Rotorcraft

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

Helicopter pilot in flight deck at night wearing night vision goggles
Oct 6, 2022 - 10:35 AM
FAA OKs Night-vision Goggles for Robinson R66
Florida's Polk County Sheriff's Office will receive the first Robinson R66 helicopter fitted with night vision goggles.
Lirio Liu at speaking podium during Vertical Aviation Safety Team global conference 2022
Oct 5, 2022 - 1:46 PM
FAA Certification Chief Promotes FBW in Light Rotorcraft
FAA's Lirio Liu hails the potential of fly-by-wire in light rotorcraft as 'a major advancement.'
Oct 3, 2022 - 12:36 PM
EASA To Revise Helo EMS Operational Rules
EASA is raising the bar for helicopter emergency medical service operations in Europe, with new rules to take effect by mid-2023.
Helicopter in flight over coastal Hawaiian mountains
Sep 29, 2022 - 11:20 AM
HAI Slams National Parks Air Tour Plan
HAI president James Viola believes a proposed parks overflight plan could put air tour operators out of business.
Hamilton County Sheriff's Department MD 500 helicopter parked at airport
Sep 29, 2022 - 10:53 AM
Sheriff Calls Helicopters 'Flying Dinosaurs'
Hamilton County Ohio plans to replace outdated MD-series 500 sheriff helicopters with drones.
(Photo: Global Medical Response)
Sep 27, 2022 - 11:25 AM
Baldwin Becomes Accepted Vendor For R-ASIAS
Rotorcraft Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (R-ASIAS) mirrors safety reporting programs developed for fixed-wing aircraft.
U.S. student naval aviators in front of Leonardo TH-73A helicopter
Sep 27, 2022 - 11:07 AM
First Navy Class Begins Training in Leonardo TH-73A
Student naval aviators will now train in the Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher.
Sikorsky S-92 operated by Bristow Norway on airport taxiway
Sep 26, 2022 - 1:12 PM
Accident Board Takes Fresh Issue with S-92 Main Gearbox
Issues with Vespel spline adapters continue to overhang S-92 main gearboxes.
Leonardo AW139, N811TA, in grass adjacent to runway following an emergency landing at the Houma-Terrebone, Louisiana Airport on Sept. 24, 2022
Sep 26, 2022 - 12:10 PM
AW139 Makes Emergency Landing in Louisiana
All survive after a Bristow medevac flight experiences cockpit smoke and loss of flight controls, resulting in an emergency landing in southern Louisiana.
Aerial view of H160 owned by the French navy overflying a French lifeboat
Sep 23, 2022 - 5:25 AM
French Navy Receives First Airbus H160 for SAR Duties
Six civilian-standard helicopters are being taken into service by the Marine Nationale in advance of the first deliveries of militarized H160Ms.