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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Airborne Aviation Helicopter Crash Off Kauai Hawaii Investigated
NTSB reports a Hughes 369D helicopter crash off Kauai, Hawaii, with 3 fatalities and mechanical failure suspected in a sightseeing flight.
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HAL Launches Prachand LCH Assembly Line at Tumakuru Helicopter Factory
HAL inaugurates Prachand Light Combat Helicopter assembly line at Tumakuru, enhancing India’s indigenous military helicopter production capacity.
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Boeing CH-47F Chinook Completes First Fully Automated Landing
Boeing’s A2X technology enables the CH-47F Chinook helicopter to perform precise fully automated landings with pilot oversight.
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Helicopter Crash in West Kalimantan Indonesia Kills Eight
An Airbus H130 helicopter operated by Matthew Air Nusantara crashed in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, killing eight people. Recovery was hindered by steep…
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U.S. Army Names MV-75 Cheyenne II as Future Long Range Assault Aircraft
The U.S. Army designates the MV-75 Cheyenne II, a Bell Textron tiltrotor, to replace the Black Hawk with enhanced speed, range, and…
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Sikorsky Launches Armed Black Hawk Helicopter Kits for Multirole Use
Sikorsky offers new modular Armed Black Hawk kits enabling rapid role changes for assault, close support, medevac, ISR, and tactical lift missions.
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Boeing Wins $324M Contract for Six CH-47F Block II Chinook Helicopters
Boeing receives $324 million contract to produce six CH-47F Block II Chinooks with enhanced payload, range, and digital capabilities for the US…
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UK Ministry of Defence Awards Boeing £879M Helicopter Support Contract
The UK Ministry of Defence awards Boeing a £879 million contract for Apache and Chinook helicopter maintenance, supporting 1,200 UK jobs.
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Daher Aircraft Launches Me & My Kodiak and TBM App Version 8
Daher Aircraft unveils Me & My Kodiak app and updates Me & My TBM app with remote monitoring and enhanced digital support…
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EASA Approves 3,000-Hour TBO Extension for Airbus H160 Gearbox
EASA grants a 3,000-hour time between overhaul extension for the Airbus H160 main gearbox, improving maintenance and operational efficiency.
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UAE to Open Advanced Security and Rescue Training Center by 2028
The UAE plans a $50M Security and Rescue Training Center with high-tech simulators to train 4,500 personnel annually by 2028.
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Collins Aerospace Supplies Five Systems for US Army MV-75 FLRAA Rotorcraft
Collins Aerospace contracts with Bell to provide five critical systems for the US Army’s MV-75 FLRAA, enhancing speed, range, and sustainment.
Related topics
Airbus · eVTOL & AAM · Military aircraft · Air forces · MRO · Certification · Engines
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