General Aviation/Helicopter News

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the nod to the Airbus H160 Medium twin helicopter. U.S. launch customer PHI Aviation. Entry into service in the U.S. will be facilitated by the addition of North America’s first H160 level-D full flight simulator (FFS). The FFS is expected to be ready for use as early as the second half of 2025 at the Helisim Simulation Center inside the Airbus Helicopters facility in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Brazil Army is said to be close to making a order for 12 new UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The 12 new helicopters will replace older UH-60s acquired back in the mid-to late 90s as well as older Cougar helis.

Raider X.

The U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) has awarded Boeing [NYSE: BA] a contract to produce six remanufactured MH-47G Block II aircraft as a part of the Army’s modernization efforts. With the deal valued at $271M, Boeing has 42 MH-47G aircraft under contract with USASOAC. “The Chinook has been a key player in the special operations domain for many years. USASOAC and international allies have used the unique capabilities of the Chinook to complete the most daring missions around the globe,” said Heather McBryan, vice president and program manager, cargo programs. “With the modernized MH-47G, USASOAC soldiers are well-suited to meet today’s challenging environment.”

Cool to watch...

For those interested in helicopters...a walk through the recent Heli expo 2024.

HX50 at Heli Expo 2024.

After Heli Expo departure traffic from Fullerton.

H160 take off.

Some nice looking VIP helicopters here.

Airbus has delivered the first Standard 3 configured NH-90 to Spain.

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first NH90 of the second batch of 23 helicopters to the Directorate General of Armament and Material (DGAM) at its facility in Albacete, Spain. This is the first NH90 in the Standard 3 configuration for the Spanish Air and Space Force. This second batch, which includes 23 NH90 helicopters, foresees the delivery of a total of 16 Standard 3 helicopters, ten of which will equip the Spanish Army Air Mobile Forces (FAMET), while six will go to the Air and Space Force. The Spanish Navy will receive seven navalized helicopters. Deliveries will be staggered from December 2024 to 2028.
The first NH90 for the Spanish Navy in tactical transport version (MSPT) is in the process of finalizing its Type Certificate from the Spanish Airworthiness Authority and is already in Albacete awaiting its final delivery to the DGAM in the coming weeks. The Spanish Navy personnel, belonging to the 14th Squadron, have already started their training at the Albacete plant to begin operations with their first NH90.

"We are proud to be supporting our armed forces with these new state-of-the-art NH90s that will create a standardized modern fleet across all three armed forces. We have contributed to these benchmark airborne forces with a helicopter that offers a world-class operational capability to the Spanish Armed Forces. The upcoming addition of the NH90 in the Spanish Navy is a definitive step in the modernization and Airbus Helicopters will be ready to respond to the needs of the Spanish customer," said Fernando Lombo, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Spain.

Bahrain orders nine Airbus H145 helicopters for their Police aviation arm.

Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with His Excellency, Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior of Bahrain, for the purchase of nine H145 helicopters. These aircraft will be operated by the Police Aviation Command for law enforcement missions and emergency medical services in the kingdom. “We are very proud that the Ministry of Interior of Bahrain has chosen to become a new member of the H145 worldwide community,” said Olivier Michalon, EVP for Global Business of Airbus Helicopters. “We are sure that the H145 will quickly become a valuable new asset for the Bahraini police. As a truly multi-role helicopter, the H145's versatility makes it a key asset for public safety missions around the world and in the region. More than 60 H145s are already in service in the Middle East and demand for this type of helicopter continues to grow for a vast array of missions: emergency medical services, operations in the energy sector, law enforcement and utility missions,” he added.

Between the period August 2023 and July 2024 the Pilatus PC-12 was the most flown business aircraft in the United States. 316,328 departures were recorded representing 8.8% of all departures in the segment.

AW139 operations.

Hill Helicopters...

Airbus Helicopters has delivered two H225M helicopters to the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). These helicopters are the first of eight aircraft ordered in 2021. They will be operated by the French Air and Space Force, replacing Pumas currently in service overseas (French Guyana, Djibouti and New Caledonia) and will contribute to the harmonisation of the French Air and Space Force’s helicopter fleet. They will be used for operational missions, search and rescue and utility missions.

“The delivery of these two brand new H225Ms to the French Air and Space Force is very symbolic as France was the first operator of the H225M. They have proven on multiple occasions the benefit of this rotorcraft for combat, search and rescue, disaster management and medical evacuation missions,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “We are very proud that the French Air and Space Force has renewed their trust in the Caracal,” he added. “The French Air and Space Air Force will benefit from all the innovations that have been implemented on the H225M since the helicopter started operations in 2006 with the French armed forces, further expanding the capabilities of this unique aircraft.”

Airbus Helicopters has delivered to France its final baseline version of the NHIndustries (NHI) NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH), the Ministry of the Armed Forces announced on 4 February. Oscar Vis photo.