Operational news updates
Dutch medical drone trial extended after 800 BVLOS flights
The year-long program tested medical deliveries in shared airspace, including environments used by trauma helicopters and other aviation operators
26 Aug 2026
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Siân Yates
Kitz-Air acquires three Airbus H225s for aerial firefighting
The heavy helicopters will undergo conversion in Europe before supporting wildfire response operations across Europe and South America
25 Aug 2026
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Siân Yates
FAA approves electric air conditioning for Enstrom 280FX
FAA certification adds electric cockpit cooling to the Enstrom 280FX ahead of customer deliveries from October 2026
25 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Military helicopters join aerial firefighting response as Hawk Fire threatens Nevada’s Reno
CH-47 and UH-60 helicopters from the Nevada National Guard are supporting firefighting operations as the Hawk Fire threatens communities around Reno, Nevada
24 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
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Latest Issue
August 2026
Issue
August is a special time of year, and it is my pleasure to present a special Women in Aviation edition of AirMed&Rescue. We have features on the importance of preventing and knowing the early signs of hoist spin; the leadership roles and the value of visibility of women in the industry; the inward-facing and external sensors improving special missions; and the variety and standards that flight suits have to meet.
Suited for the mission: exploring flight suits
Oliver Cuenca talks to members of the emergency aviation sector to find out what they look for when choosing a flight suit for their crew
3 Aug 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
Flying beyond the glass ceiling to improve gender diversity in aviation
Female leaders share with Lauren Haigh what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated industry and how they are helping shape a more inclusive future for aviation
3 Aug 2026
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Lauren Haigh
Latest aircraft onboard system sensors
Sensors provide critical data that ensures safety and success for helicopter and fixed-wing missions. Jennifer Ferrero speaks to the manufacturers and special missions operators about the demands of the sector
3 Aug 2026
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Jennifer Ferrero
Provider profile: ANWB Medical Air Assistance
Oliver Cuenca talks to Amanda Tijben, Flight Operations Manager at ANWB Medical Air Assistance, about providing an emergency aerial response across the Netherlands
3 Aug 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
Spin class
Spinning during helicopter hoist operations can be at least disorientating for those involved and, at worst, extremely dangerous. Avoidance is always best and preparation is key, reports Emma Kelly
3 Aug 2026
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Emma Kelly
Gallery: Getting ready for the wildfire season in Cyprus
Training sorties before the wildfire season starts are an important way to get skills fresh and ready for the demands of the job as soon as they are needed. AS1...
3 Aug 2026
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AS1 Natalie Adams
Interview: A distinguished career
Siân Yates talks with Christine Muszalski, Clinical Orientation Manager and Critical Care Transport Nurse at Boston MedFlight, about her work as a flight nurse, her leadership and training roles, and...
3 Aug 2026
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Siân Yates
Industry voice: The human factors we don’t talk about in HEMS operations
Dr Kodey Bogart, AvD, CEO of KB Aviation Solutions (KBAS), highlights the human factors that are less discussed on helicopter emergency medical services and why there should be a greater...
3 Aug 2026
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Dr Kodey Bogart
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HEMS/SAR
North Midlands helipad receives £814,000 safety upgrade funding
An £814,000 HELP Appeal grant will fund new barriers, warning systems, and lighting at Royal Stoke University Hospital’s helipad in Staffordshire, UK
26 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Penn State Health Life Lion adds helicopter to Lancaster base
The Airbus H155 brings Life Lion’s Lancaster base to three aircraft, expanding dedicated medical capacity for pediatric, neonatal, and other critical care transfers across central Pennsylvania
21 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
HAL Airport launches India’s first RNP CAT H helicopter approach
India’s first RNP CAT H helicopter approach has been introduced at HAL Airport in Bengaluru, improving precision and reliability for helicopter operations
17 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Robinson R88 makes South American debut at LABACE
Robinson debuts its R88 at the Latin American business aviation event, targeting operators across HEMS, utility and other multi-mission roles
17 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
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Emergency Services
Military helicopters join aerial firefighting response as Hawk Fire threatens Nevada’s Reno
CH-47 and UH-60 helicopters from the Nevada National Guard are supporting firefighting operations as the Hawk Fire threatens communities around Reno, Nevada
24 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Light aircraft crashes into police helicopter
A Cessna 150 crashed into a police Bell 407 at Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of the Cessna pilot and injuries to the two people...
