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
Enstrom Opens Repair Station in Michigan
Company houses new repair shop at its factory in Menominee, Michigan
Rotorcraft
FAA Certifies Symmetrical Stabilizer for Robinson R44
The new empennage was first certified on the R66 last September
Avionics
Avidyne IFD Flight Management Systems Now NVG-compatible
The optional NVG feature is available for $3,600
Rotorcraft
Airbus Set To Start Racer High-speed Flight Trials
The hybrid-electric design features a box wing and a pair of pusher propellers
Rotorcraft
Loft Dynamics Opens Santa Monica VR Sim Center
The full-motion VR simulator costs one-twentieth the price of a full-flight simulator
Accidents
Former Chile President Dies in Helicopter Accident
Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter crashed into the Ranco Lake in Chile
Rotorcraft
Air Evac Helicopter in Oklahoma Hit Geese Before Crashing
NTSB found dead goose in flight controls, others in crash area
Safety
Helicopter Seat Pain Solutions Are on the Horizon
Contoured cushions and better materials could mitigate pilot injury
Rotorcraft
Hands On: Flying a Modern Classic, MD Helicopters’ MD530F
The 369-series helicopters have been in production for more than 60 years
Rotorcraft
Helicopter OEMs See Big Civil Market Opportunities in China, India
Pilot training, infrastructure, fuel challenge growth
Aircraft
Flying the MD530F and the Resurrection of MD Helicopters
We test the MD530F and see for ourselves how the company is coming back from bankruptcy.
Rotorcraft
Rotor Debuts Autonomous Helicopter in New Hampshire
The flight demonstrated autonomous helicopter operation in front of a live audience
Rotorcraft
French DGA Orders 42 Airbus H145 Helicopters
H145s will be used by French police and rescue services
Training and Workforce
Canada Grants First Training Org Approval to Coulson
The free training enables students to earn Canadian aircraft maintenance engineer-structures certification
Rotorcraft
Tata and Airbus To Start Helicopter Production in India
H125 final assembly line will be Airbus' second manufacturing plant in the country
Rotorcraft
NASA's Mars Helicopter Bites the Dust
Ingenuity's rotor blades sustained damage upon landing
Rotorcraft
Bell Textron's 4Q23 Results Surpass Projections
Bell's profit totaled $320 million last year, compared with $282 million in 2022
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Orders Rise, Deliveries Flat for 2023
Airbus delivered 346 helicopters in 2023
Accidents
Three Die in Oklahoma HEMS Crash
Air Evac Bell 206 LongRanger crashes at night on repositioning flight
Rotorcraft
Aero Asset Sees Strong Single-engine Helicopter Pricing
Prices remained steady while sales numbers dropped significantly
Rotorcraft
LĂ©man Aviation Orders 10 Leonardo AW09 Helicopters
The order expands the AW09's reach in European markets
Rotorcraft
Airwolf STCs Lithium-ion Main-ship Batteries for Helicopters
The True Blue Power batteries weigh much less than traditional batteries
Training and Workforce
Bell Valencia Trains Hundreds Annually
Bell 429 simulator at Valencia Spain logs more than 1,000 hours each year
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Airbus Grows UAS Portfolio with Aerovel Acquisition
Aerovel produces the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system
Training and Workforce
Enstrom Sets Dates for 2024 Maintenance Classes
Piston-powered helicopter classes start on June 2
Accidents
Parents of Helitour Crash Victim Receive $100 Million
Airbus, Papillon agree to nine-figure settlement in 2018 Grand Canyon helitour accident
Rotorcraft
New Hawaii Park Aerial Tour Plan Cuts Flight Numbers
Plan drastically slashes the number of permitted flights over Volcanoes National Park
Rotorcraft
MD Helicopters Booked Record Orders in 2023
The OEM is focusing on product support and gradually ramping up production
Rotorcraft
PHI Group Files Public Stock Offering
The Lafayette, Louisiana company operates 213 aircraft
Accidents
ATSB: Fatal Air Tour Midair Pilot Had Used Cocaine
Autopsy found cocaine metabolites in body of Australian helitour pilot
