Helitech previewed
Reed Exhibitions looks forward to the Helitech International event taking place in London, UK, in October
Reed Exhibitions looks forward to the Helitech International event taking place in London, UK, in October
According to recent reports, the global helicopter market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 3.4 per cent between 2017 and 2023, with the increasing usage of helicopters in disaster relief a catalyst for this projected growth (P&S Market Research 2017). But how are global OEMs responding to the demand for helicopters that can safely carry passengers in incredibly challenging environments?
Helitech International 2017, Europe’s leading helicopter exhibition and conference in association with the European Helicopter Association (EHA), will provide a forum for the discussion of such key safety issues when it returns to London between 3 and 5 October. Now in its 31st edition, Helitech International is set to fill the halls of London ExCeL with the latest innovations from the rotorcraft industry’s key players, including such major operators as Airbus Helicopters, Bell Helicopter and Leonardo.
The three day event will also offer an unmissable agenda of free-to-attend seminars and panel discussions. The modular-style conference programme, new to 2017, has been designed to make it easy for attendees to drop in and out of sessions and combine them with visiting the exhibition, attending meetings and networking.
Unparalleled industry insights
A highlight from the 2017 Insights Seminars will be keynote speaker and Russian pilot Sergey Ananov (Wednesday 4 October 12:30-13:30). The five-time world record holder will discuss surviving a forced landing in the Arctic during an attempt to become the first pilot to circumnavigate the globe in a light helicopter.
A further highlight will be a panel on the evolution of search and rescue (SAR) technology. The session, which takes place on Tuesday 3 October (12.00-13:30), will provide an opportunity to learn about the technologies that will help optimise and improve safety on future SAR missions. Operators involved in the development and deployment of these tools, such as Roy Jenssen, operational advisor for Norwegian SAR and air ambulance operator Luftambulansetjenesten, will share their insights.
From evolving SAR technology to operations, Hernan Lopez, member of the Cooperativa de Trabajos Portuarios General Management, and Ivan Blaffert, manager of the Cooperativa’s Emergency Centre, will discuss the establishment and operation of rescue facilities at the port of San Lorenzo in Argentina (Wednesday 4 October, 10.30-12:00). The Cooperativa works with a professional group of doctors, paramedics and nurses and deploys two helicopters, six ambulances, two water craft ambulances and two additional watercraft.
Further sessions are confirmed throughout the three days of the show, which will deliver business intelligence and mission experiences to help the rotorcraft community tackle the opportunities and challenges ahead in markets including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), offshore oil and gas and wind farms, maintenance, repair and operations, MRO and helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS).
Alongside the Insights Seminars, Helitech International will host a series of Technical Sessions. These briefings, led by OEMs and the supply chain, will highlight the latest advancements in rotorcraft technology and best practice for safe and sustainable operations.
Addressing the priority of flight safety, three sessions will focus on improving the conditions and operational performance of rotorcraft operations. These include a talk by Kim Harris, senior business development manager, Aviation Specialities Unlimited, who will tackle the issue of night vision safety, revealing how NVG technologies are an invaluable tool in improving the safety of helicopter operations. Harris, who has accumulated more than 3,700 hours of NVG flights, will address the latest developments in night safety procedures and technologies with insights on his experience of past, present and future operations (Tuesday 3 October, 16:00-16:30).
Further Technical Sessions will cover innovation in the industry. Tomasz Krysinski, SVP research and innovation, Airbus Helicopters, will present an in-depth view of the breakthrough technologies impacting customer satisfaction (Tuesday 3 October, 12:00-12:30), while David Perez Pinar, Babcock International Group, will reveal the latest technological innovations in remotely piloted aircraft systems (Thursday 5 October, 11:15-11.45).
The Safety Workshop, organised by the European Helicopter Association, will return on the closing day of the event, Thursday 5 October. The popular, half-day session will offer visitors an insight into the latest technology and training improvements and a chance to network with their peers.
Launched last year, the Operators Forum, which takes place over a working lunch on Tuesday 3 October, will be back by popular demand. This session allows operators to talk informally with their peers about the issues most relevant to improving their missions and businesses.
Innovation to the fore
Helitech International 2017 will see more than 200 key players from across the civil rotorcraft industry showcase their latest technology and services.
Euravia is confirmed to exhibit at the 2017 event on stand D30. The specialist aviation company provides high-quality, cost-effective maintenance, repair and overhaul services for a wide range of gas turbine engines, including the Rolls-Royce M250. Europe’s leading PT6 engine shop will offer Helitech International visitors a virtual reality tour of their new purpose-built, fully FAA and EASA-approved facility in Lancashire, England.
Further innovation on show will come in the form of New Zealand-based company Flightcell International’s airborne-integrated communications, including Flightcell DZMx, the world’s only all-in-one Iridium and cellular solution for voice, data, and aircraft tracking. The Aviation Innovation-Award-winning company will be found on stand F120.
Another airborne and ground communication and navigation specialist, Becker Avionics, will showcase three of its latest products on stand G01, including RT 6512 – a VHF Radio with extended airband frequency capability and digital connectivity, which meets the upcoming 8.33 kHz channel spacing mandate with the certified Radio Control Unit RCU6512.
This year exhibitors will have the opportunity to further showcase their latest products and services by taking potential customers on demo flights from right outside the venue.
The next generation of aviation professionals
The popular Learning & Skills Zone, an area dedicated to covering the career and development opportunities for young people looking to make their way in the rotorcraft industry, will also return to Helitech International.
Hosted by Aviation Skills Partnership (ASP), the focus on youth takes centre stage with a range of talks and activities that highlight what a career is really like in the world of aviation. Using their Inspire, Connect, Train & Achieve model, ASP will promote entry, pathways and frameworks through the industry as well as offering advice, guidance and information for students on how best to engage with potential employers.
Teresa Heitor, event director at Helitech International, commented: “We’re delighted to be returning to London for the show this year. Helitech International brings all four corners of the rotorcraft industry together under one roof where operators, key decision-makers and industry professionals can meet and make invaluable connections. Our new and improved conference programme also offers three days of collaborative debate and discussion, led by some of the industry’s most influential figures. Providing a unique opportunity for face-to-face meetings and business growth plus exclusive industry insights, Helitech International 2017 is not to be missed.”
Helitech International will take place at ExCeL London from 3-5 October and is co-located with MRO Europe 2017.