Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
FAA Certification Chief Promotes FBW in Light Rotorcraft
FAA's Lirio Liu hails the potential of fly-by-wire in light rotorcraft as 'a major advancement.'
Regulations and Government
EASA To Revise Helo EMS Operational Rules
EASA is raising the bar for helicopter emergency medical service operations in Europe, with new rules to take effect by mid-2023.
Aircraft
Hyundai’s Supernal Division Unveils Its S-A1 eVTOL Aircraft
Hyundai’s Supernal Division Unveils Its S-A1 eVTOL Aircraft
Rotorcraft
Sheriff Calls Helicopters 'Flying Dinosaurs'
Hamilton County Ohio plans to replace outdated MD-series 500 sheriff helicopters with drones.
Rotorcraft
HAI Slams National Parks Air Tour Plan
HAI president James Viola believes a proposed parks overflight plan could put air tour operators out of business.
Rotorcraft
First Navy Class Begins Training in Leonardo TH-73A
Student naval aviators will now train in the Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher.
Rotorcraft
Baldwin Becomes Accepted Vendor For R-ASIAS
Rotorcraft Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (R-ASIAS) mirrors safety reporting programs developed for fixed-wing aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Accident Board Takes Fresh Issue with S-92 Main Gearbox
Issues with Vespel spline adapters continue to overhang S-92 main gearboxes.
Accidents
AW139 Makes Emergency Landing in Louisiana
All survive after a Bristow medevac flight experiences cockpit smoke and loss of flight controls, resulting in an emergency landing in southern Louisiana.
Rotorcraft
French Navy Receives First Airbus H160 for SAR Duties
Six civilian-standard helicopters are being taken into service by the Marine Nationale in advance of the first deliveries of militarized H160Ms.
Rotorcraft
Helo Market Expected To Grow to $41 Billion by 2027
Growth will be driven by the demand for light helicopters, greater aftermarket demand, and the commercialization of UAM and eVTOL aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Brazilian Military Orders 27 Airbus H125s
The order for 27 Airbus H125 helicopters will be used by the Brazilian air force and navy flight training programs.
Regulations and Government
Hansen CEO Walker Remanded into Custody
Hansen Helicopters CEO John Walker was remanded into custody on Monday after judge expressed concerns about 'getting burned.'
Rotorcraft
Poland Plans to Acquire Large Apache Guardian Fleet
If all the planned 96 AH-64Es are purchased it will make the Polish army the second biggest Apache operator after the U.S. Army.
Regulations and Government
USAF Grey Wolf Advances Toward Deployment
The FAA STCs clear the path for the Boeing-Leonardo MH-139A helicopter's operational testing.
Regulations and Government
Hansen Helicopters, CEO Walker Guilty on All Counts
Prosecutor: Case 'about greed.'
Accidents
Fatal Bell 212 Crash Tied To Defective Pin
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has linked the fatal crash of a 1979 Bell 212 to the failure of a main rotor blade hub strap retaining pin.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Wins Equinor SAR Contract
Bristow will provide a trio of SAR-configured Sikorsky S-92s to Norway's state-owned energy company.
Rotorcraft
MD Helicopters Emerges from Bankruptcy
MD Helicopters's assets have been acquired by a new operating company and it has appointed a new board, CEO, and senior executives.
Engines
XL Aerospace Develops New Fuel Nozzle Test Stand
The XL Aerospace fuel nozzle test stand's configuration supports a range of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C/T, PW206, and PW207 turboshaft engines.
Maintenance and Modifications
Canada's G2 Performs VIP AStar Conversion
Quebec-based G2 Aviation has converted a utility AStar to VIP configuration for use by Helicraft for VIP transport and aerial city tours.
Avionics
Safran Bidding for Thales' Power Business
Safran is negotiating with Thales to acquire its aeronautical electrical systems business.
Rotorcraft
First-half Sales, Supply of Preowned Helos Drops
Sales of preowned heavy helicopters were the only class to buck the first-half 2022 trend, Aero Asset said.
Rotorcraft
HAI Joins Utah Roundtable To Explore Workforce Efforts
HAI joined an Aviation Workforce Development Roundtable to discuss ways to attract interest in rotary-wing careers.
Airports
AAM Infrastructure Still the Known Unknown
Panelists at the VFS Electric Aircraft Symposium stressed the need for advanced air mobility infrastructure for commercial success.
Maintenance and Modifications
Engine Fires Prompt Army To Ground Entire Chinook Fleet
CH-47 engine fires are linked to use of nonstandard engine O-rings.
Rotorcraft
PHI Opens Regional Headquarters in Perth
PHI's new regional headquarters in Perth will oversee operations in the Asia Pacific.
Regulations and Government
FAA Grants HOGE Utility Power STC for AW139
Defense systems on Boeing-Leonardo MH-139A triggered the need for multiple STCs.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo AW249 Makes First Flight
New two-seat Leonardo AW249 attack helicopter—a successor to the AW129 Mangusta—made its first flight on August 12 in Vergiate, Italy.
Rotorcraft
Air Force Takes First Boeing-Leonardo MH-139A
The U.S. Air Force MH-139 will be used to protect intercontinental ballistic missile bases and transport government officials and security forces.
