EUROPEAN ROTORS exceeded expectations

• sold out show floor
• visitors from 36 nations 
• well attended conference programme
• many companies reported sales
• 25 percent of exhibitors have already booked spaces for next year

The premiere of the new trade fair for rotorcraft, EUROPEAN ROTORS, exceeded the expectations of the organisers: The show floor was completely booked with over 150 exhibitors, the number of visitors had reached the maximum allowed by the authorities and the extensive conference programme was very well received. At EUROPEAN ROTORS there were several world and European premieres of new aircraft, like the unveiling of the new CityAirbus NextGen and the eMagic One from eMagic Aircraft. Exhibitors also reported the conclusion of sales contracts for new helicopters. Bell Textron for example has received orders for Bell 505 and Bell 429 aircraft during the show. Over 25 percent of the exhibitors took the opportunity to book on-site their participation for the next edition of EUROPEAN ROTORS.

The concept of the show as an open platform for all members of the rotorcraft community like OEMs, operators, engineers and regulators, was very well received by exhibitors and visitors. The show covers the entire civil sector of the VTOL industry, from rescue missions (HEMS/Helicopter Emergency Services) to firefighting, offshore, VIP transport and law enforcement missions. EUROPEAN ROTORS is jointly organised by the EHA (European Helicopter Association) and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency).

EHA Chairman Peter Moeller says: “The European Helicopter Association is grateful for the large number of exhibitors and visitors who came together to make this show such a success. After the show is before the show. Don’t miss out the opportunity to go to our website https://www.365.europeanrotors.eu/en to see the seminars you might have missed here in Cologne and to prepare yourself for the next EUROPEAN ROTORS which will take place from November 8 to 10 here in Cologne."

European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Executive Director Patrick Ky said: “This was an impressive event for the rotorcraft community. Like many other attendees, I appreciated the opportunity to meet face to face and see the latest products in a live environment. I trust that the participants in the EASA Symposium found the sessions interesting and useful. I believe we will see this dynamic event growing in future years and becoming a firm fixture in the rotorcraft calendar.  I would like to thank our partners EHA, my EASA colleagues and all the organisers and exhibitors for their hard work in putting this event together, despite the challenges of the pandemic."

Dr. Frank Liemandt, the Show Director of EUROPEAN ROTORS, says: “We have made our promise a reality and created a platform where all participants of the VTOL community can meet, exchange and do business. We have created a safe environment for such a trade show through extra wide aisles. The German COVID regulations were observed.”

He points out: "We are launching today our digital format EUROPEANROTORS365, which can be found on the website at https://www.365.europeanrotors.eu/en, where we will gradually put the conference contents online for all interested parties who could not come to EUROPEAN ROTORS themselves."

EUROPEAN ROTORS will take place annually from now on. Next year it will once again be hosted in Cologne at Koelnmesse. The date of EUROPEAN ROTORS 2022 is 8 to 10 November. 

Exhibitor comments on EUROPEAN ROTORS:

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters:

"Personal, face to face meetings are essential for business and I could see the smiles on the faces of everybody here at EUROPEAN ROTORS. Everybody is happy that we finally could meet again after such a long period of isolation. Although the pandemic is far from being over I hope that we can get back to events such as EUROPEAN ROTORS on a more regular basis.”

Patrick Moulay, Senior VP of International Commercial Business, Bell:

"We thank EUROPEAN ROTORS for hosting a great show! The event was a success for Bell and the aviation industry in Europe. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase Bell’s innovations and technologies with our customers and key stakeholders. We look forward to being a part of the show next year.”

Paul de Jonge, VP Marketing, Leonardo Helicopters:

"We are very satisfied by having attended the first edition of an excellent EUROPEAN ROTORS exhibition. Being able to meet our customers, suppliers and industry stakeholders again is a first encouraging signal of recovery after the effects generated by the pandemic. Leonardo Helicopters will continue to support EASA and EUROPEAN ROTORS for their specific contribution to the rotorcraft industry and its community in Europe and beyond. During the exhibition we have actively contributed to numerous conferences and panels covering a wide range of subjects such as; safety, innovation, sustainability and market insights and this has been a great added value to the EUROPEAN ROTORS exhibition.”

Francis Larribau, CEO Safran Helicopter Engines Germany:

"It was an immense pleasure to reconnect with our customers from all over Europe at the show, a privileged place to present them our major innovations and discuss with them how we can support them with more comprehensive service offers. The attendance was excellent and it was a real breath of fresh air, even with wearing masks! We could sense the dynamics of the industry and the need for enhanced exchange, even if it is too early to speak about a real recovery.”

About the event:

“EUROPEAN ROTORS – The VTOL show and safety conference” is where the entire rotorcraft industry meets to grow its business and discuss rotorcraft safety and sustainability. The European Helicopter Association (EHA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have created a unique showcase for the European rotorcraft community with the exhibition. EUROPEAN ROTORS is the unique, leading platform that provides the industry with an exhibition where all stakeholders (including manufacturers, suppliers and operators) come together to do business and share knowledge. Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with varying degrees of autonomy are also integrated as an important future technology.

EUROPEAN ROTORS is organised by the European Helicopter Association in cooperation with EASA who will focus on all aviation safety aspects and with the full support of the leading OEMs such as Airbus, Bell Textron, Leonardo and Safran. Messe Friedrichshafen, the organiser of the well-known General Aviation show AERO Friedrichshafen, is the service provider for the show.

The concept consists of a trade show combined with a unique conference programme including lectures, workshops and certified training courses. The most prominent one is the integration of the well-established EASA Rotorcraft and VTOL Symposium which aims at enabling better collaboration and mutual understanding to enhance global aviation safety.

EUROPEAN ROTORS will be held annually from 2021 onwards. The second edition of EUROPEAN ROTORS will be from 8 to 10 November, 2022. 

Further information is available at https://www.visit.europeanrotors.eu/en