Andrew Doyle/MUNICH
There has been much debate within the aerospace industry during the past couple of years about whether moving the date of Farnborough International from September to July would affect ILA 2000, which takes place 6-12 June.
Organisers Messe Berlin and the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI)claim it has not and that exhibitor numbers will be slightly up from 1998's event. Messe Berlin says: "If that had had a very strong impact, we would not have this large number of exhibitors." BDLI adds: "Maybe there will be an impact in terms of visitor numbers but-we won't know before ILA." They are clearly disappointed, however, that Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company, has decided not to attend in favour of focusing its European show presence exclusively on Farnborough.
Around 850 exhibitors from 35 countries are expected at ILA 2000, compared to the 825 from 32 nations two years ago when 82,000 trade visitors and 226,000 members of the public attended. "We estimate that the number of trade and public visitors will be about the same this year," says Messe Berlin. Countries represented for the first time will be Ireland, South Africa and Uzbekistan.
A major selling point of the Berlin show, located in the former East German side of the city, is its reputation as a crossroads for trade between east and west. "Depending on how you look at it, ILA is either the most Western air show in eastern Europe or the most eastern in the West," says Messe Berlin. Aerospace professionals from, for example, the Czech Republic and Poland, can comfortably make a day trip to the show, while Moscow is only a 2h flight away with no local time difference.
Despite last minute lobbying by ILA 2000's organisers, Boeing confirms its decision not to participate. "We really want to stick to one European show per year," says the company. "We want to put our full weight behind the ones that we do intend to attend."
The BDLI argues that Boeing should be present in view of the increasing sales, particularly in Europe, that Airbus is achieving on the civil side, while the US company is also involved in defence competitions in eastern Europe. "It isn't a good decision by Boeing to go only to Farnborough," it says. The move is a particular blow for Rolls-Royce Deutschland which had hoped Boeing would exhibit a 717 regional jet, for which it supplies its BR715 turbofan. The USAir Force will be sending a C-17 transport aircraft to ILA2000 independent of Boeing.
Major exhibitors
Show participants will include Airbus, BAE Systems, Bombardier, Cessna, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa), Dassault, Embraer, Eurofighter, Fairchild Aerospace, IPTN, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Panavia, Piaggio, Raytheon and Mikoyan, along with engine manufacturers Eurojet, MTU, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Rolls-Royce and Snecma. Helicopter producers Bell Helicopter Textron, Eurocopter, GKN Westland, Kazan, MD Helicopters, NH Industries and Rostvertol will also be present.
Among changes being introduced this year are the addition of four exclusive trade days at the start of the show. Previously, all days were open to the public, which created problems for some exhibitors who were trying to focus on developing business opportunities. "On these trade days the louder parts of the air show will be concentrated in the afternoon hours to allow discussions and conferences to be held without too much disturbance," says Messe Berlin.
Hot topics at the show will include the imminent establishment of European Aeronautic, Defense and Space (EADS) through the merger of Aerospatiale, CASA and Dasa. The partners hope to formally create EADS via a stock market flotation at the end of June.
Production contracts for the NH Industries NH90 helicopter are to be signed at the show by France and Germany, while the prospects for a launch of the Airbus Military Company A400M transport should have become clearer by June. A formal launch of the A400M is not expected at ILA2000, however, industry insiders say.
Meanwhile, the Airbus supervisory board is expected to decide on the commercial launch of the A3XX in late May.
Source: Flight International
