Associated Press
• Josh Funk
The NTSB found that Marine One’s crew made two unsuccessful calls to Reagan National’s tower before departing from the Ellipse on Aug. 4. The first call was not received and the second was unreadable, while White House construction limited radio line-of-sight coverage and commercial flights continued operating.
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The NTSB found that Marine One’s crew made two unsuccessful calls to Reagan National’s tower before departing from the Ellipse on Aug. 4. The first call was not received and the second was unreadable, while White House construction limited radio line-of-sight coverage and commercial flights continued operating.
The NTSB says an incorrect heliport identifier contributed to an August 2025 Texas helicopter accident. The captain also declined an instrument approach because of concerns about the helicopter’s autopilot, highlighting how navigation-data accuracy and flightcrew confidence in automated systems can shape approach decisions.
Robinson Helicopter will deliver at least 150 R66 light single-engine helicopters to M1 Support Services beginning next spring, with the order potentially reaching 200 aircraft. The fleet will support M1’s forthcoming contract to provide flight training for the U.S. Army.
Manila has taken delivery of the final batch of S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, completing the latest tranche of a fleet intended for multiple missions. The aircraft support Philippine military operations as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief efforts.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board says rotorcraft are more than twice as vulnerable as airplanes to accidents involving loss of visual reference. The finding highlights a distinct safety risk for helicopter operations, where degraded visibility can rapidly undermine pilots’ ability to maintain effective control and situational awareness.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and Safran Helicopter Engines have signed an agreement through their SAFHAL joint venture to develop and produce the high-power Aravalli turboshaft engine. The engine is intended for HAL’s Indian Multi-Role Helicopter and naval Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter programs, deepening India-France defense cooperation.
An MH-60 Black Hawk operated by the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment crashed in a wooded area near Colorado’s Front Range, north of Golden Gate Canyon State Park, during a training flight. All four soldiers aboard escaped without injury.
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The FAA said an antenna was relocated and air-traffic procedures were revised after Marine One, carrying President Donald Trump, came too close to a passenger aircraft departing Reagan Washington National Airport. The changes address coordination and separation risks where presidential helicopter movements intersect with scheduled airport traffic.
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