HI Uplift: Verticon 2026 news and views – at a glance

Verticon 2026 featured more than 60 helicopters and rotorcraft – including this Airbus H160 from HEMS operator Life Flight.

For US truckers, Atlanta is The Big A. But for three days last week, the city became The Big D – Deal Town for the worldwide helicopter industry. Against a background of surging oil and gas prices, manufacturers, lessors and brokers gathered to sign deals for the cameras, strike new ones in private and plan for another year of growth. Conflict in the Middle East and continuing supply chain challenges seemed the only serious impediments to growth.

All the major manufacturers had news to share. Airbus Helicopters confirmed operator Bristow has received the first two of five Airbus H160 medium-twin helicopters leased from Milestone Aviation. “This arrival marks a major milestone in the introduction of this next-generation aircraft to the African continent, with the helicopters now undergoing final preparations in Nigeria ahead of their scheduled entry into offshore operations in the upcoming months,” said the manufacturer.

Signalling resurgence in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) markets, German helicopter HEMS operator DRF Luftrettung placed a new order for four H145 helicopters. Fellow European HEMS operator Air Transport Europe (ATE), based in Slovakia agreed the purchase of one Airbus H135 and one Airbus H140. The operator’s CEO Milan Hoholik said: “By integrating the Helionix equipped H135 and the H140 into our operations, we are embarking on a new level that will enhance our ability to reach patients in challenging environments and provide them with the best possible care.”

Austrian EMS operator ÖAMTC Flugrettung and Airbus Helicopters revealed a strategic long-term framework contract for Airbus H135, H140 and H145 assets. The latest partnership follows the announcement at Verticon last year that ÖAMTC Flugrettung was the launch customer and development partner of the new H140.

Airbus Helicopters claims to be the leading provider of helicopters to the air medical transport industry, providing 54% of the 2,900 EMS rotorcraft flying worldwide, it claimed.

Also on display was a mock-up of the cabin interior of the ACH140. “Building on the success of the H140 in the emergency medical services segment, ACH has secured launch customers for the three leading private and business aviation markets, with delivery expected in 2030, two years after the first H140 is to be delivered,” said the OEM.

Bell Textron had a busy show – signing a purchase agreement for seven Bell 407GXis with National Transmission Company South Africa. The aircraft will be deployed on utility missions, including high voltage powerline maintenance, emergency management and operational support.

The OEM also confirmed the purchase of two Bell 505s by California’s Pasadena Police Department. The Texas Department of Public Safety signed a purchase agreement for a Bell 407GXi. Plus the OEM agreed a purchase agreement for a third Bell 429 by QuikTrip Corporation for corporate transport missions.

The Texas Department of Public Safety placed an order for a new Bell 407GXi.

Absent from Bell’s stand was the long-awaited Bell 525 – but that was very much by design, said Michael Deslatte, senior vice president, Bell 525. “Every one of our aircraft [525s] are out in the field, hard at work preparing us for market entry.” The OEM expects to receive FAA certification for the Bell 525 by the end of this year, he added.

Aside from deals, Bell also unveiled a partnership with Semper Fly Helicopters to launch a new Bell Certified Training Facility. The collaboration with the organisation, a veteran-owned small business based in Norman, Oklahoma, represents “a significant step forward in delivering additional regional training solutions for the Bell 206B …”, it said.

Leonardo Helicopters revealed an order for three new AW189 super-medium helicopters from Norwegian company Lufttransport RW AS to deliver offshore transport services on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The latest order brings the number of AW189s to be operated by Lufttransport to 12.

Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, official distributor for the AW139, AW169 and AW189 types in Japan, announced an order for two more AW139s to be delivered in 2028.

HeliKorea had ordered an additional AW169 light intermediate twin-engine helicopter for EMS missions in South Korea. The latest contract follows an order for three units placed last year.

CHC Helicopter signed two multi-year global framework agreements for AW139 fleet support and AW139 and AW189 training services respectively.

Flight simulators also featured in Leonardo’s Verticon news. In partnership with CAE it plans to introduce a second AW139 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) at the manufacturer’s US Training Academy in Philadelphia. Starting in 2027, the simulator will be operated by Rotorsim, the joint venture co-owned by Leonardo and CAE.

The manufacturer is also partnering with Intermountain Health, Utah’s largest healthcare system, for the delivery of the world’s first AW109 GrandNew Enhanced Training Device Virtual Extended Reality (ETD VxR).

Intermountain Health currently operates seven AW109 GrandNew EMS aircraft.

Leonardo and FlightSafety International confirmed the co-development and launch of the first AW189 FFS in the Americas. This partnership includes the development of a Level D FFS, designed to enabling realistic offshore and search-and-rescue training.

