Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Kerry Lynch

Helicopter Association International (HAI) returns to Atlanta this year with momentum and a broader reach as the association pushes toward closer collaboration with the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector, president and CEO James Viola said.
Viola noted that last year’s resumption of Heli-Expo in Dallas after a two-year hiatus “was big” and added this year would likely prove even larger. “I’m pretty sure we’ll top our numbers from last year,” he said. Early registrations have exceeded last year's count&nbsp;and the number of exhibitors by late January had already topped 600. He noted that Atlanta was well received when HAI first hosted Heli-Expo there in 2019.
HAI wants to send a&nbsp;message that it represents “not only helicopters but all vertical flight,” said Viola.&nbsp;“We're trying to make sure that we have a taste of that at the show this year.”
That&nbsp;includes an AAM presence on the exhibit floor and plans to release a white paper in tandem with the convention to provide a picture of what “day one” of such operations might portray, Viola said.
“Day one is getting closer for some manufacturers,” he noted and stressed that such operations can use—and are using—helicopters as proof of concepts. Viola pointed to the efforts of Skyryse and Blade as examples.
“The intent is trying to figure out what the infrastructure looks like, how do you do some of the legs of moving people between vertiports and airports," he explained. "We can do that today so we can start working out the bugs.”
Viola also stressed that people in the FAA and industry "are starting to understand that it’s not a totally separate thing that’s happening.” He noted that AAM brings new types of powerplants and technical capabilities, but many of the vehicles in the works essentially operate&nbsp;vertically as helicopters. “It’s kind of an evolution now,” he said. “We’re excited about [new technologies] because they’re not replacing helicopters but bringing additional capabilities.”
At the same time, Viola expressed concern about the FAA’s recently released update to guidance on the planning, design, and construction of heliports. Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D provides voluntary guidance for rotorcraft but it does not include AAM. The agency said it plans separate guidance for those vertiports.
However, Viola questioned why they would separate them. The FAA has acknowledged the need to use existing&nbsp;infrastructure initially for AAM, he noted, adding that the manufacturers of those vehicles want just that.
“They don’t want to be restricted to land at vertiports,” he said, adding that by distinguishing heliports from vertiports, the FAA is creating a restriction versus an expansion of the current environment. "I think they're trying to really confine where these eVTOL aircraft are going,” he explained.&nbsp;
Such issues among the many others surrounding AAM appear on the schedule for Heli-Expo this week, including AAM showcases on aircraft, infrastructure, and operations; a leaders forum; a look at the future of the airspace; and a discussion from Joby Aviation.
In all, Heli-Expo will host nearly 200 events, activities, and sessions, the vast majority of which center&nbsp;on safety. Viola pointed to the myriad educational, professional development, and refresher courses for mechanics and pilots and the opportunities for them to complete recurrent training.
Safety management systems (SMS) will be a hot topic given the FAA’s recent proposal to require such programs for Part 135 operators and Part 91 air tours. HAI continues to work to ensure its members have options for an SMS program that fits them. “We're trying to figure out what does that small operator need to help them do things right,” he said.
HAI has partnered with the Air Charter Safety Foundation on a voluntary Aviation Safety Action Plan (ASAP) self-reporting program for helicopter operators that Viola said can serve as an essential element for an SMS program.
He noted that operators have begun to embrace&nbsp;ASAP but some continue to face difficulty&nbsp;getting the programs recognized by the FAA. &nbsp;At the same time, HAI is working on a safety accreditation program. HAI will host discussions on both SMS and accreditation during Heli-Expo, joining activities including a Safety Town Hall, Safety Symposium, and the annual Rotor Safety Challenge involving more than 50 educational sessions alone.
Another area of focus at Heli-Expo will center on the workforce shortage. Among activities include a Career Fair on Tuesday as well as HAI's annual Mil2Civil Workshop, which&nbsp;highlights the transition from military to civil jobs.
Viola said the rotorcraft and the larger aviation community must consider how to maintain a pipeline of pilots and mechanics. “There are lots of options on the helicopter side of the house, but we’ve got to get young people involved,” he said, stressing studies that say interest gets sparked at about&nbsp;sixth grade.
Viola pointed to opportunities such as STEM programs or large-scale events such as EAA AirVenture, but he also said that the industry needs to get creative. “Why can't we come up with a helicopter game where people can play [involving] helicopters—something they can play on their phones?” he asked.&nbsp;“What we're trying to do is more coordination.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

HAI CEO Viola Pushes For Tighter Coordination Between Rotorcraft, AAM | Ainonline.com

HAI CEO Viola sees opportunities at Heli-Expo to raise awareness on the similarities and need to better coordinate between rotorcraft and AAM.

Viola Pushes For Tighter Coordination Between Rotorcraft, AAM

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Kits are retrofittable to 429s with existing single- or dual-hook systems

Onboard Talon Dual Cargo Hook Approved in Bell 429

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Single-flight-control user interface makes helicopter flying safer and easier

FAA Issues Special Airworthiness Cert for Skyryse One

Helicopter flights will be available to transport attendees between the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport

Blade Helo Shuttle Service Returns to 2024 NBAA-BACE

Europe was the only region to see sales increase, up by 5%

Aero Asset: Twin-engine Helo Market Retail Sales Drop

Company plans to offer medevac, cargo and passenger transport, and utility services

SGi Becomes Leonardo AW09 Launch Customer for Indonesia

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Loft Dynamics VR flight simulation training devices can fill the full-flight simulator role

EASA Rule Change Removes Full-flight Sim Mandate

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

HAI Convention News 2023

More In Rotorcraft

Onboard Talon Dual Cargo Hook Approved in Bell 429

Kits are retrofittable to 429s with existing single- or dual-hook systems

FAA Issues Special Airworthiness Cert for Skyryse One

Single-flight-control user interface makes helicopter flying safer and easier

Blade Helo Shuttle Service Returns to 2024 NBAA-BACE

Helicopter flights will be available to transport attendees between the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport

Aero Asset: Twin-engine Helo Market Retail Sales Drop

Europe was the only region to see sales increase, up by 5%

SGi Becomes Leonardo AW09 Launch Customer for Indonesia

Company plans to offer medevac, cargo and passenger transport, and utility services

EASA Rule Change Removes Full-flight Sim Mandate

Loft Dynamics VR flight simulation training devices can fill the full-flight simulator role

Sikorsky Certifies S-92 Main Gearbox Life Extension

LifePlus methodology enables extended life for certain components

Sasemar Awards Another 5-year SAR Contract to Avincis

The Avincis fleet used for the SAR contract includes Leonardo AW139s and Airbus H225s

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN