Rotorcraft

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

Latest

Helicopter Pilot Arrested for Drunk Driving on Way to Work

A helicopter air ambulance pilot on his way to work was arrested for drunk driving after passing a sheriff's deputy's car.

Regulations and Government

February 2, 2023

Bell Sets Sights on 2023 Certification for 525 Helo

Bell CEO Mitch Snyder notes that final type approval is in the FAA hands but the company's intent is to complete certification this year.

Rotorcraft

February 2, 2023

Hill Helicopters Tops 700 Orders

Hill plans to begin flight testing of its HX50 helicopter later this year.

Rotorcraft

February 1, 2023

Volatus To Build Vertiport Near Penn State University

Volatus plans to build an eVTOL vertiport at the Bellefonte Airport near Penn State University later this year.

Airports

February 1, 2023

More Articles

Pentagon Office Faults Progress on Rotorcraft Programs

DoD's Operational Test and Evaluation office raps Grey Wolf, Chinook, and King Stallion for multiple deficiencies.

Rotorcraft

January 30, 2023

FAA Approves New Hartzell Starters for Robinsons

Hartzell Engine Tec has received FAA PMA for its Sky Tec HT starters for Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters.

Engines

January 30, 2023

King Stallion Helicopter Demonstrates Lifting Power

Repositioning and retrieving aircraft is one of the tasks that the CH-53K military helicopter will perform in its operational life.

Rotorcraft

January 27, 2023

Leonardo AW09 Switches To Safran Power

Leonardo will fly its latest AW09 single turbine engine prototype with Safran's Arriel 2K engine.

Engines

January 26, 2023

Police Kill Man Lasing, Shooting at Helicopter

A 33-year-old Detroit man who opened fire on state police helicopter was fatally shot by officers on the ground.

Rotorcraft

January 26, 2023

Bell's Civil Helicopter Deliveries Surge in 2022

Despite a decline in deliveries of Bell military helicopters last year, the company delivered 176 civil helicopters in 2022, up from 156 the prior year.

Rotorcraft

January 26, 2023

Airbus Helicopters Continues Market Leadership in 2022

Airbus Helicopters reported that it received 374 orders and made 344 deliveries last year.

Rotorcraft

January 25, 2023

How To Be a Safe Helicopter Pilot

There's more to being safe than simply not crashing, and here we learn how from helicopter experts.

Training and Workforce

January 23, 2023

CBAA Joins Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Task Group

The Canadian Business Aviation Association's participation in an industry-government advanced air mobility task group will help shape priorities for AAM.

Regulations and Government

January 23, 2023

Used Single-engine Helicopter Sales Fell in 2022

Sales for preowned, single-engine helicopters were down 12 percent in 2022 as supply dwindles.

Rotorcraft

January 23, 2023

Sikorsky Delivers 5,000th Black Hawk Helicopter

Sikorsky delivered its 5,000th Black Hawk Helicopter to the U.S. Army, which plans to fly the type for at least another 40 years.

Rotorcraft

January 21, 2023

Maker of Defective Rotor Pin Agrees to $10M Settlement

A defective rotor pin triggered the 2021 fatal crash of a Bell 212 in Canada resulting in a worldwide fleet grounding.

Accidents

January 19, 2023

Kaman Ending Production of K-Max Heavy-lift Helicopter

Kaman will discontinue its K-Max, saying production of the heavy-lift helicopter is not a "compelling" growth opportunity.

Rotorcraft

January 19, 2023

No Witnesses, Video for Fatal Bell 407 Gulf Crash

NTSB preliminary report notes that no eyewitnesses or video exists in investigation of a Bell 407 that crashed on takeoff from Gulf Coast energy platform.

Accidents

January 18, 2023

Private-equity Firm RedBird Boosts Blade Stake

Redbird Capital Partners has taken a 5 percent stake in Blade Air Mobility.

Charter & Fractional

January 18, 2023

Safran Signs Support-by-the-Hour Contract

Yellowhead Helicopters operates missions for the forestry, mining, oil and gas, utility, and tourism industries.

Engines

January 18, 2023