Bell Helicopter Lifetime Achievement

Alvin S. Trenk, Chairman, Air Pegasus Heliport, Inc.

It is an honor to nominate Alvin S. Trenk for this year's Bell Helicopter Lifetime Achievement Award. No other individual has worked so hard or accomplished so much to establish, build, support and protect the Helicopter industry in the Eastern Region of the United States.

Alvin Trenk has been a dreamer, a lover of flight and an entrepreneur for all of his 86 years. He earned a Private Pilot Rotorcraft Certificate in 1976 which changed his life, his career and his focus to Vertical Flight.

He was largely responsible for introducing the Agusta 109 aircraft to the US civil aviation market in the late 1970's. But, more importantly, he has clearly demonstrated excellence in management and leadership as the primary actor in the development of the Rotorcraft segment of the aviation industry in both the metropolitan New York and Washington, DC areas.

As the founder and Principal of Air Pegasus Heliport, Al re-opened the W30th Street heliport in 1980 when virtually no one (except perhaps for his valued friend, Matt Zuccaro) had the vision to support the fledgling helicopter market in NY. He went on to build it into one of the busiest heliports in the world.

In 1998, after more than five years of tireless effort, Al succeeded in re-opening the South Capitol Street heliport in Washington, DC. To this day, the only public use heliport in our Nation's Capital.

He has kept the West 30th Street heliport operating 24/7/365 since its opening 35 years ago. After 9/11, with no revenue ops or even the prospect of resuming normal activity, he continued 24/7 service just for the myriad of government agencies who were still flying in support of the crisis and national security. Air Pegasus and its extraordinary team of dedicated professionals also provided THE staging point for reconnaissance operations throughout the city and the region.

Al has worked tirelessly with the industry, as well as local, state and federal lawmakers to enable the New York heliports and their operators to continue to operate unfettered. He was responsible for gaining the support and consensus of all the NY tour operators in order to redirect traffic away from the East River and move routes to the Hudson River to minimize community impact and satisfy local political interests.

He continues to fight indefatigably, in service to the International Helicopter Community to support the growth and prosperity of the industry in the Nation's Financial Capital while political interests and community groups regularly attack its operations and operators.

As a founding principal of Liberty Helicopters, he was a pioneer of the Helicopter Tour Industry in NY in the early 1980's and has actively supported growth of the industry. He has worked closely with international aircraft manufacturers to improve the safety and performance of their products. Al helped establish the TOPS program and the Fly Neighborly campaign as an active member of HAI. An outspoken advocate for safety throughout his career, Al was involved in the

creation of and along with Air Pegasus and Liberty, has been a strong supporter of the ERHC since its founding.

For all of the above reasons and many more, it is with an abundance of pride that I nominate my father, Al Trenk, for this year's Bell Helicopter Lifetime Achievement Award to salute his excellence in management and leadership and his long and significant service to the international helicopter community.

Nomination Submitted By Steven L. Trenk, Director, Air Pegasus Heliport, Inc.

t e r v ew

An Interview with Ah'in x. Trenk. l'rcsidcl1l <l1U1Chief Exccuth:t, libert)' Hetlceptcrs, New \'urk

~ -- - COMPANY BRIEF '-'ollilded in 1')8'>, Lit)-ertv Helicopters IS the Im:I!,i':$/ bcltcaptcr-"I,!!,hfseeing and -cbarter sen-tee ill (benortheast United Slates and {be onlyautbortzcd beltcopter-siglnsectng COIU-

pany in Neto York TI:x:[irrn protJides hothcharter services and six tlUJerem toursover the island, oriumanngfrom tbe VIPHeliport on Manbattan's t\'les! Side and(he Oounuonm Manhattan Neliporl 011tbe East Riuer. lis fleet o/A11Icrica!1 Euro-copter craft offers state-of-the-art safetyfeatures and luxurious amenities. suchas beat and atr-condtnontnu. as 1L'(.d1asextended cabs tbat seat up to senen }U/$"-

sengers each.

