Forum Program Overview

Below is a schedule of the major events at Forum 78. You can also check out these links for other schedule views and information:

Forum landing page — basic intro to the Forum
Registration Information — rates and link to register
Short Courses — Electric VTOL Technology and Model-Based Systems Engineering short courses
Schedule Overview (pdf) — how all the pieces fit together
Sessions at a Glance (pdf) — all 41 technical sessions and 9 special sessions
Technical paper schedule (pdf) — all 220 technical papers: who, what and when! (html)
Final Program (pdf) — a summary of all the activities
Tour — Bell is sponsoring a tour of the Bell Training Academy
Forum 78 app — download the CrowdCompass by Cvent app for Android or iPhone! Select "Forum 78" as the event and use the password "forum78" (all lowercase). Create a login and follow the set-up prompts. Start planning and set your itinerary!

Monday, May 9, 2022
Registration Desk Open	7:00am–5:00pm
Technical Council Meeting	7:30am–11:30am
Short Course: Electric VTOL Technology	8:00am–5:00pm
Short Course: Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)	8:00am–5:00pm
Journal Editors Meeting	12:00pm–1:00pm
Chairs/Session Chairs Meeting	2:30pm–3:30pm
Student Volunteers Meeting	4:00pm–4:30pm
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Registration Desk Open	7:00am–5:00pm
Technical Session A — Sponsored by Leonardo Helicopter Division Aerodynamics I Aircraft Design I Acoustics I Crash Safety eVTOL I Handling Qualities I Modeling & Simulation I Product Support	8:00am–12:00pm
Special Session 1: International VTOL R&D Moderated by Dan Newman, Boeing	8:00am–9:30am
Exhibit Hall Open	9:00am–7:00pm
Technical Session A Refreshment Break — Sponsored by Siemens	9:30am–10:00am
Special Session 2: Future Vertical Workforce Moderated by Danielle McLean, Hy-Sky	10:00am–12:00pm
Board of Directors Meeting	9:00am–12:00pm
Exhibit Hall Lunch Break — Sponsored by The Boeing Company	12:00pm–1:30pm
Opening General Session *Welcome:* Mike Hirschberg, Executive Director, Vertical Flight Society *Keynote Address* Maj. Gen. Michael R. Keating, UK Army Air Corps, and Deputy Commanding General, III Corps, US Army *Straight Talk from the Top* Moderated by Elan Head, The Air Current Tomasz Krysinski, VP, Research & Innovation, Airbus Keith Flail, Executive VP, Advanced Vertical Lift Systems, Bell Shane Openshaw, VP, Tiltrotor Programs, The Boeing Company Roberto Garavaglia, SVP Strategy & Innovation, Leonardo Helicopters Paul Lemmo, President, Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Co.	1:30pm–3:30pm
Opening General Session Refreshment Break — Sponsored by GE Aviation	3:30pm–4:00pm
42nd Annual Nikolsky Lecture: Dr. Marilyn Smith, Georgia Institute of Technology: “Computational Vertical Lift Aeromechanics and Its Future in the Twenty-First Century"	4:00pm–5:00pm
Industry Reception — Sponsored by Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company	5:00pm–7:00pm
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Registration Desk Open	7:00am–5:30pm
Technical Session B — Sponsored by Leonardo Helicopter Division Aerodynamics II Aircraft Design II Dynamics I eVTOL II Handling Qualities II Modeling & Simulation II Propulsion I Unmanned VTOL Aircraft I Systems Engineering/Avionics & Systems	8:00am–12:15 pm
Special Session 3: PEO Aviation MOSA Progress & Collaboration Moderated by Mr. Pat Mason, Deputy PEO, Aviation, US Army	8:00am–9:30am
Exhibit Hall Open	9:00am–5:00pm
Technical Session B Refreshment Break — Sponsored by Siemens	9:30am–10:15am
Special Session 4: Army Aviation Modernization Update Moderated by Mr. Pat Mason, Deputy PEO, Aviation, US Army	10:15am–12:15pm
Exhibit Hall Lunch Break — Sponsored by The Boeing Company	12:15pm–1:45pm
Technical Session C — Sponsored by Leonardo Helicopter Division Aerodynamics III Acoustics II Advanced Vertical Flight I Crew Station I Dynamics II Modeling & Simulation III Safety Structures & Materials I Test & Evaluation I	1:45pm–6:00pm
Special Session 5: Flight Test Moderated by Dyan Gibbens, US Air Force	1:45pm–3:15pm
Technical Session C Refreshment Break — Sponsored by Continuum Dynamics, Inc.	3:15pm–4:00pm
Special Session 6: US Navy / US Marine Corps Programs Moderated by John Tritschler & Michael Fallon, US Navy	4:00pm–6:00pm
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Registration Desk Open	7:30am–1:00pm
78th Annual Grand Awards Breakfast — Sponsored by Bell Advanced tickets required — limited seating	7:30am–9:30am
Exhibit Hall Open	9:00am–12:00pm
Technical Session D Refreshment Break — Sponsored by Siemens	9:30am–10:15pm
Technical Session D — Sponsored by Leonardo Helicopter Division Acoustics III Crew Station II HUMS I Manufacturing & Technology I Propulsion II Structures & Materials II Test & Evaluation II Unmanned VTOL Aircraft II	10:15am–12:15 pm
Special Session 7: Expanding the Supply Chain Moderated by Dana Jensen, US Air Force / Gemini Industries, Inc.	10:15am–12:15pm
Lunch Break — Sponsored by The Boeing Company	12:15pm–1:30pm
Technical Session E — Sponsored by Leonardo Helicopter Division Aerodynamics IV Advanced Vertical Flight II Aircraft Design III History HUMS II Manufacturing & Technology II Operations	1:30pm–5:30pm
Special Session 8: Challenges in Electric VTOL Moderated by Dave Clarke, Aerocar Journal	1:30pm–3:00pm
Technical Session E Refreshment Break — Sponsored by Siemens	3:00pm–3:30pm
Special Session 9: Progress in Electric VTOL Moderated by Graham Warwick, AviationWeek	3:30pm–5:30pm
Friday, May 13, 2022
Tour of the Bell Training Academy (RSVPs required)	7:30am-11:00am

