Helicopter News

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Bell wins $300M SPINE upgrade contract for up to 49 US Marine Corps H-1-family helicopters

Bell has secured a $300 million contract to apply its SPINE (Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects) modernization to up to 49 US Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters. Deliveries are scheduled for 2028, with the upgrades aimed at enabling more advanced operational capabilities.

12 Sources

2026-07-27T21:06:41.654786-07:00

Vertical Mag

Helicopter maintenance leaders warn of technician pipeline gaps, calling for upgraded training and long-term career pathways

1 Source

2026-07-27T08:21:45.936193-07:00

FlightGlobal

Helicopter Alliance seeks rapid growth via acquisitions to expand full end-to-end rotorcraft services

1 Source

2026-07-27T06:51:28.947155-07:00

Reuters

Kenmore Air DHC-3T Otter crash near Sucia Island: 11 aboard rescued after fire

32 Sources

2026-07-23T21:09:48.924140-07:00

Helicopter News Timeline

FlightGlobal

12 sources

Bell wins $300M SPINE upgrade contract for up to 49 US Marine Corps H-1-family helicopters Bell has secured a $300 million contract to apply its SPINE (Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects) modernization to up to 49 US Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters. Deliveries are scheduled for 2028, with the upgrades aimed at enabling more advanced operational capabilities.

2026-07-27T21:06:41.654786-07:00

Bell wins $300M SPINE upgrade contract for up to 49 US Marine Corps H-1-family helicopters

Vertical Mag

1 source

Helicopter maintenance leaders warn of technician pipeline gaps, calling for upgraded training and long-term career pathways Helicopter maintenance leaders are flagging a growing workforce pipeline challenge for skilled technicians, arguing that recruitment and retention will require stronger training pipelines, higher professionalism standards, and clearer long-term career development. They frame the issue as a structural labor market constraint for rotary-wing sustainment.

2026-07-27T08:21:45.936193-07:00

Helicopter maintenance leaders warn of technician pipeline gaps, calling for upgraded training and long-term career pathways

FlightGlobal

1 source

Helicopter Alliance seeks rapid growth via acquisitions to expand full end-to-end rotorcraft services Czech Republic-headquartered Helicopter Alliance is lining up acquisitions to grow its full end-to-end rotorcraft service offering for customers. The group also cited higher order volumes driving footprint expansion at its US subsidiary, Ace Aeronautics, to support delivery and service capacity.

2026-07-27T06:51:28.947155-07:00

Helicopter Alliance seeks rapid growth via acquisitions to expand full end-to-end rotorcraft services

AeroTime

19 sources

❗️

A400M “water-bomber” deployed to Gironde wildfire: 20 tonnes of retardant dropped as France adapts cargo-bay firefighting kit For the first time, an A400M military transport is being deployed against a wildfire in Gironde, where it has already dropped 20 tonnes of retardant. France is using an added firefighting kit (paletized, MAFFS-like concept) and has previously tested the approach with a tank setup at Nîmes and Istres—prompting the government to later order the armed forces to disengage the aircraft without delay.

2026-07-25T03:49:28.740659-07:00

A400M “water-bomber” deployed to Gironde wildfire: 20 tonnes of retardant dropped as France adapts cargo-bay firefighting kit

AeroTime

8 sources

Airbus Helicopters launches UK helicopter training academy, targeting 400 personnel annually Airbus Helicopters has opened a dedicated training academy in the UK to centralize and deliver comprehensive technical training for helicopter operations. The program is designed to support workforce development—reportedly training 400 professionals per year—alongside police fleet modernization efforts that include additional H135 aircraft.

2026-07-24T06:04:42.307215-07:00

Airbus Helicopters launches UK helicopter training academy, targeting 400 personnel annually

Vertical Mag

1 source

World Group’s SureStreamer Heli boosts airborne live-video downlink by aggregating multiple cellular networks World Group’s SureStreamer Heli is designed to deliver live video from aircraft to command personnel on the ground by simultaneously using multiple cellular networks for the downlink. The approach targets more resilient, continuous connectivity during airborne operations.

2026-07-24T05:21:02.415545-07:00

World Group’s SureStreamer Heli boosts airborne live-video downlink by aggregating multiple cellular networks

rotorhub.com

3 sources

Midwest Blade Tech confirms merger with Rotorcraft Repair & Manufacturing to expand rotor blade repair and support capabilities Midwest Aerospace, Ltd announced the strategic merger of its newest subsidiary, Midwest Blade Tech, with Rotorcraft Repair & Manufacturing. The deal is positioned to strengthen rotor blade repair and ongoing support services, consolidating capabilities across the two rotorcraft maintenance and manufacturing-related operations.

2026-07-24T03:50:02.777624-07:00

Midwest Blade Tech confirms merger with Rotorcraft Repair & Manufacturing to expand rotor blade repair and support capabilities

Reuters

32 sources

❗️

Kenmore Air DHC-3T Otter crash near Sucia Island: 11 aboard rescued after fire A Kenmore Air DHC-3T amphibious seaplane (N709KA) crashed during an emergency landing on the shore of Sucia Island, in Shallow Bay, Washington State, on July 23, 2026. The aircraft caught fire, but all 11 passengers and the pilot were accounted for following a multi-agency rescue and air/boat transport to hospitals.

2026-07-23T21:09:48.924140-07:00

Kenmore Air DHC-3T Otter crash near Sucia Island: 11 aboard rescued after fire

Create a free account to see more recent Helicopter clusters.