Edward F. DiCampli, HAI’s Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary, has reached an amazing milestone, celebrating 25 years of committed service to HAI and the international helicopter community.

Reflecting on his quarter of a century of dedicated work towards the success of HAI, DiCampli notes how, when he joined the association in Aug. 1985, the small staff of 15 did not have computers. “As HAI’s then manager of Information Systems,” says DiCampli, “one of my first jobs was to remove HAI’s two Decmate digital word processors and install the association’s first PC local area network.” This would revolutionize how HAI serves its members and the wider industry. Utilizing the new computers, DiCampli was able to prove those wrong who said that desktop publishing could only be used to create small brochures. By introducing HAI’s desktop publishing system, he vastly streamlined the laborious process of producing HAI’s literature, leading to the first issue of ROTOR^® magazine in 1988. DiCampli’s pioneering work on the production of the Helicopter Annual^® that year saved HAI some $200,000 and earned him the “Xerox Ventura Publisher prize for noble literature.”

Working initially on IT issues, DiCampli steadily built a comprehensive understanding of the technical concerns of the industry, a knowledge that would prepare him well for service at HAI’s executive level. One of DiCampli’s proudest accomplishments was securing $1.5 million from the FAA to fund HAI’s Maintenance Malfunction Information Report (MMIR) system – a program that DiCampli truly believes has saved lives. Indeed, it is HAI’s unwavering commitment to improving safety standards within the helicopter industry that has fueled DiCampli’s desire to serve over the years. “While the industry still retains its pioneering spirit,” he says, “operations are now much more sophisticated, and the emphasis on safety is that much greater. HAI is at the forefront with its promotion of Safety Management Systems and HAI’s Flight Risk Assessment Tool which it offers free to members.”

Edward F. DiCampli (left), HAI Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary, is presented with an award recognizing his long service by HAI President Matt Zuccaro

DiCampli is quick to acknowledge that, while much has been done to improve helicopter safety, there is always more that can be done. He is particularly excited to be a part of HAI’s Accreditation Program, a voluntary program which endorses operator members who have agreed to “fly to a higher standard” in meeting their mission-specific safety criteria. The Program is to be unveiled at HELI-EXPO 2012 in Dallas, Texas, and will be the focus of HAI’s safety program for years to come.

In congratulating DiCampli on his unparalleled service, HAI President Matt Zuccaro said, “No one in the history of HAI has reached this milestone. This is truly a testament to Ed’s character, dedication, and commitment, and it makes me feel confident knowing that while I’m out of the office, the work of HAI continues seamlessly under the leadership of Ed DiCampli.”

The entire team at HAI congratulates Ed for his many years of service, and looks forward to benefiting from his leadership and wisdom for many more to come.