Pratt & Whitney Canada and Collins Aerospace have been selected by Airbus Helicopters to support the development of a hybrid-electric propulsion system for its PioneerLab technology demonstrator. Based on a twin-engine H145 helicopter, PioneerLab aims to demonstrate the potential of hybrid-electric propulsion as well as aerodynamic improvements to enable up to 30% improved fuel effic...
Savback Helicopters announced that Konner K1-S19 was the inaugural helicopter to land at the at the all-new helipad at the Koenigsegg supercar factory in Ängelholm, Sweden. The arrival marking a double celebration as the occasion also saw the setting of a new world speed record by the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut - achieving 0-400-0km/h in an astounding 27.83 seconds. Reja Savbäck, Chief...
Memorial Hermann Life Flight placed orders for one H160 and four H145s to replace its current fleet of EC145 helicopters. The nationally recognised emergency medical services program will be the first in the world to operate the H160 for helicopter emergency medical services. Memorial Hermann Life Flight, a service provided by Memorial Hermann Health System, was founded in 1976 by trauma surgeon J...
Luxury Group by Marriott International announces a curated slate of exclusive experiences in collaboration with urban air mobility platform Blade Urban Air Mobility. Through this immersive collaboration, the Luxury Group will engage guests with the opportunity to fly directly to and from the airport to their hotel destinations using Blade's helicopter service, elevati...
Airbus Helicopters officially opened its new logistics hub at Albacete, Spain, which is equipped and operated by Daher as the lead logistics partner. Located adjacent to the Airbus Helicopters production facility at Albacete, this 50,000 square meter warehouse will optimize operations and create several hundred new skilled jobs for the wider Castilla-La Mancha region. During the design of...
Airbus delivered the first H160 in the U.S. to PHI, marking the beginning of H160 operations in the country. This is the first of the initial four H160 helicopters that PHI will operate for offshore transportation in the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to beginning commercial operations, the helicopter will be used in a route-proving programme designed to demonstrate the H160’s ca...
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a major support-by-the-hour contract with Airbus Helicopters for the engines powering the German Bundeswehr's new fleet of Airbus H145M helicopters. This Support-By-the-Hour contract covers in-service support and MRO for more than 124 Arriel 2E engines, from helicopter entry into service to 2030. This contract is in addition to the SBH contracts already sig...
AW609 tiltrotor programme set another major industry capability milestone after its first successful ship trial, which was recently conducted with the support of the Italian Navy. From 3-12 April, the AW609 AC4 aircraft, fully representative of the final production configuration, performed demonstration trials relocating from Leonardo’s facility based in Cascina Costa to Maristaer Grottaglie...
Safran Helicopter Engines and MTU Aero Engines have signed the cooperation agreement to create the 50/50 joint venture EURA (derived from EUropean Military Rotorcraft Engine Alliance). This newly-created company will form the core of a larger program, which will collaborate with industrial and technological partners from several other European nations. With the creation of EURA, the two companies...
Bell Textron Canada announced successful first flight of one of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s modernized CH-146 Griffon helicopters, a variant of the Bell 412EP, under the Griffon Limited Life Extension project. Under GLLE, Bell will provide aircraft modifications to a series of the fleet’s aeronautical components, including its avionics systems, cockpit displays, engines, and se...
Airbus Helicopters has launched the flight test campaign for the prototype of the NH90 Standard 2. This standard is one of the latest NH90 configurations and is being developed specifically for the French Army Aviation, to support special forces operations. The French Ministry for Armed Forces has ordered a total of 18 NH90s in the Standard 2 configuration. Flight testing will continue u...
AW249 next generation exploration and escort helicopter had its international public premiere at Eurosatory during an official ceremony attended by representatives from industry, Italian Defence and international delegations. The result of the strong collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Defence and Leonardo, the AW249 (designated AH-249A NEES - Nuovo Elicottero da Esplorazione e Scor...
