General Aviation
News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Rotorcraft
Blueberry Moves $80M Worth of Helicopters in 2021
Blueberry Aviation provides helicopter sales and consulting services.
Rotorcraft
Genesys Unveils New Control Panel, Autopilot Options
Genesys Aerosystems has unveiled a new control panel and announced development of a fourth axis for its autopilot system.
Training and Workforce
VRM Switzerland Delivers First U.S.-based H125 VR Trainer
VRM Switzerland has delivered the first Airbus H125 VR trainer in the U.S. to Colorado Highland Helicopters.
Regulations and Government
Stakeholders Gather To Impact Vertiport Design Standard
The FAA's vertiport advisory circular is expected ahead of eVTOL passenger service.
Rotorcraft
STAT MedEvac Opts for 10 More Airbus H135s
Pennsylvania-based STAT operates from 18 air ambulances bases.
Rotorcraft
ForeFlight Enhances Features for Helicopter Pilots
Helicopter operators have access to many new features available in the ForeFlight moving-map app.
Maintenance and Modifications
Blade Repair Firms Join United Aero Group
Brightwater UAG acquiring Advanced Composite Structures and Rotor Tech International.
Maintenance and Modifications
Foresight MX Gains Canadian STC Approval for H125
Canada gives nod to Foresight MX for installation in AStars.
Rotorcraft
Sumwalt Renews Call For More Helicopter IFR
Former NTSB chairman says low-level IFR route structure "needs to move forward."
Avionics
Shadin To Unveil New Embedded Control System
Shadin's new embedded controls can be used for a wide variety of rotorcraft applications.
Avionics
Sikorsky Looks To Future with Matrix
Sikorsky sees its Matrix autonomy system as a game-changer for high-risk civil missions.
Rotorcraft
Twirly Birds Name 2022 Les Morris Award Recipient
Nick Lappos, Lockheed Martin’s Senior Fellow for Rotary and Mission Systems, is the 2022 recipient of Twirly Birds’ Les Morris award.
Rotorcraft
Getting the 'Top Drop' on Fires
An upgrade from Rogerson Kratos subsidiary Top Drop enhances the firefighting capability of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Regulations and Government
Helicopter OEMs Suspend Russian Activities
Ukraine sanctions freeze helicopter OEMs sales, support activities in Russia
Rotorcraft
Blade Posts Rapid Growth
Blade Air Mobility posted strong revenue growth in 2021 and looks to a future of advanced air mobility with eVTOLs.
Rotorcraft
PHI Intl. Lands Contract with Aussie Gas Producer
Helicopter operator PHI International will support offshore energy transport in NW Australia with three Sikorsky S-92s.
Rotorcraft
Georgina Hunter-Jones Selected for HAI Comms Award
Georgina Hunter-Jones, who founded "Helicopter Life," has covered the helicopter industry for more than 35 years.
Rotorcraft
Hirschberg: All Aviation Will Benefit from eVTOL Tech
Vertical Flight Society executive director Mike Hirschberg says eVTOLs will "change the world."
Rotorcraft
CHP Helo Equipped with Recco SAR Detector
The Airborne SAR detector can locate lost/injured persons who are wearing clothing or other items fitted with Recco reflectors.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Ponders Fate of S-76D
Production of Sikorsky's iconic S-76 twin could be licensed to a third party.
Rotorcraft
Michigan Police Officer Earns HAI Law Enforcement Award
Sgt. Matt Rogers, a member of the Michigan State Police Aviation Unit, is the recipient of this year’s HAI Salute to Excellence Law Enforcement Award.
Rotorcraft
Fifth Leonardo AW609 Tiltrotor Joins Flight-test Program
The first production AW609, AC5, will fly soon and then join the ongoing flight-test program in Philadelphia.
Rotorcraft
Metro Embraces Camera, Training Technology
Metro Aviation works to improve operations through the use of supplemental technology including base weather cameras and Icarus IFR training devices.
Rotorcraft
HAI Honors Jeffrey Donnell for Maintenance Excellence
Jeffrey Donnell has had a 45-year helicopter maintenance career that has encompassed multiple roles with operators and major mx organizations.
Rotorcraft
HAI Salutes USCG in Cape Cod for Safety Excellence
The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod has not only increased safety in New England but has had "far-reaching effects" throughout the service.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Ambulance Crews Facing Pandemic Burnout
"Everyone in healthcare is just exhausted," said Cameron Curtis, CEO of the Association of Air Medical Services.
Avionics
Hands On: Garmin Smart Glide
Smart Glide is another tool in Garmin's box of Autonomi safety products and helps lower pilot workload during an engine-out emergency.
Rotorcraft
Milestone, Helitak Develop Firefighting Sikorsky S-92A
Milestone Aviation has partnered with Helitak to develop an easy install, aerial firefighting kit for the S-92A featuring a quick-fill 1,050-gallon tank.
