Andy Douse
HRH the Duke of Kent officially opened Farnborough 2000 yesterday with a bouncy speech that focused on the importance of youth recruitment and environmental awareness within the aerospace industry.
Although a planned flypast by the Red Arrows was cancelled due to bad weather, he said he was delighted to be here in 'wintry' July, describing Farnborough as a superb showcase for one of the most exciting and vital industries in the world.
Speaking to invited guests and defence representatives from 46 countries, he said: "I see that some company names have changed and others have disappeared, but that simply reflects the consolidation that has been going on within the industry during the past year.
"There is a great deal of business to be won and lost in this industry and Farnborough provides an unrivalled atmosphere in which to trade. "As ever we are promised spectacular flying demonstrations and they are immensely popular, but the real meat of the show where the business is done is, of course, in the halls, making Farnborough the biggest temporary exhibition in the world."
"Competition is more fierce than ever, but Farnborough is one of the few opportunities where customers and suppliers can meet in a convivial and exciting environment.
"Visitors to the show will be able to see how seriously the industry is taking its responsibility to preserve the environment, by developing greener technologies.
"Over the next decade, similar enhancements will be made to ensure that the ever-increasing demands for air travel do not put a burden on the environment."
Source: Flight Daily News
