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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Airbus Explores Helicopter Manufacturing in Canada for Global Export
Airbus SE is evaluating manufacturing helicopters in Canada to support federal defense contracts amid Canada’s $81B defense investment and new industrial strategy.
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Airbus Unveils Wildfire Sentinel to Enhance Global Firefighting Response
Airbus launched Wildfire Sentinel, a digital ecosystem using AI and broadband connectivity to improve wildfire response times, tested in Nîmes, France.
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S-92 Helicopter Support Center Opens in Cabo Frio Brazil
Heli-One, Sikorsky, and Milestone Aviation launch S-92 helicopter support center in Cabo Frio to boost offshore energy operations in South America.
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Airbus and Singapore Demonstrate Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming with HTeaming Tech
Airbus and Singapore’s RSAF and DSTA conducted a world-first crewed-uncrewed teaming demo using HTeaming tech to control a Flexrotor drone from an…
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Bell 407GXi Helicopter Ordered by TransBharat Aviation in India
TransBharat Aviation orders the first Bell 407GXi helicopter in India, enhancing fleet capabilities for high-altitude and regional connectivity missions.
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Helicopter Express and TracPlus Partner to Digitize 46-Aircraft Fleet
Helicopter Express teams with TracPlus to implement a digital platform across its 46-aircraft fleet, improving operational visibility and reporting.
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Japan Grants FTD Level 7 to Loft Dynamics VR Helicopter Simulator
Japan’s JCAB certifies Loft Dynamics’ VR helicopter simulator with FTD Level 7, enabling official pilot training and reducing CO2 emissions.
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Czech Ministry of Interior Orders 11 Airbus H145 Helicopters
The Czech Ministry of Interior signs contract for 11 Airbus H145 helicopters to upgrade police aviation for law enforcement and emergency services.
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South Korea’s Marine Attack Helicopter Enters Final Development Stage
South Korea’s domestically developed Marine Attack Helicopter completes key weapons tests and enters final development, with mass production set for 2027.
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GE Aerospace Secures UK Contract for AH-64E Apache Engine Support
GE Aerospace awarded a 3-year contract to support T700 engines on UK AH-64E Apache helicopters, enhancing readiness under a Performance Based Logistics…
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AAIB Report Details Leonardo AW139 Tail Rotor Bearing Near-Miss
The AAIB report reveals a severe tail rotor duplex bearing failure on a Leonardo AW139 in 2022, prompting safety recommendations for offshore…
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NASA Ground Crews Maintain Diverse Fleet at Armstrong Flight Center
NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center ground crews maintain a diverse fleet including F-15s, Pilatus PC-12, and the X-59 Quesst with rigorous inspections…
Related topics
Airbus · eVTOL & AAM · Military aircraft · Air forces · MRO · Certification · Engines
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