Alexandria, Va., Nov. 14, 2005 -- The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is proud to announce its "Salute to Excellence" award winners for 2005. The "Salute to Excellence" awards program, now in its 45th year, recognizes outstanding achievement performed by individuals or companies in the civil helicopter industry. Winners will be recognized during the HAI "Salute to Excellence" banquet and awards ceremony to be held on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, at HELI-EXPO 2006 in Dallas, Texas.
THE WINNERS ARE:
Aviation Maintenance Technician Award: Robert A. Jones; Aviation Maintenance Technician, Air Logistics of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska
Aviation Repair Specialist Award: Bruce Currier; Vice President of Avionics, Evergreen Helicopters, Inc., McMinnville, Oregon
Igor I. Sikorsky Award for Humanitarian Service: All Participants in the Hurricane Katrina Rescue and Relief Effort
The Joe Mashman Safety Award: David S. Whyte; Vice President (retired), Alpine Helicopters Ltd., Kelowna, British Columbia
Outstanding Certified Flight Instructor Award: Ric Juve Forns; Senior Flight Instructor, Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, Texas
Agusta Community Service Award: Whirly-Girls International
Eurocopter Golden Hour Award: Robert McMullan; Chief Pilot, West Michigan Air Care, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Excellence in Communications Award: William Wagstaff; Senior Editor, Aviation International News, Midland Park, New Jersey
Helicopter Maintenance Award: Gary Grage; Senior Technical Specialist, Columbia Helicopters, Portland, Oregon
MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award: Captain Don R. Roby; Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore, Maryland
Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award: Dr. Walter B. Comeaux; Lafayette, Louisiana
Robert E. Trimble Award: John Quackenbush; Pilot, Hillcrest Aircraft Company, Lewiston, Idaho, and Helicopter Express, Atlanta, Georgia
Pilot of the Year Award: John Holland; Regional Aviation Director, Air Methods Corporation, Macon, Georgia
For more information on HELI-EXPO 2006, visit www.heliexpo.com.HAI is the professional trade association for the civil helicopter industry. HAI’s 1,350-plus-member organizations and 1,150 individual members, in more than 73 nations, safely operate more than 4,500 helicopters approximately 2.3 million hours each year. HAI is dedicated to the promotion of the helicopter as a safe, effective method of commerce and to the advancement of the civil helicopter industry.
