The Helicopter Association of Southern Africa (HASA) was founded by Cor Beek in 1974 who has become its first president. Three years later he became the chief executive office of the Commercial Aviation Association, and such also the CEO of HASA. He retained these positions for nearly twenty years.
Since the early days, HASA has been at the forefront of fighting with the powers that be to cut down the amount of red tape to operate and maintain helicopters in South Africa. We are not alone in this struggle, as this is a worldwide phenomenon, and we learn from our associate members like Helicopter Association International (HAI). In 2014, we also become an associate member of the Middle East & Africa Helicopter Association (MEAHA).