On Wednesday, January 28, HAI will host a forum to give members and other industry leaders an opportunity to interact directly with government regulators. The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) and the Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA) are co-sponsoring the event.

High-level executives from the FAA Flight Standards and Aircraft Certification offices will attend, as will representatives from the NTSB. The event will provide a venue for operators and industry leaders to share their views and concerns directly with regulators and hear their responses firsthand.

Forum subjects include:

1) Overcoming the obstacles to meeting aircraft equipment mandates for ADS-B and the new Helicopter Safety Rules (radio altimeters, helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems, and flight data recorders), including FAA actions to improve and facilitate this process

2) The new Helicopter Safety Rule requirements as they relate to helicopter air ambulance operations and FAA Part 135 on-demand and Part 91 operations

3) The FAA’s actions to ensure consistency of interpretation across the regional offices and reduction in approval delays, both operational and airworthiness, at the field office level

4) A review of FAA Designee programs, such as designated engineering / airworthiness representatives, designated pilot examiners, and organization designee authorization

5) A strategic review of Part 27 / 29 airworthiness requirements and methods of compliance

6) An NTSB update on its Top 10 Most Wanted list as it pertains to the helicopter industry

7) An FAA update on public aircraft operations

8) An FAA status report on plans to safely integrate Unmanned Aerial Systems into the NAS, particularly in the lower altitudes that helicopters traditionally frequent

The forum will be held 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at the Hilton Old Town in Alexandria, Va. For those who cannot attend in person, the forum will be streamed live.

In addition, there will be a half-day planning session for industry participants on Tuesday, January 27, 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST.

Anyone interested in participating, either in person or via the Internet, must pre-register for the forum here.

The vertical lift industry has some important opportunities and challenges facing it in the next few years. Don’t miss this chance to hear directly from the regulators, and just as importantly, to let them hear directly from you.