Rotorcraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.
Rotorcraft
Dispelling Common Misconceptions on Vortex Ring
Canada's helicopter training manual distinguishes between vortex ring and other situations.
Rotorcraft
Bell's Singapore Center Gets Chinese Nod
China approval covers MRO work on the Bell 206, 407, and 429
Rotorcraft
More Offshore Spending Good News for Helo Operators
After years of decline, spending on offshore energy projects is expected to grow faster than onshore in 2019
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Instructor Sal Disi Dies in Cart Start Accident
Disi was a long-time fixture in the Tampa area aviation community.
Rotorcraft
Activist Investor Threatens Bristow-Columbia Deal
Investor says proposed Bristow-Columbia deal is unfair to current shareholders.
Rotorcraft
Air Ambulances Caught in Health Insurance Downwash
Private carriers routinely denying air ambulance claims
Rotorcraft
Indian Army Set To Receive Apaches
While the debate over who will operate India's growing attack helicopter force continues, the Army Aviation Corps is looking forward to receiving Apaches
Rotorcraft
Bell 525s Fly North for the Winter
Pair of Bell 525s to engage in more cold weather testing near the Arctic Circle
Rotorcraft
Veteran Helo Operator Makes Case for Cockpit Cameras
Phoenix Heli-Flight Chief says cockpit cams save money, improve safety
Rotorcraft
New Helicopters for Indonesia’s Army and Air Force
Local contractor PT DI has associations with Airbus and Bell, and will built or outfit the new H225Ms and 412EPIs that have been ordered
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.
