In under four weeks time the new EUROPEAN ROTORS event opens for the first time in the German city of Cologne, and will open up the first opportunity for the European helicopter industry to meet and network post-pandemic.  Originally planned for 2020, EUROPEAN ROTORS will open as the second largest event on the global helicopter industry calendar.  Building on the very successful and established EASA Rotorcraft Symposium conference, the regulator joined with the industry – through the European Helicopter Association (EHA) – to create the event.  This pairing then partnered with expo organisers Messe Friendrichshaven, who have strong aviation credentials with their general aviation Aero event, which runs in Germany, South Africa and Asia.

EUROPEAN ROTORS will run on 16-18 November 2021 at the Koelnmesse Convention Centre in Cologne, a city centre location with very good travel connections.  The halls will host over 150 exhibitors and at least 15 helicopters, and there is a parallel conference program in adjacent locations with over 130 speakers across the three days.  The conference program also includes certificated training modules for particular industry qualifications.

Both EHA and EASA are keen to ensure that the event is not only a presentation of the present day, but also an opportunity for visitors to see what the future holds for the industry.  Volocopter, Viradrones and Aerial Robotics are among a number of key companies presenting new technologies – including electric and hybrid engines, unmanned aircraft and the associated infrastructure  elements.

Only today British aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace publicly lobbied the UK Government to ensure that inter-city electric-powered flight is approved by 2025, and while some observers may raise their eyebrows at that date from a regulation point of view, it is clear that VA expect the technology to be ready and tested by then.  With the UK Civil Aviation Authority now divorced from its European counterpart, it is interesting to note that EASA published its “Study on the societal acceptance of Urban Air Mobility in Europe” earlier in 2021 and are themselves targeting the 2024-5 timeframe.

EUROPEAN ROTORS is keen to encourage student visitors, and has not only set a very low €15 entry fee (EHA members pay €80 for one day, non members €110. A three day ticket EHA member is €190, non members €250), but will also run a hackathon under the “Rotorthon” title.  During the three days of the show six teams of aerospace students will compete against each other, and each of two topics will be assigned to three teams – each topic has been developed in exchange between the industry, research institutions operators and EASA. On the last afternoon of the show the teams will present their solutions to the visitors and a dedicated jury from the whole VTOL community will then choose a winner in each of the two topics.

EUROPEAN ROTORS will need to purchase their entry tickets online prior to arrival, and abide by all the required conference centre COVID regulations, which includes the wearing of masks full-time.

After the event, the EUROPEAN ROTORS “365” digital show platform will continue to be available online through to the next running of the event.