Regulators around the world have set their sights on raising helicopter safety, with recent crashes giving the task extra urgency. US authorities and an international body set up to improve rotorcraft safety will put forward recommendations as early as this year.

Congested roads have given greater reason for business people to use helicopters, targets for medical response time have made rotorcraft an essential part of the emergency service infrastructure, and sharply fluctuating energy prices have boosted exploration of remote oil and gas fields that rely on rotary transport.