Helicopter Association International (HAI) is pleased to announce today that Frank Colucci, of Iselin, New Jersey, and senior contributing editor of Vertiflite, the magazine of American Helicopter Society (AHS) International, is the 2018 winner of HAI’s Salute to Excellence Lightspeed Aviation Excellence in Communications Award. The award is given to the individual or organization achieving the most creative and distinct dissemination of information about the helicopter industry. It will be presented at HAI’s Salute to Excellence Awards dinner at HAI HELI-EXPO 2018 in Las Vegas.

During the course of his 35-year career, Colucci has authored more than 1,000 feature articles, including stories and leadership profiles for nearly every issue of Vertiflite. He has written in depth about rotorcraft design and testing, civil and military operations, manufacturing and materials, avionics integration, flight simulation, and other rotorcraft industry topics. Colucci has contributed articles on rotorcraft and aviation technology to numerous industry publications, including Avionics, Rotor & Wing, Helicopter World, and Defence Helicopter, as well as the Sikorsky Archives newsletter. He also wrote for Wings, Airpower, and AIR International magazines, creating seminal works on numerous vertical flight development programs. Colucci authored an early design history of the AH-64 Apache and served as an editor for AHS’s forthcoming book on 75 years of AHS International history and contributed significant amounts of material for the society’s website.

Colucci’s nominations included praise for his style of writing. “His articles stand the test of time,” wrote one nominator. “They are noteworthy for their accuracy, excellent writing, and clarity of thought that allow the reader to see the subject through intelligent eyes.” Another nominator praised his ability to explain complex, technical material to a wide range of readers —– from college students to the world’s leading technical experts.

The award will be presented at the annual Salute to Excellence Awards dinner during HAI HELI-EXPO 2018. HAI HELI-EXPO®, the world’s largest helicopter trade show and exhibition, will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Feb. 26 – March 1, with the Exhibit Hall open Feb. 27 – March 1.