Presented Each Year By HAI To The Helicopter Flight Instructor Of The Year

For more than 50 years, HAI has recognized the outstanding achievements and exceptional merits of individuals and organizations through the Salute to Excellence Awards. The annual Salute to Excellence Awards dinner is the premier event of HELI-EXPO.

The nine award categories reflect the extensive breadth of missions, roles, and services performed by helicopters and those involved with their safe and effective operation. One such award is the W.A. (Dub) Blessing Certified Flight Instructor of the Year Award. This award, sponsored by H. Ross Perot, Jr., and the Perot Family, recognizes superlative contributions by a helicopter flight instructor in upholding high standards of excellence.
 
Nominations for the 2013 Salute to Excellence Awards program, to be held on Wednesday, March 6 during HELI-EXPO 2013 in Las Vegas, are being accepted now. You can submit a nomination for the Salute to Excellence W.A. (Dub) Blessing Certified Flight Instructor of the Year Award, or any of the nine categories.
 
The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, Nov. 16, but HAI strongly encourages you to submit your nominations as soon as possible.

The 2012 W.A. (Dub) Blessing award winner was Terry G. Cole, whose aviation career began in 1961 as a 14-year-old cadet in the Civil Air Patrol in Ohio. Since then, he has amassed more than 20,000 flight hours, including nearly 16,000 in helicopters — more than 8,000 of which have been in helicopter instruction. Following three tours of duty in Vietnam, Cole served as a civilian helicopter flight instructor for the Army, then continued his private sector career in a variety of positions. For the past 20 years, Cole has also served as a helicopter FAA designated pilot examiner. Upon reaching 15,000 accident- and violation-free flight hours, Cole received the HAI Pilot Safety Award.

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