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(DroneLife) – As massive wildfires continue to ravage vast areas of the West and Northwestern United States, the problem of unauthorized drones flying in disaster areas continues to hamper aerial firefighting operations.

(AIN) – Loss-of-visual-reference accidents are likely to involve helicopters at more than double the rate of airplanes, according to a series of Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigations recorded from 2000 to 2021. The TSB issued four recommendations as a result of the findings.

(Teton Gravity Research) – US National Park Service search-and-rescue teams and the Arizona Department of Public Safety launched a full-scale emergency air operation in response to flash flooding that sent a wall of water, mud, and boulders rushing through the inner corridor of Grand Canyon National Park on Aug. 29.

Elroy Air and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development have conducted a hybrid-electric demonstration flight to test cargo deliveries using remotely piloted aircraft at Houma-Terrebonne Airport (KHUM) in Louisiana. This is the first remotely piloted aircraft test flight under the FAA’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).

Michael Graham, the vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), announced Aug. 28 that he will retire on Oct. 2. Graham has served on the NTSB’s five-member panel since 2020.

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A policy shift regarding spaceports and spectrum for launch and reentry poses implications for rotorcraft operations, flight testing and certification, and unmanned aircraft system use. VAI Director of Regulatory Affairs Amber Harrison details the actions under consideration and outlines the association’s position.

Many foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems and components will be subject to a 100% duty as of Sep. 3, 2026. VAI Director of Regulatory Affairs Amber Harrison and aviation journalist Mark Huber explain the particulars in this exclusive VAI analysis.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-08-06, which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters Model SA.330J helicopters. The existing AD requires repetitively inspecting for a gap between the main gearbox (MGB) oil cooling fan assembly rotor blade and the upper section of the guide vane bearing housing, among other tasks. The proposed AD would continue to require these actions and increase the compliance time for installing the improved MGB fan rotor bearing assembly. Comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking are due by Oct. 16.

Sorell, Tasmania / Alexandria, Virginia, USA, Sep. 1, 2026 Vertical Aviation International (VAI) and the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) today announced the signing of a letter of intent and initial engagement agreement, marking the first step toward developing a new, internationally credible vertical lift industry event for Australia and the broader Southeast Asia region. […]