HAI is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Steve Sparks as director of safety. Prior to joining HAI, Sparks was an aviation safety inspector for the FAA with the General Aviation and Commercial Division in Michigan.

As director of safety, Sparks is responsible for managing the association’s existing aviation safety programs, and developing new safety initiatives to benefit HAI’s membership and the international helicopter community.

“HAI is thrilled with the addition of Steve to our team,” says Ed DiCampli, chief operating officer for HAI. “I have worked with Steve on the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) for a number of years and found his passion for safety is boundless. We are pleased that Steve will continue to strive for a zero accident vision and I am confident that his extensive background, training, and experience will be a huge asset in achieving that goal.”

“I’m looking forward to helping HAI continue its leadership in providing strategies for strengthening the safety of the helicopter industry,” says Sparks. “I am honored to be part of such a fascinating industry that’s full of dedicated professionals always wanting to take safety to the next level.”

In addition to his position with HAI, Sparks also serves as a coordinator with USHST, specializing in flight training, pilot development and helicopter operations. He also Chairs the USHST Human Factors “Staying Alive” Working Group, which focuses on mitigating helicopter accidents resulting from human error.

Sparks’ experience includes flight training education, corporate aviation marketing, professional pilot development along with experience in customer relations and Part 142 Training Center operations. He is qualified on both airplanes and helicopters, coupled with an MBA in Corporate Finance and an earned doctorate in Applied Aviation and Space Education.