FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR Welcome to Atlanta! Will 2023 Excite Like 2022?


Although January 1 starts the calendar new year, I feel like the vertical lift industry’s new year begins on the first day of HAI Heli-Expo, the world’s largest vertical lift industry trade show. It draws 14,000-plus attendees as well as 600-plus companies representing manufacturers and service providers who come together to share with our industry what’s new, as well as to connect with customers.


In 2022, we saw many new milestones across a variety of sectors.


Unmanned, Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL aircraft, which seemed like a pipe dream for several years, moved the needle in a big way as many AAM and eVTOL aircraft flew for the first time, with some even achieving certain levels of certification. There was a renewed call for the industry to embrace these new platforms when HAI President Jim Viola strongly said, “Let me be clear: AAM (advanced air mobility unmanned aircraft) and eVTOL (electric-powered


vertical


takeoff and landing aircraft) operations are complementary to conventional helicopters.” On the unmanned front,


on Page 74 Rotor Pro spoke to OEMs and operators to learn who will service Unmanned, Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL aircraft in our industry.


Also in 2022, helicopter simulation training technology officially advanced well beyond the traditional full flight simulator (FFS) and flight training device (FTD) and into the realm of virtual reality (VR). In our story on Page 46 titled “Helicopter Institute: Chasing the Win,” we learn firsthand how this U.S.-based training academy is effectively using the HeliMod VR simulator as part of its pilot training programs.


Like most markets, the helicopter industry desires to do its part in reducing CO2 emissions. In 2022, the push for cleaner propulsion yielded several first flights of helicopters utilizing special aviation fuels (SAF) by helicopter and engine manufacturers who are developing cleaner, greener propulsion systems with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions.


On the military vertical lift front, perhaps one of the largest paradigm shifts


in


a half-century was Bell’s win of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), with its V-280 Valor tiltrotor set to transform the U.S. Army’s helicopter program that has been dominated by the UH-60 Black Hawk for 43 years.


Lastly, MD Helicopters, the iconic


helicopter manufacturer started by Howard Hughes in 1947, came under new leadership in 2022. On Page 58 in an article titled “MD Helicopters’ New Model,” Rotor Pro takes time to learn about the new leadership team and the changes it will be making to build trust and to service its loyal operator base.


There’s so much going on in the vertical lift


industry, and the Rotor Pro team


cannot wait to see what’s new at Heli- Expo 2023 in Atlanta. If by chance you’re there, come by Booth C3026 and say hello!


Lyn Burks, Editor-In-Chief


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Editor-In-Chief Lyn Burks


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Content Creators James Careless Randy Mains Joanna Nellans Jennifer Ferrero Rick Weatherford Wes Van Dell Randy Rowles Mark Tyler Matt Johnson Uros Podlogar


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Jan/Feb 2023


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