Sikorsky confirmed its plan to boost production of the new variant of its heavy lift S-92 helicopter. The OEM will build five S-92A+ aircraft this year including two for head-of-state clients and three ‘white tails’ built without contracted customers. In following years, production will be ramped up to 12 airframes a year. The new S-92A+ features improved performance thanks to its upgraded GE Aerospace CT7-8A6 engines delivering a 544kg (1,200lb) increase in maximum take-off weight to 12,564kg. The new Phase IV gearbox also enables the engine to be run for limited periods without an oil supply.

So, does Leon Silva, vice-president of commercial and advanced programmes grow annoyed by questions about the old workhorse’s premature demise? “I don’t get irritated – I hit back with data,” he tells us at the show. “The [S-92] aircraft we’re sitting next to was delivered in 2004 and has logged 15,600 hours, and it’s done offshore work during those 21 years – both in the Gulf and in Aberdeen. A few years ago, it was converted to this current configuration of firefighting. I think this aircraft is going to outlive us all.”

Silva is talking about the first S-92, tail number 920006, to enter commercial service in September 2004. Last year the aircraft completed a firefighting season of more than 550 hours in Canada with operator VIH.

Another fan of the S-92 in general and this aircraft in particular is Milestone’s CEO and president Pat Sheedy. Speaking before Verticon, Sheedy said: “The evolution of this S-92 stands as a clear demonstration of the value of the operating lease model in supporting the transition of aircraft through their natural lifecycle.” He added: “We are pleased to see the life of 920006 continue strongly into the future.”

The headlines at Verticon were claimed not solely to OEMs. Aero Asset’s 2025 Annual Heli Market Trends Twin-Engine, released at the event, confirmed at the end of last year twin-engine supply dropped by 26% year-over-year (YoY), reaching a new five-year low. “Despite softer transaction volume in 2025, tightening supply bolstered pricing and strengthened overall market equilibrium,” said Valérie Pereira, vice president of Market Research. “Median transaction prices continued to rise, and the shorter time to sale reflected sustained demand for well-positioned twin-engine helicopters in 2025.”

Overall median trading price rose 10% (YoY). Heavy twin median pricing reached a five-year high and medium twin median prices rose 17%. Light twin pricing remained steady.

News of further trades came from Rotortrade as it reported completing the sale of two 2023 Airbus H145 D3 helicopters to Life Flight Network, one of the leading US not-for-profit air medical operators. It also signed a deal for two Airbus H145D3 helicopters with Dallas-based EMS operator CareFlite. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in April 2026, with entry into service expected in September.

But the big reveal from the company was the operational launch of RotorLease – its new leasing business focusing mainly (but not exclusively) on the US market. The business is designed to originate, manage and administer leasing transactions as part of Rotortrade’s broader financing strategy.

It starts operations with an initial portfolio of seven aircraft, comprising Leonardo AW169, Leonardo AW139 and Airbus H145 helicopters. The company has established a medium-term objective to structure its fleet primarily around Airbus H145 and Leonardo AW139 platforms and is in negotiations with manufacturers to secure assets.

The helicopters have been selected based on demand across EMS, offshore, utility and governmental missions, according to the company. The company offers operating leases (dry leases) and financial leases structured as lease-to-purchase agreements, with tenures ranging from one year to five- to seven-year mid-term agreements.

“The operational launch of RotorLease is the last stepping stone of the ecosystem,” Philippe Lubrano, founder and CEO of Rotortrade told us. “We have the MRO, we have the dealerships – the helicopter sales, then we did a couple of short-term leases, up to 18 months, and realised that we had the ability to flee the asset at the end of a short-term lease. So now, RotorLease complements Rotortrade’s integrated model across sales, maintenance and financing,” he said.

Another new business launch – or more correctly relaunch – was Air & Sea Analytics from Steve Robertson. After a spell with lessor LCI, Robertson has relaunched the business to focus on research and analytics targeting mission-critical aviation and maritime markets.

“With what’s happening in the Gulf delivering the biggest shock to energy prices over the past 25 years, there’s a growing need for independent information, analysis and education about offshore energy,” he told us. “Some of the analytics and market research that I see is purely based on conjecture.”

The mission critical rotorcraft market has continued to evolve with new aircraft types, shifting operator economics and growing demand in offshore energy and HEMS in particular, said Robertson. “There is a real need for sharp, independent research in these sectors and that’s exactly what Air & Sea Analytics is built to provide. We’re excited to be back,” he added.

Verticon 2026 took place at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta between March 9th-12th. Watch out for our exclusive interviews with industry leaders – including Pat Sheedy, Milestone Aviation, Michael York, GDHF, Phillip Lubrano, Rotortrade and many others – over the coming weeks. Plus, analysis of how rising oil and gas prices are likely to shape the offshore helicopter industry.

But for now, from The Big A, in 1970’s trucker parlance: ‘10-10. Catch you on the flip-flop.’