight helicopter.
Avionics
Uniflight Global Adds Fixed-wing Avionics Offering
Uniflight Global has primarily specialized in helicopter MRO services since its founding.
Maintenance and Modifications
Covid-19 Exacerbating Maintenance Technician Shortage
Twenty-five percent of Part 147 schools have suspended operations.
Maintenance and Modifications
Robinson Offers Tougher Windshields for Helicopters
Robinson is offering optional impact-resistant windshields for R22, R44, and R66 helicopters.
Accidents
Vortex Ring State Likely Preceded Fatal Bell 407 Crash
The NTSB has issued its final report on the fatal 2017 crash of a Virginia State Police (VSP) Bell 407.
Rotorcraft
Bristow-Era Merger To Close in June
Senior management team announced for merged Bristow-Era.
Rotorcraft
First Ospreys for Japan Arrive In-country
Japan is the first, and to date only, overseas customer for the Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor.
Maintenance and Modifications
San Juan MRO Surrenders Certificate after Investigation
Ecolift Corporation of Puerto Rico surrendered its repair station certificate following numerous allegations by the FAA of unauthorized maintenance work.
Accidents
Japan Super Puma Fatal Crash Tied To Tail Rotor Mx
Japan’s Transportation Safety Board (JTSB) has linked the 2017 crash of an Airbus Helicopters AS332L to tail rotor maintenance.
Rotorcraft
Collins Pegasus Helicopter Rescue Hoist Promises Innovations
Collins Pegasus Helicopter Rescue Hoist Promises Innovations
Rotorcraft
VT Group Wins Support Contract for New Marine One Helo
As many as 21 Sikorsky VH-92As are expected to serve as replacements to the presidential helicopter fleet.
Rotorcraft
Perot Pushes Alliance as eVTOL Hub
Perot promotes Fort Worth Alliance airport complex as home for UAS, eVTOL development.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Insurance Hikes, Limited Covid Aid for Helo Operators
"Seismic changes” will continue for helicopter insurance.
Avionics
Airbus H135 with Helionix Approved in Canada
Transport Canada has granted certification validation to the Airbus Helicopters H135 light twin equipped with the Helionix aviation system.
Rotorcraft
French Navy Revamps Its Helicopter Fleet
AS 365s and H160s helicopters are being leased to cover a gap between the retirement of the Aérospatiale Alouette III and the arrival of the H160M.
Rotorcraft
Heli XP 2020 Rescheduled for October
Normally held in May, Brazilian helicopter show Heli XP is now scheduled for October 21 and 22 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
