On 2 May, AHS International presented Jean Boulet with the John J. Schneider Historical Achievement Award. Jean Boulet is a former Eurocopter test pilot who still holds the world altitude record (all categories) of 12,442 meters, established at the controls of a Lama helicopter on 21 June 1972.

The award honors Jean Boulet for his personal involvement and his work as a historian. He is the author of “History of the Helicopter from 1907-1956 as Told by its Pioneers”, a book which records for posterity the history of this odd-looking machine that flies vertically.

The Hong Kong Government Flying Service (GFS) was honored with the “USCG Award” in recognition of a rescue operation in which it saved 91 lives in August 2006.

The rescue was carried out by an AS332 L2 Super Puma in high-risk conditions while a typhoon raged over the South China Sea (see Rotor Journal No. 69). The award is a tribute to the professionalism and courage of the crews, who put their own lives at risk to successfully complete the operation.