Latest from Mark Huber
Regulations and Government
New Jersey Passes UAV Penalty Bill
Prohibits operating a drone in a manner that could endanger life/property, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or for taking of wildlife.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Boeing Reveals Autonomous Cargo eVTOL Prototype
Prototype unmanned electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) is capable of carrying payloads up to 500 pounds.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Remote-piloted Volocopter eVTOL Flies Intel CEO
The 2X is designed to operate as an autonomous air taxi and leverages Intel microprocessor and other technology in its flight control solutions.
Rotorcraft
Bell Helicopter To Unveil Urban Air Taxi at CES 2018
Four-passenger design will offer full connectivity, including video conferencing capability.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
SureFly Hybrid Electric Helicopter To Fly 'Soon'
Features a drone-like octocopter design, a two-person, 400-pound payload capacity and a range of approximately 70 miles.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Kittyhawk Drone Software Adds Automated Flight Feature
Allows operators to plan missions in the Kittyhawk mobile application and then execute the entire flight from takeoff to landing with unlimited waypoints.
Rotorcraft
Future Brightens for Rotorcraft Market
After several down years, the industry expects to see a return to growth.
Rotorcraft
Auditors: Britain's National Police Air Service 'Unsustainable'
Police leaders need to find an alternative for air support, auditor finds.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Helicopters AW109 Trekker Wins EASA Approval
The helicopter is aimed primarily at the utility and EMS markets.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Ballistic Recovery System Nears
The system covers UAVs ranging from several pounds to several thousand pounds.
ATC
FAA Committee Calls for Mandatory Drone ID and Tracking
Calls for remote ID and tracking of drones with data sent to an internet database via both direct broadcast and network publishing.
Airports
Lily Patents Environmentally Friendly Helipad
The pad captures all aircraft fluids, including jet fuel and de-icing liquid, and has a built-in heating system for snow and ice abatement.
Rotorcraft
Bell V-280 Tiltrotor Makes First Flight
The tiltrotor provides twice the speed and range of conventional helicopters.
Rotorcraft
Drone Pilot Faulted in Helicopter Collision
The helicopter was in compliance with FAA regs and Army guidelines.
Rotorcraft
Cal Fire Cleared To Buy Sikorsky Firehawks
Firehawk features a belly tank that can hold 1,000 gallons of water and 30 gallons of foam and can be quickly refueled by a pump snorkel system.
Regulations and Government
China Conducts Drone-aircraft Collision Tests
Results showed that impacts at various angles to the windshield resulted in fracture of the outer laminate layer, but no penetration into the cockpit.
Rotorcraft
HEMS Continues Medicare Struggles
Average cost per transport was $10,199 but Medicare reimburses at an average rate of 59 percent, for an aggregate of more than $1 billion below costs.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Pipistrel LSA Converted into Unmanned Drone
The project is a part of the overall plan to create a multifunctional aerial robotic complex able to carry out group missions with an integrated payload.
Rotorcraft
Bell Canada Delivers 5,000th Civil Helicopter
The milestone Bell 407GXP was handed over to China's Shaanxi Helicopter Co., which placed an order for 100 Bell 407GXPs in January.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Maker Reveals Tracking Feature
New function maintains user privacy while allowing government tracking, says system developer.
Accidents
Geese Found Inside Crashed EMS Helicopter
Large numbers of geese were reported in the area at the time of the crash, and eyewitnesses reported seeing the helicopter spin before impact.
Accidents
No Floats, Life Rafts on Crashed Mi-8
The crew and passengers are believed to have evacuated before the helicopter sunk.
Regulations and Government
DHS Flags Chinese Drones as Security Risk
Data gleaned from DJI systems could be used by the Chinese government to conduct physical or cyber attacks against the U.S., the DHS said.
Aircraft
Preowned Aircraft Market Continues To Stabilize
The bleeding may be over but it's still a bumpy ride.
Accidents
Newly Delivered SAR Helo Rolls Over in Norway
The Royal Norwegian Air Force AW101s will operate the new helicopters, which are replacing Sikorsky Sea Kings currently in service.
Rotorcraft
Bristow Sells Flight Academy
Initial type rating and recurrent training for Bristow Group pilots will continue at its flight-simulator training facilities in Scotland and the U.S.
Regulations and Government
FAA Small Drone Registry To Be Reinstated
Bill provision reinstates registration requirement for unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds that was struck down by a court in July.
Rotorcraft
Airbus H225 Continues To Overhang Offshore Operators
Era and others are suing Airbus Helicopters for economic damages related to the H225's grounding following a fatal crash in Norway.
Regulations and Government
Sikorsky S-92 Gets Mexican DGAC Nod
The certificate enables the operation of S-92 helicopters in Mexico in all production configurations.
