Singapore’s Changi Exhibition Center will next month host the Asia-Pacific region’s first dedicated civil helicopter show, Rotorcraft Asia (April 18-20). Experia Events, which organizes the biennial Singapore Air Show at the same location, launched the show in response to expectations that the Asia-Pacific civil helicopter fleet is set to grow by just over 50 percent by 2025—almost twice the anticipated global expansion of this sector.
Running alongside Rotorcraft Asia will be the new Unmanned Systems Asia show, with a strong focus on the latest drone technology. The co-location of the two events recognizes the growing synergies between the helicopter and UAS industries. Unmanned Systems Asia will include live demonstrations of drones designed for multiple commercial and defense applications, and featuring aerial, ground and underwater systems.
Rotorcraft Asia, which will have flight demonstrations, is backed by some of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus Helicopters, Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky. So far, confirmed aircraft on show will include the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X and Airbus’s new H160 making its Asian debut. Other prominent exhibitors include BBA Aviation, Garmin, Honeywell Aerospace, L-3 Wescam, Ruag Aviation, Safran Helicopter Engines, Standard Aero and Zodiac Aerospace.
The show also will include a conference on the theme of “Innovation in Rotorcraft.” Presentations from companies such as Airbus, Bell and Sikorsky, will be offered on topics including innovation in maintenance, mission critical services, training and simulation and safety management systems.
Experia is running a VIP buyers program through which exhibitors can be introduced to visitors with specific plans to acquire new aircraft and equipment. Among the VIP buyers already booked for Rotorcraft Asia are representatives from Vietnam’s ministry of public security, Indonesia and Malaysian police forces, Travira Air, Derazona Air, Vietnam Helicopters, PhilJets, BP and Shell.
“The Asia-Pacific region is well-poised to be the civil helicopter industry’s highest growth market in the coming decade,” Experia Events managing director Leck Chet Lam told AIN. “The oil and gas sector, which is driven by market forces, is definitely the one to watch for.”
In support of this contention, Experia pointed to a report on the helicopter services market by Douglas-Westwood that predicted a 3 percent annual growth in oil and gas expenditures between 2017 and 2021. The report states that the production support component of the market will remain more resilient in oil price compared to exploration drilling.