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Under the MOU, the Hanoi DOST will provide guidance for the application and approval of the sandbox testing, while HungViet, as the local implementing entity, will commit technical, financial and human resources starting from October 2026, prepare the sandbox application materials, and carry out controlled test flights upon receipt of the authorization decision. The EH216‑S pilotless human‑carrying aircraft, operational technology systems and personnel training support involved in the sandbox testing will be provided by EHang. Centered on the sandbox testing, the cooperation will advance in phases at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park: conducting controlled test flights of the EH216‑S, building an unmanned aircraft traffic management (UTM) model and an operations control center (OCC) model, while advancing operational technology training, the joint development of technical standards and regulations, and technical exchanges. The sandbox testing will proceed upon completion of the relevant application and approval procedures.

Truong Viet Dzung, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, stated, “Hanoi is in a phase of rapid urban development, and the low‑altitude economy holds tremendous potential. We greatly appreciate EHang’s technical support and collaboration. The signing and execution of this project will strongly advance the development of Hanoi’s low‑altitude economy and science‑innovation industries, drive comprehensive urban development, and ultimately bring benefits to Hanoi residents. Innovative technologies such as pilotless aerial vehicles will also open brand‑new possibilities for Hanoi’s urban mobility and cultural‑tourism growth.”

Under the cooperation plan, the parties will start with regulatory sandbox testing and carry out phased technical verification of the human‑carrying and cargo‑carrying variants of the EH216‑series pilotless eVTOL aircraft in line with Vietnam’s local regulatory rules, real-world operating environments and business implementation conditions, steadily advancing commercial‑operation‑related work. Beyond Hanoi, EHang plans to further expand its business to key Vietnamese cities including Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, and to realize diversified commercial‑use scenarios centered around urban commuting and the development of popular tourist destinations.

On the sidelines of the 61st Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions (DGCA/61), EHang held discussions with senior representatives of Malaysia’s civil aviation authority, as well as civil aviation directors and delegates from Laos, Fiji, Cambodia, the Philippines, Tonga, Vietnam, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and other countries. Participants explored viable paths to deploy regulatory sandbox mechanisms and the Fast Track Program within respective jurisdictions.

Vietnam’s cultural‑tourism market boasts strong growth momentum. According to official Vietnamese statistics, the country received nearly 21.2 million international inbound tourists in 2025, hitting an all‑time high. The booming tourism industry unlocks extensive market space for applications including pilotless eVTOL aerial sightseeing and urban low‑altitude mobility. The signing of the MOU in Hanoi also represents a key advance for EHang’s Global Fast Track Program in Southeast Asia.

Conor Yang, Chief Financial Officer of EHang, commented, “Expanding into overseas markets means far more than exporting aircraft hardware. What matters most is the deep alignment of technology and commercial operations with local regulatory systems. Safety and compliance are the bedrock for the commercial realization of AAM. EHang’s Global Fast Track Program is designed for the regulatory frameworks and market characteristics of individual countries and regions. Through sandbox testing, operational validation and collaboration with local partners, it connects technology, commercial operations and regulation to accelerate commercial roll‑out. Vietnam is a highly innovative and important market within ASEAN. We look forward to working solidly with the Hanoi government on testing and validation activities, accumulating valuable practical experience for the safe and orderly commercial deployment of pilotless eVTOL in the country, and advancing commercial opportunities for low‑altitude mobility across Southeast Asia.”

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First nacelles complete – The first nacelle structures for the MV-75 Cheyenne were completed and are in Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Amarillo, TX. Following the completion, Bell initiated its wing and nacelle assembly process by successfully fitting them together. The completion of the nacelle structures reflects the successful application of digital engineering to advance through engineering, tooling, detail part manufacture and assembly of critical structures.

First gearboxes enter test – Bell commenced testing on the first gearboxes for the MV-75 Cheyenne test aircraft. These gearboxes, as a part of the overall drive system, are critical to aircraft operation — powering electrical power generators, hydraulic pumps and cooling blowers for the engine and nacelle. The MV-75 gearboxes are designed, manufactured and tested by Bell. Both the gears and cases were manufactured at Bell’s Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) in Fort Worth, TX. The complete system was instrumented and assembled for test in Bell’s new MV-75 Drive System Test Lab (DSTL) in Grand Prairie, TX, which Bell broke ground on in 2023.

Weapon System Integration Lab (WSIL) Integration Matures – Bell is maturing the MV-75’s software and digital backbone in the WSIL with various systems integrated onto the corresponding benches and undergoing testing including the flight control computers, general purpose computers, actuator drive unit, electrical components and large area displays. The work done in this facility comes two years after Bell opened it in Arlington, TX and supports the safe integration and validation of software and systems prior to flight of the actual test aircraft. By leveraging the WSIL, Bell can reduce technical risk and support the safe, rapid, and efficient execution of a flight test program for the MV-75.

The completion of the nacelles along with the start of gearbox testing and software integration marks significant milestones for the first MV-75 test aircraft and moves Bell and Team Cheyenne closer to completing the build and beginning flight tests. Bell and our teammates are working closely with the Army throughout the build process to ensure the MV-75 meets program requirements.

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Mr. Woltman previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo Helicopters US, where he led a $1 billion business spanning sales, engineering, certification, production, customer support and R&D across the Americas, alongside U.S. Government and Foreign Military Sales programmes globally.

Before joining Leonardo, he held senior leadership roles at Aerojet Rocketdyne, now part of L3Harris Technologies, and Pratt & Whitney, overseeing advanced defence and aerospace programmes, including the F135 propulsion system for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

A retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, Mr. Woltman brings extensive leadership experience in military aviation, operations, strategy and programme delivery, including command roles during combat operations.

Mr. Woltman’s appointment follows that of former Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Fabrice Brégier as Chair of Vertical’s Board.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “Following Fabrice’s appointment as Chair, this is another important addition to a Board built to help Vertical become a scaled, global aerospace company. As we progress Valo towards certification and commercialisation, we are focused on disciplined execution, expanding our platform across hybrid-electric, autonomous and defence applications. Clyde brings an exceptional combination of aerospace leadership, industrial execution and direct experience with U.S. defence and international government communities at a pivotal stage in Vertical’s development.”

Clyde Woltman, Board member at Vertical Aerospace, said: “Vertical has the technology, team and strategic momentum to build a leading next-generation aerospace company. I am delighted to join the Board at a time when the Company is expanding its commercial opportunities while exploring the significant potential for its technology across government and defence applications.”

In connection with the Board changes announced today, Carsten Stendevad and James Keith Brown have given notice of their intention to resign as directors. As agreed with the Board, their resignations will take effect on 5 October 2026. The Board thanks Mr. Stendevad and Mr. Brown for their service to the Company and wishes them the best in their future endeavours.

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The MV-75 Cheyenne, the U.S. Army’s next-generation Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, is designed to combine the vertical agility of a helicopter with the speed and range of an airplane. The Army has described the aircraft as capable of flying approximately twice as fast and twice as far as current platforms, expanding the Joint Force’s ability to conduct long-range assault, medical evacuation, resupply, and other critical missions in contested environments.

Final assembly of the MV-75 Cheyenne will take place at Bell Helicopter’s facility in Amarillo. This program will help support skilled manufacturing jobs and strengthen the region’s defense industrial base.

“The MV-75 Cheyenne represents the kind of transformational capability our warfighters need to meet the challenges of the future battlefield,” said Rep. Jackson. “Our servicemembers deserve the speed, range, survivability, and operational flexibility necessary to accomplish their missions and come home safely. We must continue advancing this critical program to ensure our military has the tools it needs to maintain our technological advantage.”

Co-signers include: Senators Jerry Moran (KS), Roger Marshall (KS), Jim Banks (IN), Tim Sheehy (MT), Jacky Rosen (NV), Ted Cruz (TX), John Boozman (AR), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Dave McCormick (PA), John Cornyn (TX), Todd Young (IN), Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Representatives Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Rudy Yakym (IN-02), Austin Scott (GA-08), Judge Carter (TX-31), Don Davis (NC-01), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26), Ron Estes (KS-04), Mike Ezell (MS-04), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Matt Van Epps (TN-07), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Andre Carson (IN-07), Lance Gooden (TX-05), John McGuire (VA-05), Richard McCormick (GA-07), Mark Messmer (IN-08), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Jefferson Shreve (IN-06), Keith Self (TX-03), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Nicholas Langworthy (NY-23), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Riley Moore (WV-02), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Derek Tran (CA-45), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Michael Guest (MS-03), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Rick Allen (GA-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Dale Strong (AL-05), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Barry Moore (AL-01), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Roger Williams (TX-25), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), James Comer (KY-01), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Erin Houchin (IN-09), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Wesley Bell (MO-01) and Clay Fuller (GA-14).

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The Philippines operates a fleet of Sikorsky Black Hawks for a range of missions, including search and rescue, humanitarian aid, firefighting, and troop transport across the archipelago. The contract strengthens the Philippine Air Force’s ability to train Black Hawk pilots and maintainers locally and supports the country’s broader defense modernization efforts. It also marks an expansion of Lockheed Martin’s training and simulation portfolio as the first order of Lockheed Martin S-70i Black Hawk training devices.

“It’s a privilege to partner with the Philippine Air Force with a suite of systems to support their training requirements as they grow their fleet of S-70i Black Hawk helicopters,” said Tim James, Vice President of Air and Commercial Solutions at Lockheed Martin. “This contract award is a long-term investment in the PAF’s mission readiness and reflects Lockheed Martin’s proven ability to deliver sustainment solutions across the entire operational pipeline.”

The S-70i Black Hawk Full Flight Simulator is an aircraft digital twin training solution that replicates the exact sights and sensations of flying an S-70i Black Hawk aircraft. The Virtual Maintenance Trainer delivers high-fidelity, physics-based models of every airframe subsystem, from hydraulics to avionics, that lets maintainers train in a fully immersive, risk-free environment.

“Lockheed Martin remains committed to its longstanding partnership with the Philippine Air Force. Through these advanced training systems, we effectively support the needs of its growing force and expanding Black Hawk fleet. These solutions build on the PAF’s ongoing efforts to enhance training, ensuring crews and maintainers remain mission-ready while advancing their broader modernization goals,” said William Blair, Vice President and Regional Chief Executive, Asia & India.

In addition to the training devices and courseware, the contract includes sustainment and spares support through 2032. The Philippine Air Force will continue to train Black Hawk pilots at the U.S.-based Sikorsky Training Academy as their in-country training capability is being established.

Lockheed Martin’s suite of S-70i Black Hawk training devices ranges from desktop trainers to fully immersive virtual environments. Lockheed Martin uses a digital twin of the Black Hawk to build the most accurate and up-to-date representation of the aircraft’s systems, components, and configurations to enhance training effectiveness, and a digital thread of the Black Hawk’s operational flight program to create high-fidelity simulations in days rather than years to keep pace with aircraft modernization efforts.

In addition to the Black Hawk, Lockheed Martin also supports training for other Lockheed Martin aircraft, including the CH-53K, F-35, F-16 and C-130J.

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Flansburg’s brings executive-level experience from previous positions at L3Harris, Boeing, Sikorsky, and Lockheed Martin, which will equip Surack Enterprises to better serve aviation customers in the Midwest and beyond. Through Sweet Aviation and Sweet Helicopters, Surack Enterprises provides fixed-wing and helicopter flight schools, charter services, maintenance services, and FBO operations across five Indiana locations.

As a certified private pilot and avid explorer, Flansburg brings an infectious passion for flight to his new position.

“I am thrilled to join the Surack Enterprises aviation team,” he said. “Sweet Aviation and Sweet Helicopters have introduced incredible opportunities for both travelers and aspiring pilots across the region. I look forward to further developing Northeast Indiana’s vibrant and thriving aviation scene.”

Surack Enterprises Founder and CEO Chuck Surack said, “Robert Flansburg is a tremendous addition to the Surack Enterprises leadership team. He brings a fresh, strategic perspective to our operations while displaying a strict adherence to detail and prioritization of safety.”

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This partnership brings together Air Methods’ nationally recognized aviation expertise with Pafford Medical Services’ high-quality, pre-hospital emergency medical care. Once operations begin, this program will significantly enhance rapid access to advanced medical transport for patients in both urban and rural communities, supporting hospitals, first responders, and healthcare providers throughout the region.

“By partnering with Pafford Medical Services, we are able to ensure that the residents of Southern Arkansas continue to have access to care, regardless of how far they may be from the nearest trauma center,” said Air Methods Vice President of Field Operations Michael McGregory. “By combining our industry-leading air medical services with Pafford’s long-established ground ambulance services, we are strengthening the ability of both partners to deliver timely, appropriate, and high-quality care when minutes matter most.”

Each base will be staffed around the clock with Air Methods’ highly trained pilots and mechanics, alongside Pafford’s experienced clinicians, delivering a seamless, integrated approach to emergency and critical care transport. The aircraft will have the capability to carry specialized medical equipment, including Impella, intra-aortic balloon pump, and ZOLL AutoPulse NXT devices to support complex cardiac patient transport. Crews will also carry whole blood for in-flight administration to patients experiencing severe blood loss and at risk of hemorrhagic shock.

“For generations, Pafford has been committed to finding ways to bring the right resources closer to the communities we serve,” said Jamie Pafford-Gresham, CEO of Pafford Medical Services. “This partnership is a natural extension of that commitment. By combining Pafford’s experienced clinicians and established EMS network with Air Methods’ aviation expertise, we are adding another resource that can help connect patients to the care they need when time and distance matter. Our flight clinicians bring advanced critical care experience and rigorous, specialized training to this program, preparing them to care for some of the most complex patients during transport. We are proud to bring this capability home to Arkansas and look forward to working alongside our hospitals, first responders and healthcare partners across the region.”

The first base, which will open in Texarkana, will operate in a brand-new Bell 407GXi. The light, single-engine turbine helicopter features advanced Garmin G1000H NXi avionics and a Rolls-Royce 250-C47E/4 engine. The aircraft also has Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) capability, allowing for safe operation in low-visibility conditions. The base in Arkadelphia will operate in a Bell 407 which is already part of the Air Methods fleet. Both aircraft will feature custom medical interiors, which include an Articulating Litter Loading System (ALLS), which allows for the primary caregiver to be seated at the patient’s head.

