A blade restraint system for restraining a blade of a helicopter comprising a blade clamp releasably mounted to the blade and a pole pair releasably mountable to the blade clamp at a clamp end. The pole pair is releasably mountable to the helicopter fuselage at an aircraft. The pole pair includes a first pole and second pole. The first and second poles are moveable relative to each other between a storage position and an extended position. The first pole is positioned generally within the second pole in the storage position.