Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award, Pilot Of The Year Recipients Announced

The Helicopter Association International (HAI) has announced two more of its 2005 award recipients. Dr. Walter B. Comeaux, a former member of HAI’s Board of Directors, and a former HAI Safety Committee Chairman, is the 2005 recipient of the Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award, while John Holland, Regional Aviation Director for Air Methods Corporation in Macon, GA will receive HAI’s 2005 Pilot of the Year Award.

According to HAI, Dr. Comeaux (below) generously contributed his personal time and medical expertise for nearly 20 years for the benefit of the entire helicopter community, through active and regular participation in HAI. From the mid 1970s-mid 1990s, Dr. Comeaux served as Chairman of HAI’s Safety Committee, and then became a Special Advisor to HAI’s Board of Directors, where he served for 10 years.

Dr. Comeaux was also instrumental in the development of the original HAI Safety Manual, which was approved by the Board in 1985. In 1993, he was awarded the Joe Mashman Safety Award, and is an HAI Honorary Lifetime Member.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Holland (bottom) was instrumental in the evacuation of patients and staff at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. Holland was assigned by LifeNet, a division of Air Methods, to assist the hospital with air medical evacuations, recon the situation, setup aircraft staging at off-site locations for air assets as needed, and manage the helicopter traffic and helipad procedures. Holland, a former US Army officer, was still at the helipad as the last person was evacuated... sixty hours later.

Holland also called some of his many military contacts -- and CH-57s, CH-51s, and Black Hawk helicopters -- in to help. Under his supervision, hospital staff loaded patients in helicopters ranging from a Robinson R-44 to a Chinook.

The "Salute to Excellence" awards banquet will take place February 27, 2006, during HELI-EXPO 2006, at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel, in Dallas, TX.

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