Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
The 1998 Farnborough International air show not only marks the exhibition's 50th anniversary at the Hampshire site, but draws to an end the traditional September date for the air show stalwart. Future exhibitions will be held in July (Farnborough 2000 takes place on 24-30 July).
"We have responded to the demands from our exhibitors, which have requested that we widen the gap between the Farnborough and Paris air shows [hosted on alternate years]," says show organiser, the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC). The rescheduling also calls into question the future of the rival Berlin air show, which could move its usual May date.
The biennial exhibition will officially open its doors on 7 September, with the SBAC promising a bigger and better show than before. Although the 1996 event attracted a combined total of 280,000 visitors and 1,165 exhibitors over seven days, the organiser is forecasting about 1,300 exhibitors for the 1998 show. "We have extended the show from 60,000m2 [646,000ft2] to 70,000m2 and have reached full capacity," concedes the SBAC. In terms of show structure and presentation, there are a few changes from 1996. Many companies are expanding their exhibit and chalet space, while Halls 1 and 2 holding the US pavilion are nearly double the size, hosting over 20 new exhibitors, claims the organiser. For the second consecutive year the SBAC will waive the admission fee for children under 16 in an attempt to "-encourage the younger generation to foster an interest in aviation".
Several aircraft will make their debuts at Farnborough. The general aviation line-up includes Agusta's A109E Power, Bombardier's Learjet 45 and Global Express, Dassault's Falcon 50EX, Galaxy Aerospace's Galaxy and PZL's M28 Skytruck, M20 Mewa and M26 Iskierka. Military aircraft include Aero Vodochody's L-159, Boeing Sikorsky's Comanche, Lockheed Martin's C-130J and Raytheon's T-6 Texan II.
The commercial debutantes include the Airbus A330-200 and the vintage Lockheed Constellation. Farnborough will also play host to a European Space Agency exhibition which will include a mock-up of the Envisat earth observation satellite.
The SBAC is housing an "historic aircraft park" in celebration of the air show's 50th anniversary at the site. "Visitors to the exhibition can expect to see exhibits from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, complemented by graphics, visual displays and commentary to recreate the stories and achievements of the time," says the organiser. The exhibit will also cover a range of aviation categories.
Flight International will provide full editorial coverage throughout the build-up and duration of the event, starting with the Farnborough Show Special (2-8 September), which includes a comprehensive guide, focusing on the main talking points. Farnborough First News will be included in the 9-15 September issue, followed by a full show report in the 16-22 September edition, which will be available on site.
GENERAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS
Farnborough International '98 runs from Monday, 7 September, to Sunday, 13 September. The first five days are designated trade days, with the first a combined press and trade day. Visitors under the age of 16 will not be admitted to the show on these days. The show is open to the public on the final two days. Opening hours are 09.30-18.00.
TICKETS
Trade tickets cost £17 per day, which includes parking, and are available from show organiser the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) at 60 Petty France, London, SW1H 9EU, UK; tel: +44 (171) 227 1088; fax: +44 (171) 227 1039; e-mail: fi98@sbac.co.uk; web sites: www.fi98.co.uk www.sbac.co.uk. Public Day tickets cost £17 per day, or £15 if bought in advance. Advance tickets may be purchased from Ticket Master; the ticket hotline will be 0870 901 1998. Group sales should be directed to +44 (171) 413 3321. As part of the drive to increase public involvement and interest in aerospace, the SBAC will allow children aged 15 years or under to enter the show free of charge if accompanied by an adult. This offer is only available on 12 and 13 September.
FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL
Flight International will provide full editorial coverage throughout the build-up and duration of the show, starting with a comprehensive guide to the show in the Farnborough Show Special issue (2-8 September). First News will be published in the 9-15 September issue, followed by a full Show Report (16-22 September) which will be available at the show on Friday 11 September. A final Review will be published in the 23-29 September issue. For further information contact Lyn Graves, tel: +44 (181) 652 3842 or fax: +44 (181) 652 3840, or Mike Wall, display advertisement manager, tel: +44 (181) 652 3904 or fax: +44 (181) 652 8981.
