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Jul
10
2023

Orange County Florida Sheriff Aviation Ops: High on Tourism, Tough on Crime

Posted by Admin

There are too many unique and interesting facts about Orange County, Florida, to list here, but let’s start with a few and see where it goes: Did you know that Orange County’s land was part of the first land to come up from the sea millions of years ago, and it is known as Orange Island. Orange County's Rock Springs location is a Pleistocene fossil-bearing area and has yielded a variety of mammal remains, including giant sloth, mammoth, camel, and the dire wolf dating around 1.1 million years ago. Also, the county was named Mosquito County by Andrew Jackson from 1821 up until Florida was made a U.S. State in 1845, at which point it was renamed Orange County. No doubt, that change helped tourism! In 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. Oddly enough, this new theme park on the West Coast of the U.S. would be the genesis of a population explosion on the other side of the country in the growing State of Florida . . . except that it almost didn’t happen. In an effort to replicate Disneyland in California, Walt Disney began what was called the “Florida Project” and began purchasing and developing land in the Orange County area in the 1960s. Unfortunately, Walt Disney died on 15 December 1966, during the initial planning of the complex. After Walt’s death, his older brother, Roy O. Disney, came out of retirement to make sure Walt's biggest dream was realized. Magic Kingdom was the first theme park to open in the complex in 1971, followed by Epcot (1982), Disney's Hollywood Studios (1989), and Disney's Animal Kingdom (1998). It was loyal Roy who insisted the name of the entire complex be changed from Disney World to Walt Disney World. In 1840, the county population was 73. In 1960, it was 263,000. Today, Orange County has a resident population of 1.4 million people and welcomes more than 75 million visitors annually, making it the No. 1 destination for tourism and travel in the entire world. What does all this have to do with helicopters? Well, although very large and diverse populations can be culturally rich and interesting, they can also mean more crime. Fortunately for residents and tourists, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) has a long history of aviation-supported law enforcement. Granted, not as far back in history as its Pleistocene fossil era, but still a rich history nonetheless. [Read More...]



Tags: aviation-supported law enforcement B206L4 Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO)
Categories: categoryCompany Profiles



Jul
03
2023

Executive Watch - Todd Powers, VP of Sales for GPMS

Posted by Admin

Todd Powers is now the VP of Sales for GPMS, a pioneer in predictive HUMS (health usage and monitoring systems) for aircraft. He’s also an active commercial pilot who flies part-time for a half-dozen of his customers to whom he sold helicopters in his previous sales role at Airbus. Yet despite his long and successful career in aviation, he first rebelled against working in the industry. He rejected the industry as a career after his father, a recreational fixed-wing pilot and an administrator at Iowa Lakes Community College, created a college curriculum customized to usher his son into an airline pilot seat. “He started it the year that I was a high school senior and it’s still a pretty big program today. The first year of college, you get your private certificate and instrument ratings, and then in your second year, you get your Commercial and CFI. And then it was on to Great Lakes Airlines, (then a feeder for United Express airline) That was the path he had set for me, but it wasn’t my path.” [Read More...]



Tags: GPMS Rotor Pro Executive Watch Todd Powers Todd Powers



Jun
27
2023

Editor's Letter - Pendulum Swings From Defund to Refund the Police

Posted by Admin

Remember the “defund the police” movement that began back in 2020? I remember thinking at the time, “This really seems like a dumb idea.” I recall learning “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” while taking a college psychology class. It’s a theory comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. I remember that safety/security is the second most important foundational layer. Where does that security come from in our daily lives? I believe it starts with the individual. However, there are limits on what we can do as individuals. As a society, the rule of law is the foundation for our security, and it’s the law enforcement agencies on the streets—and in the air— who do the actual work of enforcing those laws to protect us. [Read More...]



Tags: Defund the Police Refund the Police Rotor Pro
Categories: categoryOpinion-Editorial



Jun
19
2023

Follow Up Email - Military to Civilian

Posted by Admin

After a job interview, you should send a formal thank you note to everyone that was involved in that interview, and it wouldn’t hurt to thank the recruiter and those that coordinated the meeting as well. Sending a thank you note after an interview shows that you're a professional—a “pro.” After your interview, you should send a thank you note to the interviewer immediately. When writing your note, there are a few things to keep in mind: [Read More...]



