The Miami Herald - Over the past 16 months, two K-MAX drone helicopters sent to Afghanistan as an experiment have delivered 3.2 millions of pounds of cargo and flown more than 1,000 missions. This has reduced the number of supply convoys needed on bomb-infested roads, eased the workload and risk for helicopter crews, and saved money. In the fast-growing world of unmanned aircraft, the K-MAX's success is a significant step toward what is expected to be a host of new military and civilian roles for cargo drones.

View Story...

 
Daily Mail - From 1250ft up, the view of the capital is entirely unfettered, and for every iconic tourist snapshot - Big Ben, the London Eye, the Olympic Park - there are some equally beguiling workaday views.

View Story...

 
East Valley Tribune - A helicopter took off one recent Wednesday morning from Mesa's Falcon Field for a nearly two-hour flight around Arizona. Aboard it was Gilbert's Emma Allinger, who would celebrate her 18th birthday the next day. But she didn't get a chance to sight-see during the flight. She was too busy at the controls, flying the helicopter.

View Story...

 Aviation International News - AgustaWestland announced on Tuesday that it will open a second production line for the new AW169 medium-twin helicopter at its manufacturing facility in Philadelphia.

View Story...

Louisville Courier-Journal - Rolls-Royce has won the contract to produce engines for an upgraded drone helicopter that the U.S. Navy will use. The engines will be produced in Indianapolis, Ind.

View Story...

 China Daily - Piloting an aircraft is becoming more than just a dream for many Chinese, as flying schools report a sharp increase in the number of people applying for private pilot licenses. Any Chinese resident, aged between 17- and 60-years-old, with a middle school degree or above, can apply for private license training after passing a physical examination.

View Story...

 
South China Morning Post - The widespread use of US- and Russian-made helicopters during rescue missions in the quake zone in Sichuan's Yaan city has again exposed weaknesses in China's home-made rescue aircraft.

View Story...

 
Albany, N.Y. (WABC) - In the air and on the record books, Sgt. Kathy Humphries is the only female pilot in the New York State Police Aviation Unit.

View Story...

 
Amador County, Calif. (Mountain Democrat) - The risk of wildfires has already increased due this year's dry conditions, and in preparation Cal Fire and the California National Guard held their annual fire aviation training. The annual joint helicopter training went from April 12-14 at the Cal Fire Academy in Ione in addition to Lake Pardee in Amador County.

View Story...

The International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Heliport Design Working Group (HDWG) is gathered at HAI headquarters this week, considering a range of proposed amendments to ICAO Annex 14, Chapter 2 which sets out the fundamental requirements for heliports and helidecks.

Read the rest of this article...