If you are finding all of this change unsettling, let me remind
you: this industry was not started by those who were satisfied with the status quo. After all, in the 36 years between the Wright brothers’ first powered flight in December 1903 and Igor Sikorsky’s first free flight of the VS-300 in May 1940, fixed-wing aviation had matured. US pilots and aircraft mechanics were licensed, and airworthiness standards for their aircraft and components had been established. Pilots, already working with the basic tools of instrument flight, were breaking all sorts of records all around the world. The future of aviation seemed set. And then came Igor and his solution to “The Helicopter
Problem,” as he titled a 1930 paper. Did he know back then all the ways we would use this aircraft in the service of communities around the world? Not according to his son Sergei Sikorsky. In a 2019 interview with HAI, while discussing the success of the Sikorsky Black Hawk, Sergei said, “The interesting thing is that, of course, people are using the Black Hawk in missions that we— that certainly Dad—never expected and certainly many of us also never thought about.” Our industry is not done
innovating. The news is full of stories about what our future may bring: electric engines, simplified flight controls, synthetic vision, and uncrewed flights. New aircraft are wending their way through the lengthy certification process, and both industry and governments are preparing for advanced air mobility operations that will focus new attention on the unique capabilities of vertical aviation. If you feel that our industry is changing in ways that cannot be anticipated, I agree. But simply maintaining the status quo is not what vertical aviation is about. HAI sees a future where an expanded, diverse, sustainable ver-
tical aviation fleet and workforce is embraced and supported by the communities around the world that it serves. Our operators, pilots, mechanics/engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, and other aviation professionals will command astounding technology while under- standing the essential truths that elevate safety, efficiency, and per- formance: know how to do your job well, make good decisions, and always do the right thing, even when no one is watching. That is the future that HAI is working to make come true, and
we will accomplish this through our Strategic Industry Plan, which was published in the March 2023 issue of ROTOR:
SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE ROTOR 11
Strategic Initiative 1: Unify the industry around a new vision of vertical aviation and continually promote community compatibility
Strategic Initiative 2: Engage all stakeholders in the global value chain to help create a favorable environment that helps the entire industry thrive and prosper
Strategic Initiative 3: Elevate safety culture throughout the value chain
Strategic Initiative 4: Develop business resources that help companies elevate their operational performance
Strategic Initiative 5: Develop a pathway that helps attract and maintain the best workforce in the world. I hope this vision excites you too. Because we will not achieve it unless our industry con- tinues to work together. Over and over, during HAI’s 75
Our collective expertise, determination, and voice have made a difference, both within our industry and for external partners such as regulators and other government agencies.
years, we have seen how our collec- tive expertise, determination, and voice have made a difference, both within our industry and for external partners such as regulators and other government agencies. And the bigger our footprint—the more manufactur- ers, operators, and industry profes- sionals HAI represents—the greater our ability to make an impact and achieve our goals. Earlier, I acknowledged our
founding members. Now, I want to thank our current members for their support. HAI’s advocacy on your behalf only has meaning and impact because we represent you and the essential work you do. Utilizing the unique abilities of vertical aviation aircraft and our industry’s decades of expertise in low-altitude aviation operations, you help keep communities around the globe safe, prosperous, and connected. When I visit with members and hear all the good work you are doing, I am very proud to be part of this industry. For those HAI members who are reading this, I hope you are
happy with the return on your investment in us. If you need assistance with any technical or operational problem, as well as legislative or regulatory issues, please contact me at president@
rotor.org. The HAI staff takes seriously our pledge to help you keep your rotors turning! As HAI celebrates its 75th anniversary and lays the foundation
for 75 more years of helping the global vertical aviation industry grow and prosper, there is one thing I know for certain: we are stronger together.
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