Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Engines
Leonardo AW09 Switches To Safran Power
Leonardo will fly its latest AW09 single turbine engine prototype with Safran's Arriel 2K engine.
Rotorcraft
Bell's Civil Helicopter Deliveries Surge in 2022
Despite a decline in deliveries of Bell military helicopters last year, the company delivered 176 civil helicopters in 2022, up from 156 the prior year.
Rotorcraft
Police Kill Man Lasing, Shooting at Helicopter
A 33-year-old Detroit man who opened fire on state police helicopter was fatally shot by officers on the ground.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Continues Market Leadership in 2022
Airbus Helicopters reported that it received 374 orders and made 344 deliveries last year.
Training and Workforce
How To Be a Safe Helicopter Pilot
There's more to being safe than simply not crashing, and here we learn how from helicopter experts.
Regulations and Government
CBAA Joins Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Task Group
The Canadian Business Aviation Association's participation in an industry-government advanced air mobility task group will help shape priorities for AAM.
Rotorcraft
Used Single-engine Helicopter Sales Fell in 2022
Sales for preowned, single-engine helicopters were down 12 percent in 2022 as supply dwindles.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Delivers 5,000th Black Hawk Helicopter
Sikorsky delivered its 5,000th Black Hawk Helicopter to the U.S. Army, which plans to fly the type for at least another 40 years.
Accidents
Maker of Defective Rotor Pin Agrees to $10M Settlement
A defective rotor pin triggered the 2021 fatal crash of a Bell 212 in Canada resulting in a worldwide fleet grounding.
Rotorcraft
Kaman Ending Production of K-Max Heavy-lift Helicopter
Kaman will discontinue its K-Max, saying production of the heavy-lift helicopter is not a "compelling" growth opportunity.
Accidents
No Witnesses, Video for Fatal Bell 407 Gulf Crash
NTSB preliminary report notes that no eyewitnesses or video exists in investigation of a Bell 407 that crashed on takeoff from Gulf Coast energy platform.
Engines
Safran Signs Support-by-the-Hour Contract
Yellowhead Helicopters operates missions for the forestry, mining, oil and gas, utility, and tourism industries.
Charter & Fractional
Private-equity Firm RedBird Boosts Blade Stake
Redbird Capital Partners has taken a 5 percent stake in Blade Air Mobility.
Rotorcraft
European Rotors Moves To Madrid in 2023
The 2023 European Rotors conference will be held in Madrid from November 28 to 30.
Rotorcraft
CHC Divests Babcock's Former UK Offshore Operations
CHC Helicopter Group is selling Offshore UK following competition finding.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Bristow Refinances UK SAR Debt
Bristow signs $176 million deal to refinance debt associated with UK SAR contract.
Rotorcraft
AStar Ground School To Be Offered at Heli-Expo 2023
EuroSafety International will offer an Airbus H125 ground school at this year's HAI Heli-Expo.
Rotorcraft
FAA Issues New Heliport Guidance
FAA issues new advisory circular on heliport planning, design, and construction
Maintenance and Modifications
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.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Completes Buy of German MRO, Supplier
ZF Luftfahrttechnik—which was acquired by Airbus Helicopters—has delivered more than 10,000 gearboxes.
Avionics
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.
Accidents
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
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.
Rotorcraft
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.
Maintenance and Modifications
Robinson Mandates Tail Rotor Inspections, Replacements
Loose tail rotor tips prompted a Robinson service bulletin affecting all of its helicopter models.
Rotorcraft
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
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.
Maintenance and Modifications
KULR Vibe AI Technology Mitigates Helicopter Vibrations
KULR Vibe technology utilizes artificial intelligence and on-aircraft sensors to mitigate helicopter vibrations.
Rotorcraft
Metro Aviation Achieves FAA's Fully-compliant SMS
Metro Aviation was an early participant in the FAA's safety management system pilot project.
Accidents
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.
