Slackline community map aids flight planning VAI extends our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues affected by the fatal helicopter accident last month near Superior, Arizona, involving a helicopter striking a slackline. This is a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy, and it weighs heavily on our entire vertical aviation community. As the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation and works toward developing safety recommendations, VAI believes it is important to share any available resources that could help reduce the risk of a repeat accident, particularly where hazards may not be fully captured through traditional hazard-reporting systems. One such resource is SlackMap, a publicly available, community-maintained map used by the slacklining community to voluntarily document known slackline locations. While the map is not an authoritative source, it can still enhance situational awareness, especially in areas where temporary or impermanent obstacles may exist or when the NOTAM system doesn’t reach pilots who need the information most, notes Chris Hill, VAI’s senior director of safety. “While the Arizona investigation continues, crews need practical ways to reduce exposure to hard-to-see hazards during low-level, off-airport work,” Hill says. “Though it is not an aviation-validated system, SlackMap can supplement preflight planning by flagging reported slackline locations alongside NOTAMs and other obstacle-avoidance practices.” VAI encourages pilots, mission planners, and operators—particularly those conducting low-level, off-airport, or special-mission operations—to consider using SlackMap as a supplemental-awareness tool. We will continue to share validated findings and guidance as they become available, and we remain committed to working with industry, investigators, and the broader aviation community to ensure another tragedy like this is never repeated.
