Helicopter digitization: Sleek and innovative helicopters may dominate the skies

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• June 16, 2022

Insight summary

The helicopter industry is buzzing with the integration of connectivity and detailed analytics systems, shifting the gears towards modernization. By embracing digitalization, from logging operational details to proactive maintenance checks, operational efficiency and safety are soaring to new heights. This digital wave not only sharpens the edge of real-time decision-making for pilots but also sketches a future where helicopters and drones share the sky.

Helicopter digitization context

Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) are aware that to remain competitive within the helicopter industry, they have to build connected helicopters that can benefit from detailed flight and maintenance analytics systems. Helicopters are essential forms of transport in many industries, such as defense, mobilization, rescue, and oil and gas exploration. As digitalization takes center stage within the transport industry, several helicopter manufacturers have released models that are changing how helicopters operate.

In 2020, aerospace firm Airbus reported that the number of their connected helicopters jumped from 700 to over 1,000 units. The company said that they were on track to build a comprehensive digital ecosystem that uses post-flight data to analyze performance and maintenance through their monitoring tool, Flyscan. 

Data from health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS) are recorded to check every component on a helicopter—from rotors to gearboxes to brakes. As a result, operators are consistently updated and guided on maintaining their aircraft, leading to fewer incidents and accidents that can cost up to USD $39,000 per day to rectify. Other aircraft manufacturers such as US-based Sikorsky and France-based Safran also use HUMS to recommend parts replacements before crossing safety thresholds. 

Disruptive impact

Combining connectivity and machine learning systems denotes a significant shift toward modernizing the aviation sector, especially in helicopter technology. Fly-by-wire systems, being semi-autonomous and regulated by artificial intelligence (AI), are expected to be integral to the next generation of helicopters, enhancing safety and operational efficiency. Bell Aircraft Corporation's initiative in working towards certifying its first commercial fly-by-wire helicopter (525 Relentless) in 2023 is a testament to this shift. 

Transitioning from manual to digital, particularly in the aspect of operational tasks is another noteworthy trend. The digitization of log cards and traditional logbooks, which are crucial for recording part installations, removals, and capturing flight details, implies a move towards a more streamlined and accurate data management system. By converting these pen-and-paper tasks into digital formats, aviation companies are not only reducing the likelihood of human error but also making data retrieval and analysis much more straightforward. Moreover, in cases where a firm operates many helicopters daily, digital systems allow for the optimization of flight schedules, potentially leading to better resource allocation and cost savings.

Individuals may experience enhanced safety and more efficient flight experiences. Companies, especially those in sectors like oil and gas, may find semi-autonomous helicopters with AI-regulated flight control interfaces to be beneficial in executing operations in challenging or remote environments. Meanwhile, governments may need to fast-track regulations that accommodate and oversee the integration of these emerging technologies in aviation. Moreover, educational institutions might need to adapt their curricula to equip the future workforce with the necessary skills to engage with these evolving systems in the aviation sector.

Implications of helicopters increasingly adopting digital systems

Wider implications of helicopters increasingly adopting digital systems may include:

• Real-time data that records weather and terrain conditions and informs pilots if it is safe to proceed with the flight.


• Defense and rescue helicopters manufactured and deployed with machine learning software that can change capabilities based on sensor information.


• Lower demand for parts providers as maintenance systems become more proactive, leading to fewer replacements and lower maintenance costs.


• The emergence of real-time helicopter data ecosystems as fleets of helicopters wirelessly share weather and safety data that can improve operations across all flights.


• Significantly reduced incidence rates of accidents or mechanical failures as novel digital systems can proactively detect flight dangers and parts performance issues.


• The gradual merger of traditional helicopters and human-sized transport drones into an amalgamated VTOL industry, as both transport types increasingly use similar operating systems.

Questions to consider

• How else do you think digital systems could change the helicopter industry?


• What novel capabilities or applications will helicopters be capable of as they increasingly incorporate digital systems?