Helicopter Association International sadly reports the recent passing of a giant in the rotorcraft industry and aviation history.

Born John McDonald Miller, on December 15, 1905 in Poughkeepsie, New York, he was four and a half years old, when he saw Glenn Hammond Curtiss, a pilot and fellow New Yorker, from Hammondsport, flying a specially built airplane, with bamboo outriggers in front and back. Curtiss was flying on a run from Albany, New York to New York City for a $10,000 prize offered by the New York World newspaper.

What: Farnborough International Airshow 2008
When: July 14-20, 2008

Swing into HELI-EXPO 2009 with Helicopter Foundation International (HFI). On Saturday, February 21, 2009 — the day before HELI-EXPO 2009 officially begins — HFI will hold a fundraising golf tournament at the Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, California. All proceeds from this event will go towards HFI’s Scholarship Program, which assists students who are interested in pursuing a career in the helicopter industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now fielding the 2007 General Aviation and Part 135 Activity (GAP135A, formerly GAATAA) Survey. Accurate survey data is critical in developing the FAA’s accident statistics for general aviation and on-demand charter operations.

What: ILA Berlin Air Show 2008
When: May 27 - June 1, 2008
Where: Schoenefeld Airport, Berlin, Germany
Time: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

The Harry T. Jensen Award was presented to Appareo Systems, LLC, and the Bristow Group at the American Helicopter Society’s Forum 64, which took place April 29-May 1, 2008, in Montreal, Canada. The aim of the society not only to emphasize and further engineering excellence in traditional rotorcraft platform disciplines, but also expand this focus to the multidisciplinary fields of vertical flight and related support industries.

What: AHS Forum 64
When: April 29 - May 1, 2008
Where: Palais des congrès de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

Stop by HAI Booth #122 and say hello to HAI President Matt Zuccaro and HAI Advertising & Exhibit Sales Assistant Melissa Parker!

HAI is proud to announce that any aviation student wishing to join HAI, who is currently taking helicopter flight lessons, or is enrolled, or has been enrolled within the past 12 months from date of application, in a helicopter pilot flight training, maintenance technician, or aviation dispatcher course, can apply for a complimentary one-year membership in HAI. 

HAI members modified HAI By-Laws in an effort to broaden its pilot and maintenance technician membership.  This is keeping in line with HAI’s outreach efforts to the pilots and technicians in the field. 

A ring was found at HELI-EXPO 2008 in Houston, Texas and returned to HAI. 

If you think this may be yours, contact HAI's Amber Pendergrass at (703) 683-4646.

HAI sadly announces the passing of Lieutenant Robert M. Morrison, who passed away Saturday, March 8, 2008 at his son's home in Petoskey, Michigan at the age of 77.

HAI's Maintenance Malfunction Information Report (MMIR) system is a feature-rich, web-based program (www.mmir.com) that lets users research part failure reports, submit Service Difficulty Reports, complete warranty claim forms, and track part malfunctions for internal company use.  MMIR is a free service to the aviation maintenance community.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) sadly announces the passing of Jerry Dennis, who passed away March 9, 2008 in California at age 65.

Houston, Texas, February 26, 2008 –  HELI-EXPO 2008 came to a close in Houston Tuesday---breaking all attendance and exhibitor records. A record setting 17,373 participates attended this year's HELI-EXPO. Five-hundred and twenty-three exhibitors showcased their products and services.  Sixty-five helicopters were displayed on the showroom floor.  Exhibitor space covered 252,700 net square feet and featured avionics, accessories, components, and related products, all under one roof!

HAI would like to invite all HELI-EXPO attendees to join HAI's President Matt Zuccaro as he welcomes the CEOs of the major helicopter airframe manufacturers at the 2nd Annual Airframe Manufacturer CEO Forum on Monday, February 25, 2008 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the George R. Brown Convention Center, Room 351 A,B,D,E.

Industry Outreach to Students – Mentoring Program – This Program is in direct  response to request from students enrolled in, but not yet ready to graduate from a universitiy or college.

If you are looking for a new and exhilarating way to kick off 2008—HAI’s HELI-EXPO JOB FAIR is where you want to be.

Pilots' Mentoring Program – A panel of top industry experts will share their experiences and expertise with students attending or just completing flight school, pilots already in the industry looking to pick up valuable information from seasoned professionals, and students considering a career as a helicopter pilot.  

Financing and Leasing Workshop – A panel of top experts in the helicopter industry's financing and leasing field will introduce and discuss two new Handbooks: 

ADS-B Overview Forum – Join FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell and senior FAA officials to learn more about the future of air transportation, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico where over 650 helicopters will benefit from Phase 1 of the ADS-B program. 

Workshop on Improving Communications in Your Workplace.  This interactive Workshop will identify communications problems inherent in typical organization departments, and identify how to overcome them. Included are:  Communications Lifeline to Success, What is Communications?, Putting Organizational Communications in Perspective, The Art of Listening, Use Technology Wisely, Recognize People and Visible Leadership, among others.  The Workshop is led by HFI Course Instructor, Steve Bassett.

HAI, in conjunction with the National Broadcast Pilots Association, is hosting an Electronic News Gathering (ENG) Roundtable at HELI-EXPO 2008 and invites anyone involved in the ENG industry to make plans to attend and participate in a very timely discussion of the critical issues facing helicopters in Electronic News Gathering.

Safety Managers Forum – This new Forum is a direct response to a Safety Committee Town Hall request from HAI members to give Safety Professionals an opportunity to pose questions and to share experiences, ideas and results.  Chief among the topics will be Safety Management Systems, their value and challenges.  Eric Van De Walker of Erickson Air-Crane will lead the Forum.

The HAI Government Contracting Committee (GCC) works with HAI staff in Washington to maintain a communication link between commercial helicopter operators involved in aerial firefighting and the U. S. Forest Service (USFS) and Department of the Interior.  The 15-member GCC represent a diverse cross section of the industry and meet twice each calendar year.  There is currently one open seat on the committee.