Exhibitors at 'Eurocopter in the UK 2000 International' have described the show as a 'highly focused' event.

In a letter received shortly afterwards, the managing director of Powervamp told hosts McAlpine Helicopters: "I'm sure I could have spent ten times the money for less results at Farnborough, had we decided to blow all our exhibition budget in one go.

"Obviously, where the visitors are invited guests and where the event is highly focused, one would expect quality rather than quantity in terms of visitor numbers. In our experience, just as it was last year, we had the quality and have taken orders once again as a direct result of the show."

During a two-day event spanning June 23 and 24, McAlpine welcomed in the region of 600 visitors, including guests, exhibitors and exhibitor guests.

Sales director David Lewis told EBAN that McAlpine's own experiences were also very positive. He said: "We confirmed an order for a 350 B-III and also built on interest that has been generated both for the EC120 and the EC135. Particularly the latter, now that we will shortly be commencing delivery of single pilot IFR-equipped EC135s.

"We had some extremely good quality demos and feedback on those aircraft and we believe that we will be building on that interest over 12-18 months."

Asked about the most popular of the Eurocopter range, Lewis said: "The machine that's having greatest impact in terms of numbers is without doubt the EC120. It has brought McAlpine/Eurocopter, certainly as far as the UK is concerned but I know it applies throughout the world, back into a market that we've not been present in for probably 20 years, which is the traditional private owner category.

"One thing that's different from 20 years ago is that there's now a generation of private pilots, some with aspirations to be commercial pilots, who have learnt to fly on the current generation of piston-engine helicopters, particularly the Robinson 22, and want to move into larger helicopters. Of course, the 120 fits into the price and size bracket which is attractive to quite a few people."

Among McAlpine's UK customers, the EC120 is being used almost exclusively for private business and fun flying. "In addition," said Lewis, "a number of our customers are making them available for public transport operators who wish to utilise them for AOC-type work. In fact, two 120s we've delivered recently and are now being operated by AOC holders in the south of England."

McAlpine ran its first 'Eurocopter in the UK' show in 1996 and with Helitech taking centre stage in the intervening years, has done it biannually since.

Lewis concluded: "I think that the idea of the whole event is not to have the place absolutely teeming with people. Having invited guests and exhibitors, we believe the chemistry was very good.

"We believe that we offered a combination that was a little different from the traditional way in which these shows are put on and I'd say there's a pretty good chance that we'll be doing it again in two years' time."