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This airworthiness directive (AD), which covers select Airbus AS350 helicopters, was prompted by a report of a gap between the bolted assemblies under the attachment fittings of the main gearbox (MGB) suspension bars. The AD, effective Apr. 29, requires replacing any affected front and rear attachment fittings, screws, nuts, and washers of the MGB suspension bars, and prohibits installing any affected parts unless they are new (never previously installed).

The FAA announced Apr. 16 the Drone Expedited and Targeted Enforcement Response (DETER) program, a new enforcement initiative designed to resolve certain minor drone violations more quickly while maintaining safety.

(Vertical magazine) – Downlinking is a crucial capability for parapublic operators today, enabling the real-time transmission of video and other data to boost situational awareness in everything from aerial pursuits to disaster response.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will examine fuel management, storage, and quality monitoring procedures as part of its ongoing investigation into the ditching of a Bell LongRanger helicopter in the Torres Strait off Far North Queensland, the preliminary report notes.

(The Brunswick News) – A kayaker became stuck in the mud during the outgoing tide Apr. 16 near Village Creek Landing on St. Simons Island, Georgia, and was rescued by a US Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter crew.

The US Army has awarded Boeing a $324 million contract for six CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters, increasing the total on order to 24 and accelerating delivery of critical capability to troops.

(ANTARA) – The Indonesian National Search and Rescue (SAR) Agency, Basarnas, has located the debris suspected to be part of an Airbus H130 PK-CFX helicopter that reportedly lost contact and crashed Apr. 16 in a forest area in Sekadau District, West Kalimantan.

(KVUE) – Before Len Hobbs turned 20 years old, he was already serving in the US Navy in Vietnam. It was there that helicopters became the focus of his early adult life.

As advanced air mobility (AAM) scales, insurers face new challenges shaped by autonomy, AI decision-making, and dense urban operations, testing long-standing aviation-risk frameworks, writes R. McKay Simmons.

A fascinating showcase of some of the most innovative helicopters ever created.