Rotorcraft
Robinson Plans Relief Flying Courses
OEM To Work with Operation Helo
Robinson at Operation Helo relief effort
© Operation Helo

Robinson Helicopter is working with aviation charity Operation Helo to establish a training curriculum for pilots of its aircraft tailored to the particulars of disaster-relief flying. Company CEO David Smith told AIN that the courses are being announced this week at VAI Verticon.

Operation Helo was formed in the immediate aftermath of the flooding generated by Hurricane Helene that decimated western North Carolina in late September. More than 100 privately owned helicopters participated in the relief effort, many of them Robinson R44s that were particularly suited to the event due to their ability to access compact landing zones.