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The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) of New Zealand has concluded with virtual certainty that the air medical helicopter entered vortex ring state while descending on the windward side of the ridgeline to recover a patient.

The FAA has received a petition from ElectraFly that requests a regulatory exemption to use an unmanned aircraft system equipped with precision explosives to allow controlled avalanche triggering in remote and mountainous regions. The FAA is accepting public comments about the exemption through May 8, 2025.

This FAA airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to the A109C, A109E, A109S, and AW109SP, takes effect May 23. It requires repeated tap inspections and replacement of certain main-rotor blades, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD.

Along with Japanese partner Marubeni Aerospace, the Texas-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft company conducted the demonstration flight Apr. 14 at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai.

Archer Aviation is planning to develop an electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi network around New York City under a partnership with United Airlines.

The FAA is seeking comments through Jun. 2 on this airworthiness directive (AD), which requires regular lubrication and testing of the window-locking fingers of each jettisonable window, as outlined in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD. The FAA AD becomes effective May 2, 2025.

The United States Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) has released its April 2025 safety report, which covers various metrics, including average accident rates and average fatal-accident rates for the past five years.

A draft executive order from the Trump administration is poised to significantly reshape the way wildland firefighting is conducted in the United States—changes that will directly affect operators and other Vertical Aviation International members who conduct and support aerial firefighting operations.

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) has renewed accreditation for Life Link III, including its helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft bases in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

(Vertical HeliCASTS) – A new episode of The Helicopter Podcast features a recent ride-along with the Los Angeles (California) Police Department (LAPD) Air Support Division.