EDITORS' NOrE Ax sessing the singularma rtret pt acc post uon of (be firm-befounded 18 years ap,o.. President andCtnef Executiue All'in Trcntz contendsthat "tbere are scocrat distinct reasonsit/by tee're used more frequemtv than an)'otber helicopler company. " The [irst, bernatnt ai ns. is {hal t.tbert v Helicoptersopertlf(t~- '.1lI beticopters; iotsttc our IW"f.,JCSIcompetitor bas onl)'.1," and as sncb. "toecrmfulJW l!f'ery' mission." In addtuou. ,11{'company has "more sJale-oIth('.ro·'equipment tban an)' other opera/or" andIS "1.l'elJknown" for "{be (1lItllity 0/01lrsertnce .. But most irnportantly, (be prea-dent and chiefexecutiues~ the finndijJerenliales haser' on -us safety andsecurity measures - a .d~ificanJ sellingpoiW jor all jJas\'engers lotiay For, tbe[ac ( is. "there :,'sim/)(l' no fJ!D1IiJpr errorm tbc operation or mairltl!lIarJc!f bJ beti-copters or lUI), arrcraft. "And as t1!if! mrm-))~,,.orpost-ot t t tranetcrs continues tuescalate. Trent: concludes. "uw wJ.'t! grealprtae in the [act that W(!'l'(.' had tbe bestJlfp,ht find gmllp oper(.l(iom safetv recordin the countrv ..

A form,:,. Korean ","0' I'f/u/ untb ctIIfc!m~~{(WI! n/}ll'inj{. Trent: f(lunded I.I/J.er/~1IJt!I"-'flfJll'r~ m 191'<5Ill' is nlso /beon-ncr of Air J'1rga,\u,\ Ih(, compauv 1"(1/

ru".\ VII' / 1l'{i{JlJrl, ,Jw untv bdi{Jo,-' ill.l-ta1t!u,UUm "JUI (, ojlf!1l ~-I iJoII'" (I (/(111,set-err dove n fl'tl1:k

Executives wbo visit New York Ciryoften need 10 visit other nearbycities, such as Washington. DC.Heftcoptera have become a very pop·ular mode of transport for such busi-ness excursions. What makes UbertyHelicopters the right choice forglobe-trorring execu lives?

There art' several di:.linn reasonswhy we 'I'!..' used more frt.'<luemJ} Ih:1Jl :Hly(IIher helicopter company. The !Ir:;t i-, lli;u\H· npernre 10 helh"oJ1It;'L", while tnll"large~, rompetrcr h:L....only 2. sccorul. wecan fulfill every mission. while the ...malh-roperators reach their capa(·jfY vno.: rhcvhave only rwo joh ...gUlIlg. nUL ,110...c lac-tors are onl}' rhc bL:~l.nnill!-\ of our (.001"

peurtve (.1.lgc \Xr\· aJ:.(l have- more -uuc-ot-rhc-art equlpntcur than :Iny othe-r ope-ra-tor .. In today's helic-opter Inrtu ....try. rbcrcsa trend (I )wMd upgrading In new craftknown as quiet helicopters. In our fleel or10, we already have 4 of (helle qurer heli ..~coplC"fS, while none of our competltorseve-n t)a;--. I. ~.-. ~

.",., .. "'.. _ .... ---{o ~dditl()n. we're wet! known for our

pUIKwalilv - something th:1t"s very impor-1.,1111 ro :c;ehior execvuves. Plus, 1fie 'have aWe:!' repl~ '!9f;~1ll!IiI!I.YWllU' <er.vn'c. im-ludmg ~(t)lJnd 1r.IJI:-;plln~lIioll (ltlboth ends of the trip; rntcring, if m·n.~~-....ary: aiul m{)~1 lmportaru, .salelY anti scru-rity Furthermore. we "PCf';lI(: (lU! of IlleVIP Ildlpo,.,. IlK· finly ht:hj"lllr! 1ll M;mh:lt-ran !I·1:tl·~open 2,) hn~U":-.:t day. "cn:n d:I~':'o;1 wrc-k If you \\.";)j\! 10 1:1kl' 011 nf 1:1I1i1 in a

ill,:Ii(,Oj1!Cf' lit ~(.v. Ylld, t'1I" .1!iCI l·J.!dt!