As part of the launch process, Air Methods and Pafford Medical Services will work closely with local stakeholders, emergency responders, and healthcare partners to ensure seamless integration of the new air medical resources into the region’s emergency response network.

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For the first time, EUROPEAN ROTORS will be held in France, bringing one of Europe’s principal vertical aviation industry gatherings into Rotortrade’s home market. The location also places the event within close reach of Rotortrade MRO Tallard, the company’s European Maintenance Center in the French Alps, making this year’s edition particularly relevant for Rotortrade and its customers.

Rotortrade’s entire European team will be present in Lyon, together with the company’s senior management, welcoming operators, owners, manufacturers, partners and other industry stakeholders at booth #258.

The show will provide Rotortrade with an opportunity to present the continued development of its integrated dealership model, built around three core pillars: helicopter sales, maintenance services and financing solutions. By bringing these capabilities together within one organization, Rotortrade supports customers beyond the aircraft transaction itself, from sourcing and acquisition through financing, technical preparation, maintenance, upgrades and ongoing aircraft lifecycle support.

A particular focus at EUROPEAN ROTORS will be Rotortrade MRO Tallard. The European Maintenance Center provides maintenance and retrofit capabilities alongside aircraft painting, customization and technical project support. The facility has become an increasingly important component of Rotortrade’s European operations and of the company’s strategy to integrate technical capabilities directly into its global dealership platform.

“Having EUROPEAN ROTORS in France this year makes the event especially important for us,” said Philippe Lubrano, Founder & CEO of Rotortrade. “With our European team, senior management and MRO capabilities all closely connected to the event, Lyon gives us an opportunity to show customers what the Rotortrade dealership concept has become. Today, we can discuss an aircraft transaction together with its maintenance requirements and financing structure within the same organization. That integrated approach is at the heart of the helicopter ecosystem we are building.”

Rotortrade also plans further announcements during EUROPEAN ROTORS 2026, reflecting the continued development of its activities and capabilities.

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Under this new executive leadership structure, SkyDrive will accelerate its preparations for commercial operation and service launches in Japan and around the world, specifically advancing route development and establishing operational frameworks.

Background

SkyDrive has been accelerating aircraft development — including successful high-speed flight tests (*2) — and type certification activities with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (*3). Concurrently, commercialization initiatives are gaining momentum globally.

To date, SkyDrive has partnered with airlines, operators, local governments, and business partners across 10 countries to develop routes and evaluate specific use cases. Aircraft sales efforts are also advancing, with pre-orders and letters of intent (LOIs) totaling 451 aircraft for the SKYDRIVE (SD-05 model).

In the next phase of its expansion, SkyDrive is focusing on establishing specific operational routes across target regions, strengthening strategic partnerships, driving commercial sales contracts, and building post-delivery operational support systems alongside its ongoing aircraft development and certification efforts.

To lead these initiatives, SkyDrive has reinforced its management structure by appointing Ono as executive vice president and Ramos as global commercial officer, both of whom bring extensive track records in global business development and commercial expansion.

Roles and Executive Profiles

Taiji Ono
Executive Vice President, Head of Global Business

• Role & Responsibilities
  Ono oversees global business strategy, commercial models, and sales strategy worldwide, including Japan. Within the Japanese market, he leads public-private partnerships and government affairs to advance policies for industry growth and the integration of eVTOL technology into society.

• Biography
  Taiji Ono joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 2005 after graduating from university. Throughout his tenure, he held roles in sales and sales planning, where he managed product planning, sales promotions, and supply-demand policies, as well as led planning for new vehicle models and mobility services. In 2014, he transitioned to a full-time role within the labor union, serving as vice president, where he led organizational policy formulation centered on digitalization and carbon neutrality. He subsequently joined the Executive Support & Government Affairs team, playing a pivotal role in negotiations with government agencies including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and industry associations, while contributing to company-wide battery electric vehicle (BEV) strategy. Following a nearly 17-year career at Toyota Motor Corporation, he joined a data platform company in 2022. As Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and General Manager of Business Development, he oversaw all business operations, including sales, business development, global expansion, and government relations.

• Comment
  “Just as automobiles gave people freedom of movement, advanced air mobility has the potential to redefine the very nature of human mobility. Over nearly 17 years at Toyota Motor Corporation, I was involved in planning vehicles and new mobility services, as well as driving company-wide carbon neutrality strategies and organizational transformation. Later, as an executive member at a startup, I led global strategy and drove product adoption among enterprise clients both in Japan and internationally. Leveraging my experience across both large corporations and startups, I will work hand-in-hand with Gonzalo, our global team, and colleagues across development, manufacturing, and corporate functions to bridge Japan and the world, as well as technology and business. My goal is to build a new, pioneering industry originating from Japan — including its supply chain—second only to the automotive industry, and to transform air mobility from an extraordinary experience into an everyday reality. I am excited to take on this challenge.”

Gonzalo Ramos
Global Commercial Officer

• Role & Responsibilities
  Ramos leads commercial expansion across key international markets, including the United States, Middle East, Europe, and Australia. He is responsible for driving customer acquisition, closing aircraft sales contracts, and building post-delivery maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and aftermarket support infrastructure and partnerships.

• Biography
  Gonzalo Ramos brings over 22 years of experience in commercial aviation, aircraft leasing and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). An aerospace engineer by training, he spent almost 18 years at Airbus commercial aircraft, progressing from aircraft customization engineering, through director roles in customer support and services to sales director in Miami, Florida. He then served as Vice President at Griffin Global Asset Management, structuring aircraft leasing transactions, before moving into advanced air mobility as head of business development and sales at Overair, and subsequently as vice president of commercialization, sales and partnerships at Supernal, where he led business development and sales, focusing on ecosystem partnerships, commercial strategy and product positioning. Ramos holds an MEng in Aeronautical Engineering and a master’s degree in air transport management from City, University of London, and an MBA in finance from the Jack Welch Management Institute. He is fluent in English, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

• Comment
  “I am honored to join SkyDrive at such an important moment in the company’s journey, and I could not be more pleased to be part of this team. SkyDrive has a rare combination: an aircraft designed around simplicity and real operating economics, a team with the discipline to certify it, and a manufacturing partner able to build it at scale. I am thrilled to support SkyDrive in converting the strong global interest we are seeing into firm commitments, building the partnerships and support infrastructure operators need in our markets, and making sure our customers succeed from the first day of service. This is also a responsibility to the industry as a whole. Advanced air mobility becomes real only when aircraft are safe, certified, affordable and genuinely useful to the communities they serve. I look forward to contributing to that with my colleagues at SkyDrive and with partners around the world.”

Comment from Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive Inc.

“As our aircraft development and certification processes steadily advance, interest and expectations from airlines and operators worldwide are growing rapidly. The coming year represents a pivotal phase for SkyDrive as we convert this momentum into firm commercial orders, sales contracts, and definitive commitments toward commercial operations. We are thrilled to welcome Taiji, who has demonstrated powerful leadership in global business development and public-private collaboration, and Gonzalo, who brings an outstanding commercial track record in the global aviation and mobility sectors. With their leadership, our entire team — including development, certification, and manufacturing — remains dedicated to pioneering new air mobility experiences and accelerating commercialization in Japan and globally.”

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Vertical has notified the NYSE that it intends to regain compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standards and is considering all available options to do so that are in the best interests of Vertical and its shareholders. Vertical can regain compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing requirements at any time during a six-month cure period if, on the last trading day of any calendar month during the cure period, the ordinary shares have a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month.

The NYSE notice has no immediate effect on the continued listing of Vertical’s ordinary shares on the NYSE and is not anticipated to have any impact on Vertical’s ongoing business operations. Under the NYSE’s rules, Vertical’s ordinary shares will continue to be listed and will trade on the NYSE, subject to compliance with other continued listing requirements.

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Bell Textron Canada is commemorating 40 years of operations, marking a milestone that reflects the company’s deep roots in Canada and its longstanding commitment to advancing rotorcraft innovation, supporting national missions, and contributing to the country’s aerospace manufacturing excellence.

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Based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wisk Air has more than 40 years of experience serving firefighting, powerline, forestry, mining, and remote access missions. Supporting those assignments requires dependable aircraft and maintenance teams that can respond wherever the fleet is deployed. The investment extends predictive monitoring to both an aircraft already in service and the newest addition to Wisk Air’s fleet.

Bell’s support for Foresight MX was a key factor in Wisk Air’s selection, connecting predictive aircraft health monitoring with the manufacturer’s product support expertise. Foresight MX is the only non-OEM HUMS fully supported on the Bell 505, 407, 429, 212, and 412 by Bell Product Support. Operators who choose to share their data with Bell can draw on the aircraft manufacturer’s expertise alongside GPMS to review trends and exceedances and support maintenance decisions.

“We’ve relied on Bell’s product support for decades, and its support of GPMS was a major factor in our decision,” said Mark Wiskemann, President of Wisk Air Helicopters. “When we invest in technology that helps guide maintenance decisions, we want the aircraft manufacturer behind it. Foresight MX gives us advanced monitoring and a way to connect our team, GPMS, and Bell around the same information. That combination matters when an aircraft is supporting customers far from base and we need a clear path from an alert to an informed maintenance decision.”

Foresight MX pairs modern MEMS smart sensors with predictive analytics, advancing beyond the conventional accelerometer architecture used in legacy HUMS. The system monitors sensor health and provides access to the underlying vibration signals so indications can be investigated and validated. This combination is designed to improve fault detection while reducing false positives and the unnecessary troubleshooting they can trigger.

Automated data uploads and browser access will allow Wisk Air’s maintenance team to review aircraft health information after flights, even when an aircraft is operating away from its home base. Tracking changes over successive flights can provide earlier indications of developing component deterioration, creating time to investigate, arrange parts and personnel, and coordinate maintenance with the aircraft’s assignment.

“What I’m most excited about is moving from reacting to problems to predicting them and preventing them from happening,” said Kevin Robins, Director of Maintenance at Wisk Air. “GPMS will give us a window into what’s happening inside our critical components, so it will be like having X-ray vision for the aircraft. Plus, having onboard track and balance will be a game changer. The ability to make adjustments on the fly, keeping the aircraft flying smoothly, will keep our pilots and customers happy, but ultimately will help prevent premature wear caused by unfelt vibrations.”

“We’re proud to work with Wisk Air and look forward to supporting their fleet as they launch their HUMS program this fall,” said Ronnie Ries, Chief Revenue Officer at GPMS. “They’re putting their trust in our technology and our people, and we take that responsibility seriously. We’ll be working closely with their maintenance team as they bring Foresight MX into daily operations, providing the guidance and ongoing support to help their program succeed.”

Meet GPMS at booth 211 and Wisk Air Helicopters at booth 301 during the Vertical MRO Conference in Kelowna, British Columbia, October 5–7, 2026, to discuss the program and learn more about Foresight MX.

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The opening ceremony, which took place on National Manufacturing Day in the UK, delivers on a previously announced milestone and marks the next stage in the Company’s transition from prototype development and flight testing towards certification and commercial production of its Valo electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft.

Supported by a £1.5 million investment, the new Centre adds 60,000 square feet of operational and aircraft assembly space to Vertical’s existing Cotswold Airport campus. Combined with the Company’s Flight Test Centre, Vertical now operates approximately 130,000 square feet at the airport across engineering, aircraft assembly, ground operations and flight-test activities.

A staged approach to manufacturing scale-up

The Aircraft Assembly Centre is the first stage of Vertical’s planned manufacturing scale-up. It provides the capacity required to build certification-conforming aircraft, which will be used for compliance demonstration and verification testing as Vertical works with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) towards its target of achieving Type Certification in 2029. Assembly of the first certification-conforming aircraft is expected to begin in Q4 2027.

The Centre will also be used to retrofit one of the Company’s prototype aircraft for hybrid-electric flight testing in the first half of 2027. The UK Ministry of Defence recently confirmed its interest in Vertical’s hybrid-electric and autonomous capabilities.

Following certification, the Centre is expected to support Vertical’s initial customer deliveries with capacity to assemble more than 25 Valo aircraft annually during the early-production phase.

Higher-volume manufacturing will be carried out at a separate, full-scale production facility, plans for which Vertical expects to announce in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive Officer at Vertical, said:

“Opening our Aircraft Assembly Centre is an important step in Vertical’s transition from prototype developer to aircraft manufacturer, and another milestone delivered as we advance Valo towards certification. This facility gives us the capability we need to assemble our certification aircraft and support initial customer deliveries, while maintaining capital discipline as we prepare for higher-volume production.

“Bringing a new category of aircraft to market is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it is especially rewarding to do that here in Great Britain, drawing on the country’s proud aviation heritage. By bringing aircraft assembly and flight testing together at Cotswold Airport, we can work more efficiently, reduce execution risk and remain focused on our target of certifying Valo in 2029.”

Fabrice Brégier, Chair of Vertical Aerospace, who attended the opening, said:

“I am delighted to be here today for one of my first engagements as Chair of Vertical. Having spent much of my career bringing complex aircraft programmes into production, I know how important it is to develop manufacturing capability in step with certification. This is tangible evidence of the Company’s progress as it moves from prototype development towards becoming an aircraft manufacturer.”

Expanded Flight Test Centre drives efficiency

At the Aircraft Assembly Centre, Vertical will assemble Valo aircraft, integrating key systems including Sonaca’s airframe structures, Evolito’s electric propulsion units, Vertical’s proprietary battery systems and Honeywell Aerospace’s flight control and aircraft management systems into flight-ready aircraft.

Locating aircraft assembly alongside Vertical’s existing engineering and flight-test operations will allow aircraft to move efficiently from final assembly through ground and flight testing. It will also shorten feedback loops between manufacturing, engineering and flight-test teams, helping to reduce integration risk and support efficient execution of the certification programme.

Supporting the UK’s manufacturing growth

Vertical is also due to open its expanded Vertical Energy Centre later this year. The facility is expected to triple the Company’s battery-production capacity over time, supporting the development and production of Vertical’s proprietary battery systems.

