H160 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.
Growing 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.
Brazilian 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.
DLR-led STAR project shines light on performance boost from ‘active twisting’ rotor blades
German researchers believe the addition of active twisting technology to helicopter main rotor blades can significantly improve performance while also cutting noise and vibration levels.
HeliOffshore picks Duncan Trapp as new chair as organisation continues safety push
Global rotorcraft safety organisation HeliOffshore has appointed industry veteran Duncan Trapp as its new chair-elect, to succeed incumbent Bill Chiles from April.
Strong year for H160 helicopter as 2025 orders point to parity with rival AW139
Airbus Helicopters’ H160 achieved order parity with the Leonardo AW139 in the civil and parapublic market last year as the new medium-twin contender gained traction against the segment’s long-term leader.
Brazilian probe into H160 helicopter ditching points to fatigue failure of main rotor part
Brazilian investigators have disclosed the sequence of events that led to the ditching of an Airbus Helicopters H160 off the coast of Brazil in early January, although are yet to reach a conclusion for the fatigue failure of a critical part of the main rotor assembly.
Proteus autonomous helicopter takes flight for Royal Navy
Leonardo Helicopters has performed the first flight of the Proteus autonomous rotorcraft technology demonstrator it has developed for the UK Royal Navy.
Ghana becomes latest customer for H175M helicopter with two-unit order
Airbus Helicopters has secured another customer for its H175M – the military version of its super-medium-twin – with Ghana ordering two multirole-configured examples.
Matthieu Louvot takes top job at Airbus Helicopters as Bruno Even leaves after eight-year stint
Bruno Even has stepped down as chief executive of Airbus Helicopters, effective from 1 April, to be replaced by Matthieu Louvot, currently executive vice-president for strategy at the wider Airbus group.