Helitech 2015
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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David George, head of Sloane Helicopters, wrote a highly damning report about the previous one at that location.
No surprise to me that they had no presence there this year.
No surprise to me that they had no presence there this year.
Join Date: Feb 2009
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I got a call from the organisers asking when I would attend, they seemed surprised that I couldn't be bothered, HeliTech has no real relevance any more.
I used to attend with potential customers, one year (at Duxford) we placed two orders for a customer.
Reed need to listen to the industry. Provide little of interest and we won't attend and Reed will eventually lose too much money to carry on.
SND
I used to attend with potential customers, one year (at Duxford) we placed two orders for a customer.
Reed need to listen to the industry. Provide little of interest and we won't attend and Reed will eventually lose too much money to carry on.
SND
I see helihub has picked up on the porkies put out by Reed to promote this show,noting absence of Sikorsky.In fact Sikorsky were at the first Excel event but on the final day told me "Never again" .....true to their word they weren't there this time and Reed passing off an Air Harrods S-76 in the car park as evidence hardly counts,no more than Cornwall's Air Ambulabce MD900 represented MD Helicopters. Far too much spin,and not rotor blades either!
Like Heli 1, we of a certain leaning spun it out for all three days but, as he rightly says, there was only one busy day. The news announcements were spread so we were obliged to be in the vicinity.
But do not get the wrong idea on this .... not every exhibitor was against the event or its location. For every dissenter there was an enthusiast. In fairness most of the 'no' camp were simply not there anyway [and it showed].
There was enough to do [for three days] and there was business to be had among the first two days at least but it was at a leisurely pace that such as Heli-Expo does not afford. I waited three days for a slot with one exhibitor.
As we know Sloane held their own event off piste.... that attitude fitting in well with David George's declaration of 'never to be at Helitech as long as it was at ExCel'. All very fine as words go but somewhat devalued when he arrived at ExCel for a photocall. Business pressures are the master of us all.
Me? I will go where the networking is and I had three days of chit chat and business and on that basis it was OK. Helitech [which ever country it is in] asks 2-3 days of my time.... Heli-Expo requires 7 days simply because of the travel element.
But do not get the wrong idea on this .... not every exhibitor was against the event or its location. For every dissenter there was an enthusiast. In fairness most of the 'no' camp were simply not there anyway [and it showed].
There was enough to do [for three days] and there was business to be had among the first two days at least but it was at a leisurely pace that such as Heli-Expo does not afford. I waited three days for a slot with one exhibitor.
As we know Sloane held their own event off piste.... that attitude fitting in well with David George's declaration of 'never to be at Helitech as long as it was at ExCel'. All very fine as words go but somewhat devalued when he arrived at ExCel for a photocall. Business pressures are the master of us all.
Me? I will go where the networking is and I had three days of chit chat and business and on that basis it was OK. Helitech [which ever country it is in] asks 2-3 days of my time.... Heli-Expo requires 7 days simply because of the travel element.
Fair comment PA but of course the travel awkwardness actually meant that David George got there too late for the photo call with AW.....and the organisers refused to let him fly in to the empty car park,despite allowing the 429 to fly from there daily and an AW109 visit on the final day!
No wonder he was p###ed off.
No wonder he was p###ed off.
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I flew in to vanguard. 5 mins in a taxi and I was there. I am sure others could have done the same, much easier than trying to land in a car park at the threshold of city's runway.
Had a good time at the event, but can understand those not close to London would want to possibly aviod it. However nothing wrong with the Excel location or facilities, that's why it's the UK's busiest expo location.
It's certainly a 'corporate' event as witnessed by the exhibitors, Heliexpo at Sywell is better for the GA people who want to go look at the possible next garmin they may save up to buy, but helitech seemed busy enough and served a purpose... Just not for GA or smaller businesses.
Had a good time at the event, but can understand those not close to London would want to possibly aviod it. However nothing wrong with the Excel location or facilities, that's why it's the UK's busiest expo location.
It's certainly a 'corporate' event as witnessed by the exhibitors, Heliexpo at Sywell is better for the GA people who want to go look at the possible next garmin they may save up to buy, but helitech seemed busy enough and served a purpose... Just not for GA or smaller businesses.
Avoid imitations
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I flew in to vanguard. 5 mins in a taxi and I was there. I am sure others could have done the same, much easier than trying to land in a car park at the threshold of city's runway
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I often park at vanguard when visiting London, no issues so far.
Yes, CAA need to be informed, but only the once. Obviously little AOC traffic there unless it's a 135 or newer 109.
Yes, CAA need to be informed, but only the once. Obviously little AOC traffic there unless it's a 135 or newer 109.
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Of course you can park one helicopter, but that's all.... my point being that it doesn't help much for what should be a major helicopter attendance event. 
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I was very disappointed with Helitech2015, I certainly won't be going to RAI Amsterdam for the next one. As others have commented about lack of people like Sloane, RotorTech, Sikorsky et al, can't agree more, even Airbus and Agusta were not really that interesting.
The one thing in its favour was its ease of access, just a few minutes from LCY, but the organisers seem to have lost the plot of what Helitech was about.
The one thing in its favour was its ease of access, just a few minutes from LCY, but the organisers seem to have lost the plot of what Helitech was about.
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Helitech - a WOT
That's a waste of time, BTW. No, neither myself. I did make it for around 4 hours, but felt it was a real WOT. I had wanted to say 'well done' to SHL for their A/W sales etc when I knew David was scheduled. But he didn't make it in time so I returned. Last H'tech for me and many of my contemporaries - the only (few) that I talked to were those who happened to get caught for stand duty.
Big disappointment, but will the organisers listen? I wonder - VFR
Big disappointment, but will the organisers listen? I wonder - VFR
Avoid imitations
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Vanguard is considered by the CAA to be in the London congested area so if not operating under an AOC a permission should be applied for. It's not up to the CAA to come and ask the pilot!
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Helitech: Helipress gets the goat
Why Helipress will no longer be invited to Helitech International
I/C
Why Helipress will no longer be invited to Helitech International
I/C
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I shan't be going again....
What a complete waste of a (long) day. Bloody impossible place to get to and not worth looking around once you did get there. Only Airbus seemed to be having a good show, but schmoozing at a high level is what they're best at and their clients are probably based in central London. Seems that it is no longer a show for heli owners and I certainly won't be going back until I can fly in again. What about holding it at Biggin or Redhill or even Duxford?!!!