Thank you to our Forum 78 Sponsors!

Find out how you can become a Forum sponsor or exhibitor!

Major General Mike Keating was commissioned into the UK Army Air Corps (AAC) in 1993. He served as an infantry Platoon Commander in Northern Ireland before attending Army flying training. On qualifying as an Army Aviator he returned to Northern Ireland as an Aviation Mission Commander and the Aviation Operations Officer for the South Armagh Roulement Battalion. He then served on exchange with the Canadian Air Force, flying the Bell 412, during which he deployed as the Operations Officer of the first Canadian aviation contingent to support UN operations in Bosnia.

Staff education at the Army Junior Division was followed by 2 years as Adjutant, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, 16 Air Assault Brigade. On promotion he led the development of the Attack Helicopter Conversion To Role course before attending the Joint Services Advanced Command and Staff Course from 2004-05. He then served in an Equipment Capability role in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) with responsibility for the Attack Helicopter project and Urgent Operational Requirements to support aviation combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2007 he assumed command of 657 Sqn AAC (Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing), deploying in support of UK national-level operations worldwide. In 2009 he returned to the MOD and served as the Army’s lead for equipment capability during the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Keating assumed command of 9 Regiment AAC in 2011. He trained and deployed Squadrons to Afghanistan, Kenya and the Far East – this latter deployment embarked on HMS Illustrious and provided humanitarian aid to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. He also served with 3rd US Marine Air Wing as the operations officer for all UK aviation operations in theatre.

After a number of staff assignments of increasing responsibility. he returned to flying duties in June 2017 as Deputy Commander and Operations Director in the Joint Helicopter Command, with training, readiness and materiel support responsibilities for all Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Commando helicopter forces. A large part of his focus was in support of 3 (UK) Division’s warfighting role and modernisation of the force.

Keating was selected by the Chief of Defence Staff to serve as UK LNO to CJCS in Oct 19. After serving as the UK liaison for the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, He took over as the deputy commander for support (U.K.) of the US Army's III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, in May 2021.

To his great surprise he has accumulated three Masters degrees during his career. He was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty The Queen in 2018.