As the worldwide helicopter community once again gathers for its annual get-together, it does so under a new name: Verticon. Likewise, another yearly event has taken on a new title. In 2024, Signia Aerospace acquired Goodrich Hoist & Winch from Collins Aerospace and rebranded it as Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch. What did not change was the commitment of the hoist division to its customers. That dedication was on display at the 2025 Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch Operator Conference held the weekend before the Verticon 2025 opened its doors.
“Every year, we hold our hoist operators conference to discuss best practices, lessons learned, new technologies, and topics in the hoisting community,” said Nick Demogines, director of business development for Onboard Systems. “It is really about supporting our hoist operator community, providing a forum for open discussions, and networking. This year we had over 200 attendees, our largest attendance to date, and it was the first conference with our new company Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch.”
“Helicopter mission equipment is what we do,” said Mike Fox, VP of sales and marketing at Signia Aerospace Mission Systems. “There couldn’t be a better fit for Hoist & Winch, and we’re proud to bring it under the Onboard Systems brand, which has a stellar reputation for performance and support.”
This approach to supporting the global hoisting community was evident in the lineup of speakers that Onboard Systems had throughout the two-day event. Leaders from airborne agencies from around the globe gave in-depth views into their aircraft, equipment, and operations. These included Jason Vanbuskirk from Miami Dade Fire Rescue, Cory Rowland of HeliService USA, Andrew Baity from the Virginia State Police Aviation, Kane Reloar with Life Saving Victoria (Australia), and Simon Kremser of NHC (Northern Helicopter, Germany).
Also from a global perspective is the ESPN-R (European Safety Promotion Network – Rotorcraft). The updates to this non-partisan approach to safety recommendations were presented by Alex Weissenboeck of Airbus and Julien Eymard from Leonardo.
There were several presenters offering hoist training experiences and strategies, including Jason Quinn from The Real ResQ Podcast discussing harbor pilot transfers, Charley Shimanski of ICAR (International Commission for Alpine Rescue) breaking down hoist accidents, Air Rescue UK’s Trevor Abraham talking about advances in SAR work in Ireland, and Bristow’s Kim Germishuys talk on the need for continued training.
Oliver Kreuzer from Air Zermatt in Switzerland returned to the event to speak on dynamic hoisting and how to avoid spins, while Rob Munday and Dave Callen from SR3 covered pilot training in hoist operations. Dave Weber spoke about the need to “fail forward” and the importance of responding to failure during training and actual operations followed by Ryan Hurrell of Babcock MCS Australia breaking down global datasets on rescues and how these numbers can affect the work in the field.
Dylan Avatar presented an alternative approach to rescues, as he was the victim of a horrific wing-suit parachute crash in 2023. Were it not for the capabilities of the Pinal County, Arizona, SAR team and its hoist-equipped helicopter, he would not be alive to tell his riveting story.
The long-awaited Pegasus next-generation hoist from Onboard Systems is approaching the finish line. Technical fellow Bejan Maghsoodi provided background on the development and testing, as well as the latest updates to the program. The final design appears to be set on the proper three-person hoist that will operate at twice the speed, carry 668 lb. (303 kg) of load, and utilize a dual non-explosive cable cutter, all configured around a 117 lb. (53 kg) modular design. Pegasus is on track for completion and submission for certification in 2026, with entry into the market expected in 2027.
The conference concluded with the presentation of the Hoist Rescue of the Year award, which went to Germany’s ADAC Heliservice for an event that involved the successful removal of a pilot from a small plane that had crashed into the top of a tree canopy. The pilot was uninjured, but with concerns over the stability of the aircraft in the tree, a helicopter rescue was conducted.
Signia and Onboard Systems continue to maintain their allegiance to the hoist community as part of a group of companies whose core competency is the design, production, and support of helicopter mission-specific equipment. With that goal, the annual hoist and winch conference will continue to be integral to their agenda. It will return during the weekend leading up to Verticon 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