Together, the Aircraft Assembly Centre and expanded Vertical Energy Centre form part of Vertical’s staged investment in the capabilities required to certify, manufacture and deliver Valo.

Independent analysis by Frontier Economics estimates that Vertical could add £3 billion a year to the UK economy by 2035, anchor more than 2,000 high-value jobs, and become a major export success, with 90% of future sales expected to come from global markets.

Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall MP said:

“The opening of Vertical Aerospace’s new Aircraft Assembly Centre at Kemble is exactly the kind of investment we want to see more of as we work to reindustrialise Britain, creating high-skilled local jobs and strengthening our manufacturing base.

“Through our Modern Industrial Strategy and the ATI Programme, we’re backing UK aerospace businesses to invest and grow. This new facility will help turn British innovation into British manufacturing, and it’s great to see Vertical Aerospace’s ambitions take flight.”

Suzannah Harvey, CEO Cotswold Airport, said:

“We are delighted to support Vertical Aerospace as it enters this important new phase. The opening of the Aircraft Assembly Centre strengthens Cotswold Airport’s growing role as a hub for aerospace innovation and brings aircraft assembly and flight testing together in one location. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Vertical as it progresses Valo towards certification and commercial production.”

Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK, said:

“Vertical Aerospace embodies the ambition, innovation and technical excellence that define modern British manufacturing. The company is demonstrating that Britain remains at the forefront of aerospace innovation and has the capability to turn pioneering technologies into world-leading products.

“The opening of this new assembly centre is a significant milestone not only for Vertical Aerospace but for UK manufacturing. We are proud to count Vertical Aerospace as a member of Make UK and to support a business that is leading the way in one of the most exciting areas of advanced manufacturing. As manufacturers look to invest, grow and compete internationally, facilities such as this create high-value jobs, strengthen supply chains and showcase the UK’s ability to develop, industrialise and manufacture the technologies of the future. On National Manufacturing Day, this investment is a powerful example of British engineering ambition being translated into industrial reality.”

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HSI is proud to support the men and women who have served our country and to help service members successfully leverage their military experience into meaningful careers in civilian aviation.  The company welcomed its first Skillbridge teammate last month.

Through participation in the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge Program, HSI provides transitioning service members the opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience in a commercial aviation environment while building upon the technical skills, discipline, leadership, and work ethic developed during their military careers.

Helicopter Services Inc. became a Skillbridge-approved employer earlier this year and has always focused on providing the best rotorcraft services to its clients via its team of high quality aviation technicians.

For HSI, participation in SkillBridge is about more than recruiting. It is an opportunity to give back to those who have served while helping address one of the aviation industry’s most significant challenges—the continued need for highly skilled aviation maintenance professionals.

“Our veterans bring an incredible amount of experience, discipline, and technical ability to the aviation industry,” said Mike Crossland, General Manager of Helicopter Services, Inc. “SkillBridge gives companies like HSI an opportunity to help service members make that transition while allowing them to see how the skills they developed in the military translate into a civilian aviation career. It’s good for the service member, it’s good for our company, and it’s good for the future of the aviation industry.”

HSI believes the aviation community has both an opportunity and a responsibility to recognize the tremendous value veterans bring to the workforce. Their experience working in demanding, safety-critical environments aligns naturally with an industry where attention to detail, accountability, teamwork, and safety are essential every day.

The aviation maintenance sector continues to face a growing demand for qualified technicians. SkillBridge provides an important connection between an exceptionally capable military workforce and civilian employers searching for the next generation of aviation professionals.

HSI also recognizes that transitioning from military service involves more than simply finding the next job.

By introducing transitioning service members to opportunities in helicopter maintenance, avionics, inspections, aircraft completions, and other specialized areas of aviation, programs like SkillBridge can help strengthen the industry’s long-term talent pipeline.

Participants have an opportunity to experience the day-to-day operations of a civilian FAA Part 145 Repair Station, work alongside experienced aviation professionals, become familiar with commercial maintenance practices and regulatory requirements, and develop relationships within the industry before completing their military service.

“We want service members to leave HSI better prepared for whatever comes next,” adds Crossland. “Whether their next step is with HSI or somewhere else in aviation, if we can provide experience, mentorship, and a clearer path into the civilian workforce, then our work with the program makes an impact.”

By investing in SkillBridge and hard working service members, HSI is investing not only in veterans, but also in the future of aviation.

With decades of experience, HSI’s completion and service work covers airframes from Airbus, Bell, MD Helicopters, Enstrom and other popular brands, in the company’s 25,000 square foot facility at David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport west of Houston.

HSI also continues its growing involvement in air medical aircraft maintenance and completions.

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The aircraft was acquired by Vman Aviation Services, led by Vishok Mansingh, and will be leased to ABS Aerospace. The aircraft is scheduled to enter into service in September 2026.

The project was managed by Vijay Sharma, Rotortrade Sales Manager for the Indian Subcontinent. A key part of the process was identifying an aircraft that could provide the right operational and economic proposition for the customer. In addition to its relatively young age and low flight hours, the H125 was offered with access to a Safran SBH program.

Vijay Sharma said: “Vman Aviation is building a genuine leasing capability in India, and our role was to source the right asset to support it. An H125 with low hours and Safran SBH coverage gives Vman a sound aircraft for its leasing business, and ABS Aerospace a proven platform for demanding passenger operations in the mountains.”

Vishok Mansingh, CEO of Vman Aviation Services, said: “For a lessor, what matters is receiving an aircraft that is truly ready for operations. Rotortrade prepared the H125 through one of its own MRO (Tallard, France) and delivered it in excellent condition, fully documented and ready to be placed with our operator. That level of technical preparation is what allows us to grow our leasing business in India with confidence, and there is much more to come.”

Air Commodore Anil Kumar Sinha (Retd), CEO of ABS Aerospace, said: “Operating in the mountains for pilgrimage services demands an aircraft that is proven, capable and reliable. The H125 is exactly that platform, and we look forward to putting it into service connecting people with some of the most significant sites in the country.”

Aurélien Blanc, EVP, Head of Region APAC & MEA at Rotortrade, said: “India is a market where helicopters have a very tangible role to play. This transaction is a good example of matching an available aircraft with a specific operational requirement. With its low hours, maintenance status and versatility, the H125 provides ABS Aerospace with a platform well suited to this type of passenger operation.”

The transaction comes as Rotortrade continues to expand its activity across Asia-Pacific. In 2025, the region accounted for 35% of the company’s total transactions, with activity spanning 12 countries across Australia and New Zealand, Southeast Asia, China, India, Japan and Central Asia. Regional demand has been driven by a broad mix of utility, EMS, offshore, corporate/VIP and SAR missions.

In India, Rotortrade has invested in a full-time presence on the ground, combining local commercial support with technical preparation through its own MRO network capabilities. The company sees India as one of the fastest-maturing helicopter markets in the region, with the adoption of the Cape Town Convention and new leasing frameworks encouraging the development of local leasing and financing capabilities. Transactions such as this one, where an Indian lessor places an aircraft with an Indian operator, illustrate that infrastructure taking shape in-country. Rotortrade’s role is to support it: placing well-prepared helicopters into new missions and markets, with people based in the market they serve.

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The approval, granted under CASA’s Australian Parts Manufacturer Approval (APMA) framework, covers ducting components for the 214B (B-1) and follows almost two years of development by the two companies in close consultation with CASA.

McDermott Aviation, the world’s largest operator of the 214B and holder of the aircraft’s Type Certificate, started the project to improve the supply of replacement parts for its fleet, where some components can be difficult to source.

“An aircraft waiting on a component you can’t easily get hold of is an aircraft that isn’t working,” McDermott Aviation Founder and President John McDermott said.

“Being able to have approved parts made here in Queensland gives us far more control over that.”

To produce the components, Plane Support used 3D scanning to capture original 214B ducting and create accurate digital models. The parts were then reverse engineered and redesigned for additive manufacturing while retaining their original form, fit and function.

Plane Support established a dedicated aerospace additive manufacturing laboratory for the project, built around the Markforged FX10 industrial 3D printing platform, and developed the quality systems, production controls and inspection methods needed to meet CASA airworthiness requirements.

Plane Support Director of Engineering Jason Hazell said the project required new processes to be developed and validated from the ground up.

“Ducting sounds simple until you try to reproduce it. These are complex shapes that have to fit exactly and perform in the aircraft just as the originals do, and we had to prove every step of that to CASA,” Mr Hazell said.

“We didn’t have an established process to follow, so we developed our own procedures, quality systems and inspection methods and worked them through with CASA. That groundwork now gives us a pathway for other components and other aircraft types.”

The approval expands the scope of Plane Support’s CASA Part 21K additive manufacturing capability.

Mr McDermott said the project reflected the company’s responsibility as Type Certificate holder for the long-term support of the 214B.

“We own the Type Certificate for this aircraft, so keeping it supported sits with us. Jason and his team have spent almost two years getting this right, and to now have received CASA approval is tremendously exciting news – not just from our perspective but in terms of the manufacturing capability we are developing here in Australia.”

Mr Hazell added the result relied on the experience and expertise of both companies.

“McDermott Aviation brought decades of knowledge of operating and maintaining this aircraft and we brought the engineering, manufacturing and approvals side – it was a joint effort from start to finish and demonstrates the results that can be achieved when we look for solutions that simply didn’t exist a decade ago.”

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“Bell is excited to welcome our new relationship with AVIARAIL,” said Tim Evans, managing director, Middle East and Africa, Bell. “We believe they deliver the sales expertise required to further Bell’s reach and bring our advanced aircraft solutions to emerging markets.”

AVIARAIL, a Moroccan aerospace and defense company, has built a reputation as a leading sales organization in region. As an authorized Bell independent sales representative, AVIARAIL will promote Bell’s rotary solutions as the premier aircraft of choice throughout the country.

With hundreds of Bell aircraft being used by military and commercial operators across the continent, Bell continues to invest in the African aviation sector through its intricate support network hubs of dedicated Independent Sales Representatives, Customer Service Facilities, and Authorized Maintenance Facilities tailored to providing around-the-clock solutions and support.

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“We are honoured that Romania has chosen the H225M to strengthen its defence capabilities. This selection will also bolster Romania’s industrial capabilities through our long term partnership with IAR, Romania’s sole helicopter manufacturer,” said Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “We are proud to welcome Romania within the growing H225M community, establishing the H225M as a key asset of Europe’s defence,” he added.

Airbus has been present in Romania for over twenty years through its three businesses. Airbus Helicopters’ customer centre keeps proving to be a successful enterprise since its creation, providing support and services to the Romanian Airbus fleets while working for various export customers. Airbus Defence and Space provides turn-key secure communications and systems engineering services through its engineering department, whilst Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft business manufactures strategic parts.

The Romanian Air Force currently operates the IAR-330 Puma, a locally produced version of the Puma under an Aerospatiale license. The 12 H225Ms will initiate the replacement of the Puma fleet for conventional and special operations. Romania has also previously ordered two H215Ms in naval configuration.

This contract is the second one signed by Romania and Airbus Helicopters in the frame of the SAFE initiative, with seven H160 and five H145 recently ordered for public services missions.

The H225M has proven its reliability and durability in combat conditions and crisis areas around the world. There are more than 350 H225s and H225Ms in service, totalling more than one million flight hours. The twelve H225M customers include Brazil, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Thailand.

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The move comes 18 months after Swiss Life Asset Managers acquired a majority stake in Eliance in April 2025 through its infrastructure fund. As part of the process, Buenavista Equity Partners exited, while RiverRock remained a minority shareholder. The move was presented as a way to fund future expansion.

In July 2025, Generali Investments’ infrastructure fund Infranity provided €190 million in financing to support growth and establish a sustainable long-term debt platform. Eliance had expanded internationally through its acquisition of Italian operator EliFriulia, and the launch of operations in Croatia in collaboration with EliAdriatik. The latter, a contract with the Croatian Ministry of Health, consists of two EC135s at Zabreb and Osijek and two H145s at Split and Rijeka.

Despite this backing, Eliance’s 2025 accounts showed mounting losses. The company lost €23.9 million, compared with €12 million in 2024, while revenue remained stable at about €54 million. The accounts cited €14.7 million in additional expenses linked to claims, customer penalties and provisions.

The report also warned of liquidity pressures. Eliance said it needed financial support from its sole shareholder to meet its obligations and continue operating, noting that high short-term debt used to fund investments had strained liquidity at times.

In March 2026, Swiss Life appointed Fernando Gallardo as CEO, replacing Juan Carlos Martínez. Gallardo joined Eliance in 2016 as CFO and later led its Italian subsidiary. His appointment was intended to strengthen international markets and advance the company’s business plan.

The proceedings come as the Spanish National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC – Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia) investigates Eliance and other companies over suspected coordination in public tenders for emergency services, firefighting, medical transport and rescue. The investigation remains ongoing.

Eliance operates in Spain, Italy and Croatia, providing firefighting, emergency medical, search and rescue, and aircraft maintenance services. It says its priority is to maintain operations and continue delivering services considered essential by public authorities.

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Founded in 2005 by Brad and Tracey Bauder and based in Redlands, California, HP Helicopters is focused on critical services to the utility infrastructure, construction and aerial firefighting industries. HP Helicopters’ fleet currently serves customers in 10 states in the Western US, catering to a broad range of clients, notably including state and federal government agencies, utilities, engineering, procurement and construction firms, and aerospace and defense companies.

Helicopters are increasingly important in the utility and wildfire response sectors for their ability to carry heavy payloads and access hard-to-reach areas. HP Helicopters has seen strong growth in this fragmented and underserved market on the back of two major but unrelated trends: a growing need for emergency response to wildfires due to climate change, and rising demand for mission-critical heavy-lift services by helicopters to help modernize aging infrastructure and support electrification and grid expansion for AI.

Both of these trends are closely aligned with Antin’s NextGen investment strategy. NextGen invests in companies with proven business models and technologies that require substantial capital and expertise to scale to become the next generation of infrastructure.

This investment is the eighth by Antin’s €1.2 billion NextGen Infrastructure Fund I. Antin is acquiring a significant majority stake in the company, and Brad Bauder will retain a minority holding.

