VAI Working Groups Are Now Industry Advisory Councils For more than 30 years, VAI’s working groups have been instrumental to the efforts of the association formerly known as Helicopter Association International. These volunteer advisory entities, made up of VAI members and established by the VAI Board of Directors, serve various sectors spanning the vertical aviation industry, from air medical services to safety to unmanned aircraft systems and beyond. Most recently, the board established the Aviation Insurance and Workforce Development Working Groups to tackle two of today’s most pressing industry challenges. Now, to better serve the needs of our members, VAI has recast the working groups as industry advisory councils (IACs). This new structure allows the IACs to focus less on administrative duties and more on fulfilling their critical role as advisors to the VAI Board and staff. Though the names of the IACs may differ slightly from when they were working groups, their fundamental purpose remains unchanged: to serve as a key channel for communication between the industry and VAI, provide expertise and identify priorities specific to their sectors, and develop products, tools, and aids when needed. VAI’s current IACs are: • Advanced Air Mobility OEMs • Aerial Firefighting & Natural Resources • Air Medical Services • Aviation Insurance • Helicopter Tour Operators • Restricted & Experimental Category Aircraft • Safety • Small Business Initiatives • Technical & Maintenance • Unmanned Aircraft Systems • Utility Patrol & Construction • Vertical Aviation Operations (includes the former Flight Operations, Fly Neighborly/Environmental, and Training Working Groups) • Vertical Flight Infrastructure • Workforce Development. VAI members interested in joining an IAC should contact Chris Martino at ChrisM@verticalavi.org.
