W. "Dub" Blessing, Dennis Nichols To Receive Honors At Heli-Expo 2009

Helicopter Association International announced this week that W. "Dub" Blessing and Dennis Nichols will receive HAI's Honorary Lifetime Member Awards at Heli-Expo 2009, during HAI's 48th annual "Salute to Excellence" awards ceremony and banquet.

Blessing (above) is Chief Pilot Emeritus, Helicopter Division, Perot Group; and Special Projects Coordinator, Hillwood Properties. From a US Marine Corps engine mechanic, to H. Ross Perot's personal helicopter pilot, "Dub" Blessing has enjoyed an incredibly rich and varied career, spanning more than 50 years, in which he has amassed in excess of 19,000 flight hours, and more than 14,000 certified flight instruction hours.

Blessing began his career in 1953 as a jet engine mechanic and crew chief with the US Marine Corps reserve, receiving an honorable discharge in 1962. Joining the Texas National Guard in 1964, he qualified as a helicopter mechanic, before earning Army aviator "Wings of Silver" and a Warrant Officer First Class commission in 1965. In 1966 he joined Southern Airways of Texas, a civilian contractor of the US Army Helicopter Training Center, where he instructed the first Vietnamese student pilots. In 1978 he became a flight instructor at the Jet Fleet Corporation training center, later becoming Helicopter Division Manager. At Jet Fleet, he designed a training syllabus for Ross Perot, Jr. To meet Perot's busy schedule, he conducted the training during his off-duty hours.

In 1982 Blessing was chosen to help plan and execute the first round the world helicopter flight for Ross Perot, Jr. Upon completion of this record-breaking event, he became H. Ross Perot's personal helicopter pilot. In 1985 he led pilots and crew in the One Million Vertical Feet Challenge for Multiple Sclerosis in the Chugauch Wilderness area of Alaska. This included setting up base camps at 3,000 and 6,000 Mean Sea Level on a remote glacier by sling-loading supplies into the area.

Blessing has represented Bell Helicopter-Textron, the Allison Division of General Motors, Hughes Helicopters, McDonnell-Douglas, and Schwitzer Helicopters in industry matters relating to flight training. In 1985 Blessing received the first HAI Outstanding Certified Flight Instructor Award for high standards of excellence in flight training.

Nichols (below) graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1961, receiving his diploma from President John F. Kennedy. Flying A-4 Skyhawks from carriers, he accumulated more than 500 landings on his first tour, and was the first pilot to obtain 100 arrested landings on the USS America. He also served as a Landing Signal Officer, certified to wave all aircraft types in the carrier group.

In 1967 he left the Navy, becoming one of the founders and President of ARNAV Systems -- designers and manufacturers of area navigation equipment. He promoted Loran Receivers to Gulf of Mexico operators, and pioneered the use of Terminal Control Area identification technology in the software used to prevent pilots penetrating prohibited and restricted airspace.

He was the first American President to run the US subsidiary of French helicopter engine manufacturer, Turbomeca. In that capacity he was responsible for many of their major innovations and expansion within the United States, to include FAA certification for production.

Nichols twice served as engine representative to the HAI Board, and has served as president of Helicopter Foundation International (HFI). He established a blue ribbon panel of experts to address noise issues, which resulted in the development of a DVD aimed at international, commercial, and military operators considered to be the best noise abatement training aid available.

Nichols' legacy is education; from his financial support program enabling Turbomeca employees to send their children to college, to endorsing HFI's efforts to attract young people to the helicopter industry by raising funds for yearly aviation scholarships. With his church he also teaches English and leadership at Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology in China.

The 2009 "Salute to Excellence" Awards banquet and ceremony will be held on February 23, 2009 during Heli-Expo 2009 in Anaheim, CA.

FMI: www.heliexpo.com