With the aviation industry currently fighting a down-turn due to the global economic recession it was very pleasing to hear from event organisers Farnborough International Limited (FIL) that exhibition space was sold out for the 2010 show. Speaking at the media launch, Shaun Ormrod, FIL Chief Executive, commented: "We have seen considerable interest in this year's show with exhibitors attending from thirty eight countries so far. We have sold one hundred and sixty six chalets, twenty two 'International Pavilions' - including to new groups from Morocco, Brazil and Portugal; eight 'Regional UK Pavilions' and all our new 'first time exhibitor' packages. Overall we are encouraged that 2010 will be a very buoyant year for FIA."
Amanda Stainer, Events & Exhibitions Director of FIL added: "The team here at FIL has worked hard to create an airshow that will facilitate the best opportunities for business. We have listened to all our customers from the business, commercial and defence sectors alike and have developed a number of initiatives that improve the show's offerings. Our impressive sales record reflects this and we expect our visitor numbers will do the same."
Farnborough is first and foremost a trade show with the first five days dedicated to trade visitors. The trade days will each be themed around a conference programme. Monday will see aerospace as the theme, with particular focus on civil aviation. Tuesday features defence, Wednesday Space and Thursday Security. Friday is Futures day with a large contingent of 2000 students already invited to attend the airshow to inspire their future aviation careers.
For the first time at Farnborough, following lengthy discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), agreement has been reached to allow Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to be demonstrated as a regular part of the display programme. It is envisaged that a dedicated thirty minute UAS display will take part before the main flying display. Depending on uptake from manufacturers this could be extended to one hour. Commenting on UAS flying, Rod Dean, Director of Flight Operations said, "We have undergone a great deal of discussion to secure arrangement in principle with the CAA and now have a set of guidelines that will allow UAS manufacturers to demonstrate their aircraft. Now that we have reached that agreement we expect a good number of customers to take up this opportunity." Rod went on to explain that the aircraft would have to weigh a maximum of 20kg to take part and that in the eyes of the CAA they would be treated as model aircraft. Should the 2010 displays be deemed a success, further dialogue will be opened with the CAA to try and introduce larger, intermediate size aircraft to take part in the 2012 UAS display. The airspace restrictions around Farnborough will always preclude the inclusion of aircraft the size of the Global Hawk from taking part in the flying display however, while some of the smaller micro UAS will be demonstrated inside a dedicated area within the display halls.
An airshow wouldn't be an airshow without aircraft and FIL has high hopes for aircraft attendance at the 2010 show. The full line up for the flying displays hadn't been fully confirmed at the Media Launch but the organisers were very confident of a full programme.
The show within a show will again take place with the Business Aircraft Park (BAP) open on the first three trade days of the show. Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Embraer and Hawker Beechcraft will all have aircraft on display and one aircraft making its Farnborough debut within the BAP will be the Sukhoi SSJ Superjet.
Two aircraft should be making their world airshow debuts at Farnborough. The first is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which Boeing has indicated will appear in the static display for the first few days of the show. Its attendance is still very much dependant on how the aircraft's much delayed test flight programme is progressing, but at the time of the media launch the signs were very promising. The second aircraft to make its debut is the CATIC JF-17 jet fighter. This Chinese produced aircraft should be displayed in its export configuration as the JF-17 Thunder which is in service with the Pakistan Air Force. Two aircraft should attend, one in the static display and one in the daily flying display. It will certainly be interesting to see this aircraft in the air alongside its western counterparts.
Another important aircraft making its Farnborough debut should be the Airbus A400M military transporter. Like the 787, Airbus has stated that its attendance depends on its test flying programme, but Airbus has already registered to fly the aircraft at the show, unlike the 787! Farnborough will also see a welcome return and debut in its newly updated form of the venerable Twin Otter. Now manufactured by Viking Air, the Twin Otter 400 features new engines, avionics and a whole host of updates to bring it up to date.
Returning to Farnborough after making its European debut at the 2008 show and star of a large US Department of Defence contingent will be the F-22 Raptor. Joining the F-22 in the air will be the B-52, F-16, C-130J and F/A-18 Super Hornet, hopefully once again flown by Boeing Test Pilot Ricardo Travern. Additional static DoD aircraft include F-15, C-17, E-2C and MH-60S, as well as the 737AEW&C making its Farnborough debut.
Airliners at the show will include the Airbus A380, Qatar Airways Boeing 777, ATR-72 and, making its debut, the Antonov An-158. Additional military aircraft participants include the Alenia C-27J and M346, Airbus/ATR C295, Eurofighter Typhoon and Pilatus PC-21. Helicopters will also be well represented with offerings from Agusta Westland, Bell and Eurocopter.
The Public Days scheduled for Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July will see an expanded five hour flying display. The 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain will be celebrated with Spitfires, Hurricanes and Me109s dog fighting over the Hampshire skies while aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Shuttleworth Collection and Royal Navy Historic Flight will further the historic theme. The Cold War will be represented by the B-52 and Vulcan bombers with current RAF types such as Hawk and Typhoon bringing the flying right up to date. The Blades formation team, who were present at the media launch, will be displaying at the show along with crowd favourites the RAF Red Arrows. Also on view for the first time will be the Bloodhound SSC car; this car is powered by a single Eurofighter Typhoon EJ200 engine, with the aim being to break the 1,000 mph barrier.
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