Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
U.S. Air Force Receives First HH-60W Helicopters
The initial two aircraft are at the Eglin complex to perform developmental and operational tests ahead of the main production run
Maintenance and Modifications
Australian Avgas Switch Tied To Robinson Engine Issues There
A new study by the Australia Helicopter Industry Association ties reformulated avgas to rash of piston helicopter engine problems there.
Engines
EASA Approves Safran Ardiden 1U For India's LUH
Safran Helicopter Engines has received EASA type certification approval for its new Ardiden 1U engine in India's Light Utility Helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Life Flight Expands AW109 Fleet
Utah-based Intermountain Life Flight is adding a seventh AW109 to its fleet.
Rotorcraft
Outlerlink Adds Analytics To IRIS
Outlerlink is adding cloud-based analytics to its IRIS aircraft monitoring system.
Engines
Safran To Build, Service Helo Engine with China's AECC
Safran and Aero Engine Corp. of China agree to study joint venture to ramp up production, service for WZ16.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Market Turning Corner at Last, Say Pundits
Speakers at Vertical Flight Expo heard that after ten turbulent years, the helicopter market could be recovering from the oil price downturn.
Rotorcraft
Offshore Helicopter Market Sees Some Sign of Recovery
Demand for offshore helicopter services is improving, but it could take more time for contract rates to improve for operators
Rotorcraft
First U.S. AW169 HEMS Fleet Operational
Travis County, Texas Star Flight is operating three Leonardo AW169s configured for HEMS and SAR.
Rotorcraft
Life Flight Orders Eight New Bells
U.S. HEMS provider Life Flight Network has ordered eight new Bell helicopters.
Accidents
Crashed Korean H225 Had Recent Maintenance
A Korean Airbus H225 that crashed into the East Sea had a heavy inspection in October.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Bristow Out Of Bankruptcy
Bristow restructured with new capital and board of directors.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Studying Obscurant Defense for H145M
The rapid-action “fog” screen has been successfully implemented for military vehicles and is now being proposed for helicopters
Rotorcraft
Blade Per-seat Helicopter Service Comes To L.A. Market
Helicopter per seat ride share booking service Blade is expanding into the Los Angeles metro area market.
Rotorcraft
Rogue Drones Impede California Firefighters
Illegal drone flights California forced firefighting helicopters to stand down.
Maintenance and Modifications
Dart Acquires Aero Design
Dart's acquisition of Aero Design boosts its portfolio to over 1,100 STCs.
Rotorcraft
Vuichard Ring Vortex Recovery Now FAA Approved
Developed by Claude Vuichard, the rotorcraft procedure to escape potentially perilous ring vortexes in now in the latest FAA Helicopter training handbook.
Rotorcraft
African Countries Seek Additional ‘Hinds’
The Mi-24/35 family has been operated for many years by many nations in Africa and continues to be of considerable interest to operators in the continent.
Rotorcraft
New-format Vertical Flight Expo To Open at Farnborough
The Vertical Flight Expo promises a trade show focused on more than just helicopters, by incorporating unmanned aircraft and urban air mobility.
Rotorcraft
Kaman Announces More K-Max Orders
Kaman has announced more orders for its heavy lift K-Max, company continues to work on civil unmanned version.
Rotorcraft
Erickson in $996 Million DoD Support Contract
Erickson continuing to expand its defense-related business.
Rotorcraft
TSB: Tool Bag Downed Canadian AStar
A Canadian AStar crashed after an externally mounted tool bag separated from the helicopter and hit the tail rotor.
Rotorcraft
Germany Receives First Sea Lion, but Awaits Sea Tiger Contract
Germany has taken delivery of its first naval NH90 to replace the Sea King, but has still not signed for the Lynx replacement
Rotorcraft
Soloy Aviation Solutions Gets New Ownership Structure
The company will continue to operate as Soloy Aviation Solutions and support most of the existing and legacy STCs, but will relocate to a new facility.
Avionics
Alpine Aerotech Earns Bell 212 Upgrade STC
Canadian helicopter MRO specialist Alpine Aerotech has received an STC from Transport Canada for its Bell 212 digital flight instrument package.
Regulations and Government
Lawmakers Push To Ban Helicopters over New York City
A new bill in Congress seeks to ban all Part 91 and 135 helicopter flights over New York City.
Regulations and Government
HAI Slams Proposed NYC Helo Ban Bill
The Helicopter Association International said a proposed bill to ban NYC helicopter traffic would "dismantle" the industry in the city.
Aircraft
Midwest AeroCare Takes Delivery of New Bell 407
The new Bell 407 light turbine twin helicopter gives Midwest AeroCare more airborne capabilities than the Eurocopter AS350 it replaces.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Chooses Absolute as South Africa Distributor
South Africa’s Absolute Aviation Group is a distributor for Leonardo civil models, including twins AW109 GrandNew, AW109 Trekker, AW169, and AW139.
Rotorcraft
Thales Completes H145 Sim for New Texas Training Center
Thales has completed a new Airbus H145 level D simulator for the new Helisim training center in Grand Prairie, Texas.