HP Helicopters is also strengthening its leadership team with the appointment of Santiago Crespo as Chief Financial Officer. Santiago brings over 25 years of experience helping scale companies across the helicopter and broader aircraft industries.

Angelika Schöchlin and Stephan Feilhauer, respectively Managing Partner and NextGen Partner at Antin Infrastructure Partners, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with Brad to accelerate HP Helicopters’ growth. The company is a good fit for our NextGen strategy, which aims to build tomorrow’s infrastructure today. We see strong potential to take HP Helicopters to the next level by expanding the fleet, further increasing efficiencies, and continuing the transition to long-term exclusive use contracts with clients who want to ensure availability amid a structural supply shortage for heavy-duty helicopters.”

Brad Bauder, CEO and co-founder of HP Helicopters, added: “We are excited to join forces with Antin. This partnership is about more than just capital; it also gives us access to resources and experience that will help accelerate the company’s growth. We see tremendous value in this partnership and are confident that this is the best way to safely scale and grow our specialty services company to help meet industry demand.”

Antin was advised by Goodwin Procter LLP as legal counsel and Cozen O’Connor P.C. as aviation regulatory counsel. The sellers were advised by Red Mountain Capital Advisors as financial advisor, Varner & Brandt LLP as legal counsel and Jetlaw, LLC as aviation regulatory counsel.

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Airbus will provide SIIT instructors and students with access to leading-edge helicopter maintenance training tools and technologies, while supporting the continued development of its Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) program.

“Access to this equipment means our students can build their skills with technology connected to the aircraft they may encounter in the industry,” said Riel Bellegarde, President and CEO of SIIT. “We are grateful to Airbus for investing in Indigenous learners with this state-of-the-art technology and helping SIIT create more pathways into aviation careers.”

“This partnership is about creating lasting capability and opening more pathways into Canada’s aerospace industry,” said Dwayne Charette, President, Airbus Helicopters in Canada. “SIIT is doing important work to equip Indigenous learners with the skills and opportunities they need to build successful careers in aerospace, and we are proud to support that work. By bringing H135 training capability to SIIT, we are investing not only in students today, but in the strength and growth of Canada’s aerospace workforce for years to come.”

The donation supports the objectives of the Government of Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) program, which encourages investments that strengthen Canadian industry, skills, and capabilities. The donated equipment, initially used to support technician training associated with the FAcT program, includes H135 flight control, fuel system, main gearbox and tail unit training equipment, as well as Helionix Advanced Tool Simulator (HATS). HATS is a portable, simulator-based system designed for realistic avionics and cockpit training.

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) is Canada’s largest credit-granting Indigenous post-secondary institution, and Saskatchewan’s exclusive provider of Aircraft Maintenance Engineer training. The Airbus H135 was selected for Canada’s Future Aircrew Training program, with 19 aircraft to be delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force and designated the CT-153 Juno. The program will support the training of the next generation of RCAF aircrew while generating broader benefits for Canada’s aerospace and defence sector.

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Depending on the existing battery configuration, operators can achieve up to 19.8 kg weight reduction and up to 15 Ah additional capacity. On-condition operation eliminates the need for scheduled battery overhauls, reducing battery-related maintenance requirements and aircraft downtime.

Developed and certified by Heli Austria in close cooperation with Heli Werk, the project combines EASA Part 21J design and certification expertise with Part 21G production capabilities. Heli Austria holds EASA STC 10090942, while Heli Werk produces the upgrade kit with EASA Form 1.

“EC135 operators can now choose a complete upgrade solution that combines lower weight, higher capacity and reduced scheduled battery maintenance,” said Joachim Kies, Managing Director of Heli Werk. “Our focus was to turn the approved design into a production-ready kit supplied with the required installation components and documentation.”

“Working with Heli Werk went smoothly from start to finish,” said Roy Knaus, Managing Director of Heli Austria. “The close coordination between design and production helped us move the project through certification and deliver a solution that is ready for operators.”

Two battery options are available:

• TB30 lithium-ion battery system with 30 Ah capacity
• TB40 lithium-ion battery system with 40 Ah capacity

Each kit includes the selected battery system, the components required for installation and the applicable STC documentation. The suitable battery option, achievable weight reduction and installation scope depend on the aircraft’s existing configuration.

Further information and technical data: https://www.heli-werk.com/products/lithium-battery

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The fees are planned to begin in September 2027. Japanese media reports suggest the charge could be around US$10 for each minute of helicopter flight. The amount and other details are still being worked out.

Mount Fuji, which rises to 3,776 metres, is officially open to climbers from July to early September and attracts more than 200,000 hikers during that period. Outside the season, winter conditions can make the climb hazardous. Authorities say rescue teams have increasingly had to assist stranded climbers, with helicopter rescues currently provided free of charge.

The proposed fee may be waived for climbers who register their route in advance and carry suitable equipment.

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The building provides more than 6,000 square metres of space and can accommodate up to five simulators at a time. It brings engineering, design, development, production, assembly, integration and testing together under one roof, strengthening the site’s capabilities across the full simulator development and manufacturing cycle. Offices occupy three floors alongside a large assembly and integration area. The most advanced simulators recreate a helicopter cockpit on a motion platform or fixed base, surrounded by a panoramic visual dome.

The project builds on the facility’s growth in recent years. Employee numbers rose from around 470 in 2022 to more than 610 in 2025, an increase of over 30%. The new building will bring together specialists currently working across different areas of the site, including aeronautical and computer engineers, software developers, assembly technicians, pilots and programme managers. These include many young professionals with STEM skills, particularly in engineering and software development, reflecting the site’s ability to attract and develop skilled talent.

Simulator design and manufacturing have long been core areas of expertise at Sesto Calende. Leonardodeveloped systems include the A129 Mangusta helicopter simulator for Italian Army Aviation in Viterbo, the HH139 simulator for the Italian Air Force in Cervia and the NH90 helicopter simulator at the Italian Navy’s Maristaeli Luni simulation centre. The site has also developed systems for other helicopter types and customers worldwide.

The new building provides additional space to expand these activities and develop systems for civil and military programmes in Italy and overseas. The first simulators built in the new facility will serve operators in Italy and Asia. Stronger in-house capabilities will continue to complement established industrial partnerships with specialist companies, including the Rotorsim joint venture with CAE. Expanded capabilities for independent development will complement these partnerships to open up new markets and meet the full range of customer requirements.

The expansion supports an important part of Leonardo’s helicopter business: between 2023 and 2025, Customer Support, Services & Training accounted for an average of around 42% of Helicopters revenues. Across Leonardo’s helicopter training activities, more than 16,000 people are now trained each year.

The Sesto Calende Training Academy uses advanced simulation systems to train pilots, crews, operators, ground staff and maintenance personnel. These systems recreate flight, missions, maintenance and repair tasks with a high degree of realism. More recently, they have supported the development of new scenarios and programmes. Digital technologies, including virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence and digital twins, enable multi-domain scenarios and allow personnel to train safely in complex situations. Simulation also helps reduce costs, improve environmental and economic sustainability, and keep aircraft available for operational duties.

The facility also houses the coordination centre for technical and logistics support across Leonardo’s entire helicopter fleet.

The new building continues Sesto Calende’s aviation heritage, which dates back to 1915. Alongside the site’s preserved historic buildings, new spaces for digital technologies and advanced simulation reflect the continued evolution of the local area’s industry, technology and skills.

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Michael York (CEO GDHF) said “GDHF is very grateful to Helaba, BayernLB and BpiFrance for their strong support and partnership spirit that has enabled this finance facility. The loan will further enhance GDHF’s ability to regularly purchase factory new, cost-effective, multi-mission helicopters that meet or exceed the needs of our global customer base. GDHF sees this finance agreement as a strong endorsement of the strength of the helicopter industry and a validation of GDHF’s growth and maturity as a trusted provider of new technology helicopter solutions for the global market.”

Jörg Schirrmacher (Head of Project Finance International – Asset Finance at Helaba) said: “We are delighted to be able to support the growth plan of GDHF and thank everybody involved for the good and trustworthy cooperation throughout the process. This is a further important step in the build out of Helaba’s helicopter finance franchise.”

Oliver Geldner (Head of Sector Aviation & Space at BayernLB) said: “We are pleased to contribute to GDHF’s growth strategy and thank everyone involved for the constructive and trusting collaboration throughout the transaction. This marks another milestone in further expanding BayernLB’s helicopter finance platform.”

GDHF was advised by Watson Farley & Williams (London). Helaba and BayernLB were advised by Norton Rose Fulbright (London).

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CHC do Brasil has been named Petrobras’ Best Supplier for Air Logistics in the state-owned energy company’s 2026 Best Supplier Awards, recognizing its performance in supporting one of the world’s largest offshore energy operators.

Petrobras’ Best Supplier Awards recognize companies that deliver outstanding performance in the provision of goods and services across its operations. Suppliers are assessed against a range of criteria including operational performance, quality, HSE performance, ESG performance, management and value generation.

For CHC, this acknowledgment reflects the consistent delivery of helicopter services that help transport more than 25,000 Petrobras workers offshore safely and reliable every month to some of Brazil’s most important energy projects.

Gilson Caputo Junior, Managing Director, Brazil, said: “I am incredibly proud to receive this award on behalf of CHC Brazil. It takes hundreds of colleagues working together across planning, maintenance, flight operations, supply chain and many other functions to deliver the unrivalled helicopter services our customers rely on every day. What makes this Best Supplier recognition so special is what it says about our people and their commitment to delivering outstanding, safe and reliable services year-round.”

Búzios Field Crew Change Contract Award

As a further sign of Petrobras’ confidence in CHC’s services, the company has also awarded CHC a new five-year crew change contract to support the Búzios field.

CHC will transport offshore personnel using an existing S-92 aircraft from its base at Maricá Airport. The contract is scheduled to commence in June 2027.

Búzios is a major contributor to Brazil’s energy production and among the country’s largest offshore oil developments. Located approximately 180km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in the Santos Basin pre-salt region, it has achieved successive production records and contains some of the most productive wells in Brazil.

The field is one of a number of deepwater production sites supported by CHC globally. As a global operator, CHC is able to draw on experience from offshore energy basins around the world, applying proven operational practices and learnings from other markets to continuously enhance safety, reliability and service performance in Brazil.

Licia Rocha, Senior Sales Director, Americas and APAC, said, “We are delighted to have been awarded this latest contract by Petrobras. It reflects the trust they place in CHC, built through decades of consistently high-performance in support of Petrobras’ offshore operations. By combining the expertise of our team in Brazil with the strength of our global organization, we are well positioned to support our customers as offshore production continues to expand across the region.”

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The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s eLIFT-NC project is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (US D.O.T.) and Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) and is focused on exploring medical and disaster-response applications for advanced air mobility.

For Metro, bringing the demonstration to eastern North Carolina was especially meaningful. Metro has partnered with ECU Health EastCare since 2013, providing aviation operations for the health system’s critical care transport program. Today, Metro operates eight aircraft for EastCare, supporting critical care transport throughout eastern North Carolina.

“From the beginning, our partnership with BETA has been about finding a more affordable way to expand access to air medical transport,” said Todd Stanberry, vice president at Metro Aviation. “ECU Health has been part of the Metro family for more than a decade, and they understand better than most the challenges of delivering critical care across a large, rural service area. Seeing ALIA fly these routes brings all that we’ve been talking about to life, proving how electric aircraft will indeed lower costs for ECU Health and so many others.  I applaud our partners at ECU Health and EastCare for stepping up with us to lead the charge into the future for the air medical industry.”

ECU Health serves approximately 1.4 million people across 29 primarily rural counties in eastern North Carolina. The health system’s experience delivering care across a large geographic area provides an important perspective as eLIFT-NC partners explore how emerging aviation technology could help overcome distance and transportation barriers.

 “At ECU Health, we believe the future of rural health care will be shaped by partnerships that bring innovation closer to the people and communities we serve. Working alongside eLIFT NC partners like Metro Aviation and BETA Technologies, we have an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine how we connect patients, clinicians and critical resources across eastern North Carolina,” said Trish Baise, chief nursing executive at ECU Health. “Together, we are advancing a new model of transportation that has the potential to strengthen access, reduce geographic barriers and help define what is possible for rural health care.”

During the September campaign, BETA completed 18 eIPP flights totaling 1,336 nautical miles.

The ALIA CTOL transported a field medical station and supplies between communities, demonstrating how electric aircraft could support increased connectivity between North Carolina’s Research Triangle and the coast.

The mission provided a real-world look at how next-generation aircraft could complement existing transportation and aviation resources by moving critical medical equipment and supplies across the state, particularly in rural areas or when severe weather and other emergencies make traditional transportation more challenging.

“BETA has had the privilege to work alongside the team at Metro Aviation for several years on a shared question: how electric aviation can serve real-world medical missions,” said Simon Newitt, head of sales and support at BETA Technologies. “Metro has built the largest traditional air medical operation in the country by putting safety and patient care first. That experience shapes every mission we plan together, and it gives this partnership a strong foundation for what comes next.”

BETA is partnered with Metro Aviation as operators for the North Carolina eIPP initiative. Together, the organizations are evaluating how electric aviation can safely and efficiently integrate with existing infrastructure while supporting health care and disaster-response missions.

The North Carolina campaign is the latest milestone in Metro’s partnership with BETA Technologies, which began in February 2023. Metro has placed a deposit-backed order for up to 20 ALIA vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft as the company evaluates how electric aviation will complement its traditional air medical operations.

For Metro, programs like eLIFT-NC are an opportunity to ensure that the people who understand these missions best — health care systems, operators, clinicians and communities — are part of the conversation as the technology develops.

With longtime partners like ECU Health participating alongside Metro and BETA, the future of electric aviation is moving beyond concept and into real-world environments where its potential impact can be evaluated firsthand.

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Framed against the North Texas skyline, the campaign builds on electric air taxi demonstrations conducted earlier this year, including flights in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City, and shows the aircraft’s ability to integrate into busy airspace. Conducted under TxDOT’s winning Project Nexus proposal, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation eIPP initiative announced in March 2026, the North Texas flights bring together federal, state, and local governments with private industry to accelerate the safe integration of electric air taxis into U.S. airspace.

