The Australian Helicopter Industry Association’s second Rotortech exhibition and conference event, to be held on the Sunshine Coast in May next year, may include a demonstration of drones and their capability.
Association events organiser Rob Rich said the initiative to include a drone demonstration reflected the groundswell of unmanned aerial system development and commercial application, where even the Rotortech venue, the Novotel Twin Waters Resort, was already a drone operator in its own right.
“The resort at times uses up to three drones for photographing of major events,” he said. “A local company has a large fleet of commercial drones taking over traditional helicopter tasks. Hopefully, we can get a number to display their capabilities on the outdoor grassed area.”
Rotortech 2016 will be almost double the size of the first event in 2014 and will move to a three day program across Friday May 27 to Sunday May 29.
It will include more trade exhibition space, more conference free time for networking and a new 10,000 square metre grassed area for the display of up to 50 helicopters from manufacturers.
“The inaugural event in 2014 was sold out three months prior and feedback from exhibitors indicated it was very successful,” Rob Rich said.
Last year’s event attracted more than 240 delegates, with 15 helicopters on display.
It featured a mix of speakers from industry, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and manufacturers, with highlights including Helicopter Association International president Matt Zuccaro as keynote speaker and the first Australian showing of Bell Helicopters’ new 505 Jet Ranger X mock up.