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(Vertical magazine) – Over the past few years, aviation regulators have become interested in the topic of rotor wash as it relates to new electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. In the process of evaluating these futuristic designs, government and industry are also turning their attention to existing concerns around helicopter rotor wash, aiming to better educate operators, flight crews, and ground personnel about this frequently overlooked hazard.

(The Inertia) – A helicopter crew from the Los Angeles Fire Department assisted Los Angeles County Lifeguards with hoisting the hiker Mar. 1 from cliffs along the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

(DVIDS) – The helicopter crew completed the training exercise Feb. 26 at the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Mississippi.

In addition to welcoming VAI and all show attendees to the city this week, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens makes special mention of past VERTICON visitor K9 Torque, who is marking her farewell appearance at this year’s convention. K9 Torque holds the record for most flights for a dog in a Huey helicopter.

Michelle Horn, Delta Airlines chief strategy officer, and Bryan Willows, director of advanced air mobility (AAM) at Bristow Group, will participate in a panel at 10:30 am eastern (UTC-4) on Wednesday, Mar. 11, during VERTICON 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. They will discuss how airline and helicopter operators are evaluating AAM, regional connectivity, airspace integration, and partnership opportunities.

(SME Street) – The Florida-based services provider that specializes in the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk has selected Ramco Systems Corp. aviation software to help expand its helicopter operations.

The VERTICON 2026 Liftoff and VAI Annual Membership Meeting and Breakfast starts at 7:45 am eastern (UTC-4) tomorrow, Tuesday, Mar. 10, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. During the meeting, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and European Union Aviation Safety Agency Executive Director Florian Guillermet will discuss key challenges and opportunities facing vertical aviation in a fireside chat with VAI President and CEO François Lassale. All VAI members and VERTICON attendees are invited to attend.

The online election site will close at 8:00 am eastern (UTC-4) tomorrow, Tuesday, Mar. 10. Four seats are open in three operator member categories. Each director elected will serve a term of three years beginning Jul. 1, 2026. Electronic election ballots have been distributed to VAI membership representatives of vertical aircraft operator members.

The FAA is accepting comments through Apr. 23 on this airworthiness directive, which would require repetitively cleaning and inspecting the lighting and ancillaries control unit for foreign object debris.