Dominic Perry
Dominic Perry is Aerospace Editor, Europe contributing 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. In addition, there has been an increasing focus on the decarbonisation of the industry and zero-emission flight initiatives. He also helps to edit Flight International.
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NewsAirbus plots European-developed version of autonomous H145M helicopter
Airbus Helicopters is actively pursuing an autonomous uncrewed version of its H145M light-twin for European customers and is likely to release more detail on the project later this year.
NewsLeonardo chief Cingolani hints that UK New Medium Helicopter deal may be close
Leonardo chief executive Roberto Cingolani has given the clearest indication yet that the company’s AW149 platform has been selected by the UK for its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement.
NewsRoyal Navy presses ahead with aviation transformation, plots paths for Peregrine and Proteus
The UK Royal Navy plans additional operational testing and development of uncrewed systems in the coming years, including its Peregrine and Proteus platforms, as it works towards fielding a hybrid air wing that blends unmanned assets with crewed aircraft.
NewsAirbus Helicopters fleshes out NATO NGRC concepts and teases modular wing design
Airbus Helicopters has offered more detail on the design choices behind its two concept studies produced for the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme.
AnalysisWait and sea: Leonardo puts Proteus at heart of Yeovil’s future but much hinges on delayed DIP
Development of an autonomous military helicopter could be central to the future of Leonardo Helicopters’ plant in Yeovil in the UK, but maintaining the factory until that capability can be delivered is another matter.
NewsLeonardo awaits Royal Navy’s signals before deciding on next steps for Proteus
Leonardo Helicopters is uncertain if or when its Proteus uncrewed technology demonstrator will fly again following the autonomous platform’s maiden sortie earlier this year.
NewsH160 rotor component inspections show no defects after Brazil ditching incident
Inspections of main rotor components returned to Airbus Helicopters in the wake of a 2 January ditching of an H160 medium-twin off the Brazilian coast have so far found zero defects, the airframer has revealed.
NewsGrowing prototype fleet lifts H140 programme as testing accelerates
Airbus Helicopters continues to accelerate testing of its new H140 following the light-twin’s launch in March last year, with cold weather trials now under way and a hot-and-high campaign set to kick off in the USA later this year.
NewsAirbus AALTO closes on Australian site for second Zephyr launch location
Airbus subsidiary AALTO HAPS hopes by mid-2026 to have begun construction of a new launch and landing site in northern Australia for its solar-powered Zephyr high-altitude platform-station (HAPS), paving the way for the start of operations there later this year.
NewsSaudi Arabia orders four C-27J Spartan transports for maritime patrol missions
Saudi Arabia has ordered four Leonardo C-27J Spartan tactical transports in a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) configuration.
NewsSafran nails Hammer glide-bomb order from Norway for Ukraine
Safran has confirmed an order from Norway for hundreds of its AASM Hammer guided bombs for onward delivery to Ukraine.
NewsCFM keeps focus on RISE open-fan engine but is ‘prepared for any scenario’: Safran chief
Safran has played down the significance of reports that its CFM International narrowbody joint venture with GE Aerospace is developing a ducted-fan alternative to the open-rotor architecture being matured through the RISE technology demonstrator programme.
NewsBombardier bedeviled by ‘brutal’ engine supply issue but Martel sees progress as deliveries rise
Bombardier continues to wrestle with “brutal” supply problems from one unidentified engine manufacturer which last year caused weeks of stoppages to its final assembly line.
NewsERC System pivots to VTOL cargo prototype after Munich hover tests of ‘Romeo’ aircraft
German start-up ERC System will in 2026 fly the first prototype of a vertical take-off and landing uncrewed cargo aircraft it hopes to bring to market in the coming years.
NewsRoyal Danish Air Force picks 2Excel for MH-60R conversion training
UK-based 2Excel Aviation has been selected by the Royal Danish Air Force to train personnel for conversion to the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
NewsUK government continues talks with Leonardo over NMH as it pledges it will not allow AW149 offer to ‘time out’
UK defence ministers have met with senior executives from Leonardo twice over the past fortnight as they attempt to reassure the Italian firm over the government’s continued commitment to the long-running New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme and have promised a procurement decision ahead of an end-March deadline.
NewsVista returns to Bombardier with Challenger 3500 order worth up to $5bn
Leading business aviation group Vista has placed an order for up to 160 Bombardier Challenger 3500 super-midsize jets in a deal that could be worth almost $5 billion at current list prices.
NewsHorizon Aircraft maintains momentum towards Cavorite X7 first flight with key supplier picks
Horizon Aircraft has added two key suppliers for its Cavorite X7 prototype, signing up Rampf Composite Solutions and North Aircraft Industries to build the fuselage and wing, respectively, for the hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
NewsHarith buy-out ends ASL Aviation interest in South Africa’s FlySafair
An investment fund part-owned by the South African government is to acquire low-cost carrier FlySafair from its current shareholders, closing the chapter on a long-running row around foreign ownership of the airline.
NewsBrazilian H160 probe focuses on maintenance error in run-up to ditching
Brazilian investigators probing the ditching of an Airbus Helicopters H160 have discovered that the rotorcraft was involved in a serious maintenance mishap a little over a week before the 2 January incident.