Eurocopter Canada presents the first “Innovation in Safety” award to Mr. Geoff Goodyear, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Helicopters Newfoundland Limited (UHNL).

Committee members have selected an outstanding individual in Mr. Geoff Goodyear who personifies what Eurocopter Canada’s Innovation in Safety Award is all about.  Active in the industry for over 33 years, Geoff incorporates safety into the daily operations of the business and for the industry at large.

A past winner of the Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award, an industry leader Geoff was one of the first to introduce the S.M.S system into UHNL’s organization.  Today Geoff is the past Chair of the Helicopter Association of Canada, serves on the Board of Directors of the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research, and past Chair of the NAVCANADA Advisory Committee. Geoff is a past contributing writer for Helicopters Magazine and current contributing editor in Vertical Magazine with a “Focus on Safety” column.

Safety is the number one concern for Eurocopter and this award was established to help strengthen the industry’s understanding of superior safety practices and initiatives by recognizing a group, company, organization or agency that utilizes an exceptional or ground-breaking approach toward rotary wing safe flying operations.

“Eurocopter is committed to safety through innovation and this is the foundation of our activities,” said Guy Joannes, President and CEO, Eurocopter Canada.  “We congratulate Geoff on receiving this award and for being an advocate and industry leader in the field of safety.”

The award is given to a nominee whose business initiatives have demonstrated a great impact on the overall goal of safe flying operations, as recognized by examining skill development, training and any additional resources. The Eurocopter Canada Innovation in Safety Award winner receives a cheque for $5,000 and recognition at the HAC Annual Conference.

The winner is chosen through a committee selection process. The 2011 committee included Robert Erdos, Chief Experimental Test Pilot, National Research Council of Canada; Fred Jones, President and CEO, Helicopter Association of Canada; Matt Nicholls, Editor, Helicopters Magazine and Wings Magazine; and Mike Reyno, Photojournalist and Co-Publisher MHM Publishing, publishers of Vertical, Vertical 911 and Canadian Skies magazines.

For more information on how to nominate future candidates for the ECL Innovation in Safety Award, please visit www.eurocopter.ca