Heli-Expo, the annual helicopter industry event organized by the Helicopter Association International, will be held in Orlando, Florida, March 2 to 5. The show will host more than 725 exhibitors, and pre-registration is on track to meet or exceed last year’s visitor numbers of about 20,000, HAI spokesman Chris Dancy told AVweb this week. Besides the vendor exhibits — many of which will feature real, flyable aircraft — the show will offer a wide range of professional education courses and events, with tracks for pilots, students, operators, maintenance workers and military fliers. HAI also is expanding its Rotor Safety Challenge offerings, with 54 options for in-depth, interactive learning.
All of the major manufacturers are planning to announce new products or other news at the show, Dancy said. Airbus Helicopters already has said they will unveil their new X4 medium-size helicopter. Frasca said they will display a new simulator for the Robinson R44 helicopter and a new TruFlight simulated cockpit environment that can be configured for many aircraft types. “HAI is excited about this year’s show,” Dancy said. “All of the numbers put this one on a par with, if not ahead of, recent record-setting shows.” Dancy also said he knows of one exhibit at the Expo“that may catch the eye of fixed-wing aficionados,” but details will have to wait for the show announcement.
AVweb’s editor-in-chief Russ Niles will be at the show to provide daily coverage of all the news and events.
