Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

Writer

Thierry Dubois

Five years after the collapse of the Helicopter Association of Australia (HAA), the Australian helicopter industry is working on creating a new lobbying association. The current objective is to launch the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) at the Avalon Air Show 2013, which will open on February 26. The helicopter industry Down Under is now growing at an annual rate of 11.4 percent.
The AHIA is being formed “to help an industry with growing pains,” said Rob Rich, who is behind the effort. He cites a need to seek “training and business opportunities for Australian companies in Asian countries” and the “disaffection by key players about long delays and inefficiencies with the civil aviation safety authority’s (CASA) pilot licensing and examination systems” as obstructions to the development of the nation’s helicopter industry.
The nonprofit AHIA will provide a wider coverage of the industry than its predecessor, which was “basically a pilots’ association,” according to Rich. The more expensive and technically advanced helicopters that are entering service and the logistical and technical support industry that has developed in the country have created a need for an association that covers wider issues. 
One local rotary-wing specialty is cattle mustering. Almost half of Australia’s helicopters operate in mustering, and despite the fact that the season for the segment runs only from late March to October in most areas, mustering accounts for more hours than any other helicopter application. One issue up for discussion within the fledgling association will be the proposed imposition of a local carbon tax, which operators fear will have a significant impact on cattle mustering. 
The HAA is said to have disappeared because of the 2008 financial crisis, which came at a time when HAA executives tried to change the business model by employing salaried staff.

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