Vertical Aviation International (VAI) and the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA) have announced the signing of a letter of intent and initial engagement agreement, marking the first step toward developing a new vertical lift industry event for Australia and the broader Southeast Asia region.
Under the agreement, signed Aug. 4, 2026, VAI and AHIA will work together to explore, design, and structure a new event to succeed AHIA’s current show arrangements following their contractual expiration.
The event—referred to for now as the “New Australian Vertical Lift Event,” pending a final name and brand identity — is intended to become a flagship gathering for the Australian and Southeast Asia regional helicopter and vertical aviation community, joining VAI’s global portfolio of premier vertical flight events alongside VERTICON in the United States and European Rotors in Europe.
“AHIA is delighted to strengthen its relationship with VAI through the signing of a letter of intent to collaborate on delivering industry events across Australia and the broader region. As AHIA continues its focus on advancing safety, education, industry capability, and informed policy that supports a strong and sustainable vertical aviation sector, this partnership will expand our capacity to deliver greater value to our members, supported by VAI’s global expertise, resources, and reach,” said Julian Fraser, CEO, AHIA.
“This letter of intent with AHIA is an exciting step toward unifying the vertical aviation community across Australia and the broader Southeast Asia region under a shared vision, and toward engaging operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and government stakeholders in building an environment in which the entire industry can thrive. We’re proud to partner with AHIA on this next chapter, and we look forward to building an event the region can be proud of,” said François Lassale, president and CEO, VAI.
With the letter of intent now signed, VAI and AHIA will begin working together to assess the format, location, and commercial framework for the proposed event. Further details, including the event name, location, and timing, will be announced as the development work progresses.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Vertical Aviation International.