Throughout the week, Joby will fly missions between Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, key urban locations, and DFW Airport, one of the world’s busiest and most connected airports. These flights are expected to generate the real-world operational data the FAA needs to build safety rules for commercial service at scale.

Flight Campaign Schedule from Sept 10 through Sept 14*

• AFW Airport: Campaign kickoff and joint flight demonstration from Joby and other aircraft manufacturers in partnership with TXDOT
• DFW Airport – Corporate Aviation Fixed-Base Operator (FBO): Joby’s aircraft will enter DFW’s controlled airspace, landing directly at DFW Corporate Aviation
• Arlington, TX: Round-trip flight from AFW demonstrating low-noise operations over major infrastructure, including the Fort Worth Stockyards
• Toyota Motor North America HQ (Plano): Flight along the planned operational route connecting AFW to Toyota’s corporate campus

The effort builds on years of airspace research with the FAA and NASA, which began studying electric air taxi integration in North Texas in 2018. A 2023 high-fidelity simulation by Joby and NASA at the Future Flight Central facility at the agency’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley examined the feasibility of operating up to 50 electric air taxi operations per hour at the DFW terminal area. To support this week’s campaign and long-term growth in the region, Joby recently leased a 45,000-square-foot facility at Perot Field within the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone.

The typical Dallas-Fort Worth driver loses around 44 hours a year to traffic congestion, according to independent transportation research. Joby’s long-term vision is to give communities that time back, offering commercial air taxi service that could one day turn long, frustrating highway drives into quick, emission-free flights.

Texas offers a distinct opportunity for this next era of aviation: a fast-growing population, expanding infrastructure, and, through the eIPP, a framework for government and industry to work together early. AFW and DFW both already handle heavy daily traffic by keeping public agencies and private operators in sync. This week’s flights are intended to demonstrate the same system can work for electric air taxis too.

“I’m incredibly excited by the potential for vertical lift in Texas, a state with the infrastructure, expertise, and partnerships to help lead the next era of American aviation,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. “With TxDOT’s leadership and support, the eIPP gives us an incredible opportunity to bring our aircraft into urban areas and accelerate our path to commercial service. This is just the beginning of what Texas and Joby can build together.”

“Advanced Air Mobility vehicles are the future of aviation and these demonstrations in Texas are critical to getting us there,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “The FAA is leveraging data from test flights in Texas and across the country to ensure these new aircraft integrate safely into the airspace.”

“Under President Trump, we are unlocking the future of flight and empowering innovators to build and test these exciting aircraft right here in the U.S.,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Today marks another critical step in our work to reshape how people and products move for the better.”

The North Texas campaign is part of Joby’s 2026 Electric Skies Tour, a nationwide showcase celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary. Also, being announced today and featured on the tour is J208, a Cessna 208B Caravan with Joby’s autonomous flight technology installed that is currently completing coast-to-coast flight demonstrations that began in Concord, California on Sept. 8. The aircraft is part of Joby Autonomy, a program working to apply the company’s self-flying systems to both commercial and defense applications. J208 will make a stop at AFW on Sept. 10.

As Joby advances through the fifth and final stage of FAA type certification, supported by ongoing testing of its conforming aircraft for Type Inspection Authorization (TIA), the flights demonstrate the operational maturity, acoustic performance, and airspace integration required to launch commercial air taxi service at scale.

*Schedule subject to change based on weather conditions and other factors.

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When a helicopter is in the maintenance dock, it is missing for operations. With the foundation of DRF Aviation Services GmbH, a new full-service provider for the technical support and further development of helicopters is entering the market. According to the motto “Ahead of Time”, the company clearly positions itself as a driver of innovation within the industry. The newly established company builds on more than half a century of experience within the DRF Group, which operates one of the largest Airbus helicopter fleets in Europe.

Comprehensive service portfolio from a single source

DRF Aviation Services’ portfolio includes Part-145 base and line maintenance, Part-21 design and production organisation services, as well as CAMO services. In addition, DRF Aviation Services provides support with the purchase and sale of helicopters, production oversight and helicopter transfers, as well as an extensive spare parts portfolio.

“With DRF Aviation Services, the combined technical expertise of the DRF Group becomes available to all customers. Our company already operates almost entirely digitally. The objective behind this is clear: less time on the ground. More time in operation. Customers benefit from our experience, fast decision-making and services from a single source,” says Roman Morka, CEO of DRF Aviation Services.

Versatile capabilities close to customers

DRF Aviation Services has 18 maintenance docks across three locations at Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, Straubing and Wilhelmshaven. This enables maintenance and repair work on helicopters to be carried out close to customers throughout Germany. The company can also serve customers from neighbouring European countries. The portfolio is complemented by mobile line maintenance teams that provide support directly at customer locations.

New brand appearance for the company launch

Alongside with its launch, DRF Aviation Services is also presenting its new digital presence at www.drf-aviationservices.de. Prospective customers will also be able to experience the company’s comprehensive service portfolio at European Rotors 2026 in Lyon, where DRF Aviation Services will be represented from December, 1 to 3.

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The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Denmark for MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $425 million.

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VAI is offering four scholarships for 2027 to help students, aviation maintenance technicians, and commercial helicopter pilots continue their education and training.

Mechanic/Engineer and Student Scholarships

• Robinson Pete Riedl Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Scholarship: Presented by Robinson Helicopter Co., this scholarship honors the late, longtime Robinson engineer. The winner receives full tuition to attend an aviation maintenance course from the OEM.

• Bill Sanderson AMT Scholarship: This scholarship awards full tuition to attend a maintenance course from airframe and powerplant (A&P) manufacturers, including Airbus, Bell, Leonardo, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, and Safran Turbomeca.

• Bell 505 B2 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Technician Scholarship: Presented by Bell, this scholarship is awarded to an individual who has held an A&P license for any length of time or to an individual who has finished avionics technician training within the past two years. Winners receive full tuition to attend Bell’s 505 B2 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Course.

Commercial Pilot Professional Development Scholarship

•  Michelle North Scholarship for Safety: This scholarship provides full tuition for the recipient to attend a safety management course offered as part of VAI’s Professional Development Program at VERTICON 2027. The scholarship was established in memory of Michelle North, a helicopter safety expert and educator.

All award recipients also receive a complimentary full registration to VERTICON 2027 (formerly HAI HELI-EXPO) for the recipient and a guest (hotel and travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship winner and guest).

Applicants must be a member of VAI. Not already a member? Join VAI now and enjoy not only access to the VAI scholarship program but a host of additional educational, safety, and other benefits, as well.

Applications for a 2027 VAI scholarship award must be received by 11:59 pm eastern time (UTC-5) on Dec. 4, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact us at Scholarships@verticalavi.org.

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For the program, which was initially launched as a seasonal summer service and recently extended, Wings Air Helicopters operates chartered helicopter flights between Resorts World New York City (JFK) and Resorts World Catskills. The service is designed to enhance the guest experience by reducing travel times while offering panoramic aerial views of the New York metropolitan area and Hudson Valley.

“This new helicopter service reflects our commitment to giving guests every reason to choose Resorts World for a premium getaway. Connecting Resorts World New York City and Resorts World Catskills by air gives our guests a fast, effortless way to experience both properties in a single trip,” said Meghan Taylor, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Relations, Genting Americas. “We are proud to partner with Wings Air Helicopters on a program that raises the bar for luxury travel between two of New York’s premier entertainment and hospitality destinations.”

Operating from strategically located heliports in the New York area, the program is utilizing Wings Air’s fleet of Airbus AS350 and AS355 helicopters, known for their comfort, reliability, and exceptional visibility. The service is available to Resorts World guests seeking premium transportation between the company’s flagship properties. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes.

“We are honored to have been selected by Resorts World to support this exciting transportation initiative,” said Anna Macsai, General Manager of Wings Air Helicopters. “This partnership reflects the growing demand for efficient, high-end travel solutions and demonstrates how helicopter transportation can seamlessly connect major destinations while delivering an unforgettable guest experience.”

With nearly 25 years of operational experience as an FAA-certified air carrier, Wings Air Helicopters specializes in executive transportation, luxury travel, and customized aviation solutions throughout the Northeast and South Florida.

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Mr Broschofsky was appointed as CareFlight’s next Chief Executive Officer, commencing on 1 August 2026 stating that “taking on the role is both an honour and a great responsibility.”

Having served as Chief Operations Officer for the past three and a half years, Peter has had the privilege of working alongside our extraordinary frontline teams during a period of unprecedented demand for our lifesaving services.

Before joining CareFlight, his career spanned many years in the commercial aviation, building products and industrial sectors having held various senior leadership roles.

Speaking about Mr Broschofsky’s appointment to the Chief Executive Role, CareFlight Chairperson Brad Hazzard said, “the board is very pleased that Peter has accepted the role as CEO. He has a wealth of experience in the aviation industry and has substantial knowledge of CareFlight’s aeromedical services through his role as Chief Operating Officer.”

Mr Broschofsky said, “I look fondly back at those experiences however it is my time at CareFlight that has been the most rewarding of my career. For more than three years, I have been immersed in the operational heartbeat of this organisation – helping ensure our helicopters and aircraft are ready to fly, our engineering teams have the resources they need, our communications centres remain operational around the clock, and our doctors, nurses and paramedics can reach patients whenever and wherever they are needed. CareFlight’s work depends on countless dedicated people, systems and moving parts working together seamlessly every day of the year. It has been both a challenge and a privilege to help lead those efforts.

“I am grateful that the board of CareFlight has entrusted me with the responsibility to lead this remarkable organisation into its next chapter. More importantly, I am excited to continue working alongside our people, partners and supporters to ensure we remain there for communities across Australia when they need us most. Most of all, I want to express my sincere thanks. Every mission we undertake, every patient we assist, and every life we have the opportunity to save is made possible through the collective commitment of people who believe in our mission.”

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The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Argentina for UH-60L Blackhawk Helicopters and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $140 million.

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As part of a tour that will see the aircraft travel from California to the East Coast and back, the converted Cessna Caravan will demonstrate the flight capabilities that support future use cases spanning commercial freight, medical transport, disaster response, and defense logistics. By integrating an autonomous system onto an already-certified airframe, Joby offers an immediate, scalable path to autonomous air logistics.

“Autonomous flight can transform how we deliver essential supplies, respond to emergencies and support our servicemen and women,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “We’ve already demonstrated this technology in demanding military exercises. Now, we’re taking it across America to show how the aircraft can integrate into our national airspace in order to serve communities, strengthen our logistics networks and help keep people out of harm’s way.”

10-State Flight Route & Key Stops

As part of Joby’s 2026 Electric Skies tour, the J208 features flight demonstrations, logistics showcases, and operational milestones across the following stops:

1. Phoenix, AZ (KDVT): Demonstrates dual-use autonomy technologies for defense, first responders, and cargo applications, as part of Arizona’s role in the uFLY coalition.
2. Fort Worth, TX (KAFW): Showcases autonomous freight potential at Alliance Airport, a major US industrial logistics hub. The stop coincides with Joby’s broader Dallas-Fort Worth eIPP flight demonstration campaign, announced separately in partnership with TxDOT.
3. Shaw Air Force Base, SC (KSSC): Demonstrates military flight operations and tactical defense readiness.
4. Outer Banks, NC (KMQI): Marks the historic completion of the eastbound coast-to-coast leg near Kitty Hawk, where the Wright Brothers first took to the skies.
5. Raleigh, NC (KRDU): Highlights Joby’s eIPP partnership with NCDOT across Research Triangle aerospace networks.
6. Stafford, VA / Washington, D.C. (KRMN): Demonstrates complex airspace integration in the national capital region.
7. Louisville, KY (KSDF): Spotlights cargo automation at UPS Worldport, the world’s largest automated package facility.
8. Wichita, KS (KICT): Home of Textron Aviation, original manufacturer of the Cessna Grand Caravan airframe.
9. Oklahoma City, OK (KOKC): Demonstrates autonomous capabilities at the home of the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, as part of Oklahoma’s role in the uFLY coalition.
10. Salt Lake City, UT (KSLC): Hosts operations with UDOT, which leads the uFLY coalition evaluating autonomous flight across the West’s high-altitude terrain and extreme-temperature desert environments.
11. Portland, OR (KPDX): Tour concludes with Pacific Northwest flight demonstrations and static aircraft displays, as part of Oregon’s role in the uFLY coalition.

As part of the tour, the J208 will demonstrate active flight operations in eIPP partner states across the country. In North Carolina, operations support NCDOT’s eLIFT-NC initiative to establish a statewide aviation network for healthcare logistics and rapid emergency medical response. In the West, the aircraft joins UDOT’s uFLY coalition, a five-state partnership, with tour stops in four of its member states: Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Oregon, evaluating autonomous operations across high-altitude terrain, desert environments, and varied regional airspace to generate crucial operational data for future FAA airspace integration.

Proven Flight Maturity & Supervised Autonomy

Joby’s autonomous technology is grounded in a deep operational track record. The J208 has accumulated more than 400 flights and 800 automated flight hours in controlled and uncontrolled airspace. That maturity comes from repeated real-world flights, using an autonomy stack first developed by Xwing and integrated through Joby’s 2024 acquisition.

The technology has also been proven out across three separate U.S. military exercises. During Agile Flag, a series of U.S. Air Force readiness exercises, the aircraft demonstrated that it could operate on an unpredictable schedule and deliver cargo, including replacement parts that allowed other aircraft back in the air roughly 24 hours sooner than a conventional logistics run would have allowed. Most recently, REFORPAC, a major military logistics exercise across the Pacific and Hawaii in August 2025, saw the aircraft operated by ground control stations nearly 4,000 miles away in Guam.

In practice, the J208 operates under a supervised autonomy model, where a ground-based Remote Pilot serves as Pilot in Command, supervising the flight, updating flight plans and managing air traffic control (ATC) communications using the aircraft’s standard radios. A monitoring pilot is onboard for select operations.

