Dominic Perry
Dominic Perry is deputy editor of Flight International but also contributes extensively to flightglobal.com. Although specialising in the coverage of the helicopter industry, he has written on most topics in aerospace – be they commercial, defence or business aviation.
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AnalysisAirbus Helicopters details ‘techno-bricks’ planned for H125 successor
Manufacturer likely to rely on improved aerodynamics, more efficient rotors and lighter structure to deliver 40% fuel-burn saving over current rotorcraft, with electric power innovations providing a further 10%.
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Italian army takes first AW169M basic trainer
Leonardo Helicopters has delivered the first of at least 17 AW169M helicopters to the Italian army as the service begins the replacement of several legacy types.
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Airbus Helicopters gains certification for new H160
Airbus Helicopters has gained European type certification for its new H160 medium-twin, although it must wait until it gains US approval later this year before it can deliver the initial example.
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Belgium hits out over poor industrial support as it cuts NH90 TTH helicopter flights
Belgium has delivered stinging criticism of the NH Industries consortium, blaming a lack of industrial support, low availability rates and looming costly upgrades for its decision to slash operations with its four NH90 troop transport helicopters by 40%.
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German navy warns over continued Sea Tiger helicopter procurement delay
Delays to the procurement of NH Industries (NHI) NH90 anti-submarine warfare helicopters are threating a “seamless transition” to the type, the head of the German navy has warned.
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Spain eyes MH-60R helicopter purchase to meet ASW requirement
Spain is considering the acquisition of Sikorsky MH-60R anti-submarine warfare helicopters for its navy due to delays in buying NH Industries NH90s for the mission.
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Certification paves way for September delivery of first five-bladed H145 helicopter
Airbus Helicopters will by end-September begin deliveries of its H145 medium-twin with a new five-blade main rotor following recent European certification of the modification.
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New Bristow chief predicts wave of consolidation in offshore helicopter sector as merger with Era closes
Bristow’s now completed merger with its US counterpart Era Group could trigger a wave of consolidation in the offshore helicopter industry, the company’s new boss believes.
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Leonardo gains EASA approval for Aneto-1K-powered AW189 helicopter
Leonardo Helicopters has secured European certification for the Safran Helicopter Engines Aneto-1K-powered variant of the AW189 super-medium twin.
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Babcock says offshore helicopter market ‘no longer attractive’ in long term
UK services firm Babcock has again cast doubt on its long-term future operating crew-change helicopters in support of the offshore oil and gas sector, with its chief executive branding performance in the segment as “frustrating and disappointing”
- Analysis
UK spins up second phase of privatised search and rescue helicopter contract
In just over four years the UK could have three different firms running its search and rescue (SAR) operations using smaller helicopters than at present and calling on assets as diverse as unmanned air vehicles and high-altitude pseudo-satellites.
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France to fund development of hybrid successor to H125 helicopter
Airbus Helicopters appears to be a major beneficiary of French government support measures for its aerospace industry, with funding to develop a low-emission hybrid-engined successor to its best-selling H125 Ecurueil light-single, plus orders for 20 rotorcraft from its current range.
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Lilium eyes return of flight testing as it nets $35 million in fresh funding
German start-up Lilium has been bolstered by further funding, netting $35 million from Scottish investment firm Ballie Gifford, as it eyes a possible resumption of flight testing of its Lilium Jet later in the summer.
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Romania to upgrade IAR-99 trainer fleet
Romania is to modernise 10 of its IAR-99 trainers, having invited the jets’ original manufacturer Avioane Craiova to perform the upgrade work.
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Adient Aerospace upbeat as it unveils new single-aisle business-class seat
Despite the immediate impact of the coronavirus on air transport, seating manufacturer Adient Aerospace – part owned by Boeing – is pressing ahead with the launch of a new lie-flat business-class seat for single-aisle jets.
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Bell patents reveal split-tip rotor blades and tail rotor replacement
Future Bell helicopter designs could come with split-tip main rotor blades and anti-torque control provided by a cross-flow fan embedded in the tail boom, rather than a traditional tail rotor, if two recent patents are used.
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Airbus Helicopters touts safety benefits of rotor blade measurement research
Airbus Helicopters is hailing the success of a research project that has enabled for the first time the manufacturer to gather data on the stresses experienced by main rotor blades while they are in motion.
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Offshore helicopter firms await outcome of CH-148 crash investigation
Offshore helicopter operators will be waiting nervously for the outcome of investigations into the crash of a military helicopter off the coast of Greece in which six Canadian personnel were killed.
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First image of Racer helicopter’s completed cockpit breaks cover
Airbus Helicopters has offered a first glimpse of the ‘face’ of its high-speed Racer technology demonstrator with the release of an image of the completed nose section.
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Safran keeps close watch on supply chain for signs of coronavirus stress
Safran is monitoring its entire global supply chain for signs of weakness amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the aerospace giant ready to deploy a range of remedies for the most seriously afflicted.
