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The FAA General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey is now open, and VAI encourages operators to participate. Governmental agencies and industry organizations will use data from the survey results to compute safety metrics, determine funding for infrastructure and service needs, and more.

The OEM has signed purchase agreements for three Bell 429s for VIP operators in the United Kingdom and Estonia. “We continue to see a growing demand for our corporate-configured aircraft in the region, especially with the Bell 429,” says Robin Wendling, managing director, Europe, for Bell.

A helicopter crew from law enforcement agency Guardia Civil rescued a fisherman Apr. 18 from a rugged cliffside in Gualchos. The team transported the man, who had fallen onto rocky, dangerous terrain, to a hospital for treatment of various injuries.

The VAI Southeast Asia Aviation Safety Conference, which takes place May 27–29 in Bali, Indonesia, will feature sessions focused on operational challenges, including an open discussion with VAI President and CEO François Lassale about regional hazards, safety risks, and what actually works.

(ABQ Raw) – Federal officials charged the individual this week for repeatedly shining a laser pointer at a Bernalillo County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office helicopter crew in October 2025.

(DVIDS) – A US Coast Guard (USCG) MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew airlifted the hiker from a trail Apr. 19 in Pacifica.

(Composites World) – During the 2020–2024 Urban Rescue project, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) designed, produced, and crash-tested a two-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) rotorcraft for use in emergency medical and urban rescue operations.

Max Lunov of Airborne Group and crew member Nazar Doroshkevych recently flew their new Bell 505 across the Atlantic, covering 10,000 km (6,214 miles) in VFR conditions without autopilot. Over 55 flight hours, they set multiple endurance records for the aircraft, crossing 10 countries in two weeks.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-02-17, which applies to certain Sikorsky S-70 helicopters. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions of AD 2020-02-17 but would expand its applicability and requirements for tail-rotor blade inspections, modifications, and maintenance updates to address a safety issue.

The FAA is proposing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell 505 helicopters after a production issue was reported involving an improperly installed washer on the tail-rotor pitch link assembly. The directive would require a one-time visual inspection for proper installation of the washer and any necessary corrective actions to address the safety risk.