Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
Kaman Announces More K-Max Orders
Kaman has announced more orders for its heavy lift K-Max, company continues to work on civil unmanned version.
Rotorcraft
Erickson in $996 Million DoD Support Contract
Erickson continuing to expand its defense-related business.
Rotorcraft
TSB: Tool Bag Downed Canadian AStar
A Canadian AStar crashed after an externally mounted tool bag separated from the helicopter and hit the tail rotor.
Rotorcraft
Germany Receives First Sea Lion, but Awaits Sea Tiger Contract
Germany has taken delivery of its first naval NH90 to replace the Sea King, but has still not signed for the Lynx replacement
Rotorcraft
Soloy Aviation Solutions Gets New Ownership Structure
The company will continue to operate as Soloy Aviation Solutions and support most of the existing and legacy STCs, but will relocate to a new facility.
Avionics
Alpine Aerotech Earns Bell 212 Upgrade STC
Canadian helicopter MRO specialist Alpine Aerotech has received an STC from Transport Canada for its Bell 212 digital flight instrument package.
Regulations and Government
Lawmakers Push To Ban Helicopters over New York City
A new bill in Congress seeks to ban all Part 91 and 135 helicopter flights over New York City.
Regulations and Government
HAI Slams Proposed NYC Helo Ban Bill
The Helicopter Association International said a proposed bill to ban NYC helicopter traffic would "dismantle" the industry in the city.
Aircraft
Midwest AeroCare Takes Delivery of New Bell 407
The new Bell 407 light turbine twin helicopter gives Midwest AeroCare more airborne capabilities than the Eurocopter AS350 it replaces.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Chooses Absolute as South Africa Distributor
South Africa’s Absolute Aviation Group is a distributor for Leonardo civil models, including twins AW109 GrandNew, AW109 Trekker, AW169, and AW139.
Rotorcraft
Thales Completes H145 Sim for New Texas Training Center
Thales has completed a new Airbus H145 level D simulator for the new Helisim training center in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Rotorcraft
Training Time: 'Flying the AW609'
A few flights in the engineering sim suggest the tiltrotor will be a smooth transition for both fixed-wing and rotary pilots.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Signs DRF for H145 Upgrades
DRF Luftrettung will retrofit its Airbus H145 helo fleet with new five-blade upgrade.
Rotorcraft
Safran, Uber Collaborate On eVTOL Cabin
Safran and Uber have fashioned an eVTOL cabin mockup they hope will set the standard for the industry.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Lessor LCI in New $100 Million Deal
LCI has partnered with Flexam to place five helicopters on long-term leases
Rotorcraft
USAF Slashes Helo Training Time With Virtual Reality
The first USAF helicopter pilot class using virtual reality graduated six weeks early.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bell Names Fifth Authorized MRO in China
China State Grid General Aviation will provide authorized maintenance on the Bell 429 medium-twin helicopter.
Rotorcraft
Mil To Absorb Kamov Following High-speed Rotorcraft Win
The selection of Mil’s design to form the basis of a new high-speed combat helicopter was the catalyst for a merger of the two rotary-wing design bureaus.
Aircraft
ADEX 2019: KAI Unveils KF-X Mockup, New Surion Variants
South Korea’s fifth-generation fighter program recently completed a major milestone with the passing of its critical design review.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Enters Raider X in Army FARA Derby
Sikorsky is proposing the "Raider X" compound helicopter for the Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Used Helicopter Market Improving
Aero Asset's Q3 market report shows a modest uptick in sales activity including in heavies.
Accidents
NTSB To Hold Hearing on Doors-off Crash
NTSB docket raises numerous safety questions in 2018 doors-off fatal New York City helitour crash.
Rotorcraft
Safran Arrius Engine Tops 10 Million Flight Hours
Safran says its Arrius family of helicopter engines has topped 10M flight hours since introduced in 1996.
Rotorcraft
Safran-AECC WZ16 Helo Engine Certified in China
The Safran-AECC WZ16 helicopter engine is the first jointly-developed aero engine to be entirely certified in China.
Rotorcraft
Porsche and Boeing Team On Urban Air Mobility
Porsche and Boeing are developing a concept eVTOL and will jointly explore the "premium" UAM space.
Rotorcraft
Bell Brings Nexus eVTOL to NBAA-BACE
Bell will display a mockup of its Nexus eVTOL urban air mobility vehicle at this year's NBAA-BACE
Rotorcraft
Bell-Boeing V-22 Tiltrotor Fleet Tops 500,000 Hours
The U.S. military's fleet of 375 Bell-Boeing V-22 tiltrotors has flown more than half a million hours.
Rotorcraft
Fourth Bell 525 in Flight Test, Aircraft On Production Line
Bell anticipates FAA certification approval for its new 525 super-medium twin helicopter next year.
Rotorcraft
Kopter Flight Tests New MGB for SH09
Kopter said the new main gear box it has developed for its SH09 turbine single helicopter will improve performance
