VAI leaders, US federal officials chart path for safer aerial work operations Association’s leadership highlighted industry responsibility as government panel outlined plans to unify national wildfire response during Day 1 of the 2025 Aerial Work Safety Conference in Boise, Idaho. (Boise, Idaho, Dec. 8, 2026) – Boise, Idaho, hosted a packed Aerial Work Safety Conference today as Vertical Aviation International (VAI) brought together firefighting, utility patrol, and construction operators along with representatives of the FAA, the US Department of the Interior (DOI), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for focused safety training courses, industry updates, and high-value networking opportunities for the two-day event, which is delivering targeted instruction and candid discussions about risk, prevention, and industrywide responsibility. Operator Focus The conference opened with remarks from VAI Board Chairman Rick Kenin, who underscored that VAI remains an operator-led association built to serve the needs of the aerial work community. “This is your association,” Kenin said, stressing the board’s focus on strategic continuity, innovation, and the fostering of stronger operator engagement. He also recapped the yearlong search that resulted in the selection of François Lassale as VAI’s new president and CEO. Kenin told attendees that the board sought a leader who understands operators, respects the association’s mission, and can work effectively with regulators, legislators, and global partners. “He is one of us,” Kenin said, highlighting Lassale’s operational background and his experience leading complex organizations around the world. ‘Our Challenges Are the Same’ Lassale used his opening remarks to outline the principles that have shaped his 35-year career across military, commercial airline, and international helicopter operations. He highlighted years spent flying and leading missions in high-altitude, high-workload environments, as well as time living and working in the United States, running mixed aircraft fleets, and supporting small commercial operators. Those experiences, he said, established a consistent message: leadership, training, safety, and collaboration. “No matter the mission, no matter the aircraft, no matter the operator, no matter the country, our challenges are the same,” Lassale said. The VAI president and CEO also addressed how his international background will support, not detract from, VAI’s mission in supporting US operators. “I understand that some folks may think of me as just international and that’s going to dilute the domestic agenda,” he continued. “On the contrary, I’m going to double down with it. Why? Because what we do here, what we do with the FAA, what we do on Capitol Hill, what we do with ICAO [the International Civil Aviation Organization] will shape the domestic industry, but it will also trickle down to the four corners of the world.” He outlined VAI’s focus areas: gathering better operational data, centralizing an anonymous safety exchange to promote transparent learning, and building stronger community collaboration. “When one operator learns something that could save lives, the entire industry deserves to learn it,” he added. US Agency Updates Later in the day, more than 400 attendees heard from the FAA’s Lee Roskop, who highlighted the work of the US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST). After outlining the organization’s mission and resources, he encouraged attendees to visit USHST.org to explore tools that support risk reduction and strengthen safety. Speaker David Ware of the Aviation Training Academy then emphasized the importance of checking and rechecking an aircraft’s fuel for contaminants. An extensive government panel that followed included Robert Reckert, acting deputy director of the FAA Office of Safety Standards; Glen McElroy, aviation safety analyst in the FAA’s General Aviation and Commercial Division; Jorge Castillo, GA airplane, emerging aircraft, and rotorcraft product policy manager for the FAA; David Gomez from the US Forest Service (USFS) Fire and Aviation Management Office; and Chris Wilcox, division chief for fire and aviation management at the US National Park Service. Wilcox, who is leading the effort to unify all federal wildfire programs under a single US Wildland Fire Service, detailed internal reorganization plans, efforts to coordinate with the USFS, and a phased implementation plan leading into 2026. He emphasized that the implementation is examining “everything from organization, budget, to contracting across the board to identify efficiencies and reduce redundancies.” The effort stems from Executive Order 14308, which focuses on unifying federal wildfire programs under a single agency to streamline coordination and improve nationwide readiness. Wilcox noted that strong industry engagement is necessary as the DOI moves forward with plans to establish the US Wildland Fire Service. The DOI plans to officially establish the new agency on Jan. 12, 2026. The day closed with a clear sense of direction for the aerial work community. Speakers emphasized shared responsibility, stronger data, and open dialogue with regulators and federal partners. Attendees left with practical insights and a renewed commitment to the standards and collaboration that keep complex operations safe. The event runs through Dec. 9.
