Alexandria, VA (February 4, 2010) – HAI is pleased to announce the 2010 Eurocopter Golden Hour Award recipient, Crew of CGNR 6573; U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska.

Alexandria, VA (January 27, 2010) – HAI is pleased to announce the 2010 MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award recipient, the New Zealand Police Air Support Unit; Auckland, New Zealand.

Alexandria, VA (January 22, 2010) - On January 20 and 21, Helicopter Association International President Matt Zuccaro attended a meeting of the FAA New York VFR Airspace Task Force, of which he is a member.

HAI’s Acoustics/Environmental Committee is looking for new members to join its ranks. The Committee provides technical and political advice for the development of association positions on government and/or community aeronautical acoustics standards and regulations which affect the helicopter industry.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) has been working with the Critical Incident Management Group (CIMG) at the Department of Homeland Security who is coordinating relief efforts in Haiti with the U.S. State Department. The CIMG asked HAI to provide a list of available aircraft, capabilities, and points of contact. Operators have been using the HAI First Responder program, www.rotor.com/fr, to list their assets, and alternatively sending the information by email detailing point of contact; available aircraft; and capabilities such as external load, air medical, fire suppression, passenger count, etc. to haiti@rotor.com.

HAI would like to know if any of its members are actively involved in assisting in humanitarian services and relief operations in Haiti. The information provided will be shared with HAI members and the international helicopter community.

Alexandria, VA (January 18, 2010) – HAI is pleased to announce the 2010 AgustaWestland Safety Award recipient, Terry Palmer; Manager of Rotorcraft Programs, Flight Safety International, Dallas, Texas.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) has been contacted by the Critical Incident Management Group (CIMG) at the Department of Homeland Security who is coordinating with the U.S. State Department aviation relief efforts to the tragedy in Haiti.

Alexandria, VA (January 14, 2010) - HAI is pleased to announce the 2010 Excellence in Communications Award recipient, Ken Swartz; North American Editor, Helicopter International and HELiDATA News, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Alexandria, VA (January 13, 2009) - HAI President Matt Zuccaro joined FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt on January 12, 2010, in Houston, Texas to announce the implementation of ADS-B in the Gulf of Mexico to improve the safety and operational efficiency of helicopter operators that fly offshore in support of the oil and gas industry.

Alexandria, VA (January 12, 2010) - HAI is pleased to announce the 2010 Bell Helicopter Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Tim Wahlberg; Chairman of the Board, Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. McMinnville, Oregon.

Get your clubs ready! The Helicopter Foundation International (HFI) is planning a major fund raising effort at HELI-EXPO 2010.

Alexandria, VA (January 8, 2010) – HAI is pleased to announce the 2010 Rolls-Royce Excellence in Helicopter Maintenance Award recipient, Robert Peterson; Consultant, Columbia Helicopters, Inc., Aurora, Oregon.

Alexandria, VA (December 28, 2009) - Helicopter Association International is deeply saddened at the passing of Columbia Helicopters’ Founder and Chairman of the Board, Glenn Wesley “Wes” Lematta.

Alexandria, VA (December 14, 2009) – The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is proud to announce its "Salute to Excellence" award winners for 2010. The "Salute to Excellence" Awards program, now in its 49th year, recognizes outstanding achievement performed by individuals or companies in the international helicopter community.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) held its 2nd Annual Firefighting Safety Forum in Boise, Idaho, at the Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum on Thursday, November 19. The Forum was conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and included presentations from the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior’s Aviation Management.

Alexandria, VA (November 11, 2009) – This is your last chance to submit nominations for the 2010 “Salute to Excellence” Awards Celebration – Thursday, November 12, 2009 is the last day entries will be accepted.

Alexandria, VA, November 5, 2009 – Only one week remains to submit nominations for the 2010 “Salute to Excellence” Awards Celebration – Thursday, November 12, 2009 is the last day entries will be accepted. HAI Members and nonmembers that know of individuals and crews that have made a contribution to humanitarian relief, airborne law enforcement, or to any of the other sectors of the rotorcraft industry honored by the nine prestigious “Salute to Excellence” awards, are encouraged to nominate as soon as possible.

We wish all of our observing members a safe and happy Halloween!  Also, this Sunday (November 1) marks the shift from daylight/summer time to standard time, so remember to adjust your clocks accordingly.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) was represented and exhibited at the 2009 Air Medical Transport Conference, which was held October 26 to 28 in San Jose, California, at the San Jose Convention Center.

