Our History

Sep. 14, 1939 Igor Sikorsky flies the first practical helicopter, the VS-300, when helicopters were still experimental aircraft
1945 The commercial helicopter industry begins, with Axis and Allied militaries using the new technology primarily for troop evacuation
Mar. 8, 1946 The Bell 47 is the first helicopter certificated for civil use by the Civil Aeronautics Board (forerunner of the FAA)
Dec. 13, 1948 Art Fornoff, a representative from Bell Helicopter, meets with representatives of six Southern California operators to form the Helicopter Council, later renamed the California Helicopter Association (CHA)
1951 CHA broadens membership to all operators and manufacturers in the United States and its territories
1954 CHA is renamed the Helicopter Association of America (HAA)
1955 Elynor Rudnick is the first woman elected president of HAA
1956 Carl Agar is elected as the first non-U.S. HAA president
1950-1953 Helicopters reduce combat mortality during the Korean War. Fatalities reach a new low of 2%, largely due to rapid evacuation of the seriously wounded and helicopter-provided whole blood at forward medical stations
1955-1975 The Vietnam War brings new technology, new capabilities, and newly trained personnel to the global helicopter industry and the first large-scale deployment of drone helicopters
1965 The association adopts the HAA Code of Ethics
1981 HAA becomes Helicopter Association International (HAI), in recognition of its international status
1982 The Fly Neighborly program launches
1983 HAI and the European Helicopter Association form the International Federation of Helicopter Associations
2005 HAI sponsors the first International Helicopter Safety Symposium in Montreal
2006 The Vertical Aviation Safety Team launches, then known as the International Helicopter Safety Team 
2013 A ROTOR article, “Land the Damn Helicopter,” inspires the HAI Land & LIVE initiative
Jun. 30, 2020 HAI and the Australian Helicopter Industry Association form the International Partnership Program; IPP now comprises 18 national and regional vertical aviation associations
Jul. 30, 2020 NASA launches the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity, the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet; its 72 flights pave the way for future aerial exploration of Mars, and, potentially, other space destinations
2024 HAI is renamed Vertical Aviation International; HAI HELI-EXPO is renamed VERTICON

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