A Very Quick Explanation Of This Helicopter Thing

The Helicopter Association International is a trade association for the civil helicopter industry. It's incorporated as a non-profit in the USA, and works to promote the helicopter in its many corporate roles. Its general members are over 600 civil helicopter operators who fly 2.2 million helicopter hours a year. Associate members are firms that build, service, insure or otherwise support the general members; and individuals may also join.

Heli-Expo is where people who want to reach those civil helicopter operators display their wares. About 450 exhibitors are showing their stuff to an expected 13,000 helicopter professionals. It's also where operators can meet and discuss problems facing the industry, share experience, and cooperate on safety. Over the years, the safety cooperation has grown to become the Professional Education Series, a number of courses of interest to helicopter pilots, operators and maintainers.

Heli-Expo is also where the movers and shakers in the helicopter industry announce their latest moves and shakes. We're at the show and we expect to see some significant announcements of sales deals and new products. And if we see it, you'll see it.

For most of us, HAI  well as conducting Heli-Expo, HAI publishes a quarterly magazine, Rotor; an annual guide to the industry, the Helicopter Annual; and other specialized publications for operators and maintainers. They also run the Fly Neighborly program, which encourages operators to reduce the impact of helicopter noise on communities below, and work with the FAA to promote heliport development.

FMI: www.rotor.com