Airbus’ RACER is in final assembly as it moves towards flight testing in the spring of 2024.
FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR Name changes: Signs of progress?
Everywhere I turn, I see nothing but change. Rapid change. In fact, almost every feature in this issue has an underlying theme of change.
By all appearances, Heli-Expo 2024 in Anaheim, California, seemed to be a success for the industry. With over 15,000 attendees and 625 exhibitors, first impressions indicated the industry was well represented and doing fine economically. The one thing that was most apparent, both on the show floor and in briefings, is that big changes are happening right before our eyes.
Technological advances related to both crewed and uncrewed aircraft have come to life and were on display at Heli-Expo to see and touch. For example, advanced air mobility (AAM) platforms are now not only developed, but also flying. And who would have imagined even two years ago that a traditional helicopter could have a single, fly-by-wire control stick to replace the traditional collective, cyclic, and pedals? It’s now a reality and several OEMs are testing it. Airbus has coined its single-stick control as the “Millennium” stick.
Additionally, large cultural shifts towards accepting these new technologies as the new norm were palpable among the attendees and OEMs. Perhaps the largest shift in that regard was that of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) itself. At the show, HAI announced that its new name will be Vertical Aviation International (VAI) and that its annual trade show will no longer be Heli-Expo, but VERTICON. Of course,
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Editor-In-Chief Lyn Burks
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this rebranding move has not been uncommon, and many companies have done the same to account for the new “vertical lift” platforms on the horizon.
Inside this issue, you also will see the same evidence of this rapid change and tech advancement. In the simulation story, nearly all the OEMs are incorporating levels of mixed and virtual reality into their training devices. It will not be long before the massive projection screens that take up so much space will become irrelevant. In the “Airbus Helicopters 2024” update, not only is the CityAirbus Urban Air Mobility eVTOL platform flying, but its high-speed Rapid and Cost-Effective Rotorcraft (RACER) also will take to the skies for its first test flights within days of this issue publishing.
In the Robinson Helicopter Company article, although we reflect on the last 50 years of the company, we also look forward into the future, and yes, Robinson too is venturing into the uncrewed space. (Read more on page 46.) About the only thing that did not change in the last year was the critical shortage of qualified helicopter pilots in the industry. To see the impacts of this shortage on pilot pay and benefits, check out this year’s Rotor Pro pilot salary and benefits survey report on page 54.
Until the next issue, be well and be safe!
Lyn Burks, Editor-In-Chief
Online Accounts Manager Lynnette Burks
lynnette.burks@rotorpro.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
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