Articles for category Helicopter Sectors
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Dec
08
2025
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Posted by Admin
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The Hohenfels Training Area is home to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC). The Center has several Observer Coach Training teams, including the Falcon Team. This unit is equipped with eight UH-72A Lakotas and is led by Colonel Beau G. Rollie. The senior aviation trainer informed Rotor Pro about the diversity of assignments for his skilled unit.
The JMRC is the sole U.S. Army forward stationed Combat Training Center (CTC) and has an important objective: training leaders, staff and units to dominate in conducting global multidomain operations.
The JMRC has 12 observer, coach and trainer (OCT) teams. Each OCT team has a specialized task during large-scale exercises, also called rotations. The Falcon Team conducts five to 10 large-scale rotations annually. To perform their mission, the team operates eight UH-72A Lakotas. Four of the light utility helicopters (LUHs) are painted in the regular green color scheme. The other four are in a yellow-brown camouflage pattern that names them ‘Bruised Bananas’.
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Tags:
Bruised Bananas
Joint Multinational Readiness Center
UH-1 Iroquois
UH-72A Lakotas
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
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Dec
01
2025
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Posted by Admin
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The Digital Revolution is impacting rotorcraft maintenance. In addition to their wrenches and screwdrivers, rotorcraft maintainers are now using digital tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) to get the job done. “We’re embracing disruptive innovation in our processes, technology and tools to drive speed, agility and data-driven insights for our customers,” said Steve Schmidt, Sikorsky’s VP of Engineering & Technology.
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Tags:
AI-powered predictive maintenance software
Artificial Intelligence in Helicopters
Augmented Reality Training
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
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Nov
13
2025
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Posted by Admin
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Who or what is Centum and why might you care? For over 15 years, Centum, headquartered in Vigo, Spain, has been designing and developing mission airborne systems that assist search and rescue (SAR), intelligence, surveillance and recognition (ISR), maritime surveillance, firefighting, emergency communications, and border-control missions.
So, why should you care? Well, if you’re ever lost in need of help, or are looking for the lost in a SAR mission, you jolly well will care! Let’s say you’re flying a SAR mission. Chances are very good that the person you’re seeking has some sort of cellphone and that’s very good for you—and them. Centum’s Lifeseeker airborne phone location system is based on the premise that the cell phone is the world’s most widespread beacon and it turns cellphones into emergency beacons capable of guiding rescue teams to a lost person’s exact location. The system also allows rescue teams to communicate with the missing person—without the need for that person to do anything—and has proven itself in thousands of successful missions over five continents.
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Tags:
Centum
Helicopter Search and Rescue
Lifeseeker
Categories:
Human Interest
Helicopter Sectors
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Sep
22
2025
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Posted by Admin
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Air medical providers across the U.S. are united in their dedication to safe and reliable service for the communities they serve. Unfortunately, even highly dependable organizations are making compromises to their in-service rates, fleet composition, response times, and coverage areas as they face workforce instability, system fragmentation, and financial pressures. These are some of the operational challenges confronting the modern air medical system requiring attention. Fortunately, there are policy and practice opportunities that can help improve air medical operations.
Rotor Pro took the opportunity to seek the insights of three individuals in the industry with differing backgrounds and perspectives in order to learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing the air medical services industry. We jumped at the chance to learn more from:
Brett Reeder, president of the National EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA)
Kyle Danielson, founder and principal consultant for Flightline Strategy
Steve Soliz, HEMS segment manager for Bell Flight
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Tags:
Air Medical Services Challenges
Air Medical Services Legistlation
Air Medical Services Opportunities
Air Medical Services Pilot Shortage
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
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Sep
01
2025
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Posted by Admin
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The global helicopter air ambulance industry stands at a critical juncture, balancing life-saving innovation with complex challenges. As demand for rapid medical transport grows, particularly in remote and rural areas, the sector continues to evolve, driven by technological advancements and increasing healthcare needs. However, it faces hurdles that require urgent attention.
Helicopter air ambulances are indispensable, providing swift access to emergency care where ground transport falls short. Advanced avionics, night vision systems, and medical equipment have enhanced operational efficiency and patient outcomes. The global market, valued at approximately $7 billion in 2024, is projected to grow steadily, fueled by aging populations and rising trauma cases. North America leads, with nearly 1,000 medical helicopters in operation, while Europe and Asia-Pacific are expanding rapidly due to healthcare infrastructure investments. On page 48 we highlight ANWB, an air ambulance service which has grown dramatically in the Netherlands.
