Do we have an image problem or safety problem?
G.Edward Newton, Vice Chairmen of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) tells a story of a career day event held in the Northeast part of the USA recently. HAI provided a drawing for an hour's dual instruction for two lucky young people attending the career day with a view towards promoting careers in the helicopter aviation industry.
After the first drawing, the parents of the first two winners refused to let their children fly in the helicopters citing safety concerns about helicopters. Newton states it took eight drawings before they found two sets of parents that would allow their children fly in the aircraft.
Alas, between the time of the drawing and the flights could take place, two helicopters in the area crashed and now the HAI cannot give the flights away.
During the week of the Montreal Safety Symposium....there were nine helicopter crashes worldwide killing 28 people.
The information above comes from Autorotate Magazine....Winter 2005 issue.