Not only is the nascent advanced air mobility (AAM) sector plying new technologies in the aviation industry, but it is also challenging how the rotorcraft segment defines itself. This latter point was made apparent last night when Helicopter Association International (HAI) announced an updated identity: Vertical Aviation International (VAI). Likewise, the Heli-Expo name for the association’s annual gathering will be retired after the 2024 edition closes on Thursday, with the new show moniker to be Verticon, now scheduled for March 2025 in Dallas.

Unveiled during the association’s welcome reception yesterday evening at Heli-Expo, the rebranding comes as the association closes out the celebrations of its 75th anniversary. “We’ve got all kinds of great things going on,” said VAI president and CEO James Viola, adding that the rebranding is part of a “great year” that also marks the first eVTOL on the show floor.

“We’re not there yet.” That was the sober assessment of the state of affairs at MD Helicopters (MDH) given yesterday by company CEO Brad Pedersen at Heli-Expo 2024.

While Pedersen lauded the progress made over the last year in terms of bolstering its supply chain, he said the work is not done and it could be another six to 12 months before “we get our whole supply chain healthy.”

After more than 40 years with the California helicopter maker founded by his father Frank, Kurt Robinson announced his retirement from Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) this morning at Heli-Expo.

Robinson, 66, spent most of his professional career at the company from its inception, later becoming v-p of operations and formally taking over leadership of the company when the late Frank Robinson retired in 2010. Kurt Robinson is an experienced helicopter pilot and attorney who also holds an MBA. He said he didn’t want to lead the privately-held company anywhere as long as his father, who retired at age 80. He said he planned to remain active in the helicopter industry, offering counsel and primarily dealing with safety issues, and that the company would continue to be privately held.

Genesys Aerosystems and XP Services are developing an add-on supplemental type certificate (STC) to the Black Hawk Alpha STC to modify the Sikorsky UH-60L “Lima” Black Hawk with a full Genesys avionics suite. Completion of the STC is expected in the fourth quarter, and Seaview Aviation of Camarillo, California, will supply the first two modified UH-60Ls “for their contract deliveries to an Australian customer,” according to Genesys.

The upgraded avionics include Genesys’ IDU-680 displays with synthetic vision and built-in flight management system; helicopter terrain awareness and warning system; georeferenced hover vector; interface with Genesys’ open architecture system integration symbology toolset; dual GPS/SBAS nav receivers; U.S. Coast Guard search-and-rescue patterns; user-defined instrument approaches; engine indication and crew alerting system; four-axis IFR-certified autopilot; and Genesys digital radio navcoms.

Utah-based aeromedical provider Intermountain Life Flight launched a program to provide medical transport for the state's highly-trained public safety animals that require immediate care or are injured in the line of duty.

“Operational K9s are essential to our public service community,” said company director of clinical operations Tammy Bleak. “These animals are involved in EMS, search and rescue, law enforcement, fire rescue, FEMA, narcotics detection, and TSA operations.”

The digital flip-through issue of AIN’s award-winning Heli-Expo Convention News is now available online. It’s a great way to quickly scan the news from Heli-Expo 2024, whether you’re in Anaheim attending the show or watching from afar.