No demo flights in Amsterdam as Helitech focuses on trade

No demo flights in Amsterdam as Helitech focuses on trade

17-Oct-2014 Source: HeliHub.com

Helitech continues to morph into a strictly trade-only event without end-user private/corporate helicopter owners or purchasers.  This week’s Amsterdam event proved that organisers Reed really don’t want the format they had in Duxford up to 2012.  In particular, they don’t want demo flights, an aspect of the old Duxford (and Redhill) shows that many people appreciated – seeing helicopters flying, hearing helicopters flying, making a static exhibition into an active one.  We must respect Reed for their decision, although HeliHub.com is aware of a number of people voting with their feet by not attending the new city-centre exhibition-in-a-shed format.

Demo flights were touted for the Helitech 2013 event in London, and an elaborate slot system set up with the air traffic authorities and nearby London City Airport.  In the end, a Manx-registered Bell 429 did a handful of flights only and the weather brought low visibility each morning.  No other manufacturer even considered it.

This year, “Demo Flights” were mentioned for Amsterdam, and even annotated on the show floor map, but there were no such flights at all.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com

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