SpaceNews.com
• Jeff Foust
NASA and AeroVironment are moving forward with development of a helicopter fleet intended for deployment to Mars at the end of 2028. The SkyFall effort would extend rotorcraft operations beyond Ingenuity, positioning aerial mobility as a potential tool for future planetary exploration.
Helicopter
Latest source-backed stories
NASA and AeroVironment are moving forward with development of a helicopter fleet intended for deployment to Mars at the end of 2028. The SkyFall effort would extend rotorcraft operations beyond Ingenuity, positioning aerial mobility as a potential tool for future planetary exploration.
The U.S. Air Force is standing up a unit in the nation’s capital to operate HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopters in a VIP airlift and continuity-of-government role. The move could strengthen emergency evacuation capability, while raising questions about the plan’s scope and execution.
The FAA is proposing special conditions for Skyryse’s fly-by-wire conversion of the Robinson R66, focusing on how pilots maintain awareness of control limits after conventional mechanical feedback is removed. The proposal addresses a key safety and certification challenge for helicopters using electronically mediated flight controls.
High activity
The Marine One crew failed to establish reliable communication with Reagan National’s tower before departing from the Ellipse, contributing to a loss of separation with an Envoy E-170 on Aug. 4, the NTSB said. The FAA has since relocated radio equipment to address coverage problems affecting the departure location.
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.
Create a free account to see more recent Helicopter stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
