On the cover: Pilot Marco Gnos and his Bell 205A-1, operated by Summit Helicopters, departs Arizona’s Payson Airport (KPAN) after refueling to return to the Polles Fire, a wildfire burning about 11 miles west. A resident of Arizona, writer/photographer Mark Bennett documents that state’s busy fire season in a photo essay on p. 48. Photographer: Mark Bennett Helicopter: Bell 205A-1 Location: Payson Airport (KPAN) Download PDF View Digital Issue Arizona In Flames Arizona suffered multiple wildfires during the spring and summer of 2020, with one ranking as the fifth-largest ever in the state. As ideal weapons against these blazes, helicopters were deployed early and often, but the fires just kept coming. FlyOver Army Aviation Heritage Foundation | Bell AH-1F Palm Springs, California | Sep. 28, 2019 Pilot: Eric Pacheco Pandemic-Generated Innovation Adapting to new conditions can lead to positive changes. This November, Americans had the privilege of participating in our national elections. It can be a contentious time, but this is what makes a great democracy: the vibrancy and diversity of views, all coming together in an imperfectly perfect process. We watched the election closely and want to thank all of our members who fulfilled their civic duty by voting. Lazy T Ranch’s Airbus AS350 B3e The Lazy T Ranch is several thousand acres of pasture, hayfields, rolling hills, and dramatic canyons 10 miles southeast of Ten Sleep, Wyoming, as the crow flies. Or, in this case, as the Airbus AS350 B3e flies. The ranch uses the helicopter to monitor fences and outbuildings, locate cattle, and haul equipment and supplies with a newly acquired hook that can also carry a Bambi Bucket, in case wildfire strikes. HAI Scholarship Recipient Nic Tillim Student aspires to use piloting skills to help wildlife conservation. Meet Ann Protheroe Ensure Fuel Purity with Soak Testing The performance and safety of your aircraft depend on this procedure. Bad Assumptions Unclear responsibilities between pilots can lead to a deadly outcome. Is AMT Education Ready for the 21st Century? Pandemic conditions may accelerate Part 147 reforms. Well before COVID became a household word, the aviation industry was already struggling with meeting the demand for qualified aviation maintenance technicians (AMT). The Civil Industry Responds: One Team’s Story Two pilots and a mechanic discover “what they could do” to help a devastated city. Mark Bathrick, Director, Office of Aviation Services, US Department of the Interior DOI UAS have conducted nearly 1,800 flights supporting wildland fire operations this year. Working in Longline Operations Longline work is a special niche of the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) industry, one that requires precision and intricate teamwork. What changes have you made since experiencing—or narrowly avoiding— an aviation accident? HAI Introduces Membership Services Department Exciting changes are underway at HAI, and the result means significant changes for our members. Vertical Readers Cite HAI for Pandemic Assistance to Industry HAI’s efforts to support and inform the vertical flight industry throughout the COVID-19 pandemic received recognition in a recent survey by Vertical magazine, a leading publication in the rotorcraft community. The Vertical Flight Family In an industry that was once seeking a cure for the mass exodus of helicopter pilots to the airlines, times have changed.
