Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rotorcraft
Bristow CEO Reports Slow Ascent in Revenue
Helicopter services company Bristow Group quadruples net income on modest revenue gains.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Signs New Service Clients at European Rotors
Airbus Helicopters gained significant new fleet clients for its HCare product support program during this week's European Rotors conference.
Engines
GE Delivers 250th CT7-2E1 Helicopter Engine
GE Aerospace has delivered its 250th CT7-2E1 helicopter engine to Leonardo Helicopter.
Aircraft
Hyundai's Supernal Previews its eVTOL Air Taxi Experience
At the recent NBAA-BACE trade show, FutureFlight got a front row seat for a simulated flight of Supernal’s planned SA-1 eVTOL aircraft.
Engines
P&WC Engines Log 200,000 Hours on Polish Ambulances
Poland's LPR air ambulance service has logged more than 200,000 hours on its PW206B-powered Airbus H135 helicopter fleet.
Accidents
Seven Die in AW109E Helicopter Crash in Italy
The helicopter went down shortly after departing Italy's Tremiti Islands, killing all seven aboard.
Rotorcraft
Study: eVTOL Industry Needs 10,000 Engineers
A study by VFS and Hysky Society urges diversity and inclusion to attract and retain needed engineering talent for new vertical flight programs.
Rotorcraft
Bell Delivers Last Viper Attack Helicopter to Marines
The delivery of the last Bell AH-1Z helicopter to the U.S. Marine Corps marks the end of an era for U.S. forces.
Rotorcraft
Rocketlab's Second S-92 Midair Rocket Capture Fails
Rocketlab pulls Sikorsky S-92 out of recovery area after telemetry failure.
Rotorcraft
Autonomous Black Hawk Flies Resupply, Medevac Missions
An autonomous, uncrewed Sikorsky Black Hawk recently flew a variety of simulated military missions.
Rotorcraft
Royal Jordanian Air Force Selects Bell 505 for Training
Royal Jordanian air force orders 10 Bell 505 helicopters for military training.
Accidents
Hansen Helicopters' 'Highway To Hell'
Guam tuna spotting firm, CEO implicated in deaths, convicted on dozens of offenses
Rotorcraft
Bird Strike Research Seeks Mitigation Strategies
Advancements in sound and lighting technologies could be key to reducing escalating bird strikes on aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Electric R44 Completes First Airport-to-airport Flight
An electric-powered R44 helicopter modified by Tier 1 Engineering and Lung Biotechnology showed a new way to transport transplantable organs.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Helicopters Posts Earnings Growth in 3Q22
Airbus Helicopters posts 33 percent jump in orders during the first nine months of 2022.
Rotorcraft
Italy's Carabinieri Order 20 Leonardo AW119Kx Singles
Italy's Carabinieri will utilize its fleet of 20 Leonardo AW119Kx helicopters for a variety of police and firefighting missions.
Rotorcraft
Vuichard To Teach Recovery Technique at European Rotors
Claude Vuichard will teach his vortex ring state recovery technique at the upcoming European Rotors conference.
Aircraft
Wisk Aero Explains How Its New Four-Seat Autonomous eVTOL Air Taxi Will Work
Autonomous eVTOL developer Wisk Aero recently publicly revealed its new sixth-generation aircraft.
Avionics
Helicopter Specialist Arrow Named Skytrac Service Center
Skytrac—a provider of satcom and connectivity equipment for aviation—has named Louisiana-based Arrow Aviation as an authorized service center.
Rotorcraft
First AH-64E Apache Guardian for the Netherlands
The Koninjklijke Luchtmacht’s Apache fleet is being overhauled with the delivery of remanufactured AH-64Ds.
