Wayne Fry, FAA Flight Standards division manager for General Aviation Safety Assurance, is named the new government co-chairman of the United States Helicopter Safety Team (www.ushst.org). The USHST was formed in 2013 as a regional partner within the International Helicopter Safety Team (now the Vertical Aviation Safety Team, VAST, https://vast.aero/) to lead a government and industry cooperative effort to promote safety and work to reduce civil helicopter accidents and fatalities.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) announces the winners of the 2023 ROTOR Magazine Photo Contest. The popular contest attracts hundreds of entries annually from photographers around the world.

Hartzell Engine Tech receives FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for its Sky-Tec HT (High Torque) starters for Robinson two-place R22 and four-place R44 light utility helicopters. The company’s Sky-Tec HT starter for Lycoming engines features an integrated self-resetting Kickback Protection System (KPS) to protect the powerplant and starter from an engine kickback. The PMA for the plug-and-play starters was obtained through the company’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program.

Columbia Helicopters, a heavy-lift helicopter OEM, MRO and operator, announces it has sold and delivered a Columbia Model 107-II Vertol to Heliswiss International AG (HSI). The sale makes HSI the official launch customer for the aircraft in Europe.

Enstrom announces the flight of the first new 480B helicopter after reopening just eight months ago. The turbine-powered 480B is the 1317th Enstrom helicopter built and the 255th 480-series helicopter. This aircraft was not built from an unfinished, leftover airframe but by using components procured, machined, fabricated and assembled onsite.

Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. (ASU) announces that ASU founder and CEO, Mike Atwood, has been inducted into the Association of United States Night Vision Manufacturers (ANVM) Hall of Fame, established in 1995 to honor those individuals who have made a major contribution to night-vision technology.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) announces David Ellis, executive director of Haiti Air Ambulance, is the 2023 recipient of the Salute to Excellence Golden Hour Award. The award recognizes the efforts of an individual, group or organization that, through a particular activity or contributions over time, has advanced the use of helicopters or UAS aircraft in air medical transport.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) announces GPMS International CEO and chief engineer, Eric Bechhoefer, is the 2023 recipient of the Salute to Excellence Safety Award. The award, sponsored by BLR Aerospace, recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions in promoting rotorcraft safety and safety awareness.

AviationManuals, a provider of procedures development services and safety management system (SMS) software, grows its team by 30% across every department, including tech, aviation advisors, marketing, business development and administration.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) announces Karl Cotton as the recipient of the 2023 Salute to Excellence W.A. “Dub” Blessing Flight Instructor of the Year Award. This award, presented by Hill Air Corporation, recognizes superlative contributions by a helicopter flight instructor or a UAS flight instructor in upholding high standards of professionalism.