ROTARY PEOPLE
Helicopter industry pioneer Keith Harvey, who began a life-long career in rotorblade manufacturing and repair building Sikorsky R4 tailblades when still at college, passed away at the age of 80 on 22 April. Harvey went on to set up Composite Technology Inc ... David Dixon, former Chairman of the UK Helicopter Board of Examiners, passed away on 11 May ... The Bristow Group has announced the appointment of Merra Sikka as vice-president Global Business Development, to succeed Mark Duncan who has taken up the position of senior vice-president Western Hemisphere. Ms Sikka has spent the last 10 years in commercial management positions with affiliates of Royal Dutch Shell ... FlightSafety has named Amparo Calatayud as manager of its new helicopter learning centre in Lafayette, Lousisiana, due to open this autumn. Ms Calatayud was previously assistant manager at the company's Dallas/Fort Worth training facility ... FlightSafety has also promoted Barbara Taylor to manager of its Bell Helicopter learning centre ... Rolls-Royce has confirmed Ken Roberts as its new President - Helicopter Engines, replacing Scott Crislip who left the company suddenly late last year. Roberts, was previously Executive Vice-President of Helicopters for the company ... Kaman Corporation has appointed John Sorensen as Vice President and Treasurer, succeeding Russell Jones who retired on 31 March. Sorensen was previously with the Visant Corporation, a $1.2 billion private equity company. The Avidyne Corporation has named Robin Higby as vice president sales and marketing ... The American Helicopter Society has anounced its 2008 Awards programme. Recipients include Abraham Karem, designer of the optimum speed rotor concept used on the Boeing A160 Hummingbird and the Joint Heavy Lift tiltrotor project, Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodill in recognition of their polar world circumnavigation flight, Pietro Alli for his achievements in integrating the AgustaWestland engineering function in the UK and Italy, and Elfan Ap Rees in recognition of his achievement in encouraging appreciation of and enhancing access to the history and legacy of vertical flight aircraft...Louis Chnevert has succeeded George David as Chief Executive Officer of United Technologies Corporation. Chnevert was previously head of UTC subsidiary Pratt & Whitney.