Photos of helicopters arriving at HAI HELI-EXPO

A Eurocopter Super Puma AW139 arrives at HAI HELI-EXPO in Anaheim, California January 24, 2020. It is registered to Horizon Helicopters in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

Today I found time to go through some of photos from the Helicopter Association International HELI-EXPO in Anaheim, California. Today, January 30, is the last day of the event that started on January 28. Most of the 60+ helicopters that are exhibited staged at the Fullerton Airport 6 miles northwest of the Anaheim Convention Center before flying to a parking lot just west of the Center.

At times there were dozens of helicopters parked at Fullerton waiting for their scheduled departure, occurring at 15-minute intervals. The convention center is across the street from Disneyland and the airspace is usually restricted over the Anaheim Resort District.

The HAI HELI-EXPO landing zone at the Anaheim Convention Center. Google Earth/Fire Aviation.

Many of the helicopters had to have their rotors removed before they were towed through one of four exhibit hall doors. The largest door is about 40 feet wide by 25 feet high. The pilots were told to arrive with “minimum fuel”, enough to return to Fullerton while abiding by FAA regulations. Towed-in aircraft had to be purged of fuel.

The 60+ helicopters will depart from HELI-EXPO Thursday, January 30, beginning at 4:00 pm following the conclusion of the show, and Friday, January 31 beginning at 7:00 am. Anyone wanting to observe may be able to get a view of the activity through a fence on S. West Street on the west side of the convention center.