The journey forms part of Joby’s 2026 Electric Skies tour, bringing its electric air taxi and autonomy technology to communities across America through flight demonstrations and aircraft displays. The tour showcases how these complementary technologies can transform the movement of people and goods, while supporting critical public services and defense missions. As part of the Texas stop, the J208 is on display at Fort Worth Alliance Airport during an event hosted by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy celebrating the launch of the White House-backed eIPP.

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What the MD 530N Upgrade Delivers

The MD 530N upgrade replaces the MD 520N’s Rolls-Royce 250-C20R engine with the more powerful 250-C30, giving NOTAR operators significantly improved performance, particularly in hot-and-high operating conditions.

MDH received FAA Supplemental Type Certificate approval for the upgrade in April 2026.

Key benefits include:

• Rolls-Royce 250-C30 engine replaces the MD 520N’s Rolls-Royce 250-C20R
• Significantly improved hot-and-high performance for payload and mission flexibility
• NOTAR anti-torque system retained, with its reduced noise and ground safety advantages
• Compressor inspection interval extended from 300 hours to 2,000 hours, reducing scheduled engine downtime and long-term maintenance cost
• FAA Supplemental Type Certificate approved April 2026

A Full Reconditioning MD 500, Not Just an Engine Change

Mt Hutt Aviation approached the Heliventures aircraft as a full reconditioning rather than an engine change alone. The scope of work included:

• Airframe stripped down, with components removed and individually inspected, overhauled, replaced, or reinstalled
• Aircraft rebuilt and refinished
• MD 530N engine upgrade package with the Rolls-Royce 250-C30
• Garmin glass cockpit
• Complete exterior refinish

“We’ve approached this aircraft as a full reconditioning, not simply an upgrade,” said Mark Kershaw, Chief Executive Officer of Mt Hutt Aviation. “The result is an aircraft that is as close to a new MD 500 as you can get without building one from scratch. What you end up with is a proven MD 500 airframe, effectively remanufactured from the ground up, with modern systems and a new level of capability. It gives the operator the opportunity to retain an aircraft they know and trust, while bringing it to a standard that is genuinely comparable to a new aircraft.”

The Operator: Heliventures NZ

Heliventures NZ has provided commercial and agricultural helicopter services across Otago, South Canterbury, and the Mackenzie Country since 2009 and operates a fleet of MD 520N aircraft. The fleet supports:

• Agricultural spraying, fertilizer application, seeding, and mustering
• Power line and utility work
• Firefighting
• Precision lifting and survey work
• Hunting, scenic, and charter flights

“The 530N upgrade has given us a significant step forward in the capability of the aircraft,” said Craig McMillan, Owner of Heliventures NZ. “The combination of the C30 engine, improved performance, and the potential for substantially reduced engine maintenance makes a real difference to the way we operate. For us, it’s about getting more capability and reliability from an aircraft we already know and trust, rather than replacing it. MHA has done an excellent job bringing the upgrade together, and we’re very pleased with the result.”

The Engine Partner: Asia Pacific Aerospace

Asia Pacific Aerospace, a Rolls-Royce Authorized Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Center, prepared and supplied the 250-C30 engine for the conversion and is building additional engines for New Zealand MD operators through Mt. Hutt Aviation.

“Asia Pacific Aerospace is very proud to be part of the team supplying Mt. Hutt Aviation and Heliventures NZ with the M250-C30 engine for this STC project,” said David King, Operations Manager, RR250, Asia Pacific Aerospace. “The engine gives Heliventures an immediate benefit in increased payload capability, with the higher power output allowing less operational change and lower engine maintenance costs. All going well, Heliventures won’t need to remove the engine from the aircraft for 2,000 hours, which means less downtime through the peak summer season ahead in New Zealand. This is one of many engines being built to accommodate what is expected to be a high uptake within the MD market in New Zealand through our chosen MD Authorized Service Center, Mt Hutt Aviation. Any operator looking to convert their aircraft is encouraged to contact Asia Pacific Aerospace and Mt. Hutt Aviation about outright purchase or core exchange.”

The Fielded Fleet Upgrade Program

“New Zealand operators work their MD 500s hard, in terrain and conditions that reward every pound of margin,” said Ryan Weeks, Chief Executive Officer of MD Helicopters. “Mt Hutt Aviation, Asia Pacific Aerospace, and Heliventures NZ have shown exactly what the Fielded Fleet Upgrade program is for: taking a proven aircraft an operator already owns and bringing it to a new standard of performance.”

With more than 1,400 MD 500-series aircraft operating worldwide, the fielded fleet upgrades, also known as the Super X upgrades, provide operators with a path to higher performance and improved fuel economy using the aircraft they already own rather than replacing them.

MD 530N Upgrade Availability

The MD 530N upgrade is available now through the MDH global network of Authorized Service Centers.

• STC Certification: MD Helicopters Announces FAA Certification of MD 530N Upgrade Kit
• Upgrade details: MD 530N Super X Upgrade
• Upgrade inquiries: upgrades@mdhelicopters.com

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Winners will be announced in early October and recognized at AMTC26 in Fort Worth, Texas.

2026 40 Under 40 Nominees

• Christopher Adams, MBA, BSN, RN, NRP, FP-C, CMTE, Program Director PHI Health, LLC
• Naif Alkuraydili, CMTE, Operation Manager, Alpha Star Aviation Services
• Bader Almotairi, EMBA, Air Ambulance Training and Development Manager, Alpha Star Aviation Services
• Aseel Alorifi, BSc, CCP-C, FP-C, PNCCT, PMP, Air-Medical Operation Supervisor, Alpha Star Aviation Services
• Christopher Amendola, M.P.A, BSN, NRP, RN, FP-C, Pediatric Critical Care Transport Provider, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital/Northeast Pediatric Transport Collaborative
• Jay Ashworth, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, Regional Manager of Clinical Operations, Global Medical Response
• Emily Baker, BS, EMT-B, CMTE, Director of Operations, FlightBridgeED
• Andrew Basile, RN, CFRN, CMTE, Regional Medical Manager, STAT MedEvac
• Matthew Benson, MSN, MBA, CFRN, Area Manager, Air Methods
• Brittney Bernardoni, MD, FACEP, DipRTM (RCSEd), Associate Medical Director Quality, UW Health Med Flight
• Timothy Boardman, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAEMS, Medical Director, UMass Memorial Life Flight
• Jake Boogaerts, Production Program Manager, Metro Aviation, Inc.
• Sierra Borges, CFI/CFII, Communications Center Manager, Life Flight Network
• Austin Brook, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CFRN, NE-BC, Regional Clinical Director, Air Methods
• Brady Carpenter, Director of Safety, Metro Aviation, Inc.
• Billy Casey, RN/NRP, Regional Director, Global Medical Response – Health Systems
• Cody Chavis, MSN, RN, CFRN, FP-C, C-NPT, Program Director, Cape Fear Valley Health LifeLINK AIR
• Emersen Cislo, A&P FAA Rated Mechanic, Aircraft Mechanic II, Life Flight Network, LLC
• Michael Cohen, BS, FP-C, NRP, Clinical Services Manager, Trans Aero Medevac
• Jason Cooper, EMD, OUTEC, Flight Coordination Supervisor, AirEvac International
• Kindra Dalton, MSN-Ed, RN, CEN, CFRN, Education Coordinator, Guardian Air Transport
• Dana de la Campa, MSN, RN, CCRN, CFRN, CEN, LCDR, United States Navy, Joint Trauma System
• Joseph De Siervo, BSN, RN, CCRN, CFRN, MICP, Flight Nurse, Hackensack Meridian Health
• Jeremy Desotell, CMTE, MTSP-C, Director of Operations, Flight For Life Inc
• Jorden Dick, OMS-III, NRP, FP-C, Student Physician & Flight Paramedic, Rocky Vista University & Air Methods
• Katelyn Dykas, BSN, RN, EMT-P, IC, CCRN, CFRN, Flight Nurse Specialist, Michigan Medicine Survival Flight
• Stefan Erdmann, Bachelor of Science in Engineering, FAA & EASA Commercial RW Pilot, FAA CFII, Pilot Records & Aviation Training Technology Supervisor, Life Flight Network
• Nicole Ferrarella, FP-C, NRP, MICP, EMS Coordinator – Clinical Division Chief, University Hospital EMS/JEMSTAR Air Medical Services
• Joel Fisher, A&P, Regional Maintenance Manager, Metro Aviation
• Morgan Flugrad, Communication Center Manager, Life Flight Network
• Sophie Fuller, NREMT-P, CC-PM, Critical Care Paramedic, Global Medical Response
• Brad Goch, CMTE, FP-C, North Region Manager, Flight For Life
• Jared Gore, FP-C, MTSP-C, NRP, MCCP, Senior Safety Manager, HealthNet Aeromedical Services
• Christian Greengrass, BSN, RN, NRP, CCRN, CFRN, CTRN, FP-C, CMTE, Flight Nurse, Memorial Hermann Life Flight
• Matthew Grit, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP-AC, Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Critical Care Transport, Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
• John Hamilton, LP, FP-C, Flight Paramedic, CareFlite
• Natalie Hannah, MS, Public Relations Manager, Life Flight Network
• Adam Hart, MPA, NRP, FP-C, Critical Care Flight Paramedic, DHART
• Christine Hedler, RN, BSN, FP-C, Clinical Manager and Flight Nurse, Life Flight Network
• Kasey Hintz, BSN, RN, CFRN, Regional Clinical Manager, Life Link III
• Rex Jacobsen, MBA, FP-C, Base Operations Manager, Flight Paramedic, Intermountain Flight and Ambulance Services
• Ryan Kahn, A&P, Director of Aviation Maintenance, Life Flight Network
• Aaron Kinder, Assistant Chief Pilot, Life Link III
  John Kuchma, NREMT, R. EEG T., CMTE, CAC, EMS Communications Manager, UPMC Center for Emergency Medicine / STAT MedEvac
• Luke Lamar, RN, CFRN, FP-C. Flight Nurse/Paramedic, PHI Air Medical
• Jerry Lingefelt III, CPL-H, PPL-A/IR, Aviation Site Manager/Helicopter Pilot, Metro Aviation
• Hollie Lobo, FP-C, Base Manager, Flight Paramedic, Meducare Air
• Jon Lovejoy, Assistant Chief Pilot, Life Link III
• Nicholas Ludwig, MSA, ATP, CFII – Gold Seal, Director of Business Operations, Intermountain Health Flight and Ambulance Services
• Courtney Maness, RN, BSN, CFRN, Flight Nurse, MTC 260-Hospital Wing 6
• Alaina Martini, MSN, RN, CCRN, PHRN, CFRN, Flight Nurse, AHN LifeFlight
• Travis Mason, CMTE, MBA, NRP, Director, Air Methods
• Brandon Mayo, BSN, RN, CFRN, Clinical Base Manager, Flight Nurse, Lifeflight of Maine
• Jaclyn McKinley, RN, BSN, CCRN, C-NPT, EMT-B, Neonatal/Pediatric Flight Nurse, CNIV, UNC Health Carolina Air Care
• Dan McLeod, BA, FP-C, NRP, Regional Manager of Clinical Operations, Global Medical Response
• Cody Mefferd, MSN, RN, CFRN, CPEN, CEN, AEMT, Flight Supervisor, UnityPoint LifeGuard Air Ambulance
• Collette Merriott, BSN, RN, CCRN, CEN, CFRN, EMT-P, Flight Nurse, Corewell Health Aero Med
• William Moser, BSHA, NRP, FP-C, Regional Manager of Clinical Operations, Global Medical Response
• Eric Newton, CFC, Communications Specialist, Boston MedFlight
• Tonay Nowak, CAC, CPC, Revenue Cycle Auditor, Life Flight Network
• Antonio Ottaviani, BAAS, NREMT-P, FP-C, CMTE, Paramedic | National Commander, New Castle County Paramedics | United National Honor Guard
• Kayla Parmentier, MSN, RN, C-NPT, NEA-BC, Patient Care Manager-Critical Care Transport Team, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• Kody Patterson, NRP, FP-C, CCP-C, C-NPT, Flight Paramedic, MedCenter Air
• Cassie Paulsen, FP-C, Regional Clinical Manager of Operations, Global Medical Response
• Marcus Redfield, Sr. Manager Aviation Communications, Air Evac Lifeteam
• David Reif, MSN, RN, CFRN, NR-P, Senior Flight Nurse, Airlife Northwest
• Maggie Ross, CCM, Communication Center Manager, Life Link III
• Gina Scharf, MSN, RN, Air Medical Manager, HCA
• Lisa Scott, MSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, Supervisor/Flight Nurse, Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance
• Kay Selby, CFRN, CEN, Flight Nurse, Airlift NorthWest
• Matthew Slatzer, ATP, Check Airman, STAT MedEvac
• James Smith, RN-BSN, CFRN, CCRN, Clinical Educator II, Global Medical Response
• Kate Spice, RN, CEN, CFRN, Clinical Systems Manager, Life Link III
• John Spratlin, RN, CFRN, NRP, FP-C, Clinical Educator, Global Medical Response
• Mike Steckevicz, MBA BSN CFRN FP-C C-NPT CMTE, Clinical Operations Manager, Boston MedFlight
• Jonathan Summey, BSRT, NRP, FP-C, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, C-NPT, Clinical Educator, Medhealth Partners
• Mitchell Tillman, MS, FP-C, Clinical Simulation Manager, Life Flight Network
• Michael Tomasetti, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Associate Clinical Director of Capacity Management, Penn Medicine
• Rebecca Travis, BSN, RN, CFRN, Clinical Educator, Global Medical Response
• Christopher Warren, NRP, FP-C, CCP-C, FAOM, Critical Care Flight Paramedic, PHI Air Medical
• Alex Watson, MTSP-C, Aviation Manager, Advocate Health
• Justin Whitfield, NRP, FPC, Flight Paramedic/Base Supervisor, UNC Carolina Air Care
• Alec Wilcox, MPH, NRP, FP-C, E-AEC, CES-A, C-NPT, Mobile ECMO Educator/ Flight Paramedic, University of Minnesota/ Life Link III
• Dustin Wingate, BSN, RN, CCRN, CFRN, EMT-B, Critical Care Transport Nurse, Duke Life Flight/Duke Health
• JaKayla Wininger, BSN, RN, CCRN, CFRN, TCRN, NRP, Air Medical Base Supervisor, PHI Air Medical
• Melissa Wnorowski, CPL CFII, Senior Lead Pilot, Air Methods
• Jessica Yelverton, DNP, NNP-BC, C-NPT, Assistant Director, Children’s Advanced Practice, ECU Health
• Nick Zamorano, EMD-Q, CFC, MBA, Director of Communications, CareFlite

“The future of our industry is in exceptionally capable hands,” said Jana Williams, President and CEO of AAMS. “These nominees have demonstrated remarkable leadership, innovation, and service early in their careers. Their impact extends beyond their individual organizations and helps strengthen and advance the medical transport profession as a whole.”

