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Airbus Helicopters Statement on Poland’s multirole helicopter tender

In light of recent statements regarding the status of the multirole helicopter tender in Poland, Airbus Helicopters feels the need to refute a number of misleading allegations reported in the media. It is our belief that Polish citizens and the Polish armed forces deserve full transparency on the tender process in which Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Group have been fully committed over the last fo...

Global rotorcraft industry descends on Amsterdam for Helitech International 2016

The RAI Amsterdam will this week play host to Helitech International 2016 bringing together global businesses, operators, manufacturers, suppliers and buyers to network, share knowledge and inspire the future of the rotorcraft industry.  As more businesses from across the globe are expanding business operations into Europe, Amsterdam is the ideal meeting place for exhibitors and visit...

AW169 helicopter gets five firm orders in Brazil for executive transport

Leonardo-Finmeccanica announced that five firm orders have been signed for AgustaWestland AW169 helicopters by different Brazilian corporate and private customers. The announcement comes following an official presentation of the new generation model to nearly 100 pilots from across Brazil and held at the end of August, introducing capabilities, avionics and interior options available to AW169 VIP...

Bell Helicopter to display latest commercial and military products at JA2016

Bell Helicopter announced its participation at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition 2016 (JA2016) held October 12 through October 15 at Tokyo Big Sight. Leadership from Bell Helicopter, Textron Aviation and Textron Systems will be available in booth #W3-018 to discuss their innovative product lines, customizable aircraft offerings, as well as enhanced customer support in the region and...

EASA lifts flight ban on Super Puma helicopters

European safety regulators have lifted the grounding order on Airbus Helicopters Super Puma rotorcraft imposed in the wake of a fatal crash earlier this year, but separate flight bans in the UK and Norway remain in force. A total of 13 passengers and crew died when the main rotor separated from the rest of a H225 helicopter (LN-OJF) near Turøy on Norway’s west coast on 29 April....

Upgraded Mi-28NM attack helicopter started undergoing flight tests

The flight trials of the Mil Mi-28NM (NATO reporting name: Havoc) advanced upgraded attack helicopter have been kicked off in Russia, according to the Izvestia daily. A prototype of the Mi-28NM upgraded attack helicopter, also known as Product 296, has flown its early test sorties for its controls and engines to be tested and its behavior to be assessed. Although the cutting-edge aircraft was not...

Honeywell pitches upgraded T55 engine for Chinook

As the CH-47 Chinook’s prime manufacturer, Boeing, looks to a Block 2 upgrade to reclaim the helicopter’s lost payload capability, Honeywell is improving the T55 turboshaft engine to increase its power efficiency by 25%. The US Army Chinook’s original engine maker is using internal funds to develop an improved compressor that would increase the T55’s engine pow...

Spanish Air Force takes delivery of its first H215

 In a ceremony held at the Airbus Helicopters plant in Albacete, the Spanish Air Force yesterday took receipt of its first H215, a robust, cost-effective latest-generation helicopter with an extensive mission capability. The purchase was negotiated in July by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). A member of the tried-and-tested Super Puma...

Royal Thai Air Force places order for two additional EC725s

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has ordered two additional mission-ready twin-engine EC725 (now marketed as the H225M Caracal) multirole utility helicopters as part of the continuation of its fleet strengthening programme agreement launched in 2012. Delivery of the two additional EC725s is scheduled for 2019. The RTAF’s EC725s are specially equipped with fast roping, cargo sling...

Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev’s contract extended for 5 years

Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, has announced its CEO Alexander Mikheev’s contract extension until 2021. The decision was made on September 27, 2016 at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of Russian Helicopters. “During the three years under Alexander Mikheev’s guidance, Russian Helicopters has shown constant growth of all key financial indicators.  In 2015,...

Sikorsky Delivers Alaska’s First S-92® Search and Rescue Helicopter

Sikorsky announced that North Slope Borough (NSB), Alaska,  received its first S-92® helicopter dedicated to search and rescue. Acceptance of the aircraft occurred in a ceremony at Sikorsky’s commercial helicopter center here. The helicopter will perform the critical mission of search and rescue operations (SAR) for all NSB residents. The aircraft was selected to provide a s...

Airbus Helicopters delivers first AS565 MBe Panther to the Mexican Navy

The Mexican Navy yesterday took delivery of the first of the ten AS565 MBe Panther helicopters it purchased in 2014, becoming the first customer in the world to receive the new version of this multi-role, medium-class military rotorcraft. The Navy will receive three other units before the end of the year and the remaining six by early 2018. The helicopters will be operated by the Naval Aviation...