Education, safety take center stage at EUROPEAN ROTORS 2025 Career Day was among the Nov. 19 highlights at the Koelnmesse exhibition center in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The second day of public exhibits and educational courses at EUROPEAN ROTORS 2025 on Nov. 19 delivered a full slate of technical training, safety seminars, and hands-on learning that drew strong participation from operators, maintenance technicians, pilots, and students. Educational programming ranged from advanced sessions on pilot skills to maintenance and safety management discussions focused on real-world decision-making. The day’s offerings included the “Aviation Auditor Recurrent Training” course and the continuation of the “How to Say No” safety series, which explored risk assessment, customer pressure, and crew communication. Attendees of the “Safe Autorotation” seminar learned from Claude Vuichard, who detailed techniques for improving emergency landings. Sessions on pilot skills, including responding to unanticipated yaw, icing conditions, high-altitude operations, and mountain rescues also saw steady attendance. Attracting the Next Generation Career Day drew students, early-career technicians, and transitioning professionals alike. Presenters from NHV Group, Hillsboro Heli Academy, and German Northrop Grumman subsidiary Litef briefed attendees on training pathways, global hiring needs, and emerging roles across the vertical takeoff and landing aircraft sector. Exhibitors used the event to meet prospective hires and outline their apprenticeship and mentor programs. Industry leaders emphasized that workforce development is now mission critical. With the average age of a helicopter technician at 54, large portions of the technical workforce will retire in the coming years. VAI Director of Education and Training Services Greg Brown said the turnout underscored both urgency and opportunity. “Today attracted the right crowd into the room. You could feel the energy from students and professionals who want to build their future in this industry. That engagement is exactly what we need,” he added. Brown described the educational programming as a clear success. “The educational sessions hit their mark, and the participants were focused, prepared, and eager to learn. This is the audience we built these courses for, and the response shows the value of delivering practical training at a venue like EUROPEAN ROTORS 2025.” VAI reported strong momentum heading into the Nov. 20 courses, with safety and workforce programming continuing as central themes.