AAMS thanks Life Flight Network, for their sponsorship of the 2026 40 Under 40: Rising Leaders in Air Medical Transport Awards and their commitment to celebrating the professionals driving our industry forward.

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During the ceremony, Berti formally transferred authority and responsibility of the depot to McDonald in front of an audience of hundreds of FRCE employees, distinguished visitors and special guests.

Berti assumed command Sept. 12, 2024, after serving as FRCE’s executive officer, the depot’s second-in-command, for two years. Berti said the four years he spent at FRCE gave him a front-row seat to the most service-focused team he has ever worked with.

“It has been an absolute honor to lead this command and witness firsthand the incredible talent and dedication of the great Americans of FRC East,” said Berti. “Beyond the services we provide, what truly defines FRC East is a culture of dedication to the mission. Every member of this world-class workforce is united by a clear, common purpose: keeping our warfighters safe and ready, every day. As I hand over the watch, I leave confident that this command’s unique spirit and commitment will carry it forward to accomplish even greater things well into the future.”

Under Berti’s leadership, FRCE significantly expanded its operational footprint and secured additional future workload, ensuring the depot’s role in supporting the warfighter for decades to come. This success was defined by a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Navy and the state of North Carolina to construct a new, state-of-the-art aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul complex at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston.

FRCE celebrated the project with a ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 17. The facility will support the depot’s incoming workload for the Navy and Marine Corps C/KC-130 Hercules/Super Hercules transport aircraft and Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue helicopters and is scheduled to induct its first aircraft in 2026.

While the Kinston facility was the largest new addition during Berti’s command, FRCE also completed a major F-35 Lightning II expansion project in January 2025, which provided the command additional space and aircraft bays to support the increasing F-35 modification workload. Combined, these two infrastructure upgrades represent the opportunity to significantly increase the depot’s workload.

Berti also advanced the depot’s capabilities for next-generation platforms. In early 2025, FRCE inducted the fleet’s first CH-53K King Stallion for the Age Exploration Program, Depot, marking the first time the platform had ever undergone depot-level maintenance. This was followed by the induction of the platform’s first T408-GE-400 turboshaft engine, which powers the King Stallion. Additionally, the depot inducted its first CMV-22B Osprey, making FRCE the sole maintenance provider with the capability to overhaul all three V-22 variants.

These operational milestones were further bolstered by FRCE’s designation as the Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in October of 2024, positioning the depot as the enterprise’s leading site for polymer and metallic 3D-printed solutions.

Beyond operational achievements, Berti reinforced a command-wide culture of fiscal responsibility that achieved a $56 million positive impact to the depot’s net operating result in 2025. The command also successfully streamlined its billing process to close out over $330 million in sales orders and slashed financial adjustment turnaround times from weeks to just three days. These efforts earned the Comptroller Department recognition from the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for exceptional financial management.

FRCE also received numerous Department of the Navy-level safety and occupational health accolades with Berti in command. These include the depot’s second consecutive Chief of Naval Operations Shore Safety Award in the Large Industrial category, the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award, and the Admiral Verk Clark Safety Award. The command was also recognized by the North Carolina Department of Labor with its eighth consecutive Gold Award and two Million-Hour Awards.

Berti was presented with the Legion of Merit during the ceremony for his service while in command. The Legion of Merit is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility.

McDonald, who has served as the depot’s executive officer since 2024 and previously served as the depot’s logistics and industrial operations military deputy group head from 2016 to 2018, said it is an incredible honor to return to the command in this new leadership capacity.

“It is an honor and privilege to take command of this outstanding organization,” McDonald said. “What this 3,900-plus workforce of Marines, Sailors and civilians brings to the fight each day is remarkable – directly contributing to the six warfighting functions of Marine aviation, the Navy and the Joint Force. Under Captain Berti’s command, FRC East consistently delivered critical world-class aviation maintenance and technical support to the fleet, having a direct positive impact on readiness.”

McDonald is a native of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and brings over 25 years of distinguished military service to his new role as FRCE commanding officer. McDonald’s military career began in 1998 upon enlisting in the Marine Corps. After earning his commission as an officer in December 1999, he built a distinguished career in aviation logistics, highlighted by his successful command of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 from 2018 to 2020.

Throughout his career, he has served in premier staff assignments, including serving as the aviation supply officer at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., and as a defense resource portfolio manager for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. McDonald also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

The incoming executive officer, Capt. Charles Fisher Jr., reports to FRCE after serving as the maintenance officer for Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach.

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 3,900 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $886 million. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

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Skyryse has emerged as a leader in aviation automation and simplified flight controls following the development of SkyOS to support piloted, optionally piloted and fully autonomous flight in helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Through the partnership, SkyOS will serve as the preferred flight operating system for joint projects with BAE Systems Australia.

As Skyryse’s SkyOS evolves, both companies will collaborate to strengthen the partnership’s market offerings and drive sales success.

Andrew Gresham, Managing Director of Defence Delivery, BAE Systems Australia, said:

“Partnering with Skyryse will allow BAE Systems Australia to leverage more than 40 years of sovereign autonomy development with our Vehicle Management System and seek to grow our collective opportunities in the rapidly developing autonomous aircraft market.

“Together, Skyryse’s software-defined SkyOS and BAE Systems Australia’s Vehicle Management System bring complementary capabilities that can help deliver the next generation of optionally piloted and autonomous aircraft for our customers in an increasingly competitive and evolving environment.”

Mark Groden, Founder and CEO at Skyryse, said:

“As government, commercial, and defence sectors look to modernize existing fleets while accelerating the adoption of autonomous capabilities, software is becoming the defining technology in aviation.

“SkyOS is uniquely positioned because it combines human-rated flight software with autonomous capabilities in a certifiable, software-defined platform. Together with BAE Systems Australia, we’re exploring how that foundation can enable the next generation of optionally piloted and autonomous aircraft, including future clean-sheet designs.”

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The agreement, formalized in May 2026, marks a significant step in entrol’s expansion within the North American collegiate aviation sector. The device is scheduled for installation in 2027 to support the ongoing growth of the university’s rotor-wing program.

Faithful cockpit replication and visual precision

The simulator’s flight deck is built as an exact replica of the Guimbal Cabri G2, the primary training helicopter operated by the University of Dubuque. This aircraft-specific layout provides students with direct continuity between classroom theory, simulator practice, and actual flight operations.

The physical immersion is supported by a standard cylindrical visual projection system with three projectors and a database containing 10 key US airports. Tactile feedback is enhanced through an integrated vibration system, while a remote Instructor Operator Station (IOS) allows flight instructors to easily modify weather conditions, introduce system failures, pause scenarios, and repeat maneuvers.

“We wanted a simulator that closely matched the aircraft our students actually fly. entrol’s Guimbal G2 simulator offered the aircraft-specific environment and training capabilities we were looking for,” Evan Lawler, Helicopter Chief Pilot at the University of Dubuque. “It will allow our students to practice procedures and challenging scenarios in a controlled environment before encountering them in the aircraft, giving them more repetition while improving safety, confidence, and decision-making”.

A Multi-stage asset for pilot advancement

The Cabri G2 AATD will be integrated throughout multiple phases of the university’s rotor-wing curriculum, spanning Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial training, as well as Certified Flight Instructor (CFI and CFII) courses.

Key training applications include:

• Instrument & emergency procedures: allowing pilots to practice high-risk scenarios, system failures, and adverse weather conditions that are difficult or unsafe to fully demonstrate in the real aircraft.
• Scenario-based training & CRM: incorporating real-world operational scenarios and Crew Resource Management to develop situational awareness and decision-making skills.
• Standardization & continuous progress: enabling ongoing student progression when weather or aircraft availability limits flying, while serving as a tool for instructor training and standardization.

With this installation, entrol reinforces its position as a trusted partner for higher education flight programs, providing high-precision simulation technology designed to elevate training safety, quality, and operational efficiency.

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Washington County Commissioner Kirk Hanath joined Washington County EMS leaders to watch the ALIA CTOL operate and discuss where electric aircraft could add capability within the county’s emergency medical system.

“Washington County EMS is incredibly grateful to be partnered with Metro, and have the ability to contribute to this project,” said Washington County EMS Director Taylor Leonard.

Washington County EMS has been a Metro Aviation customer since June 2022. Metro operates an EC145 for Washington County EMS as part of a comprehensive emergency medical services system. The third-service agency operates separately from local police and fire departments and is dedicated exclusively to the pre-hospital care of the sick and injured. It responds to calls across the county, including the Brazos River and Lake Somerville, and provides emergency and non-emergency transfers, critical care services and rescue paramedic services throughout the community.

“In Brenham, we saw what we’ve only been able to talk about finally come to life,” said Todd Stanberry, vice president at Metro Aviation. “We partnered with BETA over three years ago, knowing without hesitation that Kyle Clark and his team created the solution the air medical industry has needed for a long time: a more affordable aircraft. We have been so fortunate to have Washington County EMS and the rest of the Metro family involved every step of the way since then, and now, through the eIPP, they got to see the art of the possible become reality.”

The demonstration showed how the ALIA CTOL could move disaster-response equipment alongside the county’s existing helicopter and ground-based emergency response. Through Project Nexus, BETA and Metro are testing how electric aircraft fit into established aviation operations along a route connecting Galveston, where a BETA Charge Cube charging station is online, with Sugar Land and Brenham.

“Project Nexus is a whole-of-ecosystem effort to build the operating model required to bring electric aviation into routine commercial service across the state of Texas,” said Simon Newitt, head of sales and support at BETA Technologies. “Through the program, BETA is working alongside established aviation operators, public agencies and mission partners to evaluate how electric aircraft and charging infrastructure can integrate into their existing operations. Our work with Metro Aviation and Washington County EMS applies that model to an essential public service and helps build a repeatable path to expand access to critical services for Texans.”

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Production of the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for the Nigerian Air Force is officially underway, marking a critical step in a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program designed to deliver a decisive warfighting advantage to an international partner.

Facilitated by the USMC Light/Attack Helicopters Program Office (PMA-276) and industry partner Bell Textron Inc., the kickoff of airframe assembly in Amarillo, Texas, directly advances the deployment of expeditionary capabilities. The delivery of 12 AH-1Z Vipers will provide the Nigerian armed forces with unmatched multi-mission flexibility, maximizing lethality against modern threats while minimizing logistical footprints in forward operating areas.

“Integrating the AH-1Z Viper into the Nigerian Air Force introduces an advanced, attack platform capable of employing lethality in highly contested environments,” said Col. Jason Duke, PMA-276 program manager. “This production line velocity ensures our international partners receive a resilient, force-multiplying asset, granting their deployed commanders immediate tactical flexibility to execute complex multi-mission operations.”

The AH-1Z Viper delivers critical targeting and strike capabilities that function as a continuous deterrent and operational asset for partner nations. To ensure seamless integration and sustained readiness, the Department of War FMS contract tasks Bell with the manufacture of the 12 aircraft, while PMA-276 will drive the associated engineering, program management, and long-term logistics support. This comprehensive sustainment strategy guarantees uninterrupted material availability and strike fighter readiness from the moment the first skids touch the ground.

A recent beam-signing event at the Texas production facility commemorated the manufacturing start, bringing together representatives from the Nigerian Air Force, PMA-276, and Bell.

Production of the AH-1Z helicopter fleet is projected to be completed in early 2029, reinforcing the ongoing integration of allied forces under a unified operational framework to protect mutual security interests.

About PMA-276 The USMC Light/Attack Helicopters Program Office manages the cradle-to-grave procurement, development, support, fielding, and disposal of the Marine Corps’ rotary-wing close air support, anti-armor, armed escort, armed/visual reconnaissance, and fire support systems.

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Mr. Brégier is one of the world’s most respected aerospace and defence leaders, with more than three decades of experience spanning commercial aviation, helicopters, defence and advanced technology. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft from 2012 to 2016 and as Chief Operating Officer of Airbus Group and President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft from 2017 to 2018, having previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Airbus from 2006 to 2012, where he led the development of the A350 programme and the operational turnaround of Airbus. Before that, he was President & CEO of Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters), overseeing its civil and military businesses.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Brégier served as Chief Executive Officer of Matra BAe Dynamics and subsequently MBDA, overseeing complex multinational defence programmes and the integration of Europe’s leading missile businesses. More recently, he served as President of Palantir Technologies France from 2018 to 2024, bringing experience at the intersection of defence, data and AI.

Mr. Brégier is a non-executive director of Safran SA, a global aerospace, defence and aircraft-equipment technology group, ENGIE SA, a global low-carbon energy and energyservices company leading the energy transition and non-executive Chair of SCOR SE, a global provider of reinsurance and insurance solutions.

His appointment comes as Vertical enters its next phase of development, focused on certification and commercialisation of the all-electric Valo aircraft while expanding the potential of its aircraft platform across hybrid-electric, autonomous and defence applications, including its collaboration with Near Earth Autonomy and the UK Ministry of Defence’s confirmed interest in Vertical’s hybrid-electric and autonomous capabilities.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said:

“We have proven our technology in flight and are now focused on turning that progress into a certified aircraft and a scaled global aerospace business. Few executives have Fabrice’s breadth of experience across the areas that matter most to our future. He has led Airbus and Eurocopter, delivered the A350 and led the integration of Europe’s missile businesses at MBDA, and worked at the forefront of AI and advanced technology with Palantir.

