The Federal Aviation Administration’s Rotorcraft Directorate will host its second International Rotorcraft Safety Conference Oct. 25–27 at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. The conference’s goal is to reduce the national helicopter accident rate.
The conference is free to attend and will feature presentations, exhibits and speeches from major industry and FAA leaders, including FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. Topics include improving decisions, creating a culture of safety, performing autorotations, choosing the best protection equipment, basic helicopter safety and maintenance, how flight training schools promote safety, and a presentation by a pilot who safely landed his helicopter after the engine failed. In addition, the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute will bring its Helicopter Spatial Disorientation Demonstration exhibit. The interactive exhibit allows participants to experience various—including dangerous—flight scenarios.
The information gained at this conference could help pilots, mechanics and others prevent a catastrophic accident. To that end, rotorcraft pilots, mechanics, small company owners, industry executives, operators and government regulators are the conference’s target audience. Attendees will receive Inspection Authorization credits and WINGS pilot proficiency program credits.