Airbus Helicopters brought an H145 in emergency medical services configuration and an H130 in passenger configuration to Helitech International 2016, which was held at Amsterdam RAI in the Netherlands in early October. Mike Reyno Photos Helitech offers optimism Attendees heard that the green shoots of recovery are appearing at the industry’s largest European tradeshow. 14 including Airbus, Leonardo, Bell, Marenco Swisshelicopter, and Enstrom, as well as engine manufacturers Pratt & Whitney Canada and Safran Helicopter Engines. Over 180 international exhibitors show- cased their latest products and services at Helitech International — Europe’s largest helicopter tradeshow — in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, over three days in October. Run in association with the European Helicopter Association (EHA), the event included a series of workshops and seminars from busi- ness, technical and safety experts, which ran alongside a bustling show floor. One of the most popular displays at the show was Leonardo Helicopters’ new virtual reality search-and-rescue (SAR) system. This allowed visitors, wearing a virtual reality headset, to experience a hoist rescue from an AW189 — using a real hoist and platform staging. The leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) all had a presence at the show, The seminar and workshop program included sessions from the Association Ver tical Maga zine of Air Ambulances, the European Aviation Safety Agency, Flight Ascend Consultancy, AAR Airlfift Group, Waypoint Leasing, The Flying Bulls, and the European HEMS & Air Ambulances Committee. On day one of the event, Flight Ascend Consultancy provided a detailed review of the oil-and-gas industry and how its decline has correlated closely with the downturn in international helicopter orders, while a separate session explored future trends in emergency medicine.