HAI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR
Jeffery Smith R.O.P. Aviation
DEPARTMENTS/COLUMNS
8 From the Board What I Learned as HAI Chair By Jeff Smith
10 President’s Message Be an Industry Ambassador By James A. Viola
12 Advocating for You Vertical Aviation at the State Level
By Cade Clark, John Shea, and Katia Veraza
15 ROTORWash X
HAI Briefs
X HAI on Social X
X X
HAI Member Benefit of the Month: Flight Training and Checking
5 Dos & Don’ts for Crisis Communications
In the Spotlight: Robert Burns, Recipient of HAI Pilot Safety Award XRotorcraft Events
24 FlyOver Huntington Beach (California) Police Department and an MD Helicopters MD 530F
By Mark Bennett JUNE 2023 THE MAGAZINE OF HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL
Nicole Battjes
HAI’s 2023–24 Chair
‘ We Know Where We’re Going’
ON THE COVER: Andy Stenz of The Image Group photographed Nicole Battjes, CEO and founder of Hawaiian air tour operator Rainbow Helicopters, in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, a setting that showcases the island’s abundant natural beauty. After the photo shoot, Nicole, who will become the chair of Helicopter Association International on Jul. 1, 2023, flew her company’s Airbus AS350 B2 off the barge and back to its mission of delighting passengers. Read more about Nicole, her journey to Hawaii, and her plans for the coming year in her profile on p. 26.
50 Flight Path Terry Palmer
52 Future Faces Komal Rahane, Helicopter Student, Veracity Aviation
By Aaron Karp
54 Accident Recovery Failed Exam By David Jack Kenny
58 Fly Safe The Last Line of Defense By David Repsher
60 Work Safe Paying It Forward By Zac Noble
63 Index of Advertisers
64 Member Focus Tech-Tool Plastics By Mark Bennett
Teterboro, New Jersey, USA General Aviation
VICE CHAIR B. Adam Hammond
Tennessee Valley Authority Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Government Service
TREASURER Nicole Battjes
Rainbow Helicopters Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Commercial Aviation
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Mark A. Schlaefli Dakota Rotors LLC
Custer, South Dakota, USA Commercial Aviation
PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER James A. Viola
Helicopter Association International Alexandria, Virginia, USA
DIRECTORS
Brian Jorgenson Timberline Helicopters
Sandpoint, Idaho, USA Commercial Aviation
Rick Kenin Boston MedFlight
Bedford, Massachusetts, USA Commercial Aviation
Randal R. Rowles Helicopter Institute Inc.
Fort Worth, Texas, USA Commercial Aviation
Stacy Sheard
Executive Jet Management/Fanatics Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Commercial Aviation
Robert Miller Stallings Titan Aviation Fuels
New Bern, North Carolina, USA General Aviation
LEGAL ADVISOR
H. Bryan Brewer III Crowell & Moring LLP
Washington, D.C., USA SPECIAL ADVISOR–
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY Jonathan Daniels
Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc.
Searchlight, Nevada, USA WRITE FOR ROTOR
Got something to say to the international helicopter industry? We’re listening. Email story ideas, manuscripts, or questions to
letters@rotor.org. Visit
rotor.org/write for more information.
4 ROTOR JUNE 2023
SPECIAL ADVISOR– INTERNATIONAL
Francois Lassale Heli SGI
Denpasar Selatan, Bali, Indonesia
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
