Thank You!

2013 is almost over. As I write this column, it is a week before Thanksgiving. Looking back on the past year and ahead to 2014, we have a lot to be thankful for here at Helicopter Maintenancemagazine.

First of all, we thank all of you — our readers. You have made us the number one helicopter maintenance magazine just three short years after our launch! OK, so we are the ONLY helicopter maintenance magazine out there, but we are extremely proud to be the only magazine with editorial focused exclusively on helicopter maintenance.

Continuing to publish a magazine focused specifically on helicopter maintenance would not be possible without the support of our advertisers. It is because of them that we can offer Helicopter MaintenanceFREE to our subscribers, and we thank them for their support.

I would like to personally thank our editor, R. Fred Polak, for the focus and effort he puts into the magazine. Without his help, I would have pulled out all my hair by now. OK, I have no hair, but that isn’t because I’ve pulled it out.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our Helicopter Maintenancemagazine editorial advisory board. The board is comprised of volunteers who help steer the editorial direction of the magazine and help ensure we stay focused on content relevant to helicopter mechanics. We have a diverse group of helicopter industry professionals on our board, and we appreciate their volunteer time and effort!

Speaking of the board, we are excited to announce that Michael Broderick has accepted a spot as the newest member of the Helicopter Maintenancemagazine advisory board. We thank Mike for agreeing to join the board, and look forward to working with him.

Broderick started his aviation career in 1969 when he enrolled in A&P courses at Glendale College, in Glendale, CA. He graduated in 1971 with an AS degree in aviation, and received his A&P that same year. He began working at an engine overhaul company, Aviation Power Supply Inc., that year, and within 18 months had progressed through the organization from technician, to supervisor, to QA supervisor and into customer/technical support for the Allison (now Rolls-Royce) 250 turbo-shaft engine.

 

In the succeeding years Broderick has been in customer/technical support and sales for various companies for the RR 250, Turbomeca and Pratt & Whitney helicopter engine lines. He has also worked in a helicopter FBO/145 repair station (Rotorcraft Support Inc.) He briefly participated in joint ownership of a Part 145/RR 250 overhaul facility, which was combined with an MD Helicopter Service Center/Component Overhaul Facility (Heli-Turbine and Heli-Dyne). Over his career, he has been trained and worked on MD, Bell and Eurocopter AS350 helicopters.

Broderick is currently employed at Helicopter Engine Repair Overhaul Services Inc. (H.E.R.O.S. Inc.) as the vice-president of Business Development.

Broderick will take Daniel (Danny) Green’s place on the board. Danny has asked to step down due to new responsibilities he has taken on at his company that have limited the amount of time he can spend on the board. We thank Danny for the time he has spent on the advisory board and wish him well in his endeavors.

Looking forward to 2014, we expect continued growth for Helicopter Maintenancemagazine. We realize that one way to expand readership of Helicopter Maintenanceis through digital formats. We are pleased to announce that apps are now available for Helicopter Maintenancemagazine in the Apple App Store for iOS devices (iPad, iPad Mini, iPhone and iPod Touch) and in Google Play for Android tablets and phones. These apps are free, and available by simply searching for “Helicopter Maintenancemagazine” in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Thes apps have been launched in an effort to increase the worldwide availability and distribution of our editorial content. The magazine content is COMPLETE in the apps — all editorial and advertising that is in the print publication is available in the apps.

There will be a few enhancements in the apps as well, including videos and links to websites in editorial and advertisements. Another benefit to downloading the free apps is that the digital issue of the magazine will be available before it arrives in your mailbox!

Thanks for reading and have a safe and prosperous New Year!

— Joe Escobar