FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”


The title of this editor’s letter is actually a quote from John C. Maxwell, a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, pastor, coach and speaker who has sold more than 24 million books in 50 languages. The quote reminds me that there is unprecedented change happening in every corner of our industry.


Carbon dioxide reduction, special aviation fuels, urban air mobility, eVTOL, personnel shortages, unmanned vertical flight, virtual-mixed reality in training, and the list goes on. The question for industry is: Will this inevitable change be an opportunity for growth, or will many get left behind?


In February 2022, I was invited to Marignane, France, to visit the Airbus Helicopters manufacturing facility to not only fly in the H160, but also to learn about Airbus Helicopters’ vision for the future. After two days of presentations, it was very clear that the manufacturer is making massive technology investments to develop data- driven customer service, revolutionize manufacturing, enhance operational safety, and define the future of vertical lift. To learn more, see the report of my visit titled, “Airbus Helicopters Issues in a New Age” on page 60.


In this issue’s installment of Executive Watch, we spoke with Marek Polcak, CEO of Vrgineers. The company, pronounced V-R-gineers, is a team of virtual reality (VR) engineers creating realistic training scenarios in virtual- and mixed-reality systems that put civilian and military helicopter pilots into certain scenarios


Rotorcraft Pro® is published six times a year and


mailed out on or around the 10th of every other month by Rotorcraft Pro Media Network Inc. Rotorcraft Pro®


per year for foreign is


distributed free to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates are $57.00 per year in the U.S. and Canada, $125.00


Publisher is not liable for all content (including


editorial and illustrations provided by advertisers) of ads published, and does not accept responsibility for any claims made against the publisher. It is the advertiser’s or agency’s responsibility to obtain appropriate releases on any item or individuals pictured in ads. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher.


subscribers


(surface mail). U.S. postage paid at Fall River, Wisconsin, and additional mailing offices.


Editor-In-Chief Lyn Burks


lyn.burks@rotorcraftpro.com Account Executives


Teri Rivas


teri.rivas@rotorcraftpro.com Brad Shubargo


brad@rotorcraftpro.com Circulation Manager


Laura Lentz Layout Design


Bryan Matuskey production@rotorcraftpro.com


to allow the training of more tactics or missions than a normal simulator. Vrgineers technology cannot only apply to flight training, but also to future maintenance. For example, if you want to learn maintenance for a Robinson R44, but don’t have the aircraft where you are located, you will load an R44 training module into your VR headset and learn from that. If you’re actually maintaining the aircraft, you would put on an augmented-reality headset that allows you to see through to the parts you are handling as the maintenance procedure outlines in your field of vision.


Finally, on page 46 we lay out the results of the Rotorcraft Pro 2021-2022 Annual U.S. Helicopter Pilot Salary and Benefits Survey. In this year’s report we reflect on key drivers that have led to the current pilot shortage, as well as how they are impacting operators’ ability to attract and retain experienced helicopter pilots. In addition to reporting on helicopter pilot pay, benefits, and job satisfaction, we raise the alarm by asking the following questions: Can the helicopter industry in general compete with the airlines’ pay? If not, given the current supply situation, could the growth of the industry as a whole be stunted due to a shortage of helicopter pilots? If so, what can the industry actually do about it?


Lyn Burks, Editor-In-Chief


Online Accounts Manager Lynnette Burks


lynnette.burks@rotorcraftpro.com Copy Editors


Rick Weatherford


Joanna Nellans Social Media Guru Laura Lentz


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


Corporate Officer Lyn Burks, CEO


Mailing Address


949 SW Woodland Ave. Ft. White, FL 32038


Toll Free: 877.768.5550 Fax: 561.424.8036


www.rotorcraftpro.com


4


Mar/Apr 2022


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78