This week, Heli-Expo—the show’s 35th-anniversary edition and final under that branding—set a new record attendance, attracting 15,000 people to the Anaheim Convention Center in California.
A major point on the eve of the event was the change of its organizer’s name from Helicopter Association International (HAI) to Vertical Aviation International (VAI), to better reflect its embrace of the growing UAV and AAM segments.
“We chose to announce our rebranding at the show because, each year, it becomes the center of the vertical aviation universe,” said Nicole Battjes, chair of the VAI Board of Directors. “Our theme for the 2024 show, Building Tomorrow, perfectly aligned with our reasons for rebranding.”
Visitors from 87 countries saw 63 aircraft on display, along with the latest technology, products, and services for the vertical aviation industry. The show featured 125 educational and training courses on topics ranging from aerial firefighting to automation, which were attended by nearly 4,200 participants.
"Both our attendees and exhibitors reported experiencing an outstanding show in Anaheim," said VAI president and CEO James Viola. "Every exhibiting company I spoke with reported high-quality traffic, and our attendees took advantage of the hundred-plus networking and education opportunities."
This year’s show was the last Heli-Expo. Next year’s conference and exhibition—to be held in Dallas from March 10 to 13—will be rebranded as VAI Verticon in line with the organization’s name change.