Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) was rechartered during a signing ceremony at Heli-Expo on Tuesday. The IHST was formed in 2006 with the goal of reducing helicopter accidents by 80 percent over 10 years. While the IHST has fallen short of that goal, IHST co-chairs Matt Zuccaro, president of HAI, and Lance Gant, manager of the FAA’s rotorcraft directorate (Aircraft Certification Service), said it is important that the group’s work continue.

 


Zuccaro said that, thanks to the IHST’s work, “the safety culture and the awareness of safety has increased quite a bit over the last several years” and that ultimately no accidents “can be the only goal.”

 


Gant said the IHST's work has “raised awareness and has had a positive impact. We’ve seen some positive trends here in the United States and [elsewhere] where the IHST has had a presence.”

 


According to data provided by the IHST, before the group’s formation, the number of worldwide civil helicopter accidents was rising at a rate of 2.5 percent per year. Since 2006, the worldwide civil helicopter fleet has grown by 30 percent, but the number of accidents worldwide has decreased in key global regions from 24 to 50 percent and the accident rate in key regions has decreased within a range of 40 to 60 percent. In the U.S., the civil helicopter accident rate has been cut in half within the last 10 years, reaching 3.67 per 100,000 flight hours, using the comparison of the 2001-2005 baseline rate of 7.97 set by the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team. Total accidents have been reduced by 33 percent compared to the baseline; fatal accidents are down 41 percent and the fatal accident rate is down 61 percent compared to a decade ago.&nbsp;

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

International Helicopter Safety Team rechartered

The group has seen positive trends in helicopter safety and is working toward the goal of zero accidents.

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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