As the only industry events exclusively dedicated to rotorcraft maintenance, the upcoming Vertical MRO Conferences — set to take place in Kelowna, British Columbia, and Irving, Texas — promise to deliver a top-tier educational experience tailored specifically for the rotorcraft MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) sector — which is absolutely critical to the industry.
From OEM technical briefings to education sessions on components and parts management, rotor track & balance, human factors and much more, each presentation has been thoughtfully planned to ensure the most value for MRO professionals.
The Kelowna and Irving conferences will each feature at least 20 curated education sessions, many of which qualify for Transport Canada recurrent training and FAA Inspection Authorization (IA) renewal credit. Sessions will be presented by seasoned professionals, including OEM reps, technical experts, and industry thought leaders. To maximize accessibility for attendees, most topics will be offered multiple times throughout the Kelowna and Irving events and will not coincide with exhibit floor hours.
In addition to a top-notch lineup of education sessions, technical updates will be provided by Airbus, Bell, Leonardo, Robinson, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, and Safran Helicopter Engines — with a few others still to be confirmed.
“Our goal is to deliver sessions that not only elevate professional skillsets, but also provide accredited learning opportunities,” said Leslie Ferry, MHM Publishing/Vertical MRO event director. “We’re proud to offer training that supports Transport Canada and FAA standards while also creating space for industry connection and leadership growth.”
To enhance interactivity, sessions will incorporate live polling and Q&A via mobile device, encouraging attendees to engage with speakers and peers. Moreover, since all sessions are to be scheduled outside of exhibit hours, attendees can take full advantage of both educational and networking opportunities without having to choose between the two.
“When I was asked to present at the Vertical MRO Conference, I didn’t have to think twice,” said Chris Matt, PHI MRO technical sales leader, who will present a session on corrosion at both the Kelowna and Irving conferences. “Having an event dedicated to the helicopter MRO community is something that’s been greatly needed in the industry for a while now. I’m excited for this opportunity to share what I’ve learned in my 36-plus years of maintaining helicopters, and just as excited to hear from fellow maintainers!”
James Simmons, general manager at Avolatus LLC — who will be presenting three different sessions at the Irving conference — shared, “Supporting the Vertical MRO Conference is an easy decision for me; it’s an opportunity to bring real-world leadership, compliance, and safety practices to the people doing the work that keep aircraft airworthy. These conferences are where our industry comes together not just to talk about problems, but to share solutions. I’m honored to be a part of that.”
The full lineup of education sessions for the Kelowna and Irving conferences will be released on the Vertical MRO Conference website in the coming weeks.
Registration for the Kelowna conference is slated to open on May 5, with Irving to follow later in the month; visit verticalmro.com and verticalmag.com for updates.
For those interested in exhibiting at the Kelowna and/or Irving shows, there are limited spaces remaining. Find the application for exhibit space at the Kelowna conference here, and Irving here. Should you have any questions, please contact Leslie Ferry at leslie.ferry@mhmpub.com or at (817) 455-5569.
