Vertical Aviation International (VAI) is pleased to announce the candidates for this year’s election to the VAI Board of Directors. Each director elected will serve a term of three years beginning on Jul. 1, 2025.

Candidates for the two open seats in the VAI Operator Member, Commercial/Private—Small membership category subclassification:

• Chris Baur
Hughes Aerospace Corporation
The Woodlands, Texas, USA

• Jan Becker
Becker Helicopters Pilot Academy
Marcoola, Queensland, Australia

• Michael Furmanski
Zephyr Systems Inc.
Jackson, Michigan, USA

• Raj Helweg
Archer Aviation
San Jose, California, USA

• Michael R. Jones
Whirlwind Aviation
Frederick, Maryland, USA

• Aaron Singer
Seaplane & Aero Adventures
Mill Valley, California, USA

Candidates for the two open seats in the VAI Operator Member, Commercial/Private—Medium-Sized membership category subclassification:

• Marcus Burr
Mountain West Helicopters
Provo, Utah, USA

• Steven Martorano
PLUS North America, Inc.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

• David McColl
LiveWire Aviation
Homosassa, Florida, USA

• Brandi Rector
Semper Fly Helicopters
Norman, Oklahoma, USA

Candidates for the one open seat in the VAI Operator Member, Government Service membership category subclassification:

• Stephen Lee
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA

• Mark Wegele
Salt River Project
Tempe, Arizona, USA

Electronic election ballots will be distributed to membership representatives of vertical aircraft operator members beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (If you are a vertical aircraft operator member in good standing and would like to verify who is listed as your company’s membership representative, please email saraha@verticalavi.org and teresaf@verticalavi.org.) The election ballot will include additional information regarding each candidate.

The online election site will close at 8:00 am central time (UTC-5) on Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2025.