Helicopter Exhibition Gives Chance to Shake Hands, Make Deals, and Check Out the News

15,000 Attendees made their way to Anaheim, California to see everything from the world of vertical flight, with more than 87 countries and 625 exhibitors to see.

On the more edifying side of things, HAI said that all 125 educational courses and sessions ended up with more than 4,180 students in all. The Helicopter Association International (almost uniformly shortened to "HAI", given the clunkiness of the name) even rolled out some banner news this year, announcing a wholesale rebranding to the more flight-encompassing Vertical Aviation International. The change was said to help them better represent new frontiers in VTOL flight, locking down some organizational market share in a rapidly growing section of the economy.

While the show was fruitful for many attendees, signing deals left and right throughout the show, most have continued to focus on the shift away from helicopter-only support on the part of the HAI. 

The change was unanimously endorsed by the board of directors as part of a “comprehensive long-term strategic plan approved 18 months ago, following research, member outreach, workshops, and interviews. We rebranded to expand our reach, and so VAI focuses on what unites us: the unique capabilities of vertical flight. If you design, build, fix, fly, supply, or support vertical aviation, then you belong in VAI!”

FMI: www.rotor.org