24 Aug 2026
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Jon Adams
South Korean national police order new KAI Chamsuri helicopter
The aircraft is configured for law enforcement operations, with infrared cameras and a video downlink
21 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Report into Gold Mountain fire helicopter crash
A preliminary report into the fatal crash that claimed the life of a firefighting pilot in Colorado has been released
20 Aug 2026
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Jon Adams
Avionics and Technology
FAA approves electric air conditioning for Enstrom 280FX
FAA certification adds electric cockpit cooling to the Enstrom 280FX ahead of customer deliveries from October 2026
25 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
GA-ATS adds TrakkaCam TC-375 to Do228 NXT mission options
The Do228 NXT gains day/night multispectral imaging from TrakkaCam for surveillance, SAR, and civil protection missions
24 Aug 2026
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Editorial Team
MD Aircraft and ST Airborne Systems explore electric platform for future SAR and surveillance missions
A new collaboration will assess how electric aircraft could support lower-emission search and rescue, surveillance, and environmental monitoring operations
11 Aug 2026
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Editorial Team
Sikorsky to integrate MATRIX autonomy into BETA MV250 hybrid VTOL
The collaboration will see Sikorsky's MATRIX autonomy suite integrated into BETA Technologies’ MV250 hybrid VTOL as flight testing advances uncrewed defense logistics capabilities
6 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
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Simulation and Training
Montana National Guard complete VITA Rescue System training
The systems, which stabilize litters during hoist operations, will be supplied to the Montana National Guard’s bases in Helena and Billings
6 Aug 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
McDermott Aviation to introduce Bell 214ST simulator from Entrol for aerial firefighting training
The new flight training device will support heavy-lift firefighting and external load operations with mixed reality technology
5 Aug 2026
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Siân Yates
HeliOperations expands AW139 training with Reiser flight simulator and hoist system
New simulation systems will support integrated pilot and hoist operator training for German Navy helicopter crews under a seven-year program
30 Jul 2026
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Siân Yates
AirMed World Congress 2026
The AirMed World Congress returns to Munich, bringing opportunities for learning and networking across expert presentations, hands‑on workshops, and simulation sessions, as well as social events and celebrations, explains Dr...
29 Jul 2026
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Dr Matthias Ruppert
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Drones
Dutch medical drone trial extended after 800 BVLOS flights
The year-long program tested medical deliveries in shared airspace, including environments used by trauma helicopters and other aviation operators
26 Aug 2026
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Siân Yates
Hyde County deploys eVTOL aircraft for emergency medical response
A flight-trained paramedic used a Pivotal eVTOL to reach 911 patients and begin advanced life support ahead of ground ambulances in rural North Carolina
20 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Cleveland Clinic begins drone delivery of prescription medicines
Zipline UAVs are delivering prescription medicines to Cleveland Clinic patients in the USA, using tethered pods for precise doorstep drops
12 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Airbus U030 Flexrotor enters maritime surveillance service in Baltic Sea
The Airbus UAS has entered maritime surveillance service in the Baltic Sea, with Airbus Helicopters supporting EMSA operations across Estonia, Latvia, and Finland
11 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
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Industry Moves
Kitz-Air acquires three Airbus H225s for aerial firefighting
The heavy helicopters will undergo conversion in Europe before supporting wildfire response operations across Europe and South America
25 Aug 2026
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Siân Yates
Air India, SkyDrive, and Suzuki to assess eVTOL medical logistics in India
The three companies will study whether electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft could support time-critical medical logistics in India’s congested urban environments
10 Aug 2026
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Siân Yates
Life Link III names new President and CEO
Shane Farmer will take on both roles at the air medical provider from the end of July
3 Aug 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
Anton Drazevic appointed CEO of Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust
The leadership change comes as the New Zealand organization prepares to complete a major fleet modernization program and expand air medical capabilities
29 Jun 2026
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Siân Yates