Relief Workers Urged To Contact HAI To Receive Recognition

HAI will award a 2005 Igor I. Sikorsky Award for Humanitarian Service certificate to those companies, organizations, and individuals who took part in the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts -- and has put the call out for Katrina workers to be recognized.

As was extensively reported by Aero-News during the crisis, helicopters played a vital role in the rescue and relief efforts in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Immediately after the storm struck, many HAI members offered their assistance.

For many, the helicopter was the only option for rescue. Helicopters transported critically ill hospital patients from medical facilities, landing on rooftops, decks, and parking garages. Helicopter crews also rescued elderly patients from nursing homes and convalescent centers, as well as premature infants, who needed such critical equipment as heart monitors and oxygen tanks for survival.

Helicopters were instrumental in airlifting food, water, supplies, fuel, law enforcement officials, firefighters, and relief workers to the Gulf Coast region. They also helped the local power companies restore power and repair the power lines. They also played a critical role in levee repair, reconstruction, assessments, and of course, news reporting.

To many of the victims, the helicopters and their crewmembers were seen as the ultimate heroes, and in many cases, the difference between life and death.

In order to receive Sikorsky Award certificates, HAI requests that all Katrina participants notify HAI and describe the nature of their participation -- and to the degree possible, supply supporting documentation. Supporting letters, newspaper clippings, corporate news releases, or other formats supporting or verifying participation will be accepted, according to HAI.

Participants are asked to provide HAI with a valid address where the certificates can be sent, and the individual who will be receiving them, and the name of the individual(s), specific unit, department, or organization being recognized. All certificates will be mailed following the conclusion of the 2006 HELI-EXPO.

HAI will formally honor those participants at the HAI “Salute to Excellence” awards banquet, which will take place on February 27, 2006, during HELI-EXPO 2006, in Dallas, TX. Katrina participants, who are present at the awards banquet, will be asked to stand, to be honored and recognized.

HAI also wishes to honor those participants who are unable to attend HELI-EXPO or the awards banquet -- so regardless of whether or not they make it to HELI-EXPO, all valid participants are eligible to receive a certificate.

FMI: www.rotor.com/salute, www.heliexpo.com