Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
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.
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
CHC Divests Babcock's Former UK Offshore Operations
CHC Helicopter Group is selling Offshore UK following competition finding.
Rotorcraft
European Rotors Moves To Madrid in 2023
The 2023 European Rotors conference will be held in Madrid from November 28 to 30.
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.
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.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Completes Buy of German MRO, Supplier
ZF Luftfahrttechnik—which was acquired by Airbus Helicopters—has delivered more than 10,000 gearboxes.
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.
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
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
Metro Aviation Achieves FAA's Fully-compliant SMS
Metro Aviation was an early participant in the FAA's safety management system pilot project.
Rotorcraft
Hirschberg Stepping Down at Vertical Flight Society
Mike Hirschberg said he plans to step down as executive director of the Vertical Flight Society.
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.
Rotorcraft
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.
Regulations and Government
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
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.
Aircraft
How a Zero Carbon Electric Helicopter Could Save Lives and the Planet
How a Zero Carbon Electric Helicopter Could Save Lives and the Planet
Avionics
Congresswoman Flies Helicopter with Pilot Assist System
Skyryse's FlightOS system enables almost anyone to fly a helicopter with almost no training.
Avionics
Rotor Tech's 'Cloud Pilot' Flies Uncrewed R22 Helo
Rotor Technologies hopes to apply its remotely-operated aircraft technology to aerial firefighting.
Environment
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.
Maintenance and Modifications
Alpine's New Bear Paws Approved for AStars
Alpine Aerotech's Bear Paws have received Transport Canada STC approval.