(I'dock tu nl.~lu ~lIldlx-inn' '>l'\('n (1\ lo! hin {he monling, \'1 (II) '.I.t:L"kclKb," ,1111111 ....1cornc In our hdiJ)lIr! 1111\'(:1.;"" )llIh "llfn Iand the Hudson RIVer l\IH {PJlH1(1l'llth,h's (he bu;:.k'!)1hdipo/'f In rhc WI Irlll

And you also provide varioussightseeing tours over ManhattaJl.

That's "correct. \\ie have nne 1)1thel:.trgl'~l hcttc-uptcr urur opcr.uurn .....H)Amertra. \X/hile rounsru III i\'C\\ Y(U"f., lu...been down ~tJb.-.q~.Ifltlally-;in( 1...' 9/11. It ' -,

staffing to <:0011(:' back IH)\\. :Ultl the ..c{Ours an: ;l very important dr;J\\ for (01'

cign tourists.You mentioned the importance

of safety and security - a concern forvlrtually every passenger today. Whatspecific safety features docs LibertyHelicopters offer to its customers?

Then: :U·I.:~I number of dclll('t"II:-, Ih:l1(OIllC rogerhcr to creme the s',lfc 0PC(;I-lion 1)1an atn mfr. Fir~l, of ("OU0,-,C.I... IIl1.;aircrAr H"c..:tr~ II must he ~I hJgh·qu:tlil~mac-hine. Sc,·ond. :rnd )U'-i! a" tmponanr.th(': mairucnancc Ilf lilt' niu-rah 11<1:--. to i")('superb. The fact b. ainraf 111<.1111('11;111("1..·

HHI!-'i alw:lY:-' he O:lwk-:-;.~becnu ....C, while ;1""

anon l~ lusrorictllv vrrv safc. us aho \enunfnrgi\'illg ·rht.·I:!...:·...... imply no rornu fnrerror in rhc npt.'r:1I111nor mmrucn.uice {Ifhclb-oprer-, rrr :H1V am-raft. Hnallv, IhLn.'·~

the ntauc-r ot ...ak1r 1)11uu: grnull;1. PeopleIf;wdin~ 111hdicnr{l'rS em POI('lllhlt\' be;11 risk if they're mu properly h:mdkt't {~n(he ground ur properly c« IlI'let! II) :11)1]

from the aln-rafr. At tllwny !khnlpH:rs.\\L' take we:H pndc In !h.l' f:1Cllita( \\«:\.1...hat! the best nigh.t ;Uld group opt.;r.l(.lon~safety record in rhc country,

00 you have your owo matnte-Rance faciJity?

Yr». our malntvn.unc Llnlll," I....illNL'\\' jcr ...cv. !,·s. upcu 2·, hour, a J~l"t$t",YeI1 daysa .wcci(. ""AU of mrr nircrnft ~(I

oock t()A';t ·h;(;\~:\;··-in l~iudl'll, N(.·\,· _le!""'l·\.which i:-. al}tJIII 2fl11ll1L"" ;;'Olll!IW(·:-.1 Ilf .\ttIl·haunn. Tlu' :l!rn~lh :11c-"cfvh"l_·d ,mil m;.U1\

1;lint:d Ihcll! l'\·L·r\ C\crntl,l.l, .nul 111\'\,'1"(·r(,;ltly fIji" 1)I"Il'I--;'IIIIII I)~ -·5tJ ,1\(' i~'I!t)W"I,1J.

nH11"lliog.Why do )'HII u...c only Euroceprer

alrcram

riJ

,ttfl!.ch III !II ..· 1(lIflnl "'I ,IIl"" 11I H, 'lid v

\\pr!.; cl ~,'II],."1.: tlltlll ...,lIhf...:.u! ,111' !.ill'\ lldlt'npll'r gnlt·!,tih \1;1··.. 1 l,i/l~~t· I,!

