Rotorcraft
Heli-Expo Preview
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year with what appears likely to go down as one of the biggest Heli-Exp

The Helicopter Association International (HAI) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year with what appears likely to go down as one of the biggest Heli-Expo conventions ever. Coming to Houston for the first time, the show is likely to feature the introduction of at least one or two all-new helicopters as well as hundreds of millions of dollars worth of pent-up sales announcements by the major manufacturers, all of them jockeying for exposure during the three-day event this month.

The latest market forecasts remain red hot, with Newtown, Conn.-based analyst Forecast International recently projecting sales of more than 14,000 helicopters worth some $30 billion over the course of the next decade. If the pace of sales announcements matches those of recent Heli-Expo shows, expect an exuberant crowd in South Texas when the show kicks off on February 24.