HI Uplift: Bell 525 Relentless aims to quench demand for medium liftnews Mike Stones 22 Mar 24 0Relentless is a popular name – from energy drinks to US warships (and even a 24th century Star Trek patrol vessel). Another chapter is opening… Read more
Heli insights on post pandemic world – in three models: LCI Analyticsnews Mike Stones 21 Mar 24 0Offshore flight activity now exceeds pre-Covid levels for most types of helicopters, according to LCI Analytics. Four years on from the global pandemic, manning levels… Read more
Flexjet S-76 stars at Palm Beach boat show as regional demand risesnews Mike Stones 20 Mar 24 0A Flexjet Sikorsky S-76 helicopter is starring alongside multi-million-dollar superyachts at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, which starts tomorrow. Its appearance at the event… Read more
HI Uplift: Why ‘eVTOL nirvana is a million miles away’news Mike Stones 14 Mar 24 0Barbie and Ken. Salt and pepper. Some partnerships seem beyond question. But how about heliports and eVTOLs? Or the integration of helicopter and other fixed-wing… Read more
Bell sells Japan’s first Designer Series 429 to JGASnews Mike Stones 12 Mar 24 0Bell Textron has signed a purchase agreement for Japan’s first Designer Series Bell 429 helicopter with Japan General Aviation Service (JGAS). Japan Biz Aviation Co… Read more
NHV Group wins contract extension with Dutch Maritime Pilots’ Associationnews Mike Stones 12 Mar 24 0Helicopter services company NHV Group has won a contract extension with the Dutch Maritime Pilot’s Association (Nederlandse loodsencorporatie) to support maritime pilotage services in the… Read more
Airbus Helicopters and SKYCO agree deal for six H175snews Mike Stones 11 Mar 24 0Airbus Helicopters and China’s SKYCO International Financial Leasing Co have signed a contract for six H175 helicopters to be deployed on critical missions. SKYCO Leasing,… Read more
HI Uplift: Pre-owned heavy twin-engine helis ‘see uptick in 2023’news Mike Stones 11 Mar 24 0Pre-owned, heavy twin-engine helicopters showed “an uptick” in transactions last year compared with 2022, according to rotary sales and market intelligence firm Aero Asset. “There… Read more
AIRBUS PRESENTS EVTOL PROTOTYPE TO PUBLICnews Yves Le Marquand 9 Mar 24 0The rollout of Airbus’ eVTOL is an “important and very real step” towards AAM, according to Balkiz Sarihan, the firm’s head of Urban Air Mobility. The CityAirbus… Read more
Bristow confirms fatal S-92 North Sea crashnews Mike Stones 29 Feb 24 0Bristow Group has confirmed the crash of a search and rescue (SAR) S-92 helicopter off the coast of Norway, which resulted in one fatality and… Read more
HAI reports: Leonardo confirms orders and agreements for about 180 helisnews Mike Stones 28 Feb 24 0Leonardo Helicopters has confirmed orders and agreements for about 180 aircraft at HAI Heli-Expo in Anaheim, California. Topping its show order book are 130 helicopters… Read more
HAI reports: Columbia reveals new 234SP Chinook & cockpit partnershipnews Mike Stones 28 Feb 24 0Heavy-lift specialist Columbia Helicopters has revealed plans to build a new model of its CH-47D Chinook aircraft to be designated the 234SP Chinook. The new… Read more
HAI reports: Airbus agrees 120-helicopter deal with THCnews Mike Stones 28 Feb 24 0Airbus has agreed a 120-aircraft deal with The Helicopter Company (THC) of Saudi Arabia. The framework deal – including firm orders for eight H125s and… Read more
HAI reports: Milestone agrees S-92 lease deal with Lidernews Mike Stones 27 Feb 24 0Helicopter lessor Milestone Aviation has signed a lease agreement with Brazilian offshore operator Líder Aviação for a Sikorsky S-92 aircraft. Configured for offshore passenger transport,… Read more
Safran and PhilJets sign Arrano engine support dealnews Mike Stones 26 Feb 24 0Safran Helicopter Engines and PhilJets Aero Services Inc (PhilJets) have signed a new support-by-the-hour (SBH) contract for the Arrano engine. The two companies are partnering… Read more
LOOKING FOR AN AIRCRAFT REGISTRY? OGAR 2024 CAN HELPnews Mike Stones 23 Feb 24 0If you are on a mission to select a registry for your helicopter, business jet or turbo prop, you face a bewildering range of options.… Read more
HI Uplift: It ain’t heavy – it’s a super-medium*news Mike Stones 22 Feb 24 0Super-medium helicopters, such as the H175, can look forward to a bright future in oil and gas markets, according to Airbus Helicopters. Plus, the manufacturer’s… Read more
LCI signs framework agreement for up to 21 Leonardosnews Mike Stones 22 Feb 24 0Operating lessor LCI has signed a framework agreement for up to 21 new Leonardo helicopters. The prospective deal includes 10 firm orders plus options on… Read more
Loft Dynamics’ Airbus H125 simulator sold to EPNERnews Mike Stones 16 Feb 24 0Flight simulator manufacturer Loft Dynamics has sold an Airbus H125 flight simulator to the EPNER test pilot school in France. The virtual reality device will… Read more
First Aviation Services boosts support for UH-60 Black Hawksnews Mike Stones 12 Feb 24 0MRO and parts manufacturing specialist First Aviation Services is boosting support for Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The business, head quartered in Westport, Connecticut, is… Read more