The Middle East and Africa Helicopter Association, brainchild of conference entrepreneur Panagiotis Panagopoulos, has launched with the intention of bringing together helicopter owners and operators across the region. “I've been talking to a lot of helicopter professionals for a long time,” says Panagopoulos. “Manufacturers too – not only in the Middle East, but also in countries like Russia.

“Helicopters are, of course, not only for vip transportation, like private jets. They are also for offshore airlift for the oil and gas industry, and this is quite big in the Middle East and Africa. Rescue operations and even medical transport are all done by helicopter. I got a lot of contacts from my research in the industry and I identified a gap in the market – an organisation that can focus specifically on helicopters in this region.”

Panagopoulos intends to create a strong network of contacts so that professionals can find business opportunities. “It can be hard to deal with certain countries, especially in Africa,” he continues. “I'd like MEAHA to be like a link, a bridge between businesses and opportunities.

“There are so many associations around the world, big and small, even in the Middle East. But sometimes people feel that they become a member of an association just for the sake of saying that they are a member, and for the sake of using the logo.” He has also set up his association in response to opinion about existing associations, which he says some-times do not do enough to represent their members. MEAHA will be organising specialist seminars with a view to an annual symposium for delegates around the world with business interests in the region. Panagopoulos says that he spoke to many delegates at the recent Singapore Airshow, and that manufacturers Airbus Helicopters, Russian Helicopters and Bell were also receptive to the idea.

The vision of the association in the medium term is to form foundations to expand the rotorcraft industry in the Middle East and Africa. “The best feedback would be that after a year or two members will come back and say 'you have made a difference to the industry in this region', that would be the best payback really for the work.”

As for long-term ambitions, Panagopoulos hopes that he can eventually expand his model to a global one: “It is a huge market and according to the forecast – I read that Bell had predicted there would be a 50 per cent increase in helicopters in the next decade – helicopter usage will increase greatly.

“I think we will see huge growth all over Africa. There are significant differences in Africa from country to country, and a difference between Africa and the Middle East. But these are things we all have to work on.

“Safety is an issue I want to have very close to my heart, and maybe we can have a safety committee in the future.”