Kelowna, BC — October 2025
The KF Centre for Excellence proudly hosted the inaugural Vertical MRO Conference, welcoming more than 500 rotorcraft professionals from across North America for three days of learning, connection, and collaboration.
Created for helicopter maintainers, Vertical MRO (VMRO) marked a milestone for Canada’s rotorcraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) community — and for Kelowna’s growing role as a hub for aerospace innovation.
A World-Class Venue for a Growing Industry
Held at the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence, the event transformed our entire building into an immersive experience.
Our two-story wood-and-glass facility overlooking the Kelowna International Airport set the stage for collaboration. Upstairs, three classrooms hosted technical and leadership sessions, while one hangar became a bustling exhibit hall featuring 42 exhibitors, a stage, and a fourth breakout space.
From the opening reception to closing tours, the energy was unmistakable — a reminder of how the right space can bring industry and community together.
Industry Leaders and Learners United
Across more than 30 sessions, attendees earned training and FAA inspection authorization (IA) renewal credits while engaging with experts from Airbus, Bell, Leonardo, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, and Safran.
Highlights included:
- Leadership in Helicopter Maintenance – Emily Kutryk and Krishna Mann, Elevate Aviation
- Hardwired for High Performance – Jamie Wood, Autonomic
- I Love It Here – Clint Pulvar, retention expert
- Helicopter Maintenance Best Practices – Todd Reicher, Leading Edge Aerospace
Sessions explored corrosion prevention, human factors, HUMS, turbine engine hygiene, NDT, and better communication between pilots and mechanics.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The conference also welcomed AME students from BCIT and SAIT, who attended free of charge. They joined industry veterans and apprentices for hands-on learning, mentorship, and networking.
“It’s so exciting to see so many helicopter people in one room,” said one apprentice. “Usually when mechanics get together, it’s airplane people.”
Their enthusiasm captured the spirit of the event — and our mission at the KF Centre.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The success of the inaugural event exceeded expectations. Vertical MRO will return to the KF Centre for Excellence in 2026, building on the strong foundation created here in Kelowna.
“The conference was so much more than we imagined it would be,” said MHM’s Linda Reyno. “In addition to having over 150 more people attend than we planned, we saw so much collaboration and engagement, even between competitors. Everyone came together for the greater good of our industry. We originally thought the vendors would be slow during session times, but they were busy the whole time, too. Our industry desperately needed this, a way to bring together helicopter MRO professionals, and we exceeded expectations.”
We’re honoured to continue hosting this important industry gathering — where innovation, education, and community take flight together.
