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AWARDS
HAI'S 41ST ANNUAL "SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE"
AWARDS BANQUET FEBRUARY 16, 2002
FOR 41 YEARS, THE HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL'S (HAI) "SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE" AWARDS HAVE RECOGNIZED OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CIVIL HELICOPTER INDUSTRY. HAI'S "SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE" AWARDS
COVER A RANGE OF CURRENT AND HISTORICAL INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENTS. BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXCEPTIONAL
MERIT OF INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS, HAI'S "SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE" AWARDS ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUED
ATTAINMENT OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM IN THE HELICOPTER INDUSTRY. THIS YEARS AWARDS
WERE PRESENTED BY HAI CHAIRMAN RICHARD "DICK" FOY.
AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN AWARD: Henry C. Perryman —
Director of Maintenance, AirEvac for Tulsa, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma
Henry Clay Perryman, was born to the prominent Perryman family who once
owned 60,000 acres of land that today is Tulsa, Oklahoma. Proud of his Muskogee
Creek Indian ancestry, Henry, also known as "Chief" began his distinguished aviation career in 1961 at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas as a line mechanic. Until 1965 Chief
served his country performing duties as a mechanic in Okinawa and South
Vietnam. He ended his four years of service at Davison U.S. Army Airfield, Ft.
Belvoir, Virginia, as a helicopter crew chief.
In 1965, Henry was awarded the Soldier of Valor medal for rescuing several
people from the high seas by climbing onto the skids of a helicopter and safely
transporting them back to land. During this time Chief also participated in numerous emergency medical evacuations mission for the U.S. President's People-toPeople Program, which resulted in a better understanding and friendship between
the Ryukyuan people of Okinawa and the United States.
Perryman has maintained helicopters for over 40 years. As Tim Ruddick, Senior
Director of Technical Support for Eurocopter states: "Perryman always went the
extra mile and was willing to do whatever it took to keep the aircraft in service without compromising safety. His loyalty to AirEvac, his dedication to the job and his
outstanding aircraft maintenance skills are a credit to his profession." For 15 years
Henry demonstrated excellent capabilities in maintaining the Arriel engines in the
Eurocopter AS 365 and Sikorsky S-76. He also demonstrated technical knowledge
beyond expectations and assisted technical personnel in finding new solutions to
technical problems that surfaced for the first time. He has had 20 years of accident
free mechanical work. The helicopter aviation world is a better and safer place
because of Henry Perryman.
Henry "Chief " Perryman—Aviation
Maintenance Technician Award
AVIATION REPAIR SPECIALIST AWARD: Robert Jim Toole — Aircraft
Mechanic, Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., Glendale, Arizona
Jim Toole is a truly outstanding professional aircraft mechanic. Since 1984 he
has maintained three different types of aircraft and has always kept them mission
ready. He keeps the Emergency Medical Service's operations in a state of ready
twenty-four hours a day. They are primed and ready to respond to any medical
emergency.
Since November 1999, Jim has been responsible for the maintenance of aircraft
located at two different bases, requiring him to transit thirty miles between the two
bases in order to perform necessary maintenance duties.
A strong work ethic, dedicated, and selfless, he is not one to complain. Not even
when he gets a call at 2 a.m. requiring him to help to get an aircraft back in service. His "can do" attitude is infectious, and has earned him the praise and admiration of his coworkers, and the appreciation of the many pilots who rely on Jim
Toole's knowledge and experience to keep them flying safely.
Robert Jim Toole—Aviation Repair
Specialist Award
Receiving on his belhalf, David Milling
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IGOR I. SIKORSKY AWARD FOR HUMANITARIAN SERVICE: Police
Airborne Service Unit, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey — All Staff
Members, Teterboro, New Jersey
Staff Members of the Police
Airborne Service Unit,
Port Authority of New York &
New Jersey—The Igor I. Sikorsky
Award for Humanitarian Service.
Receiving on their behalf, Jay McGowan
Since it's inception on May 1, 1951, the staff of the Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey Police Airborne Services unit have been providing humanitarian
services. Most recently, on September 11, 2001, in response to the attacks upon the
World Trade Center, and for the many weeks following this human tragedy, their
skill, professionalism and dedication have been tested to the limit. As they have for
over the past 50 years, the unit rose to the challenge in an exemplary manner. They
have demonstrated the value of civil rotorcraft to society by saving lives, protecting
property, and aiding those in distress.
