VAI calls for 2026 Salute to Excellence Award nominations Nominate your peers, mentors, heroes for exceptional service by Oct. 17, 2025. Alexandria, VA (Aug. 1, 2025) – Vertical Aviation International (VAI) has opened the nomination period for its 2026 Salute to Excellence Awards, an annual program that honors outstanding individuals and teams across the full spectrum of vertical flight. Nominees and nominators do not need to be VAI members to participate. Beginning today, Aug. 1, nominations will be accepted at verticalavi.org/salute-to-excellence through Fri., Oct. 17, 2025. This deadline is firm and allows VAI to meet key deadlines ahead of the awards presentation next March at VERTICON 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The chosen honorees will be publicly announced late this year. “VAI’s industry awards program is about honoring the people and organizations—often unrecognized—whose work has moved the industry forward in meaningful ways,” says Bailey Wood, VAI director of strategic communications. “Some do this by mentoring others, some develop innovative solutions to industry problems, and some earn our respect through the high standards they represent. Through our Salute to Excellence Awards, VAI is thrilled to tell their stories.” With 11 award categories, the Salute to Excellence Awards highlights exceptional performance in areas such as air ambulance, law enforcement, flight training, safety, and maintenance. In line with VAI’s expanded mission, the program welcomes nominations from all corners of the vertical aviation community—including the rotorcraft, unmanned aircraft systems, and power-lift sectors. Award categories include: • Communications Award – for creative distinction in disseminating information about the vertical aviation industry • Golden Hour Award – for distinguished and outstanding service utilizing rotorcraft in air medical transport • Harold Summers Legacy Award – for outstanding contribution and selfless service to the worldwide vertical aviation industry • Humanitarian Service Award – for outstanding service in using rotorcraft to provide aid to those in need • Law Enforcement Award – for contributions to the promotion and advancement of rotorcraft in support of law enforcement activities • Lifetime Achievement Award – for long and significant service to the international vertical aviation community • Maintenance Award – for significant and distinct contributions to helicopter maintenance • Matthew S. Zuccaro Land & LIVE Award – for outstanding aeronautical decision-making, crew resource management, and/or coordinated actions • Pilot of the Year – for outstanding achievement as a helicopter pilot • Safety Award – for outstanding contributions to the promotion of rotorcraft safety and safety awareness • W.A. “Dub” Blessing Flight Instructor of the Year – for upholding high standards of excellence in flight instruction. Those submitting nominations should carefully review the award descriptions and eligibility guidelines posted at verticalavi.org/salute-to-excellence. The site also provides resources for preparing an impactful nomination package. “There are remarkable people doing outstanding work in every part of vertical aviation,” says Wood. “We ask nominators to tell us those stories—explain the ‘how,’ ‘what’ and ‘why’ behind the nominee’s impact. The most successful nominations bring that story to life.”
