Events

Vertical Flight Expo & Conference to land in Farnborough

Posted 27 June 2019

Vertical Flight Expo & Conference, formerly known as Helitech International, is to land in Farnborough from 5th-7th November, in partnership with the British Helicopter Association (BHA).

Above: Hall 1 at Farnborough.

The event returns in a new guise to offer an opportunity for international operators to source technology for their missions in oil and gas, HEMS, SAR and agriculture amongst others. As Europe’s largest vertical flight exhibition, the event relaunches this year with a brand-new identity and location. It follows the 2018 show, which saw a 40% increase of attendees and three times more operators.

Thousands of industry professionals are set to attend the three-day event to find the latest products, services and technology, from safety equipment to avionics, simulators, flight data and communications. Brands from across the world will be present, with the likes of Aviall, A Boeing Company, Heli-one, Pratt & Whitney JSSI, Universal Avionics, Elbit Systems, and H+S Aviation confirmed to exhibit. A number of new exhibitors will also be making their debut at the 2019 show, including the likes of ATL, Starspeed, Northwall srl and Blue Sky Network.

Alongside the innovation demonstrated on the show floor, the Vertical Flight Expo will also welcome the industry’s foremost thought leaders in a refreshed and robust conference programme. Keynote speakers from across the industry will provide insights on the latest market trends, UAV-Helicopter operations, firefighting and SAR missions, regulation updates and more. In addition, this years’ new location at the well-connected Farnborough International enables exhibitors the chance to offer attendees test flights and live demonstrations.

Reflecting the event’s reputation as the best place to source vertical flight innovation in Europe, this year will also see the launch of a brand-new feature: The Innovation Launchpad. In partnership with Earlymarket, who have a history of involvement in incubating aviation start-ups, the initiative provides a specialist platform for start-ups to gain global exposure to the industry, position their business amongst the leaders of vertical flight, as well as network with investors and key stakeholders.

Jonathan Heastie, Energy, Marine and Rotorcraft Portfolio Director at Reed Exhibitions said: “This is a really exciting year for the show, with the launch of a brand-new identity and location. The core of who we are hasn’t changed – we continue to attract leading businesses from across the European helicopter industry, welcome highly regarded keynote speakers to discuss the latest trends and provide the ideal platform for all-important networking opportunities. Our new Innovation Launchpad will be a fantastic addition to the line-up at this year’s show, giving a spotlight to new and innovative start-up brands that are paving the way for the future of the industry. 2018 was a fantastic year for the show, and we have every belief that Vertical Flight Expo & Conference 2019 will equally be a great success.”