HAI Helicopter Convention 2014

Who would have know the helicopter industry was so massive?  I had the impression it was just a small segment of the aviation industry. A mere spec compared to that of business and commercial aviation.   Maybe a few maintenance shops would be attending this show and a few of the major manufactures presenting their goods.  Turns out,  it  consumes the entire floor of the Anaheim Convention Center. And then some…as demo flights were being conducted around the clock during the show.

There were full size production helicopters in every where I looked.  Hundreds of booths lined the floor with anything you can imagine helicopter.  Parts, cameras, engines, finance, insurance, avionics, even safety support groups that give guidance to medevac companies. It was absolutely fascinating to see such an overload of helicopter activity.

Some of the more interesting accessories for the whirlybirds, were the “hanging saw of death” which could be employed to cut paths through a dense rain forest or to remove trees hanging on power lines.  10 spinning saw blades dangling from beneath the helicopter are dragged through the trees clearing a path.  Great for building roads and making areas that were inaccessible by land now a short drive from your base.

Fun Fact: The hanging saw is safe for operation in winds up to 25kts.  Spinning saw blades, 25 knot winds, near power lines in a helicopter over a dense jungle, what could go wrong? I can only imagine the insurance premium these guys must pay…if they can even get insured.

Another interesting helicopter accessory was the FNH gun pods and rocket canisters. These could be purchased for an MD helicopter, which is basically a newer version of the Hughes 500.  Don’t get your hopes up about buying one these babies any time soon, unless you’re a military contractor,  they are not for sale for commercial use.

After being amazed at some of these heli oddities, I made my way over to the major manufactures displays, consisting of Bell, Sikorsky Airbus and Augusta-Westland. Their areas  of the show were jaw dropping and the cost to display mind numbing.  I can’t comprehend the millions of dollars spent to display their flocks of newly designed birds.  On the other hand they don’t have to sell very many of their products to make a show worth while.  The logistics of getting the aircraft in the building must have been a daunting. Albeit easier than a fixed wing aircraft, as only the rotor blades had to be removed for entry as opposed to the entire wing of a an aircraft.

A coworker of mine, saw  several of the Airbus helicopters being unloaded from a giant Russian transport aircraft,  at the Long Beach airport.   That transport flight alone would have been a in the hundreds of thousands of dollars/rubles.

Although I don’t have the $25 million to drop on a Bell 525 the company representatives from all the companies very respectful and friendly. And if I do hit the lotto some day I’ll remember that and might be in the market to purchase a bird from them…someday.

Overall I had an enjoyable experience hanging with the chopper crowd and may even consider lessons in one some day.