Volo Mission to expand longline training programs With the success of the Ladies of Long Line event highlighting the power of access and opportunity, Volo Mission is expanding its focus on developing the next generation of external load pilots. With the overwhelming success of the Ladies of Long Line event and continued conversations with fellow external load operators, Volo Mission is thrilled to announce several exciting developments coming in the weeks ahead—and even more in 2026. “We’ve always been proud of the training we offer,” says COO Andre Hutchings, who has spent years perfecting Volo Mission’s long line training to meet and exceed commercial standards. “But we also know that being a great long line pilot is about more than just flying; there is a lot involved mentally as well. That’s why we’re expanding to include more education on addressing the person, not just the skill.” In addition to helicopter skills, Volo Mission is launching a new comprehensive focus on human performance, ensuring students receive a truly holistic education. These new modules will include leadership development, emotional intelligence, safety culture, stress management, and the physical and mental demands unique to long line operations. Enter CEO and President Kim Hutchings, who brings her expertise in psychology, human factors, leadership, and personal training to develop an extended program that complements the technical skills already taught. “I want to do more than give a short intro to course attendees,” explains Kim. “These skills are equally important to the ability to fly a long line. Our customers are not just looking for pilots—they’re looking for teammates who can fit into their company culture, communicate effectively, and take care of themselves mentally and physically.” While the current Comprehensive Course will remain with 18 hours of flight and 10–12 hours of classroom and field training over approximately 9 days. The Volo Mission Academy will launch in 2026 and this new program will incorporate both hard and soft skills and will span a few weeks (final timeline forthcoming). In addition to the Academy launch, Volo Mission is excited to: Extend the Ladies of Long Line event to 3 days in 2026, with added educational content and demonstrations Introduce a Men’s Long Line event in Fall 2026 Launch Discovery Vertical Reference and Longline Flights and a new “Intro to Vertical Reference and Longline” course available immediately “One thing we learned from Ladies of Long Line,” says Kim, “is that many people don’t have much exposure to external load operations. But once they try it, they get hooked, just like I did! The problem is, there aren’t many safe and controlled environments where people can just try long lining to see if they like it. We’re changing that.” With more course offerings, a broader educational focus, and a deep commitment to developing the next generation of external load pilots, Volo Mission is just getting started! Stay tuned—2026 has a lot more in store.