In the early 1950's the Port Authority put the unique humanitarian capabilities
of the helicopter to use. The unit originated with two Bell 47 helicopters conducting VFR operations, and has advanced to the current utilization of Sikorsky S-76
helicopters conducting IFR operations. The airborne services unit has been a recognized leader in the advancement of helicopters for humanitarian purposes.
During its long history, the Airborne Services Unit has made itself available to
assist the efforts of local municipalities, various law enforcement, and emergency
service agencies, which did not have access to helicopter support. Additionally, the
unit provided these entities with consultation and demonstrations regarding the use
of helicopters in Emergency Medical Services, and the values of heliports. As a
result of these efforts several hospital heliports were established, and new helicopter operations begun. Since its inception the Unit has flown over 66,542 hours without a fatal accident or serious injury. New York, New Jersey, and the nation are
grateful for the professionalism and dedication that this unit consistently displays
while performing everyday operations.
THE JOE MASHMAN SAFETY AWARD: Robert A. Feerst — President,
Utilities/Aviation Specialist, Inc., Crown Point, Indiana
Robert A. Feerst—The Joe
Mashman Safety Award
Bob Feerst spent two years aboard an aircraft carrier in South East Asia prior
to being assigned to "Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing Squadron 13," at Alameda
Navel Air Station. It was there that he received the initial flight training, which
began a life-long involvement with aviation. He was awarded a scholarship for
supervisory excellence by the "American Society of Professional Supervision" and
named in Who's Who in America, in 1986 for academic achievement in Industrial
Engineering and Management, which was his major at Purdue University.
Bob also holds Masters Degrees in Aviation Business Management and in
Aviation/Aerospace Operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Several Years after his release from active service in the U.S. Navy, Bob went to
work for NIPSCO, a local utility company. He developed NIPSCO's flight department and managed its evolution from a small contracted helicopter operation to a
professional multi-aircraft/multi-mission flight service. He was responsible for
training both pilots and airborne linemen/patrolmen, as well as for the development of new technology for utility helicopter operations. He has been involved with
emergency line restoration, community disaster planning, and community police
efforts.
As President of Utilities/Aviation Specialists Inc., Bob has worked with numerous corporations around the world on issues involving helicopter applications,
departmental restructuring, procedures development, wire strike litigation, and
aviation safety. He was the recipient of HAI's "Meritorious Service Award" in 1999
for his industry-wide work in aviation safety, utility flight operations, and in wire
strike avoidance. He served three consecutive two-year terms as Chairman of HAI's
"Utility's, Patrol, and Construction Committee." In addition to being a frequent
speaker in the utility industry on Helicopter safety, Bob is the author and instructor for the "Flying in the Wire Environment, and Wire Strike Avoidance" training
programs taught to professional aviators worldwide. To date, Bob has trained thousands of industry professionals from all across the globe.
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OUTSTANDING CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AWARD: Jan Rustad
— Business Development Manager/Former Chief Flight Instructor, Canadian
Helicopters School of Advanced Flight Training, Penticton, British Columbia
Jan Rustad received his commercial helicopter pilot license in 1967. A year
later he became a licensed commercial helicopter pilot on Bell 47 G-2's at a small
flying school at the Abbottsford airport. After more than eight years of charter flying, Jan decided to migrate to the Canadian Helicopter School of Advanced
Training in Penticton, B.C., where he served as the Chief Flying Instructor/Base
Manager/Business Development Manager for over 16 years. By 1999 he had built
up the business to a point where he could no longer do all three jobs. Although he
is still and active instructor, his main focus is as Business Development Manager.
He has been at this world-renowned school for over 24 years and has been
instrumental in honing and delivering the many helicopter specialty courses
offered. These range from initial training, instructor training, endorsement training, night training, vertical reference training, water bucket training, and his main
specialty, the mountain flying course. He has accumulated over 16,000 hours in helicopters, of those close to 11,000 have been as an instructor. He has taught countless pilots from all over the world including various U.S. Special Forces, Canadian
Military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Dutch National Police, Pakistan Army,
and Venezuelan National Guard.
