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Journal Author Submission Guidelines

Home » VFS Works for You » News and Publications » Journal of the American Helicopter Society » Journal Author Submission Guidelines

The Journal of the American Helicopter Society (JAHS) is the leading peer-reviewed technical publication dedicated to vertical flight. Published quarterly by the Vertical Flight Society (VFS), JAHS showcases original, high-quality research that advances the science and technology of all forms of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

As the vertical flight industry rapidly evolves with the rise of urban air mobility (UAM), advanced air mobility (AAM), and autonomous systems, JAHS remains at the forefront by publishing groundbreaking work across both legacy and next-generation systems.

JAHS aims to advance the state of the art by publishing impactful studies in areas such as aerodynamics, structures, acoustics, materials, and flight control. Topics can range from fundamental theory to applied design, testing, manufacturing, and operations. The Journal welcomes contributions that introduce new concepts, present experimental or computational results, or provide analytical insights relevant to the vertical flight society.

Research published in JAHS spans a range of topics, from fundamental theoretical developments to applied design, prototyping, manufacturing, and fielded operations. Areas of interest include (but are not limited to):

Aerodynamics
Aircraft Design
Dynamics
Flight Dynamics & Control
Acoustics
Propulsion (including Hybrid-Electric and All-Electric Systems)
Structures & Materials
Human Factors
Systems Integration
Testing & Evaluation
Airspace Integration
Operational Concepts

Digital Object Identifier: All published JAHS articles recive a DOI number.

Copyright: Authors retain copyright ownership - see sample JAHS Copyright Form.

Submission of Manuscripts: All new manuscripts must be submitted on-line using the VFS's PowerReview web based system. Find the submissio site at: https://powerreview.aptaracorp.com/ahs/jahs/

JAHS Submission Specifications: general specifications are summarized below. For the full, detailed specifications please download the JAHS Specifications Guide.

JAHS Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Hyeonsoo Yeo
Associate Editors: Martin Annett, Edorado Cacciavillani, Carlos Cesnik, Cathy Cheung, Anubhav Datta, Tony Gardner, Eric Greenwood, Rohit Jain, Michael Jones, Michael Jump, Andrew Makeev, David Miller, Ernesto Moralez, John Mordosky, Manikandan Ramasamy, Matthew Rhinehart, Jonathan Rogers, Umberto Saeitti, Sven Schmitz, Martin Sekula, Glen Whitehouse, Stephen Wright
Guest Associate Editors: Kenneth Brentner, Carl Ockier
VFS Technical Director: Dr. Albert G. Brand
VFS Executive Director: Angelo N. Collins
VFS Production Manager: Julie M. Gibbs

Initial Manuscript Submission Requirements

Articles must be technical in nature and offer substanial value to researchers, engineers, academia, and professons in the vertical flight field. Authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts that are original, clearly written, and technically sound. Manuscripts must not be under review or previously published elsewhere and should be free of proprietary or confidential information.

All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. If a manuscript is accepted and published, the article becomes the permanent property of the Vertical Flight Society (VFS), however, authors also retain copyright ownership.

  • Initial Guidelines:
    • Flexible formatting is allowed for the initial submission.
    • Manuscripts formatted for conferences are acceptable.
    • Submit your paper in PDF format via the online system.
  • Length Guidelines
    • Typically no more than 44 double-spaced, single-column pages (including all figures, tables, references, and appendices).
    • Conference papers: Limited to 12 pages if in double-column format; longer submissions will be considered at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.
    • Technical Notes: Shorter manuscripts (up to 9 double-spaced pages) focusing on timely, novel insights, which may undergo a quicker editorial review process.
  • Core Evaluation Criteria:
    Submitted manuscripts must met the following core criteria
    • Originality and relevance to the vertical flight community.
    • Clarity and precision in technical writing.
    • Transparent and well-documented methodology.
    • Validity of data, including uncertainty analysis.
    • Conclusions that are clearly supported by presented evidence.
  • Publication Ethics:
    Submissions are reviewed with the understanding that:
    • The work is original and unpublished.
    • The manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere.
    • No confidential or proprietary information is included.
    • A signed statement to this effect will be required upon submission.
  • Author Criteria:
     

    The main author (also referred to as the corresponding author) is recognized as the principal contributor to the research and bears primary responsibility for the content and integrity of the manuscript throughout the entire publication process—from initial submission to final publication. Specifically, the main author is responsible for: 

    • Providing complete and accurate contact information, including mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
    • Managing all correspondence with the editorial team and peer reviewers during the review, revision, and publication stages.
    • Ensuring the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript, including appropriate attribution of contributions and adherence to ethical standards.
    • Confirm that all listed as co-authors meet the criteria for authorship.
  • Co-Author Criteria:
     

    All listed co-authors must meet the following criteria:

    • Have made a significant intellectual or practical contribution to the research (e.g., in the areas of conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation).
    • Have participated in the drafting or critical revision of the manuscript.
    • Have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript prior to submission.
    • Agree to be accountable for their own contributions and to support the overall integrity of the work.
  • Peer Review and
    Acceptance Process

    The review process takes a minumum of three months and every effort is made to complete reviews within six months. General submission data may be collected to improve the editorial process, but will remain confidential. All submitted manuscripts undergo a multi-stage, confidential peer review process:

    • Initial evaluation by the Journal Editor-in-Chief to assess basic quality, scope, and technical merit. Submissions that do not meet the Journal’s scope or technical standards will be denied.
    • Technical Review: by an Associate Editor specializing in the relevant subject area.
    • Peer Review: by a panel of expert reviewers whose identities remain confidential.

    The main author will receive feedback and will be asked to revise their manuscripts in response to reviewer comments.

    • Editorial and formatting corrections must also be addressed at this stage.
    • The Associate Editor makes a recommendation for acceptance or rejection.
    • The final publication decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief.
  • Editing and Final
    Preparation

    Manuscripts are not edited prior to peer review but may undergo an initial technical screening to ensure they meet minimum formatting and content standards.

    • Once a manuscript has been accepted, it must be edited to match the style and formatting requirements of the Journal of the American Helicopter Society.
    • Authors are responsible for submitting the final version in compliance with these guidelines.
    • Editorial staff will not make changes to technical content without author approval.
    • Authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy of all statements and data presented in their work.
    • Authors who do not meet all of the above criteria should be acknowledged in a separate "Acknowledgements" section.

Final Manuscript Submission

Manuscripts are not edited prior to peer review but may undergo an initial technical screening to ensure they meet minimum formatting and content standards.

  • Once a manuscript has successfully completed the peer review and editorial acceptance process, it must be edited to match the style and formatting requirements of the Journal of the American Helicopter Society.
  • The Associate Editor will notify the author when it is time to submit the final version of the manuscript.
  • Authors are responsible for submitting the final version in compliance with these guidelines.
  • Editorial staff will not make changes to technical content without author approval.
  • Authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy of all statements and data presented in their work.

While the use of the provided templates is encouraged for both initial and final submissions to the Journal, it is not mandatory. These templates are formatted in accordance with the manuscript specification documents of the AHS Journal.

Authors may download the templates below: