How the Helicopter Industry is Harnessing AI

Home » How the Helicopter Industry is Harnessing AI

TOP STORY

Artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to make its way into almost every facet of aviation, from maintenance prediction and scheduling to operations. In the rotary industry, even the smallest operators are embracing some form of AI to support their businesses. As AI becomes increasingly prevalent, the question for helicopter operators is no longer “Should we use AI?” but instead, “How do we use AI in a way that is safe, legally sound, and doesn’t break our people?”

How the helicopter industry is harnessing AI – Vertical Mag

Decisions

Appeal, application to strike, jurisdiction – WestJet v. Paul Gauthier, et al., 2026 CanLII 23217 (SCC)

Proposed class action against WestJet and Air Canada regarding additional charges on international flights for extra seating or space required to accommodate disabilities – Court of Appeal for British Columbia (BC) affirmed Supreme Court of BC’s decision to dismiss WestJet’s application to strike claim for lack of jurisdiction and failure of pleadings to disclose reasonable cause of action – application by WestJet for leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada dismissed

Workers’ compensation, denial of benefits, delayed reporting – Decision No. 1210/25, 2026 ONWSIAT 36

Claim for benefits by station attendant with shoulder injury – worker filed claim 4 months after sustaining injury – Appeals Resolution Officer denied benefits for lack of proof of accident and compatibility between diagnosis and accident history – worker appealed – proof of accident established – symptoms consistent with disablement type injury which emerges gradually over time – claim filed within 6-month statutory time limit – appeal allowed – issues of accident date and benefits remitted to WSIB

Workers’ compensation, suspension of benefits, travel – Air Canada et Hunter, 2026 QCTAT 1025

Claim for benefits by station attendant with wrist injury – employer sought suspension of benefits after worker travelled by plane against doctor’s recommendations and again after worker failed to attend alternate assignment while out of the country – both applications denied by Commission – employer appealed – medical information showed plane travel risked aggravating injury and delaying recovery – no alternate assignment in place when worker left the country – appeal allowed in part – Tribunal suspended benefits for travel days only

CIRB Decisions

Bargaining unit order – GardaWorld Security Screening Inc. – Order No. 12163-U

USW certified to be bargaining agent for unit comprising “all employees of GardaWorld Security Screening Inc. working as pre-board screening officers, security checkpoint coordinators and security screening trainers at the Kuujjuaq Airport, excluding security service managers and those above the rank of security service manager”

CTA News and Decisions

Application – Black Sheep Helicopters Ltd. – Determination No. A-2026-42

Application for licence to operate a domestic service, small aircraft – license issued

Application – WestJet – Determination No. A-2026-43

Application for licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, between Canada and the Republic of Fiji – license issued subject to conditions

Application – WestJet – Determination No. A-2026-44

Application for licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, between Canada and New Zealand – license issued subject to conditions

Application – Meridian Air Group, Inc. – Determination No. A-2026-45

Application for cancellation of Licence 020113 – license cancelled

Suspension – Chrysler Aviation, Inc. – Order No. 2026-A-S-31

Licence 200024 – reinstated effective March 16, 2026

Suspension – Eclipse Helicopters Ltd. – Order No. 2026-A-S-33

Licence 962087 – reinstated effective March 16, 2026

Suspension – Crow Executive Air, Inc. – Order No. 2026-A-S-34

Licence 967746

Suspension – Chairman Airmotive II, LLC – Order No. 2026-A-S-38

Licence 230078

TC/TSB News

Industry Association News