Helicopter Association International cordially invites you and a guest to attend an informal reception sponsored by the HAI Board of Directors.

Click here to download the IHST Helicopter Safety Recommendation Summary for Small Operators. The intent is to provide a summary of the initial findings and recommendations developed from detailed helicopter accident analysis done by the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST).

Alexandria, VA (October 23, 2009) - Helicopter Association International will be represented and exhibiting at the 2009 Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC), which is being be held from October 26 to 28 in San Jose, California, at the San Jose Convention Center.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) was represented and exhibited at NBAA's 2009 Annual Meeting & Convention, which was held October 20 to 22 in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center. A Static Display of Aircraft was located at Orlando Executive Airport.

The HAI Government Contracting Committee will meet in Boise, Idaho November 18, 19, and 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum. The 2nd Annual HAI Firefighting Safety Forum will be held November 19 in conjunction with the meeting and will include presentations from the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior's Office of Aircraft Services.

You’ve heard of the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) and its ambitious goal to reduce the worldwide helicopter accident rate by 80% in 10 years. Our work is in progress. We’re nearing the end of four years of proactive safety work and are on the way to achieving our safety goal. The IHST’s US Joint Helicopter Safety Analysis Team (US JHSAT) is looking for a few motivated men and women to continue the work begun following the International Helicopter Safety Symposium in 2005.

Alexandria, VA (October 16, 2009) – The 2010 “Salute to Excellence” Awards Call for Nominations deadline has been extended to Thursday, November 12, 2009. HAI Members and nonmembers will now have more time to submit nominations and signed acknowledgement forms for one or more of the nine prestigious awards.

Alexandria, VA (October 9, 2009) - A retirement ceremony took place Friday, October 2, 2009, at Summerall Field, Fort Myer, Virginia. The subject of this honor was the venerable UH-1.

As you know, a terrible tragedy took place in August over New York City. On a sunny summer’s day, a helicopter and small airplane collided over the Hudson River, resulting in nine fatalities; a tragic event and terrible loss indeed. As to exactly what caused the accident, I will leave that to the experts at the NTSB.

There are only two weeks left in which to submit nominations for the 2010 “Salute to Excellence” Awards Celebration. Friday, October 16, 2009 marks the last day entries will be accepted. HAI Members and nonmembers are encouraged to submit their nominations and signed acknowledgement forms for one or more of the nine prestigious awards.

Alexandria, VA (September 28, 2009) – The countdown to the “Salute to Excellence” Awards Celebration nomination deadline has begun. Friday, October 16, 2009 marks the last day entries will be accepted. HAI Members and nonmembers are encouraged to submit their nominations and signed acknowledgement forms for one or more of the nine prestigious awards.

Imperial war Museum Duxford, Cambridge, England (September 22, 2009) - HAI is exhibiting at Helitech. Ed DiCampli, Executive Vice President; Marilyn McKinnis, Vice President of Marketing and Expositions; and Lisa Henderson, Manager of Advertising and Exhibit Sales can be found at Booth #1405.

Alexandria, VA (September 18, 2009) – HAI President Matt Zuccaro testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Aviation Subcommittee on Wednesday, September 16, concerning the Hudson River airspace, and management of uncontrolled airspace corridors (click here to see the testimony). The hearing was prompted by the mid-air collision over the Hudson River of a helicopter and a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane in August, resulting in the deaths of all nine people onboard both aircraft.

HAI President Matthew Zuccaro will appear before the House Aviation Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 16 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) to present testimony to Congress on the Hudson River Airspace and Management of Uncontrolled Airspace Corridors. The hearing may be viewed live via the Internet at:  http://transportation.house.gov/.

HAI announces the Helicopter Tour Operators Committee (HTOC) and Tour Operators Program of Safety (TOPS) will meet in October in Las Vegas, Nevada. HAI will also conduct a Tour Safety Forum.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has tasked the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to establish a Commercial Air Tour Maintenance Working Group (CATM WG) to consider recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). 

Applications for Space and payments must be received by the close of business, 5:30 p.m. EST, on Monday, September 14, to be eligible. Click here to complete a HELI-EXPO 2010 Application for Space.

