Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

Writer

Thierry Dubois

The creation of Airbus Helicopters’ H Pilot Club was long overdue, according to new co-president Ari Vatanen–a Fin who is best known as a former rally driver and later as a member of the European Parliament. He has also been a private helicopter pilot since 1983, now flying an EC120.

 


Launched at the Paris Air Show last June, the H Pilot Club has some 1,200 members–including close to 60 women. “You don't fly helicopters by accident,” Vatanen said, referring to the passion shared by the pilot community. The club is still in the making, and no formal calendar has been established. “Let’s listen to people. Let’s ask them what kind of gathering they want to have,” Vatanen said.

 


His goal for the H Pilot Club is to have its members feel they are part of Airbus Helicopters, being proud of it and feeling important to the airframer. Vatanen sees a potential role in safety for the H Pilot Club. “Some light helicopter simulators are underused,” he said. He admitted to hopes for acommercial benefit in the long term.

 


Asked whether a board may be elected one day, Vatanen said he does not know yet, but described himself as a “democracy activist.” The other co-president is chief test pilot Hervé Jammayrac.

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