Rotorcraft Report: Safety and Training Summit Debuts

TRAINING | SAFETY

Denver, Colo., known as the Mile High City, was an appropriate setting for Rotor & Wing’s first annual Safety & Training Summit. The interactive seminar, which was held April 27 and 28 at the Hyatt Tech Center hotel, drew a wide variety of aviators, operations managers and administrators from every aspect of the helicopter community.

Attendees had an opportunity to hear and participate in panel discussions on a range of safety and training topics, which included sharing mistakes, the economic realities of using night vision equipment, and how to evaluate one’s own safety and training practices. Presentations and discussions were conducted by a distinguished array of subject matter experts representing military, commercial, private and public safety operations.

Summit sponsors Air Methods, American Eurocopter, FLIR, Frasca, Sagem and Winslow Life Raft set up booths in a separate area to display their wares to the 125 registered attendees. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration used the summit to debut their GAT-II simulator, an enclosed, mock cockpit with out-of-the-window graphics capable of recreating the visual and physical cues of spatial disorientation. Users were able to climb aboard, feel simulated in-flight forces, and practice making the proper control inputs to recover precise control and orientation.

Hearty, complimentary meals and plenty of opportunities to network with other industry professionals made for an enjoyable and beneficial event for all. Attendees, panel members and vendors expressed great interest in participating in next year’s Safety & Training Summit, the location and date of which will be announced at www.rotorandwing.com, along with registration information for Rotor & Wing’s Search & Rescue Summit scheduled for September 2-3, 2009 in Reston, Va.