On the Cover On Jan. 11, 2025, a Sikorsky S-70i drops water as the Palisades Fire spreads. Read some of the first-person stories of those who worked the Southern California wildfires. (Patrick T. Fallon/Getty Images Photo) Download PDF View Digital Issue Salute to Excellence 2025: Honoring the Best in Vertical Aviation (POWER UP magazine) – Every year, through our Salute to Excellence Awards, VAI recognizes outstanding members of the vertical flight community for going above and beyond in their work. Whether in a single instance or throughout a career, these aviation professionals from around the globe remind us to always aim for excellence. POWER UP 2025 Photo Contest Winners (POWER UP magazine) – Celebrating the winners of the 2025 POWER UP Magazine Photo Contest. The Importance of VAI Advocacy (POWER UP magazine) – How VAI advocacy is impacting the future of vertical aviation. Helicopters Patrol the Sky at Kennedy Space Center (POWER UP magazine) – Pilots perform multiple missions for the NASA complex. Operation Helo: Changing the Course of Disaster Response (POWER UP magazine) – Volunteers who brought relief to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene to form ongoing helicopter disaster relief organization. Chinooks Make South Korea Firefighting Debut (POWER UP magazine) – Global contracts ensure little downtime for aerial firefighting operators. In the Spotlight: Vertiport Experts Clint Harper and Ricarda Bennett (POWER UP) – Industry consultant, attorney focus on promoting public benefits of AAM. City on Fire (POWER UP magazine) – The wildfires that decimated Los Angeles in January pushed aerial firefighting teams to their limits. These are some of their stories. VAI Briefs: What’s New at VERTICON 2025 (POWER UP) – VERTICON keeps the best features from our past shows and offers new and expanded programming and networking opportunities. VAI Briefs: 2024 Aerial Work Safety Conference Sees Record Attendance (POWER UP) – The VAI Aerial Work Safety Conference enjoyed the highest attendance in its history last year, VAI Briefs: VAI Leads Collaboration on HEC Policy (POWER UP) – After nearly two years' collaboration with VAI and other rotorcraft operators, the FAA revised its human external cargo (HEC) policy. 5 Dos and Don’ts: Keep the Cap on Aviation Fuel Safety (POWER UP) – Mistaken assumptions about your aircraft’s fuel can be deadly. Member Benefit of the Month: Cirro by AirSuite (POWER UP) – Aviation software offers advanced SMS, operations-management tools. President’s Message: The Vision of VAI (POWER UP) – Here is what we can achieve by working together. James Viola Moves On to GAMA (POWER UP magazine) – VAI’s seventh president provided transformational leadership. Advocating for You: Fed Leadership Changes Mark Start of 2025 (POWER UP) – State legislatures also busy as first quarter nears completion. From the Board: A Historic First (POWER UP) – How will VERTICON change YOUR life? FlyOver: Shaver Lake, Fresno County, California, USA | Feb. 10, 2025 (POWER UP) – Piloting an MD Helicopters MD 530F, Deputy Michael Sill of the Fresno County (Calif.) Sheriff Air Support Unit flies over Shaver Lake with Deputy Timothy Jacobsen, the unit's tactical flight officer. Last Hover: Valérie André (POWER UP) – World's first female helicopter rescue pilot broke barriers to become a military pilot and neurosurgeon. Last Hover: Pete Riedl (POWER UP) – Longtime Robinson engineer, board member played an integral role in shaping the design of the company's helicopters. Last Hover: Nick Sabatini (POWER UP) – Former New York Police Department Aviation Unit officer served as FAA associate administrator for aviation safety. Fly Safe: An Opportunity to Enhance Safety (POWER UP) – Safety rating system concept offers method for evaluating rotorcraft safety technologies. Accident Recovery: Split-Second Save (POWER UP) – Pilot’s experience, skill enabled him to counter low-altitude downdrafts, preventing a more serious accident. Member Focus: Bearing Inspection Inc. Aero Services by Timken (POWER UP) – A ball bearing from a Bell 214 transmission represents one of the thousands of products Bearing Inspection Inc., a VAI manufacturer and supplier member, handle every year. VAI Out & About: Quite the Treat (POWER UP) – A visit to Chevron’s Tahiti Platform made me appreciate our members in offshore energy production.