That experience is particularly relevant as the opportunities for Vertical expand. Alongside certification and commercialisation of Valo, we are developing hybrid-electric and autonomous capabilities, seeing growing interest from defence customers, and building the charging and airspace ecosystem needed to operate electric aircraft at scale. Fabrice’s experience will be enormously valuable as we turn those opportunities into a global aerospace business.

I also want to thank Ben Story, who has led the Board as interim Chair since May and who continues as a member of the Board.”

Incoming Chair, Fabrice Brégier, said:

“Vertical has reached an exciting point in its journey. The progress the team has made in flight testing demonstrates the maturity of its technology, while its work in hybrid-electric flight, autonomy and defence shows the much broader potential of the platform.

I have spent much of my career bringing complex aerospace technologies to market, scaling aircraft programmes and building international businesses around them. In my view, Vertical combines exceptional talent, the best product and the most robust strategy to create a category-defining aviation business. I look forward to working with Stuart, the Board and the wider Vertical team as the Company moves towards certification and commercialisation.”

Ben Story, Interim Chair, said: “Fabrice is one of the most accomplished aerospace leaders of his generation. His firsthand experience leading a global OEM through complex aircraft programmes, industrial transformations and international growth will be highly valuable to Vertical as the Company executes the next phase of development.”

Upon Mr. Brégier’s appointment, Ben Story will remain a member of the Board following the conclusion of his role as Interim Chair.

Vertical’s recent developments include:

• Expanded its defence and autonomy strategy through its collaboration with Near Earth Autonomy, a proven provider of autonomous flight systems, supporting Valo’s common platform strategy across commercial and defence markets.

• Advanced its hybrid aircraft programme, including integration testing of its nextgeneration propulsion system, alongside confirmed UK Ministry of Defence interest in Vertical’s hybrid-electric and autonomous capabilities.

• Progressed its battery and charging capabilities, continuing investment in Vertical’s proprietary battery technology and launching the UK Government-backed ECLiPSE programme to develop next-generation charging and thermal-management technologies, supporting the electric aviation market and Vertical’s recurring battery revenue opportunity.

• Advanced plans for commercial operations and airspace integration by joining Honeywell Aerospace-led Project VERTI-GO – Europe’s equivalent of the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) – while continuing engagement with six regulators across key international markets.

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For more than three decades, the HH-60G Pave Hawk served as a critical part of the Air Force’s combat search and rescue mission, carrying generations of rescue Airmen into some of the world’s most challenging environments to recover those in need.

From combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, to California communities devastated by disasters, the Pave Hawk stood ready to answer the call. The aircraft became synonymous with the Air Force rescue mission and its commitment to bringing people home.

That chapter closed on Sept. 10, as the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing marked the retirement of the U.S. Air Force’s final operational HH-60G Pave Hawk with a divestment ceremony and final flight at Moffett Air National Guard Base, near Mountain View, California.

The ceremony commemorated more than the retirement of tail number 27045. It honored a legacy built by the pilots, special mission aviators, pararescuemen, maintainers and support personnel who transformed the Pave Hawk from a helicopter into a symbol of hope and survival. For those Airmen, the aircraft’s legacy is inseparable from the people who kept it flying and the lives its crews worked to save.

“Our motto is ‘these things we do that others may live’, which means that at any time, anywhere, any place, we’re going to send crews and helicopters into harm’s way if necessary to save a life, because it matters,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Sean Pellaton, flight engineer and senior enlisted leader of the 129th Rescue Squadron.

Since 1977, the 129th is credited with saving 1,190 lives, many of them with the Pave Hawk playing a critical role in the rescue. The aircraft supported many of the wing’s most critical missions, including operations following hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Harvey.

Overseas, the Pave Hawk carried 129th crews during deployments in Afghanistan, contributing to more than 300 combat saves.

After training and combat losses in Afghanistan and Iraq impacted the rescue fleet, the Air Force converted six U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters to rescue, modified to become HH-60G Pave Hawks. Tail #27045, the last operational Pave Hawk, was one of them.

For air crews, accomplishing that mission required countless hours of training and trust built between crew members and the aircraft.

“When you’re flying the [Pave Hawk], you kind of become one with that machine,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Benjamin Buchta, HH-60 pilot and commander of the 129th Rescue Squadron. “The Golf feels like home when I sit in it.”

Before every launch was another team of Airmen whose work began long before wheels left the ground.

Maintainers spent long hours inspecting and repairing the Pave Hawk, working to sustain an aging aircraft, where readiness could directly affect whether someone made it home.

“You go through all this training and finally all this training comes to a point when you have to prove yourself that you performed training correctly,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brock Woodward, a flight engineer and prior maintainer assigned to the 129th Rescue Squadron.

For many of those Airmen, the HH-60G was the aircraft they learned their profession on, deployed with, and devoted their lives to help save others.

“Rescuing another human being is much more rewarding than any award and [decoration] that you could receive,” said Woodward.

The Pave Hawk’s retirement, however, does not mean the end of the mission it helped define. “It built the helicopter combat search and rescue community into what it is today,” said Buchta.

The Pave Hawk was the platform and cornerstone for many of the tactics the Air Force uses now, he said.

The HH-60W Jolly Green II carries the Air Force’s next generation of combat rescue capabilities, bringing new technology and increased capabilities to the personnel recovery mission.

The final flight of the HH-60G marked the end of an era that stretched across generations of rescue Airmen. Its legacy can be measured in missions flown and lives saved, but it also lives in the Airmen who crewed its cockpits, worked on its flight line and supported every launch.

They gave the Pave Hawk its purpose.

And while the last HH-60G has flown its final Air Force mission, the legacy those Airmen built will continue wherever rescue crews answer the call to bring someone home.

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This follows Trump withdrawing the press accreditation from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, citing “false reporting”.  CNN is one of the “White House press pool” – the others being ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC – which have shown solidarity to CNN’s suspension by boycotting live coverage of relevant events.

In a rare joint statement, these five organisations announced “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting,” ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC said in a rare joint statement.

BBC in the UK report that the five have now raised a legal challenge claiming First Amendment rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Trump used oversized gold scissors to cut a red, white and blue ribbon. He then exchanged handshakes with officials wearing green construction kit and hardhats — seeking to portray business as usual.

The noise of the waiting Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot lead to Trump not answering shouted questions before climbing aboard for a flight to New York for the United Nations 81st General Assembly.

The helipad does not appear to comply with FAA guidelines for helipad surface painting and markings, as detailed in Advisory Circular AC 150/5390-2D (Heliport Design). Additionally, no lighting has been installed for movements in low light.

Screenshot from White House video

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Pathfinder operates a fleet of 22 helicopters and averages roughly 8,000 flight hours annually, supporting remote operations and precision external-load work across Alaska and the continental United States. For helicopter operators in Alaska, training often competes with the realities of the job: weather can limit flyable days, winter brings limited daylight, and peak operating periods are also when helicopters are needed most for customer missions. Most of Pathfinder’s pilots live outside Alaska and travel in for training events, making weather-driven delays even more disruptive.

The simulator is expected to arrive in Anchorage in October 2026, and Pathfinder plans to begin using it immediately for proficiency and mission training.

“Helicopter pilots often do their most demanding work in places where consistent simulator access is hardest to come by,” said Sebastien Borel, CEO of Loft Dynamics. “Alaska exposes the limits of a training model that depends on good weather, spare aircraft and long-distance travel. Pathfinder is changing the equation by putting H125 training at its base in Anchorage, where pilots can train more often, safely and on their own schedule. The old model asks pilots to go to the simulator. We’re building a future where the simulator comes to the pilots.”

“In Alaska, we don’t get to choose when conditions become difficult, so our pilots need to be ready before they do,” said Rogan Parker, CEO of Pathfinder Aviation. “The value of having this simulator in Anchorage is repetition. We can put pilots through a whiteout, IIMC event or emergency, work through decision making, then run the scenario again. That kind of repetition is hard to achieve consistently in the aircraft, and it gives pilots the chance to build judgment before the stakes are real.”

Pathfinder plans to use the simulator for inadvertent IMC (IIMC) avoidance, including repeated practice responding to a loss of visual reference and transitioning to instruments; Part 135 emergency procedures; Part 133 external-load operations; normal and abnormal procedures; whiteout conditions; mountain, pinnacle, slope and confined-site operations; and local site and terrain familiarization.

Heli-skiing will be an early focus. Pathfinder’s H125 pilots operate in mountainous, snow-covered terrain where flat light, blowing snow and rapidly changing visibility can complicate landing-zone decisions. Loft Dynamics is developing scenery based on Pathfinder’s real-world heli-ski operating areas in the Chugach Mountains, including the Valdez/Thompson Pass region and north Cordova, allowing pilots to familiarize themselves with local terrain and landing sites before flying those missions.

The simulator will initially support Pathfinder’s internal pilot group. Pathfinder plans to integrate it into recurrent and seasonal training and, as local demand develops, make it available to other helicopter operators and pilots in the region.

The Anchorage installation builds on Loft Dynamics’ work with operators including Air Greenland and Helitrans Norge, bringing aircraft-specific training closer to pilots in places where distance, weather and geography can make frequent training harder to access.

Pathfinder plans to pursue FAA Level 7 flight training device qualification for the simulator. It will use the device for proficiency and mission training before qualification. Once qualified, Pathfinder would plan to incorporate available FAA training credits into its formal training programs.

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Powered by a Safran Arriel 2D engine, the Airbus H125 is widely regarded as one of the world’s most versatile and capable single-engine helicopters, with a proven track record across utility, emergency response and specialist aviation operations globally.

Founder and President of McDermott Aviation, John McDermott, said the acquisition reflects the company’s commitment to continually investing in the aircraft, technology and capability required to support its growing operations.

“Over the past four decades, we have built one of the world’s most capable specialist helicopter fleets through strategic investment, engineering expertise and an unwavering focus on operational excellence,” Mr McDermott said.

“The addition of the Airbus H125 represents another step forward in that journey and provides a modern, highly versatile platform that complements our existing fleet.

“The H125 has an outstanding reputation for reliability, performance and adaptability, making it an excellent fit for our business and the diverse range of operations we undertake.

“As our operations continue to evolve both in Australia and internationally, we will continue investing in the aircraft, people and infrastructure needed to support our clients and maintain our position at the forefront of specialist aviation.”

The decision to acquire the H125 was driven by its operational capability, versatility and compatibility with McDermott Aviation’s existing fleet.

The aircraft shares similarities with the company’s AS355F1 helicopters, providing commonality in maintenance knowledge, tooling and parts support, helping streamline its integration into the fleet while supporting long-term operational efficiencies. The aircraft will be based on the Sunshine Coast.

The acquisition forms part of McDermott Aviation’s broader strategy to continue expanding and modernising its fleet while supporting a diverse range of aviation operations across Australia and overseas.

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The expansion of air medical services across Southern Texas, along with the new eastern opening in Livingston, showcases the success of the PHI Air Medical and Allegiance Mobile Health partnership, and their shared commitment to provide gold-standard air medical emergency care services for communities in rural and underserved communities across Southern and Eastern Texas.

“These base openings are more than just new locations on a map. They bring first-time access to critical emergency air medical care and faster response times within local communities, a key part of our commitment to the health and safety of people in Texas,” says Paul Julander, Co-President at PHI Health. “In a patient’s most vulnerable moment, our purpose is simple – deliver excellence-in the provision of emergency care. It’s what drives our teams, and it’s what continues to fuel the growth of this partnership across Texas.”

Since opening less than a year ago in November 2025, the Kirbyville base has brought emergency response services across Jasper County and neighboring communities in Southeast Texas. Just three months later, in February 2026, the successful cooperative expanded critical care coverage for local communities along the Gulf Coast region with the opening of the Bay City base. The new Livingston base will further extend access to advanced air medical services for residents across East Texas.

Each base is equipped to provide advanced care transport capabilities, with highly trained clinical staff across all three Texas bases that are trained to handle specialist equipment including, intra-aortic balloon pumps, fetal heart tone monitor, high-flow oxygen, impella, isolette, and whole blood on board. The full set of specialist capabilities cover, Critical Care Transport, RSI & Advanced Airway Management, Comprehensive Care Guidelines, Hamilton T1, High-Risk OB Services with EFM Monitoring, Third-ride capability, Pediatric safety restraint device, and Lucas CPR device.

Together, the result is an air medical program focused on excellence, skill, compassion, and safety for Texas communities.

The partnership leverages the strengths of both organizations. PHI Air Medical provides decades of aviation and air medical expertise, aircraft operations, maintenance support, clinical education, and safety leadership. The Allegiance Mobile Health team is deep-rooted in the Texas EMS network, delivering extensive local knowledge and operational leadership and clinical excellence trained to PHI standards.

As Texas communities continue to grow, both PHI Air Medical and Allegiance Mobile Health are committed to expanding the network and improving emergency medical infrastructure and access across the region.

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“Jill is a seasoned and highly respected leader with over three decades of experience across nearly every corner of Pratt & Whitney,” said Calio. “Her proven track record and deep understanding of the business and our customer base make her the right person to lead Pratt & Whitney into the future.”

Albertelli’s breadth of experience spans engineering, manufacturing operations, quality, supply chain management, commercial programs, sales, maintenance repair operations, as well as transformation and strategy. She most recently served as president of Pratt & Whitney’s Military Engines, where she secured the company’s sole source propulsion position on the F-35 fighter aircraft, improved F135 engine delivery and quality performance and expanded sustainment capability and capacity to ensure mission readiness for military customers. Albertelli earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Boston University and Master of Business Administration degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Eddy will remain with the company through March 2027 as a special advisor to support the transition. Eddy’s more than 40-year career has taken him from flight line mechanic to president of Pratt & Whitney, a position he assumed in 2022. He has guided Pratt & Whitney through a multi-year transformation effort, as well as the production and sustainment ramp for two critically important programs for RTX – the Geared Turbo Fan and F135 engines.

“Shane’s steadfast leadership – paired with his relentless focus on our CORE operating system, our people and our customers – helped Pratt & Whitney achieve record sales growth and positioned the business for continued success,” said Calio.

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