Rotorcraft

Orlando-Sanford International Airport-based Vertical Aviation Technologies, Inc. recently purchased type certificate 1H2 from Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, which represents the FAA design approval for the S-52 series helicopters Sikorsky originally developed and certified. Vertical plans to release its own version to the commercial marketplace as the new four-place S-52L Hummingbird. Brad Clark, president of Vertical Aviation, […]

The National Transportation Safety Board has asked helicopter manufacturers Bell, Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopter Division, MD Helicopters, Robinson Helicopter Company and Sikorsky to require visual and audio data recorders on commercial turbine-powered helicopters. Speaking directly to airframe manufacturers is a first for the NTSB regarding video image recorders and comes following the FAA’s refusal to […]

When an engineer proposes a truly new solution to an entrenched problem, a chorus of naysayers inevitably arises from the midst of any nods of appreciation. The FAA, in fact, has produced processes for accepting such departures from common thinking—often found under the “alternate means of compliance” route in aircraft certification—but those manufacturers that have […]

The National Transportation Safety Board on Friday published a number of details the board has gathered from ADS-B tracking data, ground-based video camera footage and witnesses since the January 26 crash of a Sikorsky S76, N72EX, in the hilly terrain near Calabasas, California. The flight, operated under Part 135 by Island Express Helicopters Inc., was […]

Following the Helicopter Association International’s Heli-Expo on January 27 to 30, 2020, in Anaheim, California, Honeywell has released its latest Helicopter Purchase Outlook, in which operators are interviewed for their projected buying plans over the next 1 to 5 years. The survey, which collects information from more than 1,000 operators worldwide, is in its 22nd […]

Despite steady sales in the last part of 2019 and into 2020, total deliveries at Robinson Helicopter Company fell to 196 units for the year. This is a decline from 2018 and 2017 sales, which showed strong growth in 2017 and remained there for 2018. The breakdown of models included 19 R22s, 123 R44s, and […]

FlightSafety International announced on January 27 it is expanding its helicopter training programs and services by adding new Level-D-qualified simulators for the Airbus Helicopters EC145 and Leonardo AW139. Level D certification is only assigned to the highest-fidelity simulators, capable of night, dusk and day visuals, as well as movement through multiple axes of motion. The […]

Avidyne has announced its Helios flight management systems for rotorcraft, with development progressing towards certification later in 2020. The dzus-mounted FMS design will fit into a wide range of helicopters, according to the company. The Helios series follows on to the Atlas for Part 25 business jets announced last fall at NBAA. The multifunction system […]

The annual Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo will take place in Anaheim, California, from January 27 to 30, 2020. Several new aircraft, plus avionics and other features, are set to debut at the show, which covers more than 1 million square feet of space and 700-plus exhibits. The event kicks off on January 27 with pre-show […]

Viewing the Manhattan skyline from any vantage point is impressive, but when seen from aloft the Big Apple skyline becomes a breathtaking experience. In March 2018, a New York tour operator launched an Airbus AS350 helicopter with a pilot and five passengers for what was expected to be a 30-minute dusk flight near the East […]