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(POWER UP magazine) – VAI’s 2026–27 chairperson, who starts his one-year term today, brings “let’s go” energy to serving all of vertical aviation.

We are now accepting nominations for our annual awards program. You do not need to be a VAI member to nominate your peers, mentors, and others for exceptional service to the vertical aviation community. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 31, 2026.

This FAA airworthiness directive (AD) supersedes AD 2019-09-03 and AD 2021-05-15 for certain Airbus Model AS 332C, AS 332C1, AS 332L, and AS 332L1 helicopters. Those ADs concerned the cabin lateral sliding plug doors. This AD requires modifying the release system of each cabin lateral sliding plug door or modifying the design of the jettison system of each cabin lateral sliding plug door as a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD is effective Aug. 3.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350 B, AS350 BA, AS350 B1, AS350 B2, AS350 B3, and AS350 D helicopters. This AD, prompted by a report of a nonconforming cargo hook, requires inspecting the gap between the filler and the side plates of the affected cargo hook and, depending on the results, replacing the cargo hook. This AD, effective Aug. 3, also prohibits installing an affected cargo hook on any helicopter.

(AIN) – The FAA announced Jun. 29 that flight operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) will be temporarily paused Jul. 3 and Jul. 4 to support events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This will result in the airport being closed for 3 hours Friday and 12 hours Saturday.

The FAA’s Lee Roskop provides data from the dashboard in the latest edition of the United States Helicopter Safety Team newsletter.

The OEM has signed a letter of intent with Delta System Air (DSA) Aviation Co. and LOM PRAHA to broaden the scope of its customer service in Europe. DSA is now Enstrom’s primary European regional importer for parts, service, and aircraft products. LOM PRAHA will serve as a collaborator with DSA on providing component overhauls.

(AvBrief.com) – The $8.3 million facility in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is meant to help the agency gather the data needed to support the safe integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the US National Airspace System.

(CBS News) – After searching a narrow gully for 40 minutes and nearly running out of the fuel their aircraft required to remain at the scene, the US Coast Guard (USCG) crew located the injured hiker and hoisted her up into the MH-65 Dolphin shortly before nightfall.

(Vertical Plus) – Industry analysts from Leonardo, Airbus, and others say the demand could approach 8,000 helicopters globally by 2035.