Mark A. Schlaefli is the owner and operator of Dakota Rotors, a Part 135/133 operator in the US Upper Midwest and Mountain West. He began his one-year term as chair of the VAI Board of Directors on Jul. 1, 2024. Mark holds an ATP rotorcraft certificate as well as instrument, CFI, and CFII ratings. (VAI/Doug Loneman, Loneman Photography) Powering Up Service We need your help to achieve our goals for the industry. By Mark A. Schlaefli I have a bottomless supply of optimism about the value VAI brings to our industry and our members. As an aviation business owner, I have personally experienced our association’s positive impact on my operations. As chair of the Board of Directors, I also have visibility into our future, including our strategies to deliver an even better return on our members’ investment in us. Over the past few years, VAI has been working hard to develop and deliver value to our membership through a solid plan of five strategic initiatives. Our members were instrumental in developing that plan, and the incomparable VAI staff are working hard to execute those initiatives and power up our industry. But they can’t do it alone: we want you to join us in ensuring our strategic initiatives are relentlessly executed, leading to a unified, thriving, sustainable industry. And before you turn the page, let me explain how becoming a VAI volunteer will help your association—and you! Giving back to the industry is a necessary element of a complete career, one providing you with that all-important paycheck, personal and professional growth, and the satisfaction of accomplishing meaningful work. Looking beyond the immediate, local needs of your inbox or organization will expand your horizons, as will collaborating with other VAI volunteers. Speaking personally, it’s been humbling and rewarding to work with professionals from all sectors of this great industry. The open call for Board of Directors candidates was released on Dec. 11 (election results will be announced at VERTICON 2025 in Dallas in March), and we’re looking to add excellence and expertise to our board. Recruiting members with the right skills, experience, and passion for VAI’s mission is essential to building a board that can effectively provide staff with the strategic guidance to address challenges, seize opportunities, and navigate the complex landscape of the vertical aviation industry. As described in detail elsewhere in this issue (see “VAI Adopts New Bylaws”), VAI is changing the composition of our Board of Directors. The new bylaws reserve three seats each for small, medium-sized, and large operations, based on fleet size. We’re also adding two directors to the board and reserving two board seats for representatives from the public-service sector. These changes will ensure the VAI board reflects our diverse industry. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, VAI has other opportunities to give back, including participating in our industry advisory councils (IACs), which replaced our working groups. These councils ensure the comms channel between VAI and the members it serves is always open, providing crucial awareness and feedback on the issues we face. The 14 IACs cover a variety of topics, from industrywide concerns such as safety and insurance to mission-focused groups. At VAI’s Aerial Work Safety Conference in Boise, Idaho, last month, I spent time with members of the Aerial Firefighting & Natural Resources, Restricted & Experimental Category Aircraft, and Utility Patrol & Construction IACs. These IACs are filled with professionals dedicated to furthering the safety and quality of their respective disciplines. Their passion for progress and being the change they want to see in the industry is impressive. You can learn more about the IACs—and apply for IAC membership—on the VAI website. Let me be the first to thank you for considering serving in either of these capacities, lending your expertise to fuel the growth of vertical aviation.
