News
McCarthy: Introduction

First of all, let me introduce myself – my name is Drew McCarthy and
I’m the new editor of HELICOPTERS Magazine. I’d like to tell everyone
how very pleased I am to be joining this team. In the short time that
I’ve been with the magazine, I’ve had a chance to talk to many of you
and have been impressed by how important this publication is to its
readers.

My
first indication of this came last April at the 2005 HAC Convention and
Trade Show in Vancouver. Over the course of the show we conducted a
readers survey at the HELICOPTERS Magazine booth.

The feedback
we received was encouragingly comprehensive – and impassioned. Those
filling out the survey spent a lot of their time answering our
questions frankly and deliberately. They took the job very seriously
and I thank them for that.

The second thing that impressed me
about the show was the attendance. There was a great deal of activity
on the show floor and the seminar rooms and committee forums were
packed. Brian Jenner, HAC president and CEO, told me that the numbers
were up 20 per cent over the 1993 show held in Vancouver.

All of
the operators I spoke to were happy to have taken time out of their
schedules to be there. Jenner explained it to me this way, “Attendees
and exhibitors are spending time and money coming to the show because
thay are getting something in return.”

One of the reasons for
the show’s success is its size. Despite recent growth, the Canadian
show is still an intimate affair. Attendees have an opportunity to meet
and talk to the people who build and sell the aircraft that they fly.
Pilots and operators can meet one-onone with sales people, technical
experts and others to solve problems or just make things happen.

The
show also plays an important role in bringing operators together in
committee forums to discuss the political and legal issues that are of
fundamental importance to the industry. At times, these issues
overshadow almost everything else, but that’s just the reality.

The
forums give members a chance to relate war stories, express opinons and
propose solutions to problems. The fact that representatives from
Transport Canada were on hand also allowed attendees to ask important
questions in a public forum. Government officials were given the
opportunity to answer these questions directly and explain their
positions. These kinds of discussions are extremely valuable, even if
participants end up “agreeing to disagree.”

As a magazine
editor, I have seen a lot of Canadian industry associations over the
years. I can say without hesitation that the HAC is one of the best.
The membership is motivated, the administration is efficient and the
president is dedicated.

I look forward to being a part of an industry that exhibits such intelligence and passion.