Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
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.
Rotorcraft
Training Time: 'Flying the AW609'
A few flights in the engineering sim suggest the tiltrotor will be a smooth transition for both fixed-wing and rotary pilots.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Signs DRF for H145 Upgrades
DRF Luftrettung will retrofit its Airbus H145 helo fleet with new five-blade upgrade.
Rotorcraft
Safran, Uber Collaborate On eVTOL Cabin
Safran and Uber have fashioned an eVTOL cabin mockup they hope will set the standard for the industry.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Lessor LCI in New $100 Million Deal
LCI has partnered with Flexam to place five helicopters on long-term leases
Rotorcraft
USAF Slashes Helo Training Time With Virtual Reality
The first USAF helicopter pilot class using virtual reality graduated six weeks early.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bell Names Fifth Authorized MRO in China
China State Grid General Aviation will provide authorized maintenance on the Bell 429 medium-twin helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Mil To Absorb Kamov Following High-speed Rotorcraft Win
The selection of Mil’s design to form the basis of a new high-speed combat helicopter was the catalyst for a merger of the two rotary-wing design bureaus.
Aircraft
ADEX 2019: KAI Unveils KF-X Mockup, New Surion Variants
South Korea’s fifth-generation fighter program recently completed a major milestone with the passing of its critical design review.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Enters Raider X in Army FARA Derby
Sikorsky is proposing the "Raider X" compound helicopter for the Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.
