SAE International is seeking aerospace industry professionals to serve on the newly formed Helicopter Hoist Committee to develop minimum performance standards for helicopter hoists.

SAE International received a tasking request from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to develop such documents for hoists that are used for external cargo as well as search and rescue applications. In addition to the hoist design specification, the agency also requested a new aerospace recommend practice providing guidance for a means to show compliance with FAA regulations for hoist installation and design. Upon completion, the FAA plans to develop a Technical Standard Order (TSO) for the design and manufacture of external helicopter hoists.

Participation on the SAE International Hoist Standards Committee is open to individuals from hoist manufacturers, operators and rotorcraft manufacturers who have an interest in developing hoist design standards.

The initial meeting of the committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in conjunction with HeliExpo in Orlando, Fla. Future meetings will primarily consist of monthly virtual meetings with occasional face to face meetings to discuss and develop the minimum performance standard.

Those interested in participating should contact Laura Feix, Aerospace Standards Engineer, at Ifeix@sae.org or call 724-799-9198 for additional information.

SAE International Aerospace Standards repository includes nearly 8,500 active documents. Its 350 committees comprise 10,000 experts from 56 countries. They represent industry (airframers, suppliers, operators, MROs), regulatory authorities, military agencies, researchers, and consultants. Document development serves the full spectrum of aerospace businesses in both the commercial and military sectors thereby meeting the engineering, advanced technology, safety, regulatory, and defense needs of a world market.

SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 145,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.