Helicopters Rescue Stranded Grand Canyon Tourists

The Associated Press reports that helicopters have rescued over 250 people stranded in Grand Canyon after severe flooding struck the area. The Arizona Republic reports that the village of Supai, home of the Havasupai Tribe, was devastated by the flood and major repairs will be required. The Arizona Republic article says: "getting workers and supplies to the rim of the Grand Canyon will be difficult; getting them to the bottom even more so. The only way to the village, one of the only places in the country where mail is still delivered by mule, is a 9-mile hike or a 10-minute helicopter ride."

People often forget why helicopters were there to rescue people in the first place, and why they will be there to rebuild Supai village when the Havasupai Tribe needs their help. It is not like there are fleets of helicopters sitting on the ground at the Grand Canyon waiting for the opportunity to rescue flood victims and transport materials down into the Canyon. No, the helicopters are able to exist at Grand Canyon by flying tourists over the Canyon on air tours. Were it not for that fact, 250 lives would have been in jeopardy, and the Havasupai Tribe would face the complexity and expense of bringing in helicopters from elsewhere in order to rebuild their village.

This is an example of a time when the helicopter industry needs to be on the public relations offensive. Helicopter Association International (HAI) is a wonderful organization that does many great things to promote and protect the industry. But one must question why HAI has not issued a single press release concerning this event? The time to tell this story is not at the next Congressional hearing concerning proposed regulations governing helicopter operations. The time to tell the story is now when it is fresh, and most importantly, when it is newsworthy.

Helicopters save lives and rebuild communities after disasters. That is a message that the industry needs to convey over and over and over again on a real time basis. It will then be against that backdrop that "the court of public opinion" will judge the value of helicopters to society when addressing noise and safety concerns. The industry cannot afford to miss out on public relations building opportunities like the one presented at the Grand Canyon, but it appears that it did.