Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Boeing Suspends Philadelphia Rotorcraft Production
Boeing suspends operations at its military rotorcraft assembly plant in Ridley Township, Pa. outside Philadelphia.
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
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.
Rotorcraft
Bell, Sikorsky Move On To Next Round of Army's FARA Derby
The U.S. Army has selected Bell and Sikorsky to provide prototypes for its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Flying Covid-19 Patients
Bristow Group is transporting suspected Covid-19 patients in specially-configured helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Russian Navy Inducts Kamov Ka-31R
After a long delay, the Russian navy is now operating the Ka-31, the airborne early warning/surface search version of the Ka-27 shipborne ASW helicopter.
Rotorcraft
How Garmin’s GFC 600H Flight Control System Makes Flying a Helicopter a lot Easier - AIN
How Garmin’s GFC 600H Flight Control System Makes Flying a Helicopter a lot Easier - AIN
Rotorcraft
Covid-19 Grounds Helitour Operators
The Covid-19 crisis has shut down helitour operations from New York to Hawai.
Rotorcraft
Maryland PD Marks 50 Years of Medevacs
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command marked the 50th anniversary of its first civilian medevac mission.
Rotorcraft
Blade Offers Delivery Service During Covid-19 Crisis
Blade is offering delivery service from New York City to the surrounding areas including the Hamptons during the Covid-19 crisis.
Charter & Fractional
Weathering Covid-19, Air Ambulance Industry Seeks Relief
The Covid-19 crisis has not materially impacted the nation’s air ambulance industry—yet.
Rotorcraft
Chilean Terrorists Allegedly Torch Air Crane
An arson attack destroyed the cockpit of an Erickson Air Crane on station in Chile.
Rotorcraft
Army FLRAA Moves Forward with Valor and Defiant
The process of finding a replacement for the U.S. Army’s large fleet of Black Hawk helicopters continues with the Valor and Defiant going head-to-head.
