VAI Working Groups

The Aerial Firefighting & Natural Resources Working Group is established to identify and evaluate safety, operational and support issues, and to assist in the development of policies and best practices to enhance the safety and efficiency of aircraft engaged in aerial fighting and natural resources operations. The Working Group identifies and advises the VAI Board and membership on potential administrative, operational and safety concerns impacting aerial firefighting and natural resources rotorcraft operations.

The Air Medical Working Group is dedicated to enhancing safety within the medical transport industry by focusing on standardization and training.

The VAI Aviation Insurance Working Group was established in 2022 to identify and evaluate aviation industry insurance issues and assist in the development of recommendations, programs, and best practices to ease industry burdens and facilitate collaboration between operator and insurance industry stakeholders. The impacts to industry from recent insurance industry shifts have been substantial in many cases. As such, the VAI Aviation Insurance Working Group brings together members from across the industry and provides the setting for open discussion and sharing.

The Flight Operations Working Group includes individuals with extensive operational expertise, aviation managers, avionics manufacturers, and individuals with background in managing and conducting flight testing activities. The working group actively participates in initiatives to improve VFR/IFR regulations, flight procedures, helicopter routes, charting, and the Aeronautical Information Manual. The working group has worked to develop a joint government and industry “teaming” process. This allows increased helicopter industry involvement in the prioritization, planning and execution of flight testing activities.

The Fly Neighborly / Environmental Working Group strives to increase pilot participation in, and public awareness of, VAI’s voluntary noise abatement program for helicopter operators. The working group coordinates Fly Neighborly activities with regional associations and other VAI working groups. The working group developed the Fly Neighborly Guide, “Fly Neighborly” video, and the Fly Neighborly Training Kit.

The Helicopter Tour Operators Working Group’s top priorities are:

• Supporting multiple-user access to National Parks
• Educating the public on the environmentally-friendly quality of air tours and the vital assistance they provide to disabled persons
• Advancing air tour safety
• Promoting “Fly Neighborly” practices

The working group also works closely with VAI Staff to address regulatory and legislative changes affecting the tour industry.

The VAI Restricted and Experimental Category Aircraft Working Group is established to facilitate the safe integration and support of restricted and experimental category aircraft into the National Air Space (NAS). The working group works to identify and evaluate safety, operational and support issues, and to assist in the development of policies and best practices to enhance the safety and efficiency of restricted and experimental category aircraft operations.

The primary objective of the Safety Working Group is to improve hazard and risk identification, assessment and mitigation, with the result of eliminating accidents and fatalities in the helicopter industry. The working group seeks to advise and educate the helicopter industry on safety issues.

The Technical and Maintenance Working Group actively supports technical areas of the helicopter industry. The working group facilitates dealings with government agencies and serves as the Technical Task Force for reviewing relevant regulations and responding to proposed changes. The working group sponsors the Manufacturers’ Technical Briefings at HELI-EXPO® and continues to encourage use of the Maintenance Malfunction Information Report (MMIR).

The Training Working Groups goal is to enhance safety and quality in training. The working group makes recommendations on existing and proposed rules, regulations, policies, and initiatives that affect the helicopter training industry. In addition, the working group monitors technology advancements as they apply to flight training and the helicopter community.

VAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Working Group is established to develop programs, policies and guidance to facilitate the safe integration of helicopters and unmanned aircraft into the National Air Space (NAS). Working closely with government agencies, the committee aims to develop best practices to enhance the safety and efficiency of manned and unmanned operations alike. The UAS Working Group also assists VAI operators, manufacturers and maintainers in their efforts to integrate unmanned systems into their operations, and to promote a pro-active foundation of cooperative communication between all sectors of manned and unmanned aviation in shared airspace.

The Utilities, Patrol, and Construction Working Group promotes the safe use of helicopters in all applications within the utility industry, including patrol, inspection, and construction. One of the main goals of the working group is to develop and promote safe standards and guidelines for helicopter operations in the utility environment.

The Vertical Flight Infrastructure Sub-Working Group

The Workforce Development Working Group is established to facilitate the creation and review of programs to aid in the development and expansion of the international vertical lift industry workforce, and to address the projected shortages of qualified pilots, engineers/maintenance technicians, and mission crew.