A great passion for flying, Jan also has many years of experience as an operational pilot as well as being a premiere instructor. He has been involved in many
types of mountain flying operations including; forest firefighting, general forestry
support and light aerial construction, aerial harvesting, mining support, drill moves,
oil, gas and seismic exploration, mountain rescue operations, and light power line
construction. His experience is first-hand, so when it comes to instruction, his students know they are learning from one of the very best.
Jan Rustad—Outstanding Certified
Flight Instructor Award
AGUSTA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Charles R. Cox — Staff
Engineer, Acoustics (Retired), Bell Helicopter Textron, Grapevine, Texas
Charles Cox's contributions have helped shape current United States and international aviation regulations regarding rotorcraft and will continue to serve as the
framework for future regulation. He joined Bell Helicopter Textron in 1959 as a
Dynamics Engineer and directed analyses and tests in rotor and structural dynamics. From 1961 to his retirement in 2001, he was responsible for all acoustics-related studies, investigations, tests, contracted programs, and customer support activities. As Bell's premier acoustical engineer, Charles Cox has worked on all aspects
of rotorcraft design that would affect the noise signature of rotorcraft. He traveled
around the United States sharing his knowledge by giving speeches and demonstrations on how helicopters fly, what they are used for, and how their sound levels
compare with other everyday auditory sounds. He spoke to concerned neighbors
and promoted heliport development.
Charles has helped the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) develop a more
cost effective noise certification procedure for small helicopters and is the author
of numerous proposals, reports, and presentations for the FAA, NASA, U.S. military, state and local governments, foreign civil authorities, Helicopter Association
International, American Helicopter Society, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), and the European Rotorcraft Forum. He is a past Chairman of HAI's
Acoustics Committee and the originator of the Fly Neighborly Program. He interfaces with customers and operators needing information related to acoustic levels,
noise abatement operations, and community compatibility.
His efforts in developing prediction methods and of presenting the problems
associated with tilt rotorcraft have been widely appreciated. No one better defines
the Agusta Community Service Award than Charles Cox. He continues to be an
industry resource on rotorcraft noise abatement procedures, acoustic measurement
techniques, and the Fly Neighborly approach to community acceptance of the helicopter. Charles R. Cox has made an outstanding contribution to the helicopter
industry and enhanced the understanding of helicopter noise and its impact on the
community, across a broad spectrum of industry.
Charles R. Cox—Agusta
Community Service Award
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EUROCOPTER GOLDEN HOUR AWARD: AB Norrlandsflyg — Gallivare,
Sweden
Knut & Monica Hedstrom, AB
Norrlandsflyg—Eurocopter Golden
Hour Award
Providing aero-medical services can be an extremely difficult proposition when
the weather is not cooperating. It can be downright dangerous and inhospitable
when you are operating from 75 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. AB
Norrlandsflyg began operations in 1964, and has over the past 30 years, beginning
in 1970, been committed to providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to an
area were medical facilities are almost non-existent.
Operating in northern Sweden, out of the town of Gallivare, they have and continue to service an area one-fourth the size of Sweden with a widely dispersed and
very isolated population. Carrying medical personnel wherever and whenever necessary. Norrlandsflyg operates a number of EMS programs, including the original
program, which flies approximately 900 hours per year. That program has been in
continuous operation since the beginning, using a variety of helicopters.
This emergency care provider has a goal and a mission, which is to provide reliable and sophisticated air transportation with the best medical care available to the
incredibly wide area they serve. AB Norrlandsflyg has accomplished many firsts:
first operator in Sweden to be certified for two-pilot EMS operations; first in
Sweden providing IFR EMS operations; first and only operator utilizing liquid oxygen; and first and only operator using ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane
Oxygenation) on a regular basis in a helicopter.
Today AB Norrlandsflyg has become the largest helicopter ambulance operator in Sweden, operating out of three locations, providing reliable care and rescue
services to a grateful people living in one of the most remote and unpredictable
regions of the world. Through their professional service, AB Norrlandsflyg continues to advance the use of helicopters for performing vital life saving missions.
HELICOPTER MAINTENANCE AWARD: Jay Mahaffey — A & P Mechanic,
WHO Oncho Program, Evergreen Helicopters, Inc., McMinnville, Oregon
Jay Mahaffey—Helicopter
Maintenance Award
Receiving on his behalf,
Timothy Wahlberg
The Oncho Program protects at least 30 million people in 11 West African
countries. The goal is to eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by the
blackfly, not only as a major disease, but also as an obstacle to socio-economic
development in the region. In addition to causing human suffering, it has induced
entire populations to desert the fertile river valleys where the disease is endemic.