lx-rwcen .!. :11\11 I lInlll'. "I .'lOtI uuk ....hUIII dl)l'''l!', rn.d"l':--' 'fJ"'C II) I:II.;\.· ;1 IH 'ht , '1'1\',..!'io 01 5110 nuk-. :I\V;I}', hll 111... 1,1I1t t", \\t'

(',)111<.1 n~10 \\'.I"ihill}..:IOII, 1)( ,Ind 1",1n'

111(; .III·U·;I(' tlu-r c- illI tln- III xt 1U ...IIII\1I r\\1'1(\ \\-JIII -, 10! 1III\(: h,1I k 1', '\;,'\\. 't(,d~Ihm\.'v(;f. p\.'HI'I~· tI.'v ltvlll ,,!,I,')''' 1.1Ig_,·1-,b\.'(~IU"'t.' tlu- 11'.1\,' 1IIIll' , ... HIII(!J "!I(JII' Irh.u r Ih:1I ,,! .orpJ:tlIV"', "'1) lilt" ,.10 gelxouu-whvrc III a hurry 11.1 1)1.:1'-,"11 fll'l.'<h10gel from !\l'\\' 'tlld, Ul~ III lI,ml(nd,C;.'111!t"1 (II IIf, In 1,1) nunun- .... \\(.'. ,til doIh,lI [uu nOI If t uu Itdit IIpl\." I'" "Jillng ,If ,IIh:I1I1o\11 HI \'\'.I,ljln~.(IIHI. 1)(, It tll:tl', llh'I.~"'I.· rln- (11"'CIII1I\.·1 might ,,,", we-ll dn\'.· 4'1'

11~,Y'lllIlWI< uili' to I Lmflltcl,How did you come UI) with the

name of your cnmp~ul)'?\,\rl..~U.I h;I\'1..'H\.II " 111ljl:lIlk, ,'\11'Pc:.p-

SlL'I ;md I!lJcl'I\ 11~·!IIIJPtl·I"'. l.rlx.rt v lh-h-

cop{<"r" ('jH'J.I!I: t!«: ht:!1\ IIPI~:I~, .Hld :\11Pt·g.l<.,u .... ,)p<:nllt: 1IH..·VII' Ildlp, In I 1:11) {~1.11111:lIli grl ,I( gl'lHU~ \\ hell 11 r r uuc .....{I'n,lnllll~ l tbcrtv I klu·oplt.,. ... Tht· h"~I.Hili!' ...w c dId 15 ~1..':Il"" .tgo \H'I .....l!lp ...;!!"Hlnd \11\.'"i1:IIUC {If l.ilx-rtv , '11. II "'~:L'I!l\,:(lltk~' ,\ ltlgl,',Ii 1\:11111..: !\\} ,lin,:;ll {I)llth Ilfl)rdlt.II),"·

tlll..·rl..~ A ... hu .\11' Pq.~,j"'ll"" tn~ t lukh cu .gr:tndt hddr rn, ;llld 1 .m- III'r"'ch.1I " Jldn'\,.\'(. :11\v;I~'" hl'lll ,1')''>1.'1\ :1'''01 1:1(1'11 \\11 II

hot .....·..., :lIld J'q: .,hl..I" h:III.1 p\'I"tln:11inll;f(.~t III :1!rpl.ulL''\, I \\:1'" In tlu- \0 J'qrn'dunng 1!1~' .....')I·l,':1I1 \\ .tr. Jilt! 1'\<.' .11\1..1\'

hlltl :t 111\'1..' .,r thlllg '''''1 lh~'Pl,'.l!,hll'"'{'cIlH,'d ltkl.·.1 n:IIIII':11 ..,\Jll}),,1 .III1\1illl.tl

l·r\·:Huf\.· th.u CIII !h Ilkl..,.1 pl.!ill.'. hot I, ,,1J,.,-,;lI)d Jllll~ hb..';1 lh11.'l·.

