50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

World Helicopters news

Helicopters related aviation news

Helicopter flight paths to reduced emissions

Helicopters fly essential missions and can literally make life-saving interventions. With such an important role, there might be an assumption that their environmental impact might be less of a priority. Yet, in increasing numbers helicopter operators are committing themselves to reducing their emissions in a variety of ways. Protecting the environment for future generations forms a key part...

Royal Canadian Air Force expands contract for Search and Rescue lifesaving technology

The Canadian Department of National Defence extended its use of CENTUM Lifeseeker for Royal Canadian Air Force Search and Rescue operations. The RCAF is now using an increased total of eight units on its fleet of SAR helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Lifeseeker enables SAR operators to locate people quickly and accurately, saving lives and optimizing operational costs....

Airbus hands over first two H145 helicopters to Bavarian Police

Airbus delivered first two of eight five-bladed H145s to the Bavarian Police. These first two helicopters will be used in the training of pilots and crews which will begin shortly, ensuring a smooth transition from the current H135 fleet which has been in service for more than twelve years, to the larger H145 helicopters. Delivery of the first fully equipped police helicopter is sch...

Eagle Copters Maintenance in Australia becomes Bell facility

Following the acquisition in 2022, Bell Textron announced the renaming of Eagle Copters Maintenance to Bell Textron Australia.Formed in 2013 by Eagle Copters Ltd. (Eagle), a Calgary, Canada-based company, and Aero Assist, an Australian company, ECM brings decades of experience in helicopter support and local knowledge to its customers across its facilities in Coffs Harbour and...

Airbus Helicopters and China GDAT sign for 50 H160 helicopters

Airbus Helicopters signed a contract with GDAT for 50 H160 helicopters. This contract is the largest single order for the H160 on the civil and parapublic market since the helicopter was unveiled in 2015. The aircraft will be used notably for the energy sector, including offshore transportation for oil and gas platforms, wind farms and harbour piloting, as well as emergency medical...

Autopilot system for Bell 407GXi certified in United Kingdom

Bell 407GXi 3-axis autopilot has received certification from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority. Patrick Moulay, senior vice president, International Sales, commented: “We are thrilled to offer the Bell 3-axis autopilot for the Bell 407GXi to our customers in the UK. The system allows for decreased pilot workload and assistance in the event of inadvertent Instrument M...

Iridium partner SKYTRAC provides truly global connectivity for offshore search and rescue helicopter

Iridium Communications partner SKYTRAC is providing Iridium satellite connectivity to a Sikorsky S-92, which will be used for Search and Rescue off the shores of Guyana. SKYTRAC will enable truly global, weather-resilient, reliable connectivity for the S-92 helicopter with its ISAT-200A solution as well as BIue Sky Network’s Iridium Certus Connected SkyLink 7100.  Brya...

Flexjet Europe unveils new private helicopter division

Flexjet welcomed its first super-midsize Sikorsky S-76 helicopter to its European fleet, as it becomes the first private jet operator in Europe launcing an in-house, integrated helicopter division. The new service, initially focused on the UK, aims to redefine luxury point-to-point private travel, in a first of its kind move in Europe, and follows a similar launch last year by the compan...

New orders confirm Leonardo’s strong position in the global commercial helicopter market

Following successful Heli-Expo 2023 Leonardo announces further growth within the commercial helicopter market, with new orders for nearly 40 aircraft of various models to several operators across Middle East, Asia, Americas and Europe primarily for energy support, rescue and public service duties, and VIP transport operations. Combined orders for the AW139, AW169, AW109 GrandNew and AW10...

Further strengthening type’s market leadership in Japan - Mitsui Bussan Aerospace signs for six AW139

Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, the authorised distributor for the Leonardo AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopter models in Japan, announced with Leonardo orders recently signed for a total of six AW139s, to meet the requirements of various upcoming opportunities in the country. These latest orders confirm the continuous success of the AW139 in Japan with nearly 70 units currently in operation. The AW139...

Lower pre-owned helicopter market activity in 2022 compared to 2021, yet the industry is largely optimistic for 2023

The RT365 – 2023 Helicopter Market Report records lower helicopter trading activity throughout 2022 compared to the previous year. This is due to worldwide economic struggles to fight recession, geopolitical crises and general inflation. While brand-new sales increased, the pre-owned market dropped 20% year-on-year. Meanwhile, supply and demand have started to stabilize since the middle...

Norwegian Air Ambulance expands its H145 fleet

Norwegian Air Ambulance is ordering two five-bladed H145s to be used for life-saving missions in Norway. Today, Norwegian Air Ambulance operates all 13 HEMS bases in Norway using a 100% Helionix-equipped fleet of H135s and H145s. The organisation's mother company, the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, was the first operator in the world to take delivery of a five-bladed H145 in 2020....