Helicopters and Rotorcraft: Latest News
Helicopters do the flying that fixed-wing aircraft cannot: offshore energy, emergency medical services, search and rescue, firefighting, utility and police work, corporate transport, and the bulk of military tactical airlift.
The market is dominated by four civil manufacturers — Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, Bell and Sikorsky — with Robinson in the light segment, and by the same names plus Boeing on the military side. This page gathers every AirPro News story on rotorcraft, newest first.
What we watch
- Civil programmes and orders. The Airbus H125, H145, H160 and H175; Leonardo’s AW139, AW169 and AW189; Bell’s 407, 429 and 525; Sikorsky’s S-92 and S-76 — and the offshore, EMS and VIP operators who order them.
- Military rotorcraft. The US Army’s future vertical lift programmes, Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook production and upgrades, NH90 and Tiger fleets in Europe, and the export campaigns for each.
- Certification and safety. New type and variant certifications, airworthiness directives and the safety programmes run by operators and regulators.
- MRO and support. Engine and dynamic-component support, PBH contracts, and the independent maintainers that keep offshore and utility fleets flying.
- What replaces the helicopter. Tiltrotors, compound designs and the eVTOL aircraft that aim at helicopter missions in cities and offshore.
Latest helicopter coverage
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DART Aerospace FAA Certification for Cable Cutter on Airbus H145 BK117 D-3
DART Aerospace received FAA approval for its Cable Cutter system on the Airbus H145 BK117 D-3, enhancing wire strike protection for rotorcraft…
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Lindo and Airbus Collaborate on Antimicrobial Blue Light for HEMS
Lindo and Airbus partner to develop antimicrobial blue light disinfection technology for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in Australia and Asia Pacific.
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CapMan Infra Acquires Majority Stake in HeliAir Sweden Helicopter Operator
CapMan Infra acquires majority stake in HeliAir Sweden to support growth in mission-critical aerial services across the Nordic region.
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NASA Tests Next-Gen Mars Helicopter Rotors Beyond Mach 1
NASA’s JPL surpasses Mach 1 rotor speeds for Mars helicopters, increasing lift by 30% to support the SkyFall mission launching in 2028.
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Bell Textron Showcases Bell 429 Helicopter at RotorTech 2026 Australia
Bell Textron presents the versatile Bell 429 helicopter at RotorTech 2026 in Australia, highlighting global use in law enforcement, medical, and corporate…
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Bell Textron Commissions Three Bell 429 Helicopters for Queensland Police
Bell Textron expands Queensland Police fleet with three Bell 429 helicopters, enhancing aerial law enforcement and public safety in North Queensland.
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Romania Approves $9.74B Military Upgrade Including Airbus H225M Helicopters
Romania commits $1 billion via EU SAFE funds to acquire 12 Airbus H225M Caracal helicopters as part of a $9.74 billion military…
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Black Hawk Next Modernization Boosts UH-60 Power and Autonomy
Sikorsky upgrades the UH-60 Black Hawk with a new GE T901 engine and advanced autonomy, enhancing payload, range, and networked capabilities.
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Piaggio Aerospace Extends Military Training Certification Including VC-180C
Piaggio Aerospace extends its AER(EP).P-147 certification to include VC-180C maintenance training, supporting Italy’s Air Force under Baykar ownership.
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Bell 505 Selected for US Marine Corps Autonomous Logistics Program
Bell Textron partners with Near Earth Autonomy to provide Bell 505 airframe for USMC MARV-EL Increment 2 uncrewed logistics aircraft program.
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DART Aerospace Gains TCCA Certification for Fire Attack System Upgrades
DART Aerospace receives TCCA certification for Fire Attack System Model 304 upgrades on Medium Bell helicopters, improving safety and night operations.
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TAI Delivers First T625 Gökbey Helicopter to Turkish Land Forces
Turkish Aerospace Industries delivered the first T625 Gökbey helicopter to the Land Forces, advancing domestic aerospace and defense self-sufficiency.
Related topics
Airbus · eVTOL & AAM · Military aircraft · Air forces · MRO · Certification · Engines
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