VAI
CONVENTION NEWS DAY 2
MARCH 11, 2026
AINONLINE.COM
ATC Modernizing airspace General aviation operators need to get on board with ADS-B | 2
OEMs Growing market Leonardo is growing in all segments and preparing to bring two new rotorcraft to market | 4
AAM SkyDrive eVTOL
MARIANO ROSALES
Japan approves SkyDrive’s certification plan as company’s orderbook grows | 12
ROBINSON GOES UNCREWED By Matt Thurber
We stand alone in that we are the only ones that can build incredibly [fast] at aerospace quality and automotive scale.” Robinson Helicopter president and CEO David Smith The U.S. needs this kind of capability, he explained. unveiled Robinson Unmanned yesterday, the compa- “We see this opportunity…that the next era is the era of ny’s new business unit that includes its Ascent drones both manned and unmanned in collaboration, unlockand uncrewed versions of the R44 and R66 helicopters. ing missions that couldn’t have been done with either by The unit’s president is Ascent AeroSystems president themselves.” These missions include public safety, such as search and rescue, protecting large gatherings, finding Paul Fermo. “[Robinson Unmanned] could easily be bigger than all of our missing children, and others. heritage businesses combined,” Smith said. There is a need for “All those are right in the sweet spot of what Robinson defense products at commercial costs, he added, “and built by Unmanned can offer in collaboration with our manned a sustainable business, not a VC-backed money-losing business. aircraft. The same for defense logistics. continues on page 22
AIRCRAFT H140 flight tests Airbus Helicopters prepares to add a fourth H140 prototype to its flight test fleet | 16
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