The Vertical Aviation Safety Team (VAST) has been formed by the international helicopter community, its regional safety organizations, and related stakeholders. VAST aims to build on industry best practices and the latest international standards. The International Helicopter Safety Team and, later, the International Helicopter Safety Foundation, previously represented these global helicopter safety stakeholders.
Under VAST, regional safety teams will continue their work, while VAST engages with them and other safety stakeholders to more efficiently integrate, harmonize, distribute, and promote the resulting safety data, programs, and recommendations worldwide. Several VAST working groups will oversee the organization’s efforts in areas such as technology, regulations, and safety promotion.
VAST’s operations are overseen by two advisers: James Viola, president and CEO of Helicopter Association International, and Miguel Marin, chief of operational safety at the International Civil Aviation Organization. “VAST will bring together safety advocates from around the world to collaborate on finding the most effective safety initiatives and then sharing them with the VTOL community,” said Viola.