Robinson Helicopter Company President and CEO Kurt Robinson will represent the International Helicopter Safety Team (www.IHST.org) in Texas next month when he addresses the helicopter industry at the FAA’s 2018 International Rotorcraft Safety Conference.

The three-day workshop event takes place in Hurst, TX, on Oct. 23-25. The free conference (www.faahelisafety.org) gathers together rotorcraft pilots, mechanics, small company owners, industry executives, helicopter operators, students and government regulators from the United States and abroad.

Robinson will offer a report on the IHST’s progress and will discuss accident trends, results of the global safety survey, and the IHST’s “Go Local” safety culture campaign. The “Go Local” program targets pilot decision-making and seeks volunteers to support the campaign in their local communities.

Kurt Robinson has been President and CEO of the 1,150-employee Robinson Helicopter Company since 2010. He began his 30-year career in production at his family’s company and later served as manager of product support, assuming responsibility for regulatory and employment legal issues. In 1997, he oversaw Robinson’s technical aircraft sales and government contracts. In 2012, he joined the IHST’s Executive Committee. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California-San Diego and an MBA degree and law degree from the University of San Diego. He also earned a private and a commercial helicopter pilot rating and has approximately 1,100 hours of flying time.

Using combined data from 49 countries, the IHST has determined that total civil helicopter accidents in 2017 were down 6 percent compared to the prior year and fatal accidents were reduced by 17 percent year-over-year. Comparing 2017 to 2013, total accidents decreased by 32 percent and fatal accidents were cut by 44 percent.