The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST), formed in 2006, is comprised of a team of helicopter community stakeholders dedicated to reducing helicopter accidents by 80 percent in ten years. This ambitious goal is being pursued by adapting proven analytical methods developed in the commercial fixed wing aviation arena. The foundation of these safety recommendations is the IHST/USJHSAT report which was developed by a team of analysts from the U.S. helicopter manufacturing, operating, and regulatory communities using U.S. NTSB helicopter accident reports which carefully documented hundreds of accidents.

On July 30, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration granted a petition submitted by the Helicopter Association International (HAI) on behalf of HAI and the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) requesting an extension of Exemption 6175. This exemption permits Part 135 certificate holders that conduct helicopter emergency medical service (EMS) operations, and are members of both the HAI and AAMS to conduct EMS departures under instrument flight rules (IFR) in weather that is at or above visual flight rules (VFR) minimums, from airports or heliports at which a weather report is not available from the U.S. National Weather Services (NWS), a source approved by the NWS, or a source approved by the Administrator.  

The HAI Insurance Committee is currently seeking applications for a vacant Underwriters seat on the committee. The Insurance Committee interfaces with and maintains a dialogue between the insurance industry and members of the helicopter industry on matters relating to insurance and other risk management concerns.

Alexandria, VA (July 23, 2009) - Helicopter Association International (HAI) hosted a two-day International Helicopter Safety Team Executive Committee meeting with participation by US JHSAT and US JHSIT, July 20/21, at HAI headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

HELI-EXPO® booth assignments are determined by two separate lotteries; placement sequence is determined randomly. Lottery 1 is open only to those HELI-EXPO 2009 exhibitors who submit their Application for Space with payment by July 10, 2009. Lottery 2 is open to any exhibiting company, including those that have not previously exhibited, returning the Application for Space with payment by August 28, 2009.

HAI is saddened at the passing of Mr. Richard Ralph (Rick) Snure, who died on June 11, 2009 when he hit a power line northwest of Phoenix, Arizona, while gathering cattle. Mr. Snure was born on February 26, 1948, in Douglas, Arizona, and was raised on a ranch between Rodeo, New Mexico and Douglas.

HELI-EXPO ® booth assignments are determined by two separate lotteries; placement sequence is determined randomly. Lottery 1 is open only to HELI-EXPO 2009 exhibitors who submit their Application for Space with payment by July 10, 2009 . Lottery 2 is open to any exhibiting company, including those that have not previously exhibited, returning the Application for Space with payment by August 28, 2009 .

For your convenience, there is an Application for Space that you can complete online, then print, sign and send with payment. Visit www.rotor.com today!

The Helicopter Association International will be exhibiting at the 48th International Paris Airshow (Hall 4, booth A-104), which runs from Monday, June 15 to Sunday, June 21 at the Paris - Le Bourget Airport Exhibition Centre.  HAI President, Matt Zuccaro, Director of Membership, Annette Duplinsky, and Manager of Advertising & Exhibit Sales, Lisa Henderson will be on hand to meet with visitors and discuss topical issues facing the global helicopter market, while also addressing inquiries about membership and HELI-EXPO.

In addition to activities on the show floor, Mr. Zuccaro will be taking time to meet with local operators as well as local regulatory agencies to discuss matters specific to their region and various operating environments.

HAI looks forward to the opportunity to meet with our members abroad and spread awareness of our mission to both prospective members and the visiting public.

Please stop by and visit us at our booth: A-104 in Hall 4

Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) Executive Vice President, Edward F. DiCampli and Director of Safety, J. Hefernan, presented at two HAI/FAA FAAST Team Safety Forums. The helicopter safety seminars were sponsored by HAI and FAA Western Regional FSDOs. The Tuesday, June 2, 2009 seminar took place at the Hilton Phoenix East, in Mesa Arizona. The Thursday, June 4, 2009 meeting took place at the Mirage, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) president, Matt Zuccaro is in Grapevine, Texas, attending the American Helicopter Society’s (AHS) Annual Forum.  Zuccaro will be attending the various Technical Sessions and a meeting of the International Helicopter Safety Team Executive Committee, of which he is Co-Chairman.

HAI President Matt Zuccaro, and David York, HAI’s Vice President of Regulations and International Affairs arrived at the EAA Air Adventure show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to be met by rain and clouds. Unfortunately the afternoon airshow had to be cancelled for the day. However, this allowed them and other attendees to view the hundreds of exhibits, and participate in the numerous forums and educational opportunities.