Slackline Community Map Aids Flight Planning Vertical Aviation International (VAI) is highlighting SlackMap, a publicly available, community-maintained map used by the slacklining community to voluntarily document known slackline locations. This comes after the fatal helicopter accident Jan. 2, 2026 near Superior, Ariz., involving a helicopter striking a slackline. The helicopter was “substantially damaged” when it hit the line, killing the pilot and his three nieces.”This is a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy, and it weighs heavily on our entire vertical-aviation community. As the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation and works toward developing safety recommendations, VAI believes it is important to share any available resources that could help reduce the risk of a repeat accident, particularly where hazards may not be fully captured through traditional hazard-reporting systems,” VAI said.
