Katrina Volunteers, 'Whirly-Girls' To Be Honored

Helicopter Association International has announced their 2005 'Salute To Excellence' Award winners, recognizing each as important contributors to stressing the importance and necessity of rotorcraft in the world today.

The 2005 Igor I. Sikorsky Award for Humanitarian Service, presented to the person(s) who best demonstrates the value of civil rotorcraft to society by saving lives, protecting property, and aiding those in distress, will be presented on behalf of all companies, organizations, and individuals who took part in the relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

"Immediately following the storm, US Coast Guard helicopters were airlifting victims, surrounded by toxic floodwater, from rooftops," said HAI to Aero-News. "Civilian helicopter operators, including many HAI members, soon followed, offering relief and assistance in any way they could. For many, the helicopter was the only option for rescue, [and] even now, they continue to play a vital role in the reconstruction efforts.

"To many victims of the deadly storm, the helicopters and their crews were the ultimate heroes," said HAI. "The events associated with this relief effort was truly one of the helicopter industry’s finest hours and clearly demonstrated that helicopters save lives."

HAI also announced that Whirly-Girls International -- a non-profit, educational, and charitable organization dedicated to advancing women in helicopter aviation -- is the 2005 recipient of the Agusta Community Service Award. This award recognizes an individual or organization for the establishment of public use of heliports, advancement of the use of helicopters in urban areas operations, and the advancement of “Fly Neighborly” concepts.

Over its 50 years, the Whirly-Girls has grown from 13 members at its creation to 1,362 members today from 43 countries.

According to HAI, Whirly-Girls includes corporate, commercial and military pilots, flight school managers and instructors, mechanics, heliport designers, flight surgeons, air traffic controllers, attorneys, paralegals, airport managers, business owners, cattle ranchers, aeronautical engineers, test pilots, administrative assistants, owners, operators, aviation pioneers, and pathfinders," said HAI.

The Whirly-Girls award an average of $40,000 in scholarships each year to female pilots -- currently, the helicopter industry’s largest scholarship fund.

The “Salute to Excellence” awards banquet will take place February 27, 2006, during Heli-Expo 2006, at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel, in Dallas, TX.

FMI: www.rotor.com/salute, www.heliexpo.com