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Aug
10
2020
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Posted 4 years 106 days ago ago by Admin
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Let’s Get to 2021—Already!
I was watching the news a couple weeks ago and the coverage was regarding Hurricane Douglas, a Category 4 hurricane which was bearing down on the Hawaiian Islands. The video footage was of business owners boarding up the windows of their shops. Spray-painted across one business front were the words “2020 Sucks!” I laughed out loud at the sight of it, and thought to myself: “Yep, that pretty much sums it up.”
The helicopter industry is still trying to adjust to this “new normal” that the coronavirus has left in its wake. Very few sectors of the industry have been unscathed. Even essential services such as law enforcement, firefighting, and air ambulance have been negatively impacted by the spillover effects the virus has had on federal, state, and local economies. Inside this issue, James Careless highlights how helicopter industry businesses have been impacted by the virus and what adjustments they are making to continue providing products and/or services.
Canceled Trade Shows
The business-to-business side of the helicopter industry is very personal. We love meeting our clients and vendors during the year for some catch-up time, a meal or a cocktail. Unfortunately, nearly every major industry trade show in 2020 has been canceled. Even a couple in Q1, 2021 are still in limbo depending on circumstances surrounding the virus.
Doing my best to be positive and paint an optimistic outlook, I do believe that this new business space has pushed our industry to adapt to more digital and virtual work environments. Most were forced in this direction sooner than perhaps desired, but arriving at this online place was likely inevitable. For example, see the news on page 24 about how the pandemic has accelerated the pace at which Airbus is developing its distance learning programs.
Rotorcraft Pro’s Online Solutions
For our part, Rotorcraft Pro has committed to being a digital-only publication until the end of this year. (Visit rotorcraftpro.com for more info.) Additionally, after 12 years of live seminars, we have also made a decision to transform our popular HeliSuccess Career Development Seminar and Job Fair into an online event. HeliSuccess will now be produced as a webinar on October 27-29, 2020. Stay tuned for more information regarding registration.
As we race toward 2021, there will be many uncontrollable factors impacting the helicopter industry: COVID-19, a U.S. election, trade policies, the price of oil, and the health of financial markets to name a few. One thing’s for certain, the helicopter industry is and always will be adaptable. There’s a Bible Proverb that says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” And that is exactly what the industry is doing, getting sharper and staying strong together.
Be Safe. Wear masks. And hurry up 2021!