As a new hole-making technology, helical milling has advantages of stable machining process, small cutting forces and the use of a single tool to process various diameter hole etc., and it is widely used in machinery manufactory industry, in which the aircraft assembly is a typical representative. With helical milling as the research object, the advantages of helical milling over traditional drilling are investigated. The research progress of helical milling technology is expounded from the aspects of kinematics, dynamics and virtual prototype design, and its prospect is presented.