Resource Hub

We are accepting nominations for the 2026 scholarship program through Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Scholarships are available for VAI members in the areas of aviation maintenance, commercial helicopter pilot ratings, and pilot safety.

The United Kingdom Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that the accident was related to a change to the beyond visual line of sight drone’s operating software. The report also notes that the accident highlights the importance of including comprehensive scenario testing in change-management processes, particularly for functions that are critical to safety.

(KTVQ) – A Central Copters crew delivered materials to build a replacement bridge along a hiking trail near Rimrock Lake in Montana.

The OEM has published a safety notice for R22, R44, and R66 owners and operators on the topic of main-rotor blade leading edge refinishing, as well as a notice for R44 and R66 owners and operators related to the pitch-link assembly.

(Australian Broadcasting Corp.) – According to local police, the Robinson R22 went down Oct. 9 in Cape York, resulting in the death of the pilot.

(NBC News) – The fires in Los Angeles County, California, earlier this year have accelerated the development of drones that use artificial intelligence to assist with fire control, including an autonomous Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has added to the hub new tools and functions that support the updated Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) 2.5 and the expanding drone sector.

(RNZ) – A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Leonardo A109 crew declared an emergency and landed after receiving signs of an engine fire Oct. 10 near Palmerston North, North Island. Emergency responders found no external evidence of a fire and are investigating the aircraft.

IMS New Zealand is partnering with Boost Human External Cargo Systems to offer a quick-release cargo basket for the Airbus H125/AS350 and AS355 that works with the IMS Cloudburst fire bucket system.

Heli Austria is installing the StableLight four-axis autopilot system on an Airbus H125 at its facility in St. Johann im Pongau, Salzburg.