Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
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.
Rotorcraft
Atlanta Police Department Upgrades to MD 530F
The Atlanta Police Department will purchase two MD 530F helicopters and upgrade its MD 500E.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Expands Leonardo Fleet For UK SAR
Bristow Group is expanding its Leonardo fleet with the purchase of six AW139 helicopters to support its UKSAR2G contract.
Aircraft
U.S. Selects Bell's V-280 Valor Tiltrotor For New Assault Aircraft
Bell's V-280 Valor tiltrotor technology beats Sikorsky and Boeing in battle to replace up to 4,000 Black Hawks for the U.S. Army.
Accidents
Bell 407 Tail Booms To Get Fresh Scrutiny
NTSB calls on FAA to impose stricter inspection regime after Bell 407 in-flight tail boom separation
Rotorcraft
Erickson Delivers Eighth Air Crane to South Korea
The Korean Forest Service took delivery of its eighth Erickson S-64 Air Crane on December 3rd.
Aircraft
Airbus Helicopters Expands Middle Eastern Market Inroads
Airbus Helicopters announces new sales and service deals during MEBAA Show.
Rotorcraft
Switzerland's Rega Orders 12 More Airbus H145s
Rega—a helicopter emergency medical services provider in Switzerland—will operate 21 Airbus H145 helicopters by 2021.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Milestone Places S-92s With China's CITIC
Helicopter lessor Milestone has placed a pair of Sikorsky S-92s with China's CITIC Offshore Helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Electric Charging For eVTOL Aircraft Is Different From Cars
When it comes to battery charging, you can't treat an eVTOL aircraft like a Tesla car, says Australia's Electro.
Regulations and Government
The "No Surprises Act" is a License To Steal
The federal "No Surprises Act" places the air ambulance industry in financial peril, according to the Association of Air Medical Services.
Maintenance and Modifications
BLR FastFin Certified for Black Hawk Helicopters
BLR Aerospace has received FAA STC approval for its patented FastFin system for the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Launches 'DisruptiveLab' Demo Helicopter
Airbus's latest helicopter is a flying laboratory designed to test technologies to cut carbon emissions and noise.
Rotorcraft
Bell Logs More Than 230,000 Flight Training Hours
The Bell Training Academy has exceeded 230,000 flight training hours and trained over 130,000 pilots from more than 135 countries.
Rotorcraft
UK Sending Retired Sea Kings to Ukraine
British government to provide trio of retired Westland WS-61 Sea King helicopters to Ukraine.
Maintenance and Modifications
ASU Snags Night Vision Contract from Brazil Government
Aviation Specialties Unlimited was awarded a contract to supply night vision equipment to military and government customers in Brazil.
Accidents
Bell 407 Tail Boom Separation Prompts FAASTeam Caution
Bell 407 operators are advised to torque check tail boom attachment hardware following a June in-flight separation accident.
Regulations and Government
Australian Army Helicopter Ignited Massive Brushfire
Australian coroner's court is investigating a 2020 Orroral Valley bushfire, which was started by army helicopter’s search light.
Rotorcraft
March to More Electric Rotorcraft Continues
AVX Aircraft wins Department of Defense contract to develop all-electric flight control system for helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Airo Group Expands Scope For eVTOL Operations and Prepares To Go Public
Airo Group Expands Scope For eVTOL Operations and Prepares To Go Public
Regulations and Government
Air Ambulance H145 Dual Flameout Traced To IBF Icing
According to Norway’s Accident Investigation Board, ice-clogged inlet barrier filters likely caused the dual flameout on an Airbus H145 helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Robinson Helicopter Founder Frank Robinson Dies at 92
Frank Robinson, founder of iconic helicopter company, passed away over the weekend. He was 92.
Maintenance and Modifications
EASA Proposes Heli Crash-resistant Fuel Systems
EASA is proposing a rule that would require crash-resistant fuel systems in all in-production helicopters and most in-service rotorcraft.
Rotorcraft
Blade's Revenues Up as Losses Stabilize
Blade Air Mobility's organ transport business, MediMobility, now equates to nearly half of its revenues.
Charter & Fractional
ACH160 Helicopter with Lounge Interior Set for European Debut
Italy's Air Corporate plans to base a newly acquired ACH160 in a special ‘Lounge” configuration in Milan early next year.
Rotorcraft
DRF Luftrettung Orders Two Airbus H145s and Data Service Suite
Now flying 15 H145s and three H135s, German EMS operator DRF Luftrettung adds to its Airbus fleet with an order for two more H145s.
Rotorcraft
Bell Sells Five 505 Singles Into The Baltics
Bell sold three 505s to Airborne during the European Rotors conference and appointed the company as its independent representative in the Baltic states.
Maintenance and Modifications
Leonardo AW169 Gains EASA Skid, Single-Pilot SAR Approvals
EASA has certified the AW169 for skid gear and single-pilot advanced IFR search and rescue operations.
Aircraft
DRF Luftrettung Expands Airbus Air Ambulance Fleet
German air ambulance provider DRF Luftrettung has ordered more Airbus H145 helicopters and additional services from the manufacturer.
Maintenance and Modifications
Safran Signs Saudis To Hourly Service Contract
Safran Helicopter Engines will provide support-by-the-hour for The Helicopter and Jet Company's Airbus fleet in Saudi Arabia.
