five years as well as director and VP of opera- tions. “We developed the New York City Air SOP, which standardized air tour routes flying out of downtown Manhattan, to address com- munity noise concerns.” Te council also maintains a robust Fly
Neighborly program that brings communities together to work out aviation issues. “I’m most proud of my leadership on the council,” Jeff says. “I became the subject-matter expert for helicopters in the Northeast.” For his service, Smith earned the council’s Chairman’s Award for Excellence. In promoting aviation, Smith isn’t afraid to
fight for an airport’s very existence. In 2014, he organized stakeholders to block a community effort to stifle operations at Long Island’s East Hampton Airport (KHTO). Te town imposed crippling flight restrictions that would have shut down airport business. Aircraft considered “too noisy” were prohibited from flying from 8 pm to 9 am. “Tis included almost all the helicopters,” Jeff recalls. Jeff’s group fought the restrictions in federal
court and won an initial victory. However, the airport has since privatized and closed amid additional ongoing litigation. With all his experience as an aviation
advocate, Jeff is no stranger to HAI, for which he has served in various capacities for more than 10 years. He credits the association for giving him the tools to build his business and professional career and says his involvement in HAI’s working groups has honed his man- agement and leadership skills. “Members can draw on the HAI staff’s broad
range of expertise whenever needed,” Jeff adds. He urges anyone in the vertical lift industry to become a member and take advantage of that knowledge, as well as the association’s many networking and educational opportunities, to advance their professional development. Prior to becoming board chair, Jeff served
as HAI’s vice chair and treasurer. In the latter position, which he held from 2020 to 2021, he was responsible for a $14 million investment portfolio. In addition, he chaired the Fly Neighborly and Environmental Acoustics Committees (now the combined Fly Neighborly / Environmental Working Group) for four years, working with operators, equipment manufacturers, engineers, and government agencies such as the FAA, Department of Transportation, and NASA to reduce the noise impact of aircraft and improve community relations. “Noise mitigation and the need to maintain
community compatibility is one of the most important issues facing the aviation industry,” Jeff says. He has also worked closely with HAI’s Helicopter Tour Operators and Flight Operations Working Groups and the latter’s Vertical Flight Infrastructure Sub-Working Group.
Priorities as HAI Chair As chair, Jeff has three important priorities: expanding HAI’s international footprint to unify the helicopter community globally—“We need to emphasize the ‘I’ in HAI”—enhancing the association’s role as the leading global voice, and promoting and advocating for the vertical lift industry. (See “Vertical Flight Industry Struggles to Fill Vacancies,” on p. 30, for more on Jeff’s third priority.) Tis year, the HAI board appointed a special
advisor – international as another step in broadening the association’s global reach, an initiative Jeff aims to expand on. “My vision is to expand our regional
32 ROTOR JUNE 2022
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