Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
IBA: Civil Helicopter Market Will Continue Bounce
IBA predicts deliveries of up to 525 new civil turbine helicopters in 2023.
Regulations and Government
Skyryse Ramps Up Automated Flight Tests with R66 Helo
Skyryse has kicked off a flight-test campaign for its FlightOS highly-automated flight control system on a Robinson R66 helicopter.
Avionics
Airbus Helicopters Selects Thales Next-gen Standby Units
Airbus Helicopters has selected Thales third-generation integrated electronic standby instrument for its new-production aircraft.
Avionics
Nationwide 5G Helicopter Restrictions Begin June 30 in U.S.
The use of a variety of helicopter flight procedures that rely on legacy radio altimeters will be banned under the new FAA 5G restrictions.
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Approves Dart Fire Attack System for Airbus H145
The FAA has granted STC approval for installation of Dart's Fire Attack System on the Airbus Helicopters H145.
Regulations and Government
Los Angeles Fire Department Takes First Bell 505
The Los Angeles Fire Department will use a Bell 505 for command and control during aerial firefighting operations.
Rotorcraft
LCI Delivers Helicopters for U.S. Offshore Wind Ops
A pair of Leonardo AW169s from aircraft lessor LCI will be used to support offshore wind turbines in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Maintenance and Modifications
Five Bell 407GXi Helicopters Delivered to Nautilus Australia
Australia’s Jet Aviation has delivered five customized Bell 407GXi helicopters to Nautilus Aviation.
Rotorcraft
FAA Approves Schweizer's Crash-resistant Fuel System
Schweizer received FAA approval for crash-resistant fuel systems on its S300 series helicopters, opening the door for helicopter sales in the U.S.
Engines
Safran and MTU Partner To Power Europe’s New Helicopter
Two of Europe’s engine giants are teaming to power the next generation of European helicopters.
Rotorcraft
NHIndustries NH90 Helicopter Flies at Paris Air Show 2023
NHIndustries NH90 Helicopter Flies at Paris Air Show 2023
Maintenance and Modifications
GE Tapped for Korea Marine Attack Helicopter Health Monitoring
Korea's new Marine Attack Helicopter will feature GE's health and usage monitoring system.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters H665 Tigre Performs at Paris Air Show 2023
Airbus Helicopters H665 Tigre Performs at Paris Air Show 2023
Rotorcraft
Japan Signs for More Mine-Hunting Helicopters
Kawasaki Heavy Industries will produce additional MCH-101s for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Rotorcraft
Billings Acquires Surplus Netherlands Chinooks
Montana-based Billings Flying Service has purchased six surplus CH-47D helicopters from the Netherlands for heavy lift and aerial firefighting.
Avionics
Canada Denies Ligado Operating Permission
Citing GPS interference, U.S. aviation groups hope Canada's Ligado ban prompts the FCC to reverse its 2020 approval.
Rotorcraft
The Helicopter Company Completes Rotortrade Acquisition
Saudi Arabia's The Helicopter Company has acquired global helicopter brokerage Rotortrade.
Rotorcraft
The Airbus Helicopters H160 Shows Off Its Moves in the Paris Air Show Flying Display
The Airbus Helicopters H160 Shows Off Its Moves in the Paris Air Show Flying Display
Rotorcraft
Airbus H145 a Popular Choice for European Air Ambulances
The five-blade Airbus Helicopters H145 is gaining traction with European air ambulance operators.
Engines
Safran Validates Helicopter Hybrid Propulsion
Safran Helicopter Engines has validated its "eco mode" hybrid helicopter propulsion system for the Airbus Racer.
Accidents
NTSB: Pilot Inattention Caused Medevac Crash
The NTSB finds controlled flight into terrain accident caused by pilot reading log book while flying in mountains.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Pushes X2 For NATO NextGen Rotorcraft
Sikorsky has teamed with Leonardo to investigate its compound helicopter technology for NATO's Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability program.
Rotorcraft
Autonomy Is Key for Fast Aerial Firefighting Response
Rain Industries is developing autonomous capabilities for aerial firefighting helicopters.
Aircraft
Boeing Brings Full Portfolio to Paris
Boeing says its upcoming airplane models will help pave the way to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Regulations and Government
CHC Challenges Irish Coast Guard SAR Award
CHC is challenging Ireland's award of a $715 million Coast Guard search-and-rescue contract to Bristow Group.
Accidents
Air Crane Lands on Pickup Truck
An Erickson S-64E Skycrane used the bed of a pickup truck as a landing surface after its right gear detached in flight.
Rotorcraft
Military Variant of Leonardo AW609 Appears Likely
The U.S. Army's contract award to Bell to develop its V-280 tiltrotor for an assault aircraft raises speculation of the AW609's use as an escort vehicle.
Avionics
Air Maestro Merges With Spidertracks
Combined companies Air Maestro and Spidertracks will provide comprehensive SMS and flight tracking software and hardware solutions.
Fuel
China Flies First Helo with SAF
China's State Grid Space Technology has flown an Airbus H125 with a 40 percent sustainable aviation fuel mixture.
Engines
Safran Aims To Double Helicopter Engine Production
Safran Helicopter Engines' new CEO says the company will double annual production to 1,000 units in 2024.
