ORLANDO, FL | MARCH 4, 2026
Sky Climber Renewables Launches the VAS™, Engineered to Reduce Fatigue and Improve Safety for Wind Technicians
A patented ladder-mounted access solution designed to improve vertical mobility, reduce physical fatigue, and support safer operations inside utility-scale wind turbine towers.
Wind technicians climb hundreds of vertical feet inside turbine towers, often multiple times a day. The physical demand of those repeated climbs accumulates over time, creating fatigue, increasing strain, and introducing additional risk across already complex operations. Sky Climber Renewables built the Vertical Assist System (VAS™) to address those conditions directly, changing how that work is done and who bears the physical cost of it.
The VAS was engineered from the ground up around how technicians actually work in the field. Rather than adapting legacy designs, the development process centered on real-world tower conditions, direct input from operators and field teams, and patented innovations focused on reliability, safety, and long-term usability.
The Vertical Assist System (VAS™) showcased at OMS 2026.
OMS 2026: Industry professionals engage with the Vertical Assist System during its public debut.
Sky Climber Renewables leadership presenting the VAS at OMS 2026.
The system made its public debut at the 2026 ACP Operations, Maintenance & Safety (OMS) Conference in Orlando, where operators, OEM partners, and service providers engaged with the VAS firsthand. The response from industry professionals reflected a clear recognition of the problem the system is designed to solve.
Engineered for Safety and Durability
A key innovation is the system’s cam-free overspeed protection, engineered to function reliably under rigorous operating conditions while eliminating components that can snag, bind, or become obstructed.
The VAS also integrates soft start and stop drive technology, delivering controlled acceleration and deceleration that improves ride quality, reduces mechanical stress, and increases technician confidence during use.
The system includes several purpose-built features developed to address conditions technicians encounter on every climb:
- GuardianStep™ access system for safer transitions
- DualSync™ two-hand control activation
- FallGuard™ PFAS confirmation system
- ManualMotion™ hex-head emergency drive capability
Each feature reflects a focused engineering approach, solving practical challenges while improving both safety and usability inside the tower environment.
Executive Perspectives
“Our industry depends on the people who climb these towers every day to keep wind fleets operating safely and efficiently. The VAS reflects our commitment to improving the working conditions of the technicians who power the clean energy industry.”
Kelly Winkler | Chief Executive Officer
“Wind energy operators are under real pressure to improve safety outcomes and technician retention. The VAS addresses both by reducing the physical burden of tower access, and that is a conversation our customers are ready to have.”
Chad DiFranco | VP Sales & Marketing
“The goal was to eliminate compromises and engineer a system that performs reliably under the conditions technicians actually face, not just in controlled testing environments.”
Chris Ogden | VP Product Development
“Every refinement in this system traces back to something a technician or customer told us wasn’t working well enough. That feedback shaped a product that delivers real benefits in real maintenance scenarios.”
Chad Duke | VP, Major Repairs & Upgrades
Patent Protection
The Vertical Assist System is protected by U.S. Patent No. 12,460,432, with additional patents pending.
Learn more about the Vertical Assist System or connect with our team.
About Sky Climber Renewables
Sky Climber Renewables is a leading independent service provider supporting wind energy asset owners, OEMs, and operators across North America. The company delivers field services, maintenance, major component exchanges, and technical training, backed by a legacy of engineering innovation in work-at-height solutions.
