European companies are now free to operate the Kamov Ka-32 helicopter after the type won full certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. Although the Ka-32A11BC has been frequently used in Europe for firefighting and other specialised tasks, it has been flown only by state-agencies under a special approval. The coaxial-rotor design has a claimed maximum take-off weight of around 12.7t with external sling.
Source: Flight International
The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has ordered three additional Airbus Helicopters H225s, which will take its eventual fleet to 18 examples of the heavy-twin.
Advanced flight-control developer Skyryse is forging ahead with plans to bring to market by 2025 a Robinson Helicopter R66 light-single adapted with an innovative fly-by-wire system.
Canadian regulators have ordered operators of certain Bell 429 helicopters to perform urgent tail rotor blade inspections after defects were found in the manufacturing process.
