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Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) announced Aug. 24 that its Lightweight E3 Panoramic Night Vision Goggle (PANO) system has received FAA Technical Standard Order–C164c approval.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford recently expressed the agency’s opposition to closing airports across the country, specifically stating that “the FAA is not in favor of closing” Burke Lakefront Airport (KBKL) in Cleveland, Ohio.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-17-03, which applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS 332L, AS 332L1, AS 332L2, and EC225 LP helicopters. The proposed AD would retain all the requirements of the existing AD plus call for an additional inspection of the emergency sea anchor, among other tasks. Comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking are due by Oct. 8, 2026.

Presidential Proclamation 11055, published on Aug. 19, outlines the Trump administration’s reaction to a Commerce Department report on the effects of imports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), as well as their parts and components, on the national security of the United States (US).

European Helicopter Association (EHA) Chairman Fredrik Kämpfe visited VAI headquarters last week to meet with VAI President and CEO François Lassale to discuss the two associations’ collaboration and strategic priorities facing the vertical aviation industry. VAI and EHA recently extended their partnership on EUROPEAN ROTORS, which has grown into Europe’s leading vertical aviation event since its founding in 2021.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of this fatal accident to be the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance of power lines during an agricultural application pass.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of this accident to be the maintenance personnel’s failure to identify and replace damaged rivet nuts at the air-conditioning louver assembly, which resulted in the separation of the louver assembly from the
helicopter, the louver assembly’s impact with the tail rotor, and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of this accident to be a total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of this accident to be the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and the flight instructor’s lack of proper remedial action during the practice autorotation that resulted in the helicopter impacting
terrain. Contributing to the accident was the presence of a gusting wind condition and speed shear.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of this accident to be an aeroelastic interaction between the helicopter’s main-rotor blades and nodal beam system, which resulted in oscillations that exceeded the design limits of the tail boom. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the main-rotor blade manufacturer to adequately publish the appropriate recovery technique for a known flight dynamics issue.