To destroy the blackfly the program uses aircraft to spray biodegradable insecticides into the rivers where the fly larvae develop. The lifeline of these flies is 15
years; therefore, after 15 years of treatment all flies should be destroyed. For the
program to be successful the aerial applications need to be properly applied. The
aircraft and personnel must be ready to fly as soon as they are needed. The smallest failure in vector control might lead to a restarting of disease transmission and
many years of wasted effort.
Jay Mahaffey has served with the Who Oncho Program since 1984, and during
that time he has protected millions of people from the dreaded disease. Jay has
performed incredibly well under very demanding conditions. He began his career
in aviation as a line mechanic, was later promoted to lead mechanic at one base,
and now manages the maintenance at two operational bases, which are over 500
miles apart.
Maintenance parts are not readily available in West Africa so superb organizational skills are vital to the success of the mission. Jay's thorough maintenance program and his ability to plan ahead have resulted in continual aircraft airworthiness
of that fleet. The Oncho Program maintenance is unusual in that, not only is it performed under difficult conditions, it requires all six helicopters be fully operational
every week. Jay Mahaffey's long-term commitment requires dedication, and the
ability to work in extreme environmental conditions. Being flexible and capable has
allowed Jay Mahaffey to effectively manage the insecticides, while providing rapid
response to help protect millions of West Africans from river blindness.
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MD HELICOPTERS LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARD: Lieutenant Michael P.
Melia — Massachusetts State Police, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Lieutenant Michael P. Melia began his 26-year as a State Trooper. Fifteen of
those years were spent on midnight patrol with a K-9 partner. He spent six years
performing undercover drug work, hotel interdiction, patrol supervisor, Barrack's
shift commander, and Troop shift commander. He earned a Baccalaureate,
Masters, and a law degree while working as a road trooper.
In 1996 Lt. Michael Melia, assumed command of the Massachusetts State Police
Air Wing Unit, and transformed it into an internationally recognized leader in airborne law enforcement. Under his direction, the Air Wing has embraced the
Pilot/TFO crew concept, required annual factory training, and encouraged participation in professional aviation organizations including HAI, ALEA, AAMS, and
many others. He created an in-house flight training and standardization program
and appointed a professionally trained unit safety officer, Chief Pilot, and Chief
Tactical Flight Officer. The pilots and crew plot the day's flights, which can include
search-and-rescue, narcotic surveillance, aerial photography, or moving troopers,
prisoners, or equipment.
Melia has established a two-person crew system, consisting of a pilot and a tactical flight officer who is trained in all emergency and rescue operations, including
scuba diving, SWAT operations, and medical care. Under Melia's command, crews
train and fly more frequently. When he took over, the unit flew around 700 hours a
year, a figure that is now approaching 3,000 hours.
Due to his tireless efforts and determined commitment, Lt. Melia has provided
the citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a professional, wellequipped, expertly trained airborne law enforcement unit dedicated to public and
aviation safety.
Lieutenant Michael P. Melia—MD
Helicopters Law Enforcement
Award
LAWRENCE D. BELL MEMORIAL AWARD: Walter N. Attebery — President,
Arctic Air Service, Inc., Santa Maria, California
Mr. Attebery began his long association with aviation as a fighter pilot in 1943.
By 1947 he was a Flight Instructor at Livingston Air Services, in Corvallis, Oregon.
Then his career took an interesting turn, first serving as a Special Agent for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation and then as Assistant Chief Investigator for the Los
Angeles District Attorney's office.
Walt's long and rich helicopter career began in 1959 with his appointment as
Vice President of marketing and administration at ERA Helicopters, Inc. In 1964
he founded Condor Helicopters & Aviation, Inc., where he remained until 1981.
Here he was active in pest control, offshore, missile recovery, survey, and external
load work.
During this period, he operated one of the earliest EMS programs "Airlift for
Life" for St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno, California. Mr. Attebery was a co-owner of
Harbour Helicopter & Marine, Inc., which serviced two platforms off Huntington
Beach, California, as well as being a former co-owner of Southland Helicopters,
Inc., out of Long Beach California.
