Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Airbus Helicopters has started in-flight tests onboard the European aerospace group's rotary-wing Flightlab facility.&nbsp;The platform-agnostic flying laboratory is exclusively dedicated to maturing new technologies for the company’s current helicopters and future fixed-wing and eVTOL aircraft designs.

 


Specifically, Flightlab will be used to test hybrid and electric propulsion, autonomy, noise reduction, and improved maintenance and safety technologies. Flight tests on noise reduction began in April 2020 focused on buildings’ impact on people’s sound perception with a view toward applying the data to sound modeling and regulation of urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft. Later flights in December concentrated on evaluating the rotor strike alerting system.

 


Other tests to be conducted this year include a camera image-detection solution to enable low altitude navigation, dedicated health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) for light helicopters, and engine back-up system that provides emergency electric power in the event of turbine failure. Testing in 2022 will evaluate a new ergonomic design of intuitive pilot flight controls that could be applied to traditional helicopters and UAM vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 


“Investing in the future remains essential,&nbsp;even in times of crisis,&nbsp;especially when those innovations bring added value to our customers by targeting increased safety, reduced pilot workload, and reduced sound levels,” said Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even. “Having a dedicated platform to test these new technologies brings the future of flight&nbsp;a step closer and is a clear reflection of our priorities at Airbus Helicopters.”&nbsp;

 


Flightlab is an Airbus-wide initiative. Past test aircraft have included A340 and A350 airliners used to evaluate laminar-flow wings and connected cabin technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Airbus Helicopters Flightlab To Test UAM Technologies

Airbus flying laboratory dedicated to evaluating future UAM and helicopter innovations. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Nepal’s army and private operators have deployed rotorcraft across the flood zone

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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