Story ID: 
Heli-Expo Set To Open at Louisville Venue
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: This year's theme is celebrating the champions of vertical aviation.
Word Count: 218
The Kentucky International Convention Center is gearing up for the arrival of thousands of visitors to this year’s Heli-Expo, which begins tomorrow with Helicopter Association International professional education courses. Exhibit hallsopen on Tuesday.

The theme of this year’s Heli-Expo, which will conclude next Thursday, is celebrating the champions of vertical aviation. New technology is also a key focus for this year’s Heli-Expo, not just helicopter upgrades, avionics, engines and components, but also the burgeoning unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry.

In addition to the typical education and technical programs, HAI’s free Rotor Safety Challenge this year features 63 challenge education events, most just an hour long but also some longer in-depth sessions. Those who attend at least six challenge events will receive a certificate of recognition. 

Also on the safety front is HAI’s new accreditation program, the accredited program of safety. HAI worked with the International Business Aviation Council to build an overlay suited to the helicopter industry on top of the International Standard for Business Aviation Operations (IS-BAO).

AIN will be publishing daily issues of HAI Convention News on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as well as live news on AINonline, special Heli-Expo issues of AINalerts on Monday and Wednesday and video coverage on AINtv.