Aerospace Helicopters
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NewsHAL conducts maiden flight of Dhruv NG civilian helicopter
Hindustan Aeronautics has flown an upgraded civilian variant of its 5.5t Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter, powered by locally developed engines and featuring enhanced safety systems.
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NewsOffshore operator NHV Group snapped up by lessor GD Helicopter Finance
Chinese-owned lessor GD Helicopter Finance (GDHF) is broadening its portfolio with the acquisition of Belgian offshore operator NHV Group from its private equity owner Ardian.
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NewsLeonardo performs first flight of Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor technology demonstrator
Leonardo Helicopters has finally flown the Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor (NGCTR) a technology demonstrator developed as part of an EU Clean Sky 2-funded project.
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NewsFrance’s Gendarmerie Nationale readies for H160 operations after first delivery milestone
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of 10 H160 medium-twins for operation by France’s Gendarmerie Nationale (GN).
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NewsAvincis eyes doubling of windfarm support business as industry expansion spurs growth plan
Aerial solutions provider Avincis hopes to double the size of its wind farm support operation by the start of next decade on the back of its entry into the segment with the September acquisition of Danish operator KN Helicopters.
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NewsNorwegian investigators flag suspected maintenance issue for in-flight engine shutdown on Bristow S-92
Norwegian investigators believe an unspecified maintenance issue was the likely cause of an in-flight engine failure on a Sikorsky S-92 heavy-twin shortly after take-off from an oil platform.
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NewsKorean National Police orders single H225
The Korean National Police Agency has ordered a single Airbus Helicopters H225, becoming a new customer for the airframer.
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NewsCzech Police to acquire Sikorsky Firehawks and Black Hawks through Helicopter Alliance companies
Companies under the Helicopter Alliance umbrella have secured a deal with the Czech interior ministry to supply six Sikorsky rotorcraft – three new S-70M Firehawks and trio of refurbished UH-60Ls – for operation by the country’s police.
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NewsRobinson Helicopter progresses R88 as first test articles come together
Robinson Helicopter is building towards a maiden sortie of its new R88 flagship towards the end of next year, with parts for the first flight-test prototype already in production.
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NewsBristow to receive four H160s this month under Milestone lease deal for Nigerian offshore operations
Bristow Group is to take five Airbus Helicopters H160 medium-twins on lease from Milestone Aviation to support oil and gas operations in Nigeria.
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NewsUK competition regulator warming to SMFLH-Macquarie Rotorcraft helicopter lessor tie-up
UK competition regulators have seemingly cleared the acquisition of helicopter lessor Macquarie Rotorcraft by rival SMFL LCI Helicopters, lifting a restriction that prevented any integration between the two businesses.
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NewsHill Helicopters HX50 first flight slips as GT50 engine development drags on schedule
UK rotorcraft start-up Hill Helicopters has further delayed the first flight of its developmental HX50 light-single, pushing back the milestone until late 2026.
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NewsMD Helicopters rolls out upgrade packages for MD 500D
MD Helicopters has won approval from the US regulator for the first of a series of upgrade packages for older D-model variants of the MD 500 light-single which, if combined, would bring it towards the level of the latest MD 530F model.
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NewsFirst firefighting-roled H160 arrives in Japan ahead of 2026 debut
Japan’s Hiroshima City Fire Services Bureau has taken delivery of its first Airbus Helicopters H160, becoming the initial operator of the medium-twin in a firefighting configuration.
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NewsHeli Austria waits on EASA nod for Thales StableLight autopilot on H125
Heli Austria will later this year become the first European rotorcraft operator to use Thales’s StableLight retrofit four-axis autopilot system for light helicopters.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters hails maturity of H140 light-twin following hot and high flight-test campaigns
Airbus Helicopters has hailed early maturity shown by its new H140 light-twin during separate hot and high flight-test campaigns this summer and is now readying the programme’s second prototype for cold-weather testing later this year.
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NewsAvincis acquires Danish operator KN Helicopters in windfarm support sector push
Aerial services provider Avincis has begun its diversification into the offshore windfarm support sector with the acquisition of Danish firm KN Helicopters for an undisclosed fee.
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NewsBabcock to deploy H145 pair on Torres Strait surveillance contract
Babcock Australasia has been awarded an eight-year, A$250 million ($166 million) contract to supply a pair of Airbus Helicopters H145s, plus their crews, to the Australian Border Force for operation in the Torres Strait.
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NewsCalifornia fire agency to evaluate autonomous-capable Sikorsky S-70i
The California fire agency has launched a five-year initiative with Sikorsky to explore how autonomous flight technology can enhance firefighting operations and improve safety in challenging conditions.
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NewsNew Broome: PHI Aviation puts first AW189 into service in Western Australia
Offshore oil and gas operator PHI Aviation has begun commercial operations with the Leonardo Helicopters AW189 super-medium-twin, the latest type to be introduced to the firm’s fleet.