Over the past 42 years, Walter Attebery's involvement in the helicopter industry
has been that of an innovator and developer, as well as an operator. The helicopter
community gratefully notes Walt's many outstanding contributions and achievements, in addition to his devotion to service. He is a Member and Past President of
HAI, as well as a member of several other industry associations including: the
American Helicopter Society, Auxiliary Whirlygirls since its inception, Marine
Corps Aviation Association, AOPA, and the Navy League.
Walt's outstanding accomplishments and contributions virtually parallel the
development of the helicopter. His commitment, vision, and service have brought
credit and recognition to the civil helicopter industry.
Walter N. Attebery—Lawrence D.
Bell Memorial Award
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ROBERT E. TRIMBLE MEMORIAL AWARD: David R. Martin — Deputy
Sheriff, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department-Aero Bureau, Long Beach,
California
David R. Martin—Robert E.
Trimble Memorial Award
Deputy Sheriff David Martin joined the L.A. Sheriff's Department with the
intention of flying helicopters. While working as a Sheriff, David completed an
additional three years of college. He has flown with the Los Angeles Sheriff's
Department for 23 years; for sixteen of those years he has been a Command Pilot
with the Air Five Mountain Rescue Program, responsible for the Los Angeles
County mountains, along with mutual assistance responsibilities for all of
California.
David is one of Los Angeles' senior mountain pilots. He has accumulated over
13,000 flight hours of which over 6,000 were flown in the mountains. He has performed over 3,000 rescues throughout the State of California, often at altitudes
over 16,000 feet. Dave has received recognition from the Mountain Rescue
Association for the Air Five Mountain Rescue Program for instructing pilots, aircrew, and ground rescue teams. In 2001 he was nominated for the Rotor & Wing
Heroism Award for a rescue he performed in instrument and icing conditions.
David Martin has been pivotal in the transitioning of VFR pilots into the challenging IFR environment. He is multi-rated in fixed wing and rotorcraft. David
currently teaches mountain rescue techniques and crew coordination for the Air
Five Mountain Rescue Program.
PILOT OF THE YEAR AWARD: William H. Wells Jr. — President, Cascade
Helicopters, Inc., Cashmere, Washington
William H. Wells Jr.—Pilot of the
Year Award
Congratulations
2001 Winners!
Bill Wells has shown extraordinary professionalism for over 39 years performing many difficult feats as a helicopter pilot and has earned recognition for the
quality of his work. He began as an agricultural pilot, dusting and spraying with
Bell 47D and G models. He earned his CFI in 1963, allowing him to share his
knowledge with others, training many pilots in agriculture and later mountain flying. In 1984 Bill began flying on wildfire, construction, surveying, and search and
rescue missions in the rugged Cascades. He is a skilled long line pilot and has flown
snow surveys, pulled wiring, set power poles, and supported wildlife services,
including herding and animal capture.
Known as an exemplary helicopter pilot with tremendous navigating skills, Bill
insists upon the highest standards of safety and maintenance especially while flying in a mountainous environment on dangerous and demanding missions. Those
missions have frequently taken him to some of the highest mountains in the country. The work is particularly challenging given the terrain and the environment,
which is further complicated by high winds, crosswinds, often punctuated by poor
visibility. All the more remarkable that in this setting, he has performed countless
rescues.
On one occasion Bill performed a sensational rescue by flying at night, with no
visible guiding lights within 25 miles of his location. Bill flew deep into the wilderness to a mine in the mountains, to save a woman who had sustained a severe head
injury. Another time in the Cascades, he rescued seven skiers from a 9,000-foot
mountain in a snowstorm. Although these rescues may seem unique, they have
become routine during Bill's career.
Bill is the consummate pilot, having logged more than 11,500 accident-free helicopter hours. He holds ratings for Fixed Wing with instrument rating and
Rotorcraft, Helicopter with Flight Instructor Rating. He has been a steadfast supporter of HAI, providing leadership as Board Member, Representative, and as
Past Chairman. During his tenure as HAI's Chairman, forest fires were raging
through his home of Washington. Bill Wells voluntarily piloted helicopters in support of fire suppression efforts, to bring those fires under control. We all thank Bill
Wells for his decades of inspired leadership and recognize him for his exceptional
piloting skills and his uncommon courage, for the many rescues, often at great risk
to himself.