Helicopter Associations
- The Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) began on October 16, 1943 to coincide with the initiation of the first helicopter into the Naval inventory. The NHA has over 2600 members with a mission to enhance the profession of right-wing aviation in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, recognize excellence and establish a cooperative vision of the future between the armed forces. Members of the NHA are retired officers from the Armed Forces. The non-profit group offers national and regional awards to those who have be integral to the goals of the organization as well as scholarships to high school and college students. To join, log on to the NHA Web site and click "Join" under the Members heading.
- The American Helicopter Society (AHS) is also known as The Vertical Flight Technical Society. The AHS focuses its efforts to further engineering professionalism to expand the many industries that rely on helicopters and other rotocraft machines. The group tries to benefit engineers and technicians in both the military and private sector. Likewise, the organization is open to members of the armed forces or academia, and those who work in management and engineering fields. The AHS publishes several publications a year including the Vertiflite Magazine and the Journal of the American Helicopter Society.
- Helicopter Association International sponsors the largest annual helicopter trade show HELI-Expo. The organization's mission is to enhance safety and to promote professionalism in the advancement of vertical flight. The association is diverse, offering member benefits to individuals, helicopter manufacturing and repair, as well as to those interested in all things aviation. In addition to the HELI-Expo, they publish ROTOR magazine about updates in the field and provide a job search feature on its website. Helicopter Association International was founded in 1948 and offers three levels of membership.
- the USMC/Combat Helicopter Association is also known as "Pop-A-Smoke." There term dates back to the smoke signals that USMC Vietnam helicopter pilots would light to signify to other that they were a downed crew. The association's mission is to promote camaraderie among Marine helicopter pilots who have flown during a war. The organization offers two levels of membership: one for those who flew in combat, and one for those who are interested in the subject, including writers and other Marine personnel. The organization sponsor a reunion every two years for its more than 5700 members. The USMC/Combat Helicopter Association also offers scholarships for the children and grandchildren of Marine Helicopter pilots.