Leonardo

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Mark Huber

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

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Leonardo logged orders for three VIP configured helicopters during LABACE 2022 which will be delivered next year from Leonardo's new facility in Itapevi. 

Leonardo Logs VIP Orders at LABACE

V-Star Powered Lift Aviation announced this week that it intends to begin flying vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft in southern Australia as early as 2023. It said that as part of plans to expand advanced air mobility services in the country, it is preparing to add next-generation aircraft to its fleet for missions including&nbsp;emergency services, regional travel, and commercial transportation.
The Adelaide-based company said its mixed fleet will include at least three types of VTOL aircraft, the first of which will be the twin-engine <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2022-03-02/fifth-leonardo-aw609-tiltrotor-joins-flight-test-program">AW609</a> tiltrotor aircraft from&nbsp;Leonardo Helicopters. According to its Italian manufacturer, the six- to nine-seat AW609 is expected to be the world’s first commercially certified powered lift aircraft, combining the operational flexibility of a helicopter with the range and speed of a fixed-wing type.
V-Star said the tiltrotor is well suited for search-and-rescue missions and emergency response operations. The AW609 can travel at speeds up to 316 mph (509 km/h), has a range of 863 miles (1,389 km), and can land on most hospital and offshore helipads.
In the July 12 announcement, the Australian company said it is also partnering with Dufour Aerospace in Switzerland, which will provide the company with early access to its new <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/aero?model=aero-3">Aero 3</a> hybrid-electric, tilt-wing eVTOL. Designed for search-and-rescue operations in the harsh alpine environments in Switzerland,&nbsp;the Aero 3 is ideal for emergency services and transportation operations, Dufour says. It has a range of more than 500 miles (800 km) and is capable of traveling at up to 220 mph (350 km/h).&nbsp;
The third aircraft V-Star is eyeing for its fleet is Denver-based XTI Aircraft’s <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/trifan">TriFan 600</a>, which is being developed as an alternative to light business jets and features three ducted tilt fans and a high-swept wing design. The in-development&nbsp;TriFan 600 is expected to travel farther and faster than conventional helicopters, with a projected range of around 750 miles (1,200 km) at a maximum speed of 390 mph (630 km/h). XTI says that, compared with similar existing aircraft, the hybrid-electric model will have 60 percent lower operating costs and 75 percent lower CO2 emissions.
“These new aircraft designs will change the way we approach regional travel and transport in Australia. Anywhere we need to get people and equipment quickly and cheaply is where these airplanes come in,” said V-Star co-founder and CEO Tony Laws. “South Australia’s climate, geography, and infrastructure make it an ideal location for testing and potential manufacturing,” Laws added.
Laws said that V-Star’s headquarters in Adelaide will provide aircraft sales and leasing services, operational and maintenance support, and a world-class training center for its customers.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

V-Star To Bring Next-generation VTOL Aircraft to South Australia

Jerry Siebenmark

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Bristow will operate helicopter search and rescue services from two bases in the Netherlands.

Bristow Wins 10-year Netherlands SAR Contract

Leonardo has sold its first super-medium AW189 helicopters into the Chinese market.

Beijing Police Orders First Leonardo AW189s for China

The intermediate twin AW139s will be used by Thai Aviation Services to support an offshore production and exploration contract in the Gulf of Thailand.

Milestone Leasing Three AW139s to Thai Aviation

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

The NTSB concluded that spatial disorientation was the cause of the 2019 night AW139 crash in the Bahamas. 

NTSB: Spatial Disorientation Cause of AW139 Crash

Charles Alcock

With AW09 service entry projected for early 2024, Leonardo is making plans to work on a hybrid-electric helicopter in the second half of the decade.

Leonardo Helicopters Rebrands Kopter SH09 as the AW09

Matt Thurber

Universal Avionics sees plenty of opportunity for its ClearVision EFVS and SkyVis wearable HUD in the rotorcraft market. 

Universal Avionics Gaining in Helicopter Marketplace

Honeywell's latest avionics upgrades to synthetic vision, radar, and EGPWS are available for Leonardo's AW139.

Honeywell Adds Major Upgrades to Helicopter Avionics

Mexican authorities have detained four people in connection with the December 2018 fatal crash of a 2011 Leonardo AW109S.

Mexico AW109 Crash Now a Homicide Investigation 

Leonardo

News

Leonardo Logs VIP Orders at LABACE

V-Star To Bring Next-generation VTOL Aircraft to South Australia

Bristow Wins 10-year Netherlands SAR Contract

Beijing Police Orders First Leonardo AW189s for China

Milestone Leasing Three AW139s to Thai Aviation

NTSB: Spatial Disorientation Cause of AW139 Crash

Leonardo Helicopters Rebrands Kopter SH09 as the AW09

Universal Avionics Gaining in Helicopter Marketplace

Honeywell Adds Major Upgrades to Helicopter Avionics

Mexico AW109 Crash Now a Homicide Investigation

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