Helicopter Association International (HAI)

Helicopter Association International (HAI) announces Alameda County (California) Sheriff’s Office (ASCO) criminalist Penny Ritter is the recipient of the 2023 Salute to Excellence Law Enforcement Award. This award, sponsored by MD Helicopters, LLC, recognizes an individual or organization that has contributed to the promotion and advancement of rotorcraft in support of law enforcement activities.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) announces Rainbow Helicopters' VP of Maintenance, Mike Iven, as the recipient of the 2023 Salute to Excellence Maintenance Award. This award, presented by Rolls-Royce, recognizes an individual for long-standing excellence in rotorcraft maintenance, maintenance instruction or supervision, or a single significant contribution to rotorcraft maintenance.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Frank Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter Company. Born in 1930, Frank passed away on November 12, 2022, at his California home.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) is hoping you’ll tell the story of someone in the rotorcraft, drone, or advanced air mobility community who’s outstanding in their profession and nominate them for its annual Salute to Excellence Awards program. The deadline for nominations has been extended to Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Award descriptions and criteria, as well as additional information about the awards process, are available at rotor.org/events/salute-to-excellence.

As part of an ongoing program to address the shortage of helicopter pilots and maintenance professionals, Helicopter Association International (HAI) announces it has participated in an aviation workforce development roundtable in Salt Lake City, UT. The event, organized by US Representative Burgess Owens (R-UT-4), discussed ways to build on the success of the Utah Rotor Pathway Program (URPP), an HAI initiative that has received two national awards since its inception in 2019.

The Vertical Aviation Safety Team (VAST), Helicopter Association International (HAI), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the United States Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) together will host the 2022 VAST Global Conference, Oct. 4-6, 2022, at the Hurst Conference Center in the Fort Worth suburb of Hurst, TX. The conference is an outgrowth of the FAA International Rotorcraft Safety Conferences first held in 2015.