RICK KENIN: TAKING VAI TO NEW HEIGHTS
Rick plans to focus the VAI Board’s
strategic intent on member benefits and advocating for the entire vertical aviation industry.
“The VAI Board is very different from HAI’s board. Today, we’re much more focused on the strategic future of the association and the industry. “The VAI staff is spectacular—it’s
not the job of the board to get involved in their day-to-day operations,” Rick continues. As chair of the Governance
and, of course, it’s a one-stop shop for everything vertical aviation. For the past few years, I’ve mentored others through the Mil2Civ program, giving back to the military and sharing my experience with veterans starting their second careers.” Rick credits VAI with significantly
enhancing its member benefits over the past two years, including pro- viding a variety of low-cost safety management systems. In April, Boston MedFlight began pursuing Bronze accreditation through VAI’s i ndustry-leading Operational Risk and Resilience Accreditation (ORRA) program. “Today, VAI is more than a fantastic
trade show. It offers tremendous mem- ber benefits with a focus on advocacy and safety, both domestically and internationally. It has really expanded and evolved,” says Rick.
Tackling the Challenges Of the many issues facing the indus- try, Rick considers expanding into new opportunities, maintaining access, and
34 POWER UP JUN 2025
integrating new technology as critical. He views restrictions on how and where operators fly as affecting the overall safety of the industry. “One of the biggest issues is the
integration of new vertical aviation technologies for advanced air mobility and unmanned aerial systems. We need to figure out how to operate safely in the airspace together,” Rick says. “We have to be willing to invest in
the technology for sense and avoid. I have no doubt that there will always be a need for manned helicopters. The things you can do with a helicopter are just so unique, but there is also a future need for unmanned aerial systems and electric vertical takeoff and landing air- craft. Being able to integrate all those together is key.” Managing these issues will be chal-
lenging, Rick concedes. With air ambu- lance, aerial firefighting, and other operators facing tight funding and economic headwinds, the downstream effect may take a toll on investments in safety technology. He’s confident VAI can lead the way.
Committee, Rick helped review the association’s bylaws, recasting the board as a strategic body and integrat- ing new technologies under the vertical aviation umbrella. The revised bylaws, which took effect in 2024, opened the door to new types of member opera- tors, manufacturers, and suppliers. “VAI is the voice of the vertical avi-
ation industry. Being on the board has opened my eyes to the entire breadth of vertical aviation and its some 44 mission areas,” says Rick. He encourages VAI members with strategic planning experi- ence to consider serving on the board. Rick says he plans to continue the
work of his predecessors to enhance VAI’s member benefits and grow its membership. “I joined Boston MedFlight with the opportunity to take it to new heights, to be our own Part 135 operator. Similarly, VAI is doing exceptionally well. Our finances are in great shape. Our products, initiatives, and strategic intent are first-rate. As the chairman of the board, I’ll continue our work of taking the association to new heights.”
Christine Knauer has written for major aircraft OEMs, MROs, and avionics manufacturers for more than 25 years. She holds a master’s degree in aviation safety.
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