And dn you ha\'(" will~~ on yourhecb. l.ike Iht.' mylhk :\It:rcu,.y?

1m 11111 \\\.'.11 Ill}! Ih,) ~> !oId,l\ •

\\ 1..' U"'I..' four dlfflT~'nl IlHldl.'l:-. (If .111'-

.-rart. .urcl :\U \lftlh:m .m- rn:IIHlf.l ..:ttlrl..'d II,'liur, In )ph,:r "l it.· i:l~I '''. FIII'nl..\ ipu,-r 1)1:lkl..·..;

rhv bt .....t ~llI;tbt\ ;1 I r ...r.tll and the t;~t."'H::--1ill"t(!nl)l.,.':--uinuuntaln wilh 111(' lcre-r down,umc. So nul' e-nure 111.:t:1I~ nunh- bv EUfI)',Hph;'r and ;C"''''l.'Lllhlt:d hl..Tt.' in r!11..··I·I\1tcd

~Clll..·:-.h; .1 ...uh-'ll.l1.lt;' \.< IJllP.ln.~. Amcru .uthlnll.(I\,ILT. \\hlcll , ... L·...:-t.'!lrJ,llh' u consor-J n IIII I}ei\\ \.1..'11 llk' linn lPI..'~1I1l,'Il!npJn~ nm l,ln \JI1.;"fll.ll\ :-:r, 'II\) ...ioc C w c ...rarn .:d lll!~

hU"'1I1t"'" :ilnUl", 1.tl vc.u-, :tgll, wc'vv I..t:"'l.'dttvc-u :111'I"',lft c vc-lu ...:\t.:h. \\ hic h I rhink,,1'1.. -, 11, ... tor \111..' qu.llil\ .uul pt:rlllnn;IIlI.C or

mv Ill.h huu-v11\ fact. )'0\1 own and fly a Euro-

cop rer }'uur!'fclf. I imagine that also~f>eaks very wet! for their machines,

Ihit' -, corrert. I'm :1 pilnl mvsclf and! ,'WI"I dll \lIlt'tll':J.t1 l-urcx-opu-r CC I~(in,\\hl,!t \" ('I\e III the- filUi' "t;IIL'-11I ..rho-antn. }til,:!'" \\1..' l\"I\C in our fk:t.'1, I wouldu lll}·II IJ I didn't fl.:d rtr.u il was fhe ht'''!ma~binc in the air.

It Inu~1 be: ni(.~cto own your ownheltcoptc r and be ab!e to f1~1to yourcountry home every weekend.

it, lllL' uhinutt.·lt:,\lt'\, Iuu 1 nllh'\(,'1

~nlll~.tll' 'ul II 1::\\..1'\ !\l1I,:I lit \11\ lu-h-; .11uc-r . i \\ i 1I1dL'l' \\ hal I ,,!cd In t.k.·"L'r\ l,' It IIil.lHh ! Ill' g. \lId I n:"d It 11 .i1I\)\\ inl.! !I11.' 1{1\~. Irk ,IPd I,LI\ .n till' ....11111.'tutu-

,"'any New Yor-ker-s arc fortuna",:10 have- horuc s a nd c:stalc~ in theH:'1lJ1}f.onl't or in Connecticut thai canbe- a('l'c~~cd convenielltly by ht.'li.copter. 1)0 you transport any of theseI)t:t'ph,," to •heir second homes?

\\\ lhl iu,,1 !lUI \(."11 numd , P:lrlilU'!.nl' ,d·" II tilt· \\ \,;11 lit I j -, ).:1 'I ttl ,llId c....pt.:.l.lti\ PI Illl ..qni[lIt'L ·,fl\·! \It'!lH,n;t! !).H

~'!'\,'\!·(l-,tf}'.h. I,.j tll"'I.11HI. \\t·l\p".LlhIll.lkl "'0 In!," Iu the 11.1l11\iltjll... l'Iul'ltlg

!i11)""': Inp."'. \\l.' Ira\l:,pt)!'I .l1ly\\'hL:r~ 11"1111\ .1)(,' In :-..l:\ ell 11;1,.....('l\"-:CI'...., ."" we {i.tul :1 1,11of pl'opk b.u-k Lind Iorth (rum the Ilamp"U1I1S, .I~ \,,1..'11 .1:0;rr()tll \X:C"IC!I<';"'\VI CI.ttI1!),

:Ind (;1)11111,,'1..'1lcutCan you make special arrange-

meuts for cxc cuf ives and corporatecustomers who want to buy blocks ofchartered night rune in advance?