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Tags:
Rotor Pro Editor's Letter
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Opinion-Editorial
Helicopter Sectors
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Aug
25
2025
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Posted by Admin
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Far from replacing helicopters, drones are expanding the capabilities of airborne law enforcement by adding cost-effective tools for overwatch, surveillance, search and rescue, and tactical response. As a result, drones are providing police commanders with more options for doing their jobs better. This includes deploying helicopters where they are most needed, rather than for every job imaginable.
Drones: Fast, Affordable, and Flexible
There is no doubt that drones are doing more jobs in airborne law enforcement than ever before. There’s a good reason for this: Drones cost less to fly than helicopters.
“Agencies and departments are under pressure to do more with less: smaller budgets, fewer personnel, and rising expectations,” said Jason LaFond, customer success manager, public safety at Skydio, a drone manufacturer. (LaFond is also a former NYPD detective with 18 years of experience, so he personally understands law enforcement’s needs.) “This fact has driven rapid adoption of drones, particularly autonomous flight systems, because they offer helicopter-like capabilities at a fraction of the cost,” he said.
“Today, drones are being used as first responders, enabling officers to respond with complete visibility in high-risk situations, often facilitating de-escalation,” noted Wayne Baker, director of stakeholder engagement at DJI, another drone manufacturer. He adds, “For example, drones enable officers to plan safer approaches for themselves and suspects in high-risk situations.”
Mike Bucari is senior manager of marketing-Americas at Leonardo Helicopters, which manufactures drones and helicopters. “Drones (AKA unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs) are becoming more popular due to their relatively low cost, versatility, and ability to provide real-time surveillance,” he said, agreeing with LaFond and Baker. “Today, small-size multirotors are widely used for surveillance, crowd monitoring, search and rescue operations, traffic monitoring, and even in pursuit situations. Drones also allow for the deployment of specialized equipment like thermal imaging cameras, which aid in search operations and tracking suspects at night.“
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Tags:
airborne law enforcement drones
dji
Drones and helicopters
skydio
UAVs
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
Helicopter Sectors
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Jun
02
2025
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Posted by Admin
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Just prior to Verticon 2025, Rotor Pro visited Donauwörth, Germany, to learn what the vertical lift industry can expect to see in 2025 from Airbus Helicopters. With nearly 8,000 employees, the facility is home to Airbus Helicopters’ second largest manufacturing facility in the world. Donauwörth is home to not only the development center of the CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype, but also the production lines of the H135, H145, and the military NH90 helicopters.
Looking into the rear-view mirror, Airbus Helicopters had a strong 2024. 455 gross orders (net: 450) showed a steady market growth with a strong performance last year for its light, light twin-engined, and heavy helicopters. Orders came from 182 customers in 42 countries. The Company delivered 361 helicopters in 2024, resulting in a preliminary 57% share of the civil and parapublic market.
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Tags:
Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters Pioneer Lab
CityAirbus NextGen
H140
H160
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Company Profiles
Helicopter Sectors
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Apr
14
2025
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Posted by Admin
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Whether through fighting fires directly or aiding those who do, drones are making serious progress in saving lives and property. Here is a brief rundown of some of the amazing things that drone technology is doing for firefighting today.
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Tags:
Ascent Aerosystems_RotorPro
Skydio_RotorPro
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
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Mar
31
2025
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Posted by Admin
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Ironically, flying unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can often sound like buzzing mosquitoes. You can hear them buzzing in on approach, and eventually, when close enough, you can see them peering down at you from above. Yet, UAS is a new solution to controlling mosquito populations in Lee County, Florida. Mosquitoes serve many purposes in a healthy balanced ecosystem. In fact, mosquitoes are considered pollinators, as much as any bee or butterfly. Having said that, the average citizen likely believes that they have no useful purpose, because their proliferation of peskiness knows no end. They irritate us on beaches, hiking, and working with animals. They can cause serious disease and eventually death for mammals, reptiles and birds, and they are incessantly difficult to kill. Mosquito diseases can affect humans, horses, birds, dogs, cats, and more.
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Tags:
Lee County Mosquito Control Aviation Unit
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
Company Profiles
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Mar
17
2025
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Posted by Admin
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It’s a bright and sunny autumn morning at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. While on the adjacent ramps it is still quiet, the ramp of HMLA-773 (-) is already packed with Bell UH-1Y Venom and Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters being prepared for the day’s flying by the busy maintenance crews. Although being a Marine Reserve Unit, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 plays a key role in the organization and operations of the United States Marine Corps.
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Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
Company Profiles
Helicopter Sectors