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
-
Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy Achieve Autonomous AW139 Helicopter Flight
Collaboration demonstrates retrofitted autonomous flight for military and civilian logistics, leveraging Honeywell avionics and Near Earth’s AI software.
-
Tunisia Acquires 12 SUBARU Bell 412EPX Helicopters for Defense Modernization
Tunisia’s Air Force enhances capabilities with 12 SUBARU Bell 412EPX helicopters for security and disaster missions, boosting regional defense and local industry.
-
FAA Updates DCA Helicopter Charts for Enhanced Airspace Safety
FAA revises DCA helicopter routes with new zones, tech mandates, and stakeholder input to improve safety in Washington DC’s high-security airspace.
-
China’s AES100 Helicopter Engine Advances Aviation Self-Sufficiency
China certifies first domestic 1,100kW turboshaft helicopter engine, reducing reliance on Western tech and boosting Made in China 2025 aerospace goals.
-
FAA Approves Garmin GFC 600H Autopilot for Robinson R66 Helicopters
Robinson R66 helicopters now include Garmin’s GFC 600H autopilot as standard equipment following FAA certification, enhancing safety through automated flight controls and…
-
GDHF Expands Airbus H175 Fleet Amid Super Medium Helicopter Demand
GD Helicopter Finance doubles H175 orders to 20 aircraft, highlighting growth in versatile Super Medium helicopters for offshore energy and SAR missions.
-
Airbus NH90 Helicopters Boost Spanish Navy NATO Readiness
Spain’s Navy receives first NH90 MSPT helicopters from Airbus, modernizing naval aviation and aligning with NATO standards through a €1.2B defence programme.
-
India Launches First Private Helicopter Plant in Karnataka with Tata Airbus
Tata and Airbus establish India’s inaugural private helicopter manufacturing facility in Karnataka, producing H125 models to boost aerospace self-reliance and exports.
-
FAA Approves Skyryse One Autonomous Helicopter Flight Testing
Skyryse gains FAA approval for autonomous helicopter testing, advancing certification of its SkyOS system and urban air mobility integration.
-
Belarus Debuts Sky-Truck Unmanned Helicopter at MILEX-2025
Belarus unveils 500kg payload Sky-Truck UAV for military logistics, featuring Rolls-Royce engine and EDGE Group collaboration at MILEX-2025.
-
Finland Helicopter Crash Highlights Private Aviation Safety Risks
Five killed in mid-air collision near Eura Airport, Finland, prompting calls for improved helicopter safety protocols and regulatory reforms.
-
Airbus Expands Canadian Operations with Niagara Parts Hub
Airbus Helicopters Canada opens Niagara distribution center to enhance parts logistics, reduce lead times, and support emergency services across the country.
Related topics
Airbus · eVTOL & AAM · Military aircraft · Air forces · MRO · Certification · Engines
Get the week’s key announcements every Monday: join the AirPro News newsletter. Sending news on this topic? Here is how.
