Date: 202008
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: SNA.Tower, CA
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Takeoff / Launch
Airspace: Class C Y
ATC / advisory: Tower SNA
Second aircraft: Helicopter
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: First Officer
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: During takeoff roll on runway 20R I noticed a helicopter starting to depart from the northern parking apron (our right side) and I noted to the FO to 'keep an eye out on that guy; it looks like he's taking off'. The FO agreed that he looked to be taking off. As I rotated; the helicopter also became airborne at roughly the same rate. As our distance closed it appeared that the helicopter was drifting closer to the runway. I continued to pitch up to approximately 18 degree. I was unable to maneuver left because I knew there were small single engine acft landing and departing runway 20L and I could not determine if that area was clear. As I continued to increase pitch our vertical speed increased enough that I felt that we would out climb the helicopter. As we passed by one another it looked as if the helicopter had corrected and was heading away from us. The FO estimated that the helicopter was as close as 100' or less from our wing tip was we passed. Tower should not have give both acft clearance to takeoff. The difference in time could have been as little as 30 to 60 seconds and the entire event would have been avoided. SNA at that time was incredibly congested with numerous GA training acft in the pattern using both runways. Allowing a regional jet and a helicopter to depart at the same time in close proximity just added fuel to the fire and I feel it was completely unnecessary. One thing I really wished I would have done was increased throttles to max at the point I felt the traffic was a factor. Also in future I might consider rejecting the takeoff off clearance if I hear a helicopter getting a takeoff clearance from that apron at the same time.


Second narrative: Took off 20R at the same time a helicopter was cleared to take off off the northern ramp to the right of us. Captain told me to keep an eye on him. As we took off so did the helicopter and it seem like he drifted toward our runway. Captain pitched up to 18 degrees nose up and the helicopter was turning away but still appeared to be drifting toward us. We definitely appeared to be out climbing the helicopter and it finally turned and flew away from us as we passed. Looked like about 100 feet worth of separation. Tower could have waited to clear one of us. Or the helicopter could've not drifted toward the runway. Also we could have put power to max to ensure we out climbed the aircraft.


Synopsis: E175 Flight Crew reported a NMAC with a helicopter on take off.