At 144 pages, our largest Heli-Expo issue ever is jam-packed with industry news and features: from reports on the latest developments at companies including Erickson Air-Crane (p.36) and MD Helicopters (p.16), to status checks on the Sikorsky S-76D (p.32) and the state of the U.S. helicopter industry as a whole (p.62).
 
New executive editor Elan Head takes a sector-by-sector look at the helicopter market in the U.S., examining which sectors have been hardest-hit by the financial crisis, and what’s in store for 2009. In another feature, she turns her attention to the North American heli-skiing industry (p.50), talking to operators in British Columbia and beyond about how they’re coping with uncertain economic times.
 
In reports from the field, Jeffrey Decker logs the most frequent flyer miles this month, traveling from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Sea to get the scoop on Bristow in our operator profile (p.74). Meanwhile, Gary Watson heads west to check in on B.C.-based Vector Aerospace (p.90), which is expanding its traditional avionics focus into new realms. And Kevin Nelson reports from Texas on American Eurocopter’s training facility and new simulators (p.44).
 
Continuing our tradition of product reviews you can use, Guy Maher tries out the latest headsets from Lightspeed, Bose, and David Clark, testing out each under real-world conditions (p.98). Lon Arnold debuts with an informative article on the emergency locator transmitter frequency conversion happening this year, reporting on what beacon owners need to know to make sure they’re up to date (p.120). And Gavin Miller begins a two-part series on the rising value of equalized maintenance programs (p.104).
 
Finally, to round things out, Kevin Nelson returns to the Roundtable with a look at emergency landing procedures (p.116), and Shawn Coyle initiates a four-part series on what safety benefits we can bring over from the fixed-wing world (p.112). Our Heli-Expo issue truly offers something for everyone!