Rotortech Returns

All you need to know ahead of the first major get-together for the rotor sector

Rotortech, one of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region’s biggest helicopter and unmanned flight systems shows, is back in June in Brisbane after a three-year absence. It’s held in conjunction with the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) and will feature 100 exhibitors, speakers and presentations from industry and government. It will also provide an opportunity for much of the industry to meet up after a tough year of lockdowns and border closures. 

“Existing helicopter operators are best placed to operate unmanned aircraft effectively”

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This year, the conference program will try to address the issues facing the helicopter industry given one of the most challenging years in its history. In particular, it will focus on pathways to recovery alongside a focus on aerial firefighting, rotary tourism, MRO, finance, insurance and regulatory changes. 

The event will officially kick off on Tuesday, 15 June, with technical workshops presented by Airbus, Boeing and Bell. The main attraction will be a keynote speech by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack as well as presentations by the new CEO of CASA, Pip Spence, and Greg Hood, chief commissioner of the ATSB. This year will also see one major change to the show, with a focus on the ever-growing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector. As well as featuring the latest developments, it will focus on the opportunities – and challenges – presented by this hugely disruptive tech. 

“Unmanned aerial vehicles are moving in to new roles in fields previously dominated by manned helicopters, from agriculture to emergency services, survey and aerial asset management,” AHIA president Ray Cronin says. 

“These developments can create issues for existing helicopter operators, but they can also create business opportunities. Experience has shown that the most successful operators of unmanned aircraft are those who understand the task to which the unmanned vehicle is being applied. 

“So existing helicopter operators are best placed to operate unmanned aircraft effectively, and above all safely, in fields previously dominated by manned helicopters, or in allied applications that may not even have been possible with manned helicopters in the past.” 

Cronin said industry events such as Rotortech are necessary to highlight the issues affecting the industry. “Operators face issues such as regulation and recruitment, but as an industry we are also advancing and adopting new technologies and new ways of doing business,” says Cronin. “Rotortech is the industry’s own forum for sharing this information for the benefit of all.” 

“Unmanned aerial vehicles are moving into new roles in fields previously dominated by manned helicopters”

In that vein, Rotortech this year will feature a unique “From Maybe to Mainstream” conference, bringing together government agencies industry to discuss the current state of play for the use of drones. Discussion will look at all aspects of the drone technology ecosystem including regulatory and data exploitation aspects. Access to Rotortech is free for all accredited trade visitors. Visit rotortech.com.au for more.