The VTOL Show and Safety Conference confirms its premiere from 16 to 18 November, 2021 in Cologne, Germany as a physical event, strongly supported by the rotorcraft industry. Now, a unique digital event platform will allow additional attendees to participate and interact with exhibitors, even if travel restrictions are extended.

EUROPEAN ROTORS has already signed up some 60 companies and organisations as exhibitors. Market leaders like Airbus Helicopters, Bell, Leonardo Helicopters, Safran Helicopter Engines, Boeing Global Services, H+S Aviation Limited, Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., RUAG, ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik GmbH, AEROMETALS and others will be showcasing in Cologne. The organisers of EUROPEAN ROTORS are in talks with many more companies, institutions and associations.

The exhibition floor will feature an indoor aircraft static display, a drone pavilion as well as a starter area dedicated to new and emerging companies in the rotorcraft market. The trade show covers all aspects of VTOL operations including HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services), firefighting, public safety, offshore, logging, VIP transport and looks into the next generation of vertical flight with displays of eVTOLs and other unmanned solutions.

EUROPEAN ROTORS, jointly organised by the European Helicopter Association (EHA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), brings together major OEMs from the industry as well as operators, users, pilots, technicians and government authorities. Joining forces is not only all key to further promote safety, but also to a successful recovery of the rotorcraft industry after the COVID-19-pandemic.

EUROPEAN ROTORS will also offer unique conferences, training and workshops alongside the trade show. One of the highlights is EASA’s Rotorcraft and VTOL Symposium, held by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The symposium is developed to be the premier platform for European helicopter operators and the industry to jointly discuss current and future challenges with the European regulator. The integration into EUROPEAN ROTORS will allow EASA to expand its audience and reach out to new entities within the rotorcraft industry.

David Solar, Head of the General Aviation and VTOL Department at EASA, says: “We are all looking at new ways to communicate and leverage the possibility given by new digital platforms. We have also to consider that people are forming the core of the rotorcraft community. Bringing people together in a responsible manner while making the most use of digital interactions are the pillars of the new concept for EUROPEAN ROTORS for this year.”

EUROPEAN ROTORS 2021 edition will be a hybrid event combining the best of a live show with plenty of networking opportunities and additional content over its own online event platform. The organisers already very successfully had launched last year a so-called “Digital Series” featuring online interviews, panel discussions and live webinars concerning latest developments in the VTOL arena. This series will continue and directly lead into the digital “EUROPEAN ROTORS show platform” and the launch of “EUROPEAN ROTORS 365”.

Dr. Frank Liemandt, Show Director of EUROPEAN ROTORS, explains: “Over the challenging year 2020 we have learned a lot about staying connected via digital platforms. While we all can’t wait to meet physically again we will expand our activities in the digital environment and by thus ensure that we can reach the maximum of our followers – not only during the event but also over the whole year”. The digital event platform will host online exhibitors with their latest news, inform about the educational programme during the show, including webinars and will broadcast sessions live directly from the event.

EUROPEAN ROTORS has formed an international network with other rotorcraft events including Heli Conference Russia and Heli Conference Dubai. The show has recently announced its partnership with the Vertical Flight Society (VFS), which will host several high-ranking educational and technical sessions on different shaping the exciting future of vertical flight.