Author: Admin
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Aug
17
2026
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Posted by Admin
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When the Swedish armed forces introduced the HKP15 in the mid-2000s, the aircraft was never intended to become one of the most versatile assets in their rotary-wing fleet. Originally acquired to serve as a cost-effective training platform, the HKP15 has since evolved into a true workhorse. Commander of the 22nd Helicopter Squadron, Major Anderas Pantesjö, informs our photojournalist correspondent, Sven van Roij, on the diversity of assignments of his squadron over the years.
The Swedish armed forces developed its own military naming system long before joining NATO. Sweden still uses ‘HKP’ (derived from the Swedish word ‘helikopter’) as its designation for helicopters. The HKP15, an AgustaWestland AW109 light utility helicopter, is closely tied to Sweden’s helicopter reforms in the early 2000s. Until then, the Swedish military operated separate helicopter units for their army aviation, search and rescue ops, maritime aviation, and air force. Major Pantesjö said, “During the times of budget cuts, the Swedish ministry of defense saw economic reasons to put those units together and create one Helicopter Wing.” Pantesjö, who has been flying with Sweden’s air force for over 20 years, continues, “The establishment of the Helicopter Wing also ensured helicopter operations became more standardized. At the time, we operated the HKP4, HKP9B, HKP10 and HKP11 (respectively the: SeaKnight, Bo105CBS, Super Puma, and AB 412) and the accident rate was higher. Creating a more uniform way of operating helicopters was a positive contribution to our flight safety. Since then, all military flying personnel and material in Sweden became part of the Flygvapnet, the Swedish air force.”
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Tags:
AgustaWestland AW109 light utility helicopter
HKP15
Swedish HKP
Categories:
Company Profiles
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Aug
09
2026
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Posted by Admin
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Search-and-rescue dogs have been saving lives for decades; their extraordinary sense of smell and hearing make them one of the most powerful force-multipliers in emergency response. In South Africa, these four-legged specialists are increasingly pairing their skills with another vital tool, the helicopter.
From dense bush to rugged mountain terrain, helicopters allow K9 teams to reach areas that would otherwise take hours—or days—to access on foot. For a select group of highly trained dogs and handlers, rotary-wing operations have become a crucial part of modern search and rescue.
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Company Profiles
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Aug
04
2026
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Posted by Admin
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RPMN: What is your current position?
Founder and CEO of Anthelion Helicopters and I’m a helicopter experimental test pilot.
RPMN: Tell me about your first experience with helicopters?
It was while I was on my first ever cruise as a teenager in Alaska. We did a trip up to the glaciers to go dog sledding—or in our case, falling off, because we were terrible at controlling our sled! We took an AS350 AStar up there and back, and I remember thinking just how cool it,and the pilot, were and how complicated it seemed. From then on, I started reading some fiction novels with one of the key characters being a helicopter pilot, who naturally got all the girls, so I was hooked on beginning the journey!
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Alex Chaunt
Anthelion Helicopters
Meet A Rotor Pro
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Human Interest
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Jul
27
2026
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Posted by Admin
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The days of helicopter-only police units are coming to a close as drones play an increasingly important role in aerial law enforcement. It’s not only the addition of drones that is transforming this sector. “Air units are becoming far more data-driven and integrated,” said Mike Bucari, Leonardo Helicopters’ head of marketing for the Americas He said, “Aircraft are no longer standalone assets—they’re an integral part in a much broader network that includes ground units, drones, real-time operating centers, and AI-assisted analytics.”
As a result of this trend, law enforcement helicopters “must incorporate capabilities such as live video downlink, LTE/5G connectivity or Starlink-type solutions, and cloud-based evidence systems, which are becoming standard expectations,” Bucari told Rotor Pro. “There’s also a major shift toward a manned–unmanned teaming model. Drones are handling more routine, lower-risk missions—perimeter searches, accident reconstruction, overwatch—freeing helicopters to focus on high-speed pursuits, tactical insertions, and extended overwatch.”
