Rotorcraft

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

Latest

FAA Issues New Heliport Guidance

FAA issues new advisory circular on heliport planning, design, and construction

Rotorcraft

January 10, 2023

Boost Gets Canada STC for Personnel Carrying System

Boost Systems has received Transport Canada STC approval for its personnel carrying device system for transport category rotorcraft.

Maintenance and Modifications

January 9, 2023

FAA Approves Garmin GI 275 Instrument for AStars

Garmin has received FAA supplemental type certificate approval to install its GI 275 electronic flight instrument in Airbus AStar helicopters.

Avionics

January 5, 2023

Airbus Helicopters Completes Buy of German MRO, Supplier

ZF Luftfahrttechnik—which was acquired by Airbus Helicopters—has delivered more than 10,000 gearboxes.

Rotorcraft

January 5, 2023

More Articles

Four Dead in Australian Helicopter Midair

Four dead, nine injured after pair of Airbus EC-130B4 air tour helicopters collide near Australian theme park

Accidents

January 2, 2023

Gulf Operator Loses Second Helicopter in Two Weeks

The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for survivors from a Bell 407 operated by Rotorcraft Leasing, which has now had three crashes in 2022.

Accidents

December 30, 2022

Sikorsky Challenging FLRAA Award

Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky unit is challenging Bell's win of the Army's award of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft contract to Bell.

Rotorcraft

December 29, 2022

Robinson Mandates Tail Rotor Inspections, Replacements

Loose tail rotor tips prompted a Robinson service bulletin affecting all of its helicopter models.

Maintenance and Modifications

December 27, 2022

Leonardo to Upgrade Canada’s Cormorant SAR Helicopter Fleet

The upgrade has been planned for a decade, but initially delayed on cost grounds, and will now expand the fleet in terms of both capability and numbers.

Rotorcraft

December 23, 2022

Leonardo Delivers First of 36 AW169M Twins To Austria

Austria is replacing its Alouette fleet with Leonardo AW169Ms, the first of 18 of which was delivered this morning.

Rotorcraft

December 21, 2022

KULR Vibe AI Technology Mitigates Helicopter Vibrations

KULR Vibe technology utilizes artificial intelligence and on-aircraft sensors to mitigate helicopter vibrations.

Maintenance and Modifications

December 21, 2022

Metro Aviation Achieves FAA's Fully-compliant SMS

Metro Aviation was an early participant in the FAA's safety management system pilot project.

Rotorcraft

December 20, 2022

NY Legislators Push To Close West 30th Street Heliport

New efforts to limit helicopter traffic over New York are expected following Gov. Kathy Hochul's veto last week of 'Stop the Chop' act.

Regulations and Government

December 19, 2022

Bell Delivers Two 412EPX Helicopters To Guatemala

In a ceremony marking the 101st anniversary of the Guatemalan Air Force, Bell delivered two Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopters.

Rotorcraft

December 19, 2022

Transport Canada Mandates Bell 407 Tail Boom Checks

Transport Canada issued an airworthiness directive mandating torque checks and visual inspections on Bell 407 tail booms following in-flight separation.

Accidents

December 19, 2022

Hirschberg Stepping Down at Vertical Flight Society

Mike Hirschberg said he plans to step down as executive director of the Vertical Flight Society.

Rotorcraft

December 19, 2022

New York Governor Vetoes Helicopter Noise Bill

Hochul cites federal preemption in vetoing the "Stop the Chop' Act, which would have allowed anyone to sue operators and others over helicopter noise.

Regulations and Government

December 16, 2022

How a Zero Carbon Electric Helicopter Could Save Lives and the Planet

How a Zero Carbon Electric Helicopter Could Save Lives and the Planet

Aircraft

December 15, 2022

New York Governor Urged To Veto Helicopter Noise Bill

New York's "Stop The Chop" act would unleash torrent of civil suits against helicopter operators.

Environment

December 14, 2022

Reconstituted Enstrom Gains FAA Production Certificate

Enstrom plans to restart helicopter deliveries next year

Rotorcraft

December 14, 2022