Helitech International delivers a successful Amsterdam debut

Staging Helitech International 2014 from October 14 - 16, in association with the European Helicopter Association (EHA), at Amsterdam RAI, one of Europe's great commercial and transport hubs, has proved a success. Over 2500 attendees from 59 countries attended Europe's largest rotorcraft exhibition and conference, which included a diverse
Education Programme covering key issues within the civil and parapublic helicopter sectors. A total of 180 companies representing 22 countries exhibited including over 65 first-time exhibitors.

 On the show floor, AgustaWestland announced two contract signings, with Norsk Luftambulanse of Norway contracting for an AW169 light twin-engine intermediate helicopter for Emergency Medical Services and Bel Air of Denmark taking delivery of its first AW189 super medium helicopter at an official ceremony staged during the exhibition.

 Another helicopter going into medical service is the Bell 429 which formed the centrepiece of the Bell Helicopter display and is now being handed over to Wiltshire Air Ambulance in the UK. Alongside the new EC130 T2 and EC145 T2 versions on display, Airbus Helicopters announced two major services improvements - an extended Secured Standard Exchange policy offering customers the possibility of immediately exchanging a part needing repair or overhaul with another serviceable part and a Secured Turnaround Time (TAT) service of 45 days for equipment repair and overhaul. Waypoint Leasingused the Amsterdam event to announce a contract with Bristow for the sale and leaseback of two Sikorsky S-92 helicopters.

Waypoint also announced the establishment of a partnership with Avincis. Under the arrangement, Avincis will lease two AgustaWestland AW139s which will operate for its subsidiary INAER Aviation Italia. Mecaer Aviation Group exhibited its AW169 VIP mock-up interior cabin and Bell Helicopter announced on the first day that it had made the first Bell 429 Wheeled Landing Gear (WLG) sale in Europe, which would be outfitted with the world's first Bell 429 MAGnificent luxury cabin interior, created by Mecaer.