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Tags:
Law Enforcement Aviation
law enforcement helicopter operations
law enforcement helicopters and drones
Categories:
Training
Safety
Helicopter Sectors
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Jul
20
2026
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Posted by Admin
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“Preparedness is not about predicting tragedy. It is about respecting the moment when it arrives.”
The phone rang while I was driving my children home from school. Like many people in aviation leadership roles, I answered instinctively. The phone is always on. Calls can mean weather delays, maintenance concerns, crew changes, operational updates, or shifting schedules. In utility helicopter operations, problems rarely wait for convenient moments.
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Aviation Accident Response
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Opinion-Editorial
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Jul
13
2026
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Posted by Admin
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Greg Edmonds is Kiwi to the core. The CEO of Salus Aviation, which has four locations in New Zealand, and operations in Boulder City, Nevada, and Pretoria, South Africa, proudly proclaims himself a “Kiwi” in the first few seconds of our interview in his native New Zealand accent. And why shouldn’t he? After all, he grew up in his nation’s capital city of Wellington, resides in its largest city, Auckland, and has a passion for its national sport of rugby, which he played in the past and still participates in on both amateur and professional levels.
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Executive Watch
Greg Edmonds Salus Aviation
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Company Profiles
Opinion-Editorial
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Jul
06
2026
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Posted by Admin
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Santiago, Chile, was once again the epicenter of global aviation. The 24th edition of the International Air and Space Fair, FIDAE 2026, was officially inaugurated by President José Antonio Kast, accompanied by First Lady María Pía Adriasola, Minister of Defense Fernando Barros, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Air Force, General Hugo Rodríguez González. The event ran from April 7–12 at Pudahuel Air Base, bringing together 35 exhibiting countries, more than 440 companies, 112 official delegations, and over 100 aircraft on static and dynamic display. With more than 150,000 visitors expected between industry professionals and the general public, the fair reaffirmed its standing as the region's premier aerospace platform.
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Tags:
FIDAE 2026
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Helicopter Event Coverage
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Jun
29
2026
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Posted by Admin
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For decades, the rhythmic, thumping heartbeat of a helicopter rotor has been a sound of hope. Whether tracking a suspect through a darkened suburb, hoisting a stranded hiker from a crumbling cliffside, or rushing a critical patient to a trauma center, public safety aviation has relied on a singular, indispensable component: the human pilot.
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Editor Lyn Burks
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Opinion-Editorial
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Jun
22
2026
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Posted by Admin
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There is a hard truth in life and business that most people learn the slow way: some people are only close to you when they need something from you. The moment the need is gone, so are they.
The helicopter industry has more than its fair share of this type of person. Ours is an industry that likes to talk about relationships, trust, mentorship, and reputation. We describe it as a small community. We speak of loyalty, professionalism, and looking out for one another. We shake hands at events, share stories in convention halls, and talk as though this business is built on something deeper than opportunity. But if you stay in it long enough, you start to see another layer beneath all of that.
You begin to notice the people who call only when they need help, access, knowledge, influence, support or a favor. They know exactly where to find you when you can solve a problem, open a door, make an introduction, lend credibility, or help carry their load. In those moments, they act like you matter. They speak warmly. They remind you of your value. They praise your experience and your insight. They want your time, your energy, your reputation, and sometimes even your name next to theirs.
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my two cents worth
Randy Rowles
Categories:
Career Development
Opinion-Editorial
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Jun
15
2026
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Posted by Admin
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The very nature of helicopter pilot training is undergoing a rapid, technology-driven transformation. Although ground school classes and in-helicopter flight training remain, fixed-screen simulators are being replaced by virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) flight simulation headsets. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to analyze student pilot reactions – and even postures – during these simulations, to track student progress and tailor teaching to their needs on the fly.
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Tags:
technology in pilot training
Categories:
Training