Rotorcraft

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Regulations and Government

EASA Could Increase Pilot Age Limit For HEMS Operations

The air safety agency has submitted its official Opinion on possible rule changes to the European Commission
Rotorcraft

Dart and United Develop Super Puma Firefighting Kit

The new multi-mission package aims to close a gap in capability for Category 1 aircraft
Dart and United Rotorcraft have developed an aerial firefighting system for Airbus Super Puma helicopters.
Rotorcraft

Airbus ACH160 Helicopter Marks Its First BACE

Airbus Corporate Helicopters getting more business from jet owners
SmartSky at NBAA-BACE 2023
Rotorcraft

Robinson Sees Increased Helicopter Production in 2023

New R66 horizontal stabilizer to be offered as a retrofit
A Robinson R66 helicopter is pictured in flight.
Rotorcraft

Enstrom Names R&D Center for 55-year Employee

James Bournonville joined Enstrom in 1968
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation
Rotorcraft

ArcosJet and Air Chateau Pair on Dubai Heliport Plan

ArcosJet acquires stake in Air Chateau
Air Chateau helicopter
Rotorcraft

NASA Conducts Rotorcraft Landing Wind Study

Project aims to find out how wind and weather at landing sites are affected by buildings
Avionics

Rain and Sikorsky Collaborate on Autonomous Firefighting Helicopters

Uncrewed Black Hawk will be used to demonstrate rapid fire response
Article image
Rotorcraft

One Year Out of Bankruptcy, MD Helicopters on Upswing

Support for customers is key to future growth at rotorcraft manufacturer
Brad Pedersen MD Helicopters president and CEO
Rotorcraft

Blade Providing an Encore BACE UAM Shuttle

Blade's shuttle service to be provided by Orbic Air
Blade shuttle service NBAA-BACE 2021 (Photo: NBAA)
Rotorcraft

Erickson Selling More Air Cranes to Helicopter Express

Heavy-lift specialist operates a diversified fleet of 24 helicopters
Erickson
Rotorcraft

Euro Rotors To Highlight Training, Workforce Development

Conference takes place from November 27 to 30 in Madrid
European Rotors
Safety

Laser Injures Yorkshire Air Ambulance Flight Crew

Yorkshire helicopter ambulances hit by lasers three times in one week
Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter
Environment

Airbus Seeks Greener Helos from PioneerLab Research

Modified H145 helicopter will feature hybrid propulsion and autonomous systems
Airbus's PioneerLab helicopter technology testbed based on an H145 model.
Rotorcraft

USHST Summit Illuminates Helicopter IFR Issues

U.S. Helicopter Safety Team summit presses for wider adaptation of weather cameras, FAA reforms
Rotorcraft

Used Twin-engine Helicopter Market Softens in 1H

Aero Asset reports declining transactions and increasing supply
Helicopter for state of industry
Rotorcraft

FAA Warns of Helo Parts from Data-plate Swapping

Data plate from wrecked Bell 206B allegedly attached to similar aircraft of 'unknown origin'
FAA building
Rotorcraft

Western Air Ambulance Services Mark Anniversaries

Intermountain Life Flight and Classic Air Medical have transported nearly 200,000 patients
Intermountain Health System's air ambulance helicopters.
Maintenance and Modifications

Rotor OEMs Move To Improve Mx Service Offerings

Companies announce initiatives to improve customer service
Rotorcraft

Medevac Helicopter Pilot Heard Loud 'Bang' Before Crash

Sound came from rear prior to fatal accident
Broward Country air ambulance helicopter accident August 28, 2023
Rotorcraft

Florida's Palm Beach County Getting Two Medevac AW169s

A pair of AW169s will enter the Palm Beach Trauma Hawk program early next year
New Trauma Hawk Aircraft Landing
Rotorcraft

PHI Signs for 28 Airbus Helicopters

Deal includes orders and options for Airbus H175 and H160 helicopters
PHI Airbus H160 helic0pter
Rotorcraft

Aerogulf Bell 212 Crash Investigation Underway

Body of second crew member recovered
Bell 212
Rotorcraft

Léman Aviation Acquires Alpes Hélicoptères

Industry veterans take control at Alpes Hélicoptères
Rotorcraft

Black Widow and XP Join To Produce New UH-60 Variant

Lima+ will feature engine and avionics upgrades
Rotorcraft

AW169 Crash Investigation Points to Flaws in Part 29 Regs

Duplex bearing failure lead to 2018 AW169 crash
Rotorcraft

Whirly-Girls Opens 2024 Scholarship Applications

Whirly-Girls will award $500,000 in scholarships in 2024
2022 Whirly-Girls scholarship recipients
Rotorcraft

NTSB: S-64 Descending as It Collided with Bell 407

Firefighting helicopters took different routes around terrain before collision
Path taken by S-64 and Bell 407 helicopters before midair collision
Rotorcraft

New Leadership at Airbus Helicopters North America

Reijnen succeeds Trapp at Airbus Helicopters
Bart Reijnen, Airbus Helicopters
Rotorcraft

FAA Approves Improved Empennage for Robinson R66

New R66 horizontal stabilizer improves roll stability
A Robinson R66 helicopter is pictured in flight.