'(c:-.. \Vc 11:1\'1.':\ number of ru~tOIl1l:n ..,\\ h. ) buv blot k~ j If ch.rrtcr rune, and byrc ....l.'r\'tng rh.u ruu c in :ld\ •.LI1Ce. lhl...'}i'1.."l't.'iVl;';1~tJlJ~t;\nlJ:" dl"'u uuu ,

Companies such as NelJets offertheir frequent flyers fractional own-ership of private ;t:.s. Will helicoptercmupantes follow suit and offer simi·tar programs in the future?

TI1l,':'>I..·pr\)~,:r,lln,,,"n,: :lJr\.·,ld} .(\.III.!hk'In b,.'L there arc..,: prob.tbly .1 h,d! ,I dt. '/t..'11I\(.!i(.'\ 1111t'('nuurufacturers :lIld ,lftcr'III.\J·I...\·]

operator's \\ hi \ h:l\ 1..' tr-n-r I r'( 'gt.lO'b l~il1ll-til ((I tlu- lr.n tn ma]......h.m- ~\lnn'pl Hut sol.tr. Ilt 1I1l,'11! 1111..'111 11.1"11\.'\..'11"ill\ \'.:,.,:.1"1.11. ,I!\dI ht·!tl·\ c rht'\ IH.'\ l,'r \\ III hv ...11,'('t. ........lu!h",'[.111"'l· the- tlllh'L'111IU...r djJl."·1\ t work fiuhdl'·('llIl·l ..... 11'''.1 d,Ift:]\'11I \"'11, vpl, ;Ill'Ir:H·lll'll.l! 1~\\tlL'hll'll "I hl·IH()l\l<·~ ... \.lnc~

,l(rc.llh tuuu rhc tr.u nou.il ,l\\IIlT -,fup (II;111\ r:lh

.'-hlre 'IK'l.lfk;,lh. the: Io.t:~ [(I..,\ll,t.:.., ...

in Ih~ it'Ll\. tiriu.rl il..·1pfogr.lIn t-, !he lar,l!t·..l\.li!.dl1!i(\ •• 1' .111. ,',If! In diffl...'r<..."Tllp1.lI.t· ... :JIovcr Iht..: tPlllIl!: rhen,: .u'c nil dt.:odht·:td\ h~H)!l'" III .mv (11rhc Ir:I\'lIon:11 IL'l P'" ,-j.!1:1l1l.","(I Ihl' ...tXlel I" 11/ 11:1\\' another ;W',

cr.!!'! nl."'.lrl)~Fill' 111"ldllll'.wlnn un ,Iln.f:tilt;\kl.·-. .1 p.L" ...t·II.~l'f 1.!I'\(' \\.1~ 1111.1)":\ngt::lc ....,11l:11 "on Llrt dllc~n·! c onu- I1,H.k 1..·lllpty.Hhh'.ld It -,11">tln-u- \1II111 Iht.' II\'\'! nlt'lubet'

!d' tilt' fr.I,·liOI1.l1 1"!'I.gr:un 11l.'~'d.,~I l'ltit'j rt 'In U ,..,An:..;ek·...III .\llt I' he" (1e·..1"':I\i, .n. IIt!tII· ...Il·! ~\nfh II ~I)\.J 111\1\ 1t.I\'l· h.llf;1 d{l/l.'n

\. til \11 ':1 ....t \1f';II~ \-------------_._--

---- _-_ .._-- - ---- ----