Vertical Aviation International (VAI) announces the winners of this year’s prestigious Salute to Excellence Awards. This annual program is dedicated to recognizing the extraordinary achievements and unwavering commitment of professionals within the vertical aviation industry. Celebrating the best of the best in vertical flight, Salute to Excellence highlights outstanding contributions from pilots, maintenance technicians, operators and safety professionals who set the highest standards of professionalism and safety in the field.

Vertical Aviation International (VAI) recognizes the recipients of this year’s Salute to Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award. As part of a strategic rebranding initiative and in response to the exceptional caliber of nominees, VAI has chosen to honor multiple professionals from the vertical-flight industry who have demonstrated significant impact, sustained commitment, and leadership throughout their careers.

Vertical Aviation International (VAI) congratulates Chris Rocheleau on his recent appointment as deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Eve Air Mobility ("Eve") (NYSE: EVEX; EVEXW) and JetSetGo, a private aircraft charter and fractional ownership company headquartered in New Delhi, India, enter into an agreement to explore and advance the use of Vector, Eve’s cutting-edge agnostic urban ATM (air-traffic management) software solution in India.

In the wake of the catastrophic fires in Los Angeles this month, Montana-based Billings Flying Service (BFS) appreciates the support of Montana and California lawmakers in urging the FAA to certify its six CH-47D Chinook helicopters awaiting certification. Once certified, these heavy-lift aircraft can join the BFS fleet in rapidly delivering up to 2,500 gallons of water on a fire in every pass.

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation announces it will host maintenance courses in 2025, offering expert training for maintaining both piston and turbine models. All maintenance courses are I.A. Renewal-accredited. Enstrom offers two options for certification: the first for A&P mechanics, the other for non-mechanics to certify familiarization with Enstrom.

Boost Systems, a global provider in fully certified human external cargo systems and related training services, announces a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) supplemental type certificate (STC) for the complex personnel carrying device system (cPCDS) to be used with the previously EASA-certified (EASA STC 10081304) BOOST HEC System for the Airbus H125/AS350/AS355. BOOST collaborated with AirWork & Heliseilerei GmbH (A&H) for the development and certification of EASA STC 10085893.

Airbus Helicopters signs a firm contract with the Republic of Ireland Department of Defence to acquire four H145M helicopters. The H145M, a new type in Irish military service, will be used to expand the operational capabilities of the Irish Air Corps on a variety of defense and security tasks.

New Horizon Aircraft Ltd. (NASDAQ: HOVR), doing business as Horizon Aircraft (“Horizon Aircraft” or the “company”), a hybrid electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft developer, announces it has signed a letter of intent (“LOI”) with Discovery Air Chile Ltda., a leading Chilean helicopter operator, to lease five Cavorite X7 eVTOLs with a projected delivery timeline of 2028.

Airwolf Aerospace receives supplemental type certificate (STC) approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the installation of True Blue Power® main ship batteries.