Home / VAI Flight Report (VFR) VAI Flight Report (VFR) Welcome to our monthly report to VAI members. VAI Flight Report—or VFR—will update you on some of the work the VAI staff is doing on your behalf. It’s essential that we share with you the work we’re doing. Whether we’re addressing new or existing regulatory matters, advocating on your behalf for a strong and vibrant international industry, or preparing for next year’s VERTICON, please know that the goal of the VAI staff is to always support you and help you keep powering up. This edition of VAI Flight Report comes to you from VERTICON 2025, VAI’s renamed annual conference and trade show, which closed Mar. 13 in Dallas, Texas. Hear from James Viola, VAI’s outgoing president and CEO, about all that went into making the inaugural VERTICON a resounding success on and off the exhibit floor. And VAI Chair Mark Schlaefli updates viewers about the search for VAI’s next president and CEO, as well as the member operators elected to join the VAI Board of Directors on Jul. 1, 2025. Previous VAI Flight Reports Mar. 20, 2025 VAI Flight Report (March 2025) – VERTICON 2025 RECAP This edition of VAI Flight Report comes to you from VERTICON 2025, VAI’s renamed annual conference and trade show, which… Feb. 24, 2025 Viola’s Flight Report (February 2025) – Fighting the LA Fires: First-Person Stories One of the most essential missions of vertical aviation is wildfire suppression. The recent Los Angeles wildfires provided a powerful… Jan. 30, 2025 Viola’s Flight Report (January 2025) – Education@VERTICON One of the most popular features of VERTICON, VAI’s annual conference and trade show, are its educational offerings, most of… Dec. 30, 2024 2024 Year in Review 2024 was a year of significant change for VAI, just as it was for the vertical aviation industry. From our… Nov. 26, 2024 The Dawn of Powered Lift Last month, for the first time in nearly 80 years, the FAA unveiled a new aircraft category—powered-lift. This groundbreaking class… Oct. 29, 2024 Viola’s Flight Report (October 2024) – Our Global Impact Vertical aviation’s international nature encourages us to work together across our borders. Our efforts show that, across our global industry,…
Mar. 20, 2025 VAI Flight Report (March 2025) – VERTICON 2025 RECAP This edition of VAI Flight Report comes to you from VERTICON 2025, VAI’s renamed annual conference and trade show, which…
Feb. 24, 2025 Viola’s Flight Report (February 2025) – Fighting the LA Fires: First-Person Stories One of the most essential missions of vertical aviation is wildfire suppression. The recent Los Angeles wildfires provided a powerful…
Jan. 30, 2025 Viola’s Flight Report (January 2025) – Education@VERTICON One of the most popular features of VERTICON, VAI’s annual conference and trade show, are its educational offerings, most of…
Dec. 30, 2024 2024 Year in Review 2024 was a year of significant change for VAI, just as it was for the vertical aviation industry. From our…
Nov. 26, 2024 The Dawn of Powered Lift Last month, for the first time in nearly 80 years, the FAA unveiled a new aircraft category—powered-lift. This groundbreaking class…
Oct. 29, 2024 Viola’s Flight Report (October 2024) – Our Global Impact Vertical aviation’s international nature encourages us to work together across our borders. Our efforts show that, across our global industry,…