Tags: Career Development Follow Up Email Follow Up Interview Military to Civilian Networking
Categories: categoryCareer Development



Jun
13
2023

Airbus Helicopters - Fresh News for Spring

Posted by Admin

Airbus Helicopters offers vertical lift platforms with an eye on the future of technology, efficiencies, and the worldwide helicopter market. They understand their business and stakeholders’ goals. Recently, in France and at Heli-Expo 2023 in Atlanta, they held press briefings for each of their key lines to provide updates on new technologies and features that will engage the industry and buyers. Here are the updates, starting with the most emerging and engaging topics… [Read More...]






Jun
05
2023

My Two Cents Worth - Find Common Ground

Posted by Admin

A key concept in the development of early relationships is finding common ground; elements within each of our lives where we share interest and experience. It is through these shared perspectives that we gain trust and confidence that our communications with each other have meaning and understanding. At times, identifying common ground can seem like an impossible task. As the vertical lift industry becomes more diverse, the people, aircraft, and even operating methodologies look very different; however, the importance of working together has never been more critical than it is today. [Read More...]



Tags: aircraft training Helicopter Training vertical lift industry
Categories: categoryCareer Development categoryOpinion-Editorial



Jun
05
2023

FlightSafety - Helicopter Training Made the Difference

Posted by Admin

FlightSafety International trains pilots for anything, but the truest test of its efficacy is in the cockpit. In one helicopter pilot’s case, that training is the reason he believes he and his crew survived a dangerous situation. Sgt. David Sizemore had seen a lot in his more than 13,000 flight hours. But during a December 2020 flight in his Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter, he faced the biggest challenge as a pilot. Encountering inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC) – occurring suddenly after a successful mission assisting law enforcement – required Sizemore to react quickly to the emergency situation. His immediate actions would make the difference in he and his crewmember returning home safely. [Read More...]



Tags: flightsafety Simulator Instructor Simulator Training
Categories: categorySafety categoryTraining



May
29
2023

Safety Management Systems Are Catching On With Smaller Operators — And Getting Better!

Posted by Admin

There is no doubt that implementing safety management systems (SMS) leads to safer, more predictable flight operations for helicopter and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) owners/operators. Although larger helicopter operators have had the resources to launch in-house SMS for years, many smaller helicopter operators have found the implementation/maintenance of safety management to be outside their reach. (Note: UAS companies can learn about UAS-specific SMS through the International Civil Aviation’s website.) [Read More...]



Tags: helicopter operators safety management systems SMS
Categories: categorySafety



May
22
2023

Meet a Rotor Pro - Scott Tinnesand, Experimental Test Pilot and Instructor Pilot for Boeing

Posted by Admin

RPMN: What is your current position? My dream job: experimental test pilot and instructor pilot for The Boeing Company in Mesa, Arizona. I primarily fly the AH-64E Apache and AH-6 Little Bird but I get to fly other helicopters and airplanes too, which provides lots of variety. The flight tests we conduct range from benign testing (new radios, software upgrades, etc.) to exciting experimental tests including weapons firing, testing new rotor blades and things of that nature. I work with a great group of pilots and support staff, which truly makes this my dream job. Besides, I do not know many civilian pilots that get to shoot miniguns off helicopters; I consider myself fortunate. On the side, I am also an FAA designated pilot examiner (DPE) in helicopters for private pilot through initial CFI certificates. Arizona’s great weather makes this area perfect for year-round flying so naturally there is a concentration of flight schools. The other FAA authorizations I have allow me to do special medical flight tests, military competency activities, foreign pilot license conversions and a few other things. I am active in local aviation organizations including being an FAA Safety Team representative, I am a co-chair for the annual HAI Heli-Expo Military to Civilian Transition Workshop and I work as an expert witness for aircraft accident lawsuits. [Read More...]



Tags: Boeing Helicopters helicopter experimental test pilot helicopter instructor pilot Meet A Rotor Pro Scott Tinnesand
Categories: categoryHuman Interest



May
16
2023

Black Hills Aerial Adventures - Good Opportunities in the Badlands

Posted by Admin

On the side of a busy road on the way to Mount Rushmore in Custer, South Dakota, there’s a sign that reads, “Helicopter Tours, Walk-ins Welcome”. Curiosity and the pull of adventure brings many visitors off the road and into Black Hills Aerial Adventures (BHAA). Outside sits three helicopters with sharp new high contrast paint featuring some of the topography that surrounds the scenic setting. Inside, you’ll be greeted by friendly faces explaining the different tour options that they provide tourists, honeymooners, and families from all over the world. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this is just another tour operator in one of America’s most popular destinations, but behind the scenes there is so much more going on. [Read More...]



Tags: Black Hills Aerial Adventures Helicopter tour Operations
Categories: categoryCompany Profiles


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