Helicopter Association International (HAI) responds to the May 19, 2020, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) board hearing on the cause of a Jan. 2019 crash of a helicopter air-ambulance (HAA) flight in Ohio. HAI appreciates the extraordinary efforts made by the investigative team in determining the myriad factors that led to the accident, which took the lives of three people who were on a mission to save lives. HAI offers its deepest condolences to the families, friends and co-workers of those lost in the accident.

REACH Air Medical Services and Washington County EMS announces their new public-safety partnership. The public-private agreement between the organizations brings a public-safety helicopter that will support emergency air-medical transports, hoist rescue services, aerial firefighting, and other search and rescue operations throughout Washington County, the Brazos Valley and surrounding communities.

Boost Human External Cargo Systems (Boost Systems – www.boostsystems.ca), a leader in the provision of the most advanced, certified and compliant human external cargo (HEC) systems and services for the rescue, utility, public safety and defense sectors, introduces its latest offering: an HEC system for the MD500 series helicopter. The system is fully compliant to the latest FAR 27.865 and FAA AC133-1B HEC standards.

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), announces it has signed an agreement with VIH Aviation Group for four S-92A+™ upgrade kits. VIH Aviation Group Ltd. and its operating company, Cougar Helicopters Inc., have been a leading S-92® helicopter customer in Canada since 2004, and now, the first S-92A+ kit customer.

Air Covers Ltd, a specialist in the design of bespoke protective covers for the aerospace and marine sector, announces it has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade 2020. These awards are the most prestigious award a UK company can receive. Her Majesty The Queen approves the winners, which recognises companies of all sizes.

William H. “Bill” Wells, Jr., president and owner of Cascade Helicopters in Cashmere, WA, died on Apr. 15, 2020, at the age of 86.

Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) announces the company is offering free ground shipping on all equipment sales in the United States to celebrate its 25th
anniversary. Additionally, ASU is waiving all expediting fees. Customers with a night-vision-goggle service agreement will continue to receive free ground shipping.

Universal Avionics is assisting the local Tucson community in protecting healthcare workers and first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is currently providing the non-profit group, Hope Worldwide (Tucson Chapter), with assembly-line space at its Tucson headquarters to manufacture medical face masks and shields.

The Utah State Legislature recently approved a Strategic Workforce Initiative (SWI) grant to Southern Utah University to support the growth of the Utah Rotor Pathway Program, a government-industry-education partnership preparing Utah students for high-growth occupations while serving regional industry workforce needs. The grant totals $386,000 per year for three years, for a total of $1,158,000.

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) releases a statement this week regarding medical transports of patients with suspected or diagnosed coronavirus.