Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
Green Power HUMS Wins STC for Bell 407GX/GXP
Green Power's Foresight MX lightweight HUMS system has been approved for installation on select Bell 407 models.
Rotorcraft
Checklist Creep Adds Complexity
The proliferation of checklists is yielding detail saturation and skill deterioration due to dependency, say some users.
Rotorcraft
Bell Unveils Nexus Air Taxi Concept at CES
Bell’s proposed solution for urban air mobility has a name, configuration and a team of partners aimed at bringing the Nexus to service by the mid-2020s.
Rotorcraft
Bristow-Columbia Deal Stalls
Bristow says "market conditions" prevented it from closing on its planned purchase of Columbia by the end of 2018.
Rotorcraft
Spain Signs Deals To Double NH90 Fleet and Upgrade Chinooks
Spain is expanding its rotary-wing force through deals to buy NH90s in both transport and maritime versions, and to upgrade its Chinooks
Rotorcraft
Dart Adds EASA To List of Bell 505 EFS Approvals
The system, the first of its kind, is incorporates a six-pod, tri-bag design to provide greater stability without impeding egress
Accidents
AW139 Crashes After Hitting Zipline in UAE, Crew Killed
A SAR AW139 crashed after hitting a zipline on the UAE's highest peak enroute to pick up an injured patient.
Rotorcraft
SB>1 Defiant Breaks Cover
The Sikorsky-Boeing team developing the Defiant tactical/utility transport compound helicopter demonstrator has unveiled the prototype
Aircraft
Leonardo Celebrates First M-345, TH-119 Flights
As the year draws to an end, Leonardo has achieved significant first flight milestones for two of its important defense programs
Rotorcraft
KAI Unveils Light Attack Helicopter
With a first flight set for next spring, the LAH is an attack version of the H155 Dauphin developed jointly by KAI and Airbus
Rotorcraft
Airbus Makes First Unmanned Flight in VSR700 Helicopter
The autonomous, unmanned "tactical vehicle" is based on the Helicopteres Guimbal Cabri G2 and fitted with a diesel engine.
Aircraft
LRASM and Sea Venom/ANL: Anti-ship Missiles Make Progress
Two anti-ship missile programs have achieved significant progress as LRASM enters service and Sea Venom/ANL moves into qualification testing
Rotorcraft
Bell VP, Former Dealer Head Indicted On Fraud Charges
Bell VP Jay Ortiz and Puerto Rican dealer charged in connection with sales of 429s, 407.
Rotorcraft
Bell V-280 Celebrates First Year Of Flight
The Bell V-280 tiltrotor has achieved a variety of performance milestones over the course of 85 flight test hours.
Rotorcraft
First Serial-production Airbus Helicopters H160 Flies
The first serial production H160 will be delivered to launch customer Babcock in 2020.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Helicopter Insurance Premiums Could Double
Sticker shock looms for those renewing helicopter insurance policies.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Secures H225M Order from Hungary
Hungary has followed up its order for H145s with a sizeable purchase of H225Ms, with which it will complete the transformation of its rotary-wing force
Rotorcraft
Robinson Safety Course Logs 21,000 Graduates
Helicopter OEM Robinson offers popular 3.5-day safety course at its U.S. factory and through foreign dealers throughout the year.
Rotorcraft
Turkey’s T625 Utility Helicopter Is Named Gökbey
Following its first flight in September, Turkey's-six-tonne helicopter now has a name. The type is also due to get an all-Turkish engine in the future.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Sells More Firefighting AW139s
Fire agencies in Italy and the U.S. are placing orders for additional Leonardo intermediate twin helicopters.
Rotorcraft
All-electric R44 Sets Flight Record
A Robinson R44 modified by Tier 1 Engineering has set a new world record for electric-powered helicopter flight.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Corporate Helicopters CEO Is Bullish on the Breed
With its ACH145 interior mockup on display at MEBAA, Airbus Corporate Helicopters Is On the Hunt for Middle East Customers
Rotorcraft
Bell Sees Good Prospects in Rotorcraft Market
With its 505 and 525 models bookending the civil product line, Bell sees strong potential in the region's customer base.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter OEMs Stress Regional Importance at MEBAA
Airbus Corporate Helicopters and the Bell 505 are making their MEBAA debuts this year.
Rotorcraft
Philippines Leans Towards Black Hawk and T129
Recent statements from the Philippines defense minister have revealed that the nation is looking to buy new helicopters, and possibly Gripens too.
Rotorcraft
Robinson Helicopter Foresees Market Weakness in 2019
Helicopter CEO see strong dollar, higher interest rates, tariffs, as sales barriers.
Rotorcraft
London Biggin Hill Heli-Shuttle Adds an AW139 to Fleet
With the addition of a Leonardo AW139 twin-engine helicopter, London Biggin Hill's Heli-Shuttle service expands its capabilities.
Rotorcraft
Bell Delivers Pair of 429s to Local Flight Academy
Bell's 429 is set to go into service as a multi-engine trainer with EDIC Horizon International Flight Academy.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Macquarie Agrees To Buy Bankrupt Waypoint for $650 Million
Macquarie's acquisition of Waypoint will strengthen its position in the helicopter leasing market.
Aircraft
Airbus Corporate Jets, Copters Team at MEBAA
Airbus Corporate Jets is touting NextGen execliners, while a new rotor division aims to provide the “last leg” of corporate jet journeys.
