Rotorcraft

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Rotorcraft

Resurrection of the Super Puma

Airbus H225 helicopters have found new life and missions in the wake of the 2016 offshore accident.

Rotorcraft

Company Seeks Partner To Build Certified S-52 Helo

Vertical Aviation Technologies is seeking a strategic partner to produce an updated, certified version of the Sikorsky S-52.

Rotorcraft

Bell Delivers More Helos but Revenues, Profit Slip

Commercial helicopter deliveries at Bell rose to 25 units in the first quarter of 2022.

Avionics

Air Methods Selects Skyryse for Flight Controls

Air Methods will retrofit its air ambulance fleet with Skyryse FlightOS flight controls.

Charter & Fractional

Bell Sells Two More 505 Singles into Switzerland

Bell has signed a purchase agreement with Swiss helicopter services company Karen for two Bell 505 helicopters for charter and flight training.

Rotorcraft

Vita Delivers Helo Load Stabilization System to Ukraine

The CEO of Vita has hand-delivered the company's Vita Rescue System for helicopter rescue load stabilization into an active war zone in Ukraine.

Airports

Air-One eVTOL Transportation Hub Makes Debut in UK

Urban-Air Port and eVTOL developer Supernal unveiled in the UK a fully functional example of a “multimodal infrastructure hub” to support eVTOL ops.

Rotorcraft

Helicopter Thief Convicted for Flying without a License

A Massachusetts man who had his license revoked in 2000 following a conviction for helicopter theft has now been found guilty of flying without a license.

Rotorcraft

Bell Manufacturing Technology Center To Modernize Production for Next Gen Rotorcraft

Rotorcraft

Sikorsky S-92 To Recover Rocket's First Stage in Midair

A Sikorsky S-92 helicopter will be used in an attempt to recover Rocket Lab's reusable Electron satellite booster mid-air following the rocket launch.

Airports

EVTOL Vertiport Projects Launched in U.S. Midwest

Construction is beginning on two eVTOL vertiports in the Quad Cities and Oshkosh.

Aircraft

Autonomous Aircraft Could Carry Vital Supplies to War and Disaster Zones

Rotorcraft

Airbus Sells First 'Line Lounge' ACH160 in Brazil

The Airbus ACH160 can be equipped with the modular Line Lounge interior.

Regulations and Government

Eve and Zanite Plan To Complete Merger, IPO Next Month

Eve Urban Air Mobility and Zanite Acquisition expect to complete their merger on May 9 and then float shares in the new Eve Holding entity on the NYSE.

Rotorcraft

Bestfly Expands Leonardo Fleet

Angolan operator Bestfly is expanding its fleet of Leonardo helicopters to support offshore energy.

Maintenance and Modifications

First Aviation To Buy Heliblade, Expand Helo Mx Service

First Aviation Services is acquiring Heliblade and forming a new rotary-wing maintenance division for rotor blades and dynamic components.

Rotorcraft

Bristow, Helicentre Formalize Training Partnership

Bristow Group has selected Helicentre as its preferred provider of ab-initio commercial pilot training.

Accidents

NTSB: LASD Super Puma Crashed In Brownout

'Rescue 5' was responding to an emergency call and attempting to land when the helicopter became engulfed in dust, contacted a tree, and rolled over.

Charter & Fractional

Volare Expands Helo Ops At London Oxford

Volare Aviation has opened a dedicated helicopter maintenance, management and refurbishment facility at London Oxford Airport.

Rotorcraft

Super Puma Operator Lands Navy Contract

Texas-based Air Center Helicopters has landed a vertical replenishment contract with the U.S. Navy to provide services.

Rotorcraft

Sikorsky Details Progress On Army Programs

Sikorsky Raider and Defiant prototype rotorcraft programs mark milestones.

Finance, Taxes, Insurance

LCI Doubles Helicopters in Joint Venture

Helicopter lessor LCI now has 38 aircraft in a joint venture with Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company.

Maintenance and Modifications

Volare Aviation Opens Helicopter Maintenance Facility at Oxford

The opening of a dedicated helicopter maintenance, management, and refurbishment facility will help Volare Aviation keep up with demand growth, it said.