Vertical Aviation International (VAI) is recognizing four industry leaders with its 2025 Salute to Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a departure from its traditional single-recipient format. Sponsored by Bell, the awards are being presented this at Verticon 2025 in Dallas.
The expanded recognition includes Pat Attaway, director of operations at PHI Americas; René Closter, former CEO of Luxembourg Air Rescue; Thierry Couderc, v-p of the European Helicopter Association; and retired Indian Air Force Wing Commander B.S. Singh Deo.
Attaway’s career includes 35 years of experience, beginning with serving as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and later pioneering Sikorsky S-92 commercial operations. He has chaired the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference and the Operational Effectiveness Workstream with HeliOffshore.
Under Closter’s leadership, Luxembourg Air Rescue expanded to operate seven helicopters and five jets, completing more than 70,000 missions. Closter was personally involved in more than 14,000 rescues and also served as v-p of air ambulance service DRF Luftrettung.
Couderc has been instrumental in harmonizing French rotorcraft interests with European regulations and advancing safety initiatives through industry committees. He is the executive director of French helicopter association Union Francaise de l’Helicoptere.
Singh Deo’s 55-year career spans military and civilian aviation, including significant contributions to aviation safety and training at Bell Helicopter. He is v-p of the Rotary Wing Society of India and a member of the Aeronautical Society of India.
In a departure from its traditional single-recipient format, Vertical Aviation International (VAI) is recognizing four distinguished industry leaders with its 2025 Salute to Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award. The organization cited an exceptionally strong field of nominees and a desire to acknowledge more industry veterans as factors in expanding the program.
Recipients include Pat Attaway, director of operations at PHI Americas; René Closter, former CEO of Luxembourg Air Rescue; Thierry Couderc, vice president of the European Helicopter Association; and retired Indian Air Force Wing Commander B. S. Singh Deo. Sponsored by Bell, the awards will be presented during Verticon 2025.
Pat Attaway’s 35-year career began as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot before transitioning to commercial operations, where he played a key role in introducing the Sikorsky S-92 to commercial service. His leadership extended beyond PHI as chair of both the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference and HeliOffshore’s Operational Effectiveness Workstream, where he advocated for enhanced safety practices and ADS-B adoption in helicopter operations.
“René Closter receives a Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to aviation and rescue services that has had a profound impact on saving lives and advancing the capabilities of air rescue operations globally,” according to VAI. Under his leadership from 1995 to 2021, Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR) expanded significantly, growing to operate a fleet of seven helicopters and five jets.
Closter, a helicopter pilot and paramedic himself, personally participated in more than 14,000 rescue missions. He pledged his home as initial collateral to establish LAR in 1988, and the organization went on to complete more than 70,000 missions during his tenure.
Thierry Couderc earned recognition for his work bridging French rotorcraft interests with broader European initiatives, particularly in navigating EASA’s regulatory framework. Beyond his vice presidency at the European Helicopter Association, he serves as executive director of the French helicopter association Union Francaise de l’Helicoptere and has been active in promoting safety and training advancements through various European committees. “Couderc is known for advocating inclusivity in aviation, notably supporting disabled pilots,” VAI stated.
B. S. Singh Deo’s career spans more than five decades and includes experience with 19 different aircraft types. After a distinguished military career that earned him the Indian Air Force’s Vayu Sena Medal, he transitioned to civil aviation and made significant contributions at Bell Helicopter. His influence extends internationally through his work establishing training facilities and conducting safety seminars for the United Nations World Food Programme.
Singh Deo was recognized “for significantly shaping both military and civilian aviation sectors nationally and internationally.” He is now v-p of the Rotary Wing Society of India and a member of the Aeronautical Society of India.
“We are immensely proud to recognize this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, each of whom has made transformative contributions to the vertical aviation industry,” said VAI president and CEO James Viola. “By honoring multiple outstanding individuals this year, we not only celebrate their enduring impact and leadership but also reflect our commitment to adapting and responding to the evolving needs of our industry and its distinguished professionals.”
The awards are being presented during the event in Dallas this week. Expansion of VAI’s lifetime achievement recognition represents an effort to ensure more industry leaders receive formal acknowledgment of their contributions before concluding their careers.