By Dan Sweet
help set a Guinness World Record. “We’re hoping to set the record for the largest number of civilian helicopters hover- ing over a field,” says Randy Sharkey, event organizer, helicopter pilot, and manager of Goshen Municipal Airport. Rotors ’n Ribs began in 2013 as a heli-
copter fly-in and has expanded into a much larger helicopter event as a way for rotor- craft professionals to build industry camara- derie, network, gain safety education, and share helicopters with the general public. The event begins at 3 pm on Friday,
Jul. 7, with aircraft arrival, followed by a social hour, food trucks, and welcoming remarks. The general public is invited to join the first day of Rotors ’n Ribs to build awareness of and appreciation for rotorcraft. Friday’s schedule also includes several
entertaining helicopter demonstrations, from a Bambi Bucket drop to a pyrotechnics- filled Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF) Sky Soldiers perfor- mance. The AAHF will provide limited heli- copter rides on either a UH-1 Huey or an AH-1 Cobra. The first day of Rotors ’n Ribs will conclude with a drone light show fol- lowed by fireworks. Saturday, Jul. 8, is open to helicopter
professionals and enthusiasts and includes breakfast; a BBQ rib lunch; a safety semi- nar by Bruce Webb, director of aviation education and community outreach for Airbus; educational sessions sponsored by HAI; and the Guinness World Record hover attempt before helicopters begin to fly out at 2 pm. Sharkey expects that Rotors ’n Ribs will
enjoy close to 50 helicopters in attendance over the two days. Fly-in attendees can camp at their aircraft or reserve a hotel-bloc room in the area. To register for the event, which ensures
free entry, parking availability ($20 per car), and access to educational seminars and free meals for rotorcraft professionals, visit
rotorsnribs.com.
Crisis Communications What to say (and not say) after an accident.
AS THE OLD MAXIM GOES, the point in your flight when the engine quits isn’t the time to begin practicing autorotations. And similarly, the period immediately after a crash is not the time to cobble together a post-acci- dent communications plan. No matter how safely an
operation runs, accidents happen in aviation. When they do, companies must be prepared to communicate quickly, accurately, and effectively. Below are five crucial elements to consider when crafting your organi- zation’s crisis communica- tions plan.
1
Dan Sweet, HAI’s director of public relations and communications, led a course in crisis communications during Communications U for Small Businesses at HAI HELI-EXPO 2023. (HAI/f-stop Photography)
DO plan ahead. Particularly in today’s social media climate, speed is essential when communi- cating to the public after an accident, so develop and employ a structured plan for how to address a crash and make sure your employees know how to use it. Update the plan as needed and at least annually.
2
DON’T delay. Own the narra- tive by speaking first; don’t give
the media or anyone else the oppor- tunity to fill a communications void. Likewise, don’t suspend communica- tions too early. If the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is involved, your role doesn’t end when the NTSB takes over media commu- nications. Be prepared for a possible second wave of media attention after that organization issues its report.
3
DO tell the truth. It might be painful at the time, but lying or
omitting details could hurt your rep- utation and potentially expose you to liability. Without your honest input, outside media sources, including social media, can quickly spiral away from the facts of an incident and cre- ate damaging conjecture.
4 5
DON’T trust a microphone. Treat every microphone as if
it’s live, and speak accordingly. And, remember, cell phones have record- ing capabilities too!
DON’T say “No comment” to a reporter. It sounds like you’re
hiding something. If you need time to formulate an answer, tell the reporter you’ll need to get back to them—and then be sure to follow up.
JUNE 2023 ROTOR 19
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