Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
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.
Accidents
NTSB: Wisconsin EMS Crash Followed Loss of Control
The pilot was non-responsive before his ship rolled inverted.
Accidents
Houston Police Investigating Helo Crash as Homicide
Houston Police are investigating the fatal Saturday morning crash of one of the department’s helicopters as a homicide.
Rotorcraft
Textron CEO Scott Donnelly Bullish On Bell
Textron CEO Scott Donnelly sees a bright future for the company’s Bell unit.
Airlines
Air Ambulance Crews Adjust To Covid-19 Operating Conditions
Flying in masks and gloves and distancing from cabin medical crews is now required conduct for emergency helicopter pilots.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Grows Revenues, Profits in 1Q20
Improved earnings on the military side of the helicopter business have balanced disappointing news from the struggling oil and gas sector.
Rotorcraft
U.S. Helo Safety Team Offers Case Studies for Survival
The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team has released a new recommended practice training guide to mitigate risks, including plans based on real acccidents.
Accidents
Huey Crash Kills Former L.A. Newscopter Pilot
Chip Paige was killed when a 1969 Bell UH-1H crashed into a Mesa, Arizona park.
Engines
Sikorsky Signs Cougar for S-92A+ Helicopter Upgrades
The Sikorsky S-92A+ upgrade kit provides added safety redundancy if primary lubrication fails and extends the overhaul interval by up to 25 percent.
Rotorcraft
Covid Taking Toll on Rotorcraft Employment
An HAI webinar with JSFirm highlighted the job losses that has come from the Covid-19 crisis in the rotorcraft industry, but offered tools for job seekers.
Rotorcraft
Bell 525 Edges Closer To Certification
Bell recently completed noise testing on its 525 super-medium twin.
Rotorcraft
Air Tour Pioneer Elling Halvorson Flies West
Elling Halvorson, who died on April 16 at the age of 88, founded Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters in 1965, a business that flies 600,0000 pax a year.
Rotorcraft
U.S. Air Ambulance Industry Asks for Another $816M
Air ambulance bailout would cover estimated losses for the next six months.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky HH-60W Emerges From Climate Testing
The Air Force tested its rescue helicopter in extreme temperature regimes.
Engines
GE, Brightwater UAG ink T700 engine support agreement
GE Aviation also announces availability of its TrueChoice Commercial Services maintenance plan for the T700.
Rotorcraft
Helo Operators Increase Use of Safety Tools
International Helicopter Safety Foundation survey shows marked increase in the use of best practice safety tools.
Regulations and Government
Covid-19 Brings Changes To HEMS Aircraft, Crews
Covid-19 forces helicopter operators and regulators to make significant changes to air ambulance transports.
Rotorcraft
Used Helo Market Rises in Q1, but Drop Expected in Q2
Aero Asset report expects preowned helicopter first quarter 2020 sales gains to reverse from effects of Covid-19 and oil price decline.
Rotorcraft
U.S. Air Ambulances Seek $363.5M in Emergency Aid
Air Ambulances Seek $363.5 Million In Emergency Covid-19 Relief
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Closes On Kopter Acquisition
Leonardo pays $185 million for Kopter, as well as bonuses to owner Lynwood if certain milestones are met over the life of Kopter’s SH09 program.
Rotorcraft
EASA Issues Covid-19 Guidance for Helo Ops
EASA has issued guidance for continued helicopter operations in the face of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.
Rotorcraft
Helijet Offers Free Flights To Medical Professionals
Responding to the Covid-19 crisis, Helijet is offering free flights to medical professionals in the Vancouver area.
Rotorcraft
Boeing Suspends Philadelphia Rotorcraft Production
Boeing suspends operations at its military rotorcraft assembly plant in Ridley Township, Pa. outside Philadelphia.
Rotorcraft
Air BP Providing Free Fuel To UK Air Ambulances
Responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, Air BP is providing free jet fuel for a number of UK air ambulance helicopter services.
Aircraft
Here's What It Will Take to Make Urban Air Mobility a Reality - FutureFlight
Here's What It Will Take to Make Urban Air Mobility a Reality - FutureFlight
Charter & Fractional
Airbus Closes Voom Per-seat Helicopter Charter Service
Airbus closed its Voom per seat helicopter charter operation, saying that data generated from the booking app will inform its urban air mobility plans.
Rotorcraft
German Medevac Transports Patients In Special Isolettes
German helicopter air ambulance service DRF Luftrettung will begin transporting Covid-19 patients in “EpiShuttles” this week to protect patients and crew.
Rotorcraft
Covid-19 Shutters London Heliport
The London Heliport at Battersea is closed until at least April 13.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Dedicating Aircraft, Plants To Covid-19 Fight
Leonardo is using fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to aid Italian authorities in the country’s ongoing struggle against Covid-19.
