Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
Germany Chooses Chinook for Heavylifter Requirement
After many years of deliberation, Germany has selected the CH-47 over the CH-53K, citing greater interoperability with NATO allies.
Rotorcraft
UK Orders CHC To Offload Babcock Helicopter Business
UK authority brands CHC's 2021 acquisition of Babcock's offshore helicopter business anti-competitive.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet Launches Helicopter Division
Flexjet will fly Sikorsky S-76s in the Northeastern states and Florida.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Narrows Annual Loss
Bristow Group reported a net loss of $15.8 million on $1.1 billion in revenues for the 2022 fiscal year.
Rotorcraft
Piasecki Enters Hydrogen Helicopter into eVTOL Race
Piasecki's new eVTOL and UAS designs build on legacy research vehicles.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Sending Trio of AW139s to Australia
CHC Australia will operate Leonardo AW139s for Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service.
Rotorcraft
Babcock Takes First H160s for French Navy
Helicopter operator Babcock will lease 10 Airbus H160 helicopters to the French Navy.
Maintenance and Modifications
TransDigm Completes Dart Acquisition
Helicopter aftermarket manufacturer Dart acquired by TransDigm for $360 million.
Rotorcraft
First Woman Pilots AW609 Tiltrotor
Emirati Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum is the first woman to fly Leonardo's AW609 civil tiltrotor.
Regulations and Government
FAA Inspector Took 'Money and Hookers' To Ignore Violations
Former FAA inspector Cislo testifies at Hansen Helicopter trial.
Rotorcraft
Kaman To Acquire Parker's Wheel and Brake Division
The more than 80-year-old division supports over 100 aircraft platforms in the commercial, military, and general aviation markets.
Rotorcraft
Blade Acquisition To Increase European Footprint
Blade Air Mobility is acquiring the commercial activities of three leading helicopter operators in Europe.
Rotorcraft
Agusta Returns to the Marketplace as Leonardo Logs New Orders
Leonardo helicopters continue to sell well in the private/corporate transport market, where the company has relaunched the famous Agusta brand.
Aircraft
PAL-V’s Flying Car on Track for 2024 Service Entry
PAL-V’s innovative flying car is gearing up to begin certification verification flights next year.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Corporate Helicopters Looks to the Future
As ACH reports a successful 2021 for sales, the company and its parent are driving new technologies to make helicopters cleaner and quieter.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Commits To More Aston Martin Edition ACH130s
Airbus Helicopters will manufacture a second batch of ACH130s with the Aston Martin luxury interior.
Maintenance and Modifications
MD Helicopters Conversion Delivers More Power
MD's Model 530E to F conversion program boosts high and hot performance.
Maintenance and Modifications
MD Helicopters Conversion Delivers More Power
MD Helicopters has delivered an MD-530F as part of its E-to-F conversion program which boosts high and hot performance.
Charter & Fractional
Blade India Launches Helicopter Flights in Goa
The new service by Blade India offers per-seat helicopters charter flights in the former Portuguese state of Goa.
Maintenance and Modifications
Leonardo Opens New Paris Service Center
Leonardo has opened a new helicopter service center at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport which will service the company's line of turbine twins.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Corporate Helicopters Cheers Rising Orders
ACH at EBACE reported a significant demand boost for corporate helicopters and its bespoke designer interiors.
Regulations and Government
EASA To Improve Integration of Rotor Health Systems
An EASA notice of proposed amendment aims to improve the ability to integrate the use of vibration health monitoring systems for helicopter rotors.
Rotorcraft
International Hotelier Setting Up Luxury Helicopter Service
Erwin Jager, chairman of Barrows Hotel Enterprises, is entering the luxury helicopter charter business.
Rotorcraft
EASA Studying Helicopter Underwater Escape
EASA has contracted with the CAAi for a new study on helicopter underwater egress which will be used to validate or amend EASA CS-27 and CS-29 standards.
Rotorcraft
Malaysia's Weststar Aviation Considers IPO
Weststar operates Southeast Asia’s largest offshore energy helicopter fleet.
Rotorcraft
Avic Sees Progress On Two Civil Helicopter Programs
The Avicopter AC313A heavy lift helicopter makes its first flight and AVIC's AC352 super-medium is expected to be certified later this year.
Rotorcraft
RotorTech UK Show Canceled
RotorTech UK organizers pulled the plug on next month's show after losing indoor exhibit space.
Maintenance and Modifications
Vita Inclinata Quadruples Production
Vita systems has quadrupled its manufacturing lines and integrated new technologies to ramp up production in order to meet global demand for products.
Rotorcraft
South Korean Forces Place Order for 40 Bell 505s
The Bell 505 will be the new military training helicopter for the South Korean Army and Navy.
Charter & Fractional
Surack Buys Enstrom Helicopter
Indiana-based Surack Enterprises bought Enstrom Helicopter Corporation after a previously-announced deal to sell the company collapsed.