FLIGHT DAILY NEWS
Flight International will also be producing its award-winning Flight Daily News at the show. The tabloid newspaper will be published from offices on the show site, and the publication will be available on all five trade days, from Monday 7 September through to Friday 11 September. For further information contact: Alan Peaford on tel: +44 (171) 236 2727 or fax: +44 (171) 236 4740; or Mike Wall, display advertisement manager, tel: +44 (181) 652 3904 or fax: +44 (181) 652 8981.
ATI
Aside from the Reed Aerospace Chalet and Flight International's stand at Farnborough, Air Transport Intelligence (ATI) will have its own stand on C8 to give demonstrations of the online service as well as OAG MAX, OAG Worldwide's new CD-ROM decision support tool for analysts of the air transport industry.
Next door to the ATI stand is the official Farnborough Cyber Zone & Cyber Café, organised by the SBAC and ATI to allow visitors to surf the web free of charge.
ATI, the official online information service for Farnborough International 1998 , has produced the official website, which can be found at www.FI98.com.
GETTING THERE
By Air
Farnborough International '98 is accessible by air to helicopter operators only. All fixed-wing air transport flights into the airfield are banned from 7-13 September. Helicopter operators must make prior arrangements with the official heliport operators, Helicopter and Aviation Services (HAS).
Enquiries about inbound and outbound slot times, helicopter charter, and ground services should also be referred to HAS on tel: +44 (1279) 850750/662513. Passengers who arrive at the show by helicopter must have valid entrance tickets in their possession.
Blackbushe Airfield is the nearest general aviation airfield for fixed and rotary wing traffic. The airfield is situated next to the A30 road, about 6.5km (3.5nm) north-west of Farnborough. Operating hours are 08.00-19.00, local time (L). Immigration, customs and police services are available daily between 08.00-13.00L and 16.00-19.00L, and by making arrangemenst outside those hours.
Pilots of all aircraft must notify Blackbushe Airport before 16.30L the previous day to make their bookings. Contact the Blackbushe administration on tel: +44 (1252) 879449/873338; fax: +44 (1252) 874444.
Fairoaks Airport, north of Woking and 12km from Farnborough, is operational for transit and demonstration flights between 08.00 and 18.00L and from 07.00 and 22.00L by prior arrangement.
Customs and immigration services will be available throughout the show period, from 06.30 to 20.30L. For further information, please contact +44 (1276) 857300.
By Train
Trains operate at frequent intervals from London Waterloo to British Rail stations at Farnborough Main, North Camp and Aldershot. A frequent and complimentary shuttle bus service will operate to and from the exhibition site.
Enquiries for railway travel can be made direct to South West Trains on tel: +44 (171) 928 5100.
For details of shuttle bus services, please contact Stagecoach Hants and Surrey, tel: +44 (1256) 464501.
By Road
Farnborough is located on the A325 trunk road and is accessible from the M3 motorway and the A31.
Throughout the exhibition there will be special routes in the immediate vicinity of Farnborough which will be clearly marked by black on yellow Automobile Association (AA) signs.
Visitors travelling by private car from London should allow at least 1h 30min for the journey time, and should expect to encounter heavy congestion on roads close to the show. For information on routes and road conditions, contact the AA. tel; +44 (990) 500600.
Special coach services will be operated to the exhibition site from various points in central London and from London Heathrow Airport . For more details, contact CBK Travel, 12 Salisbury Close, Tonbridge, Kent, TN10 4PJ, UK; tel/fax: +44 (1732) 358849.
Flying Display
Exhibitors will display their aircraft and equipment in the static park and exhibition halls. The flying display will commence daily at 14.30 and is expected to last about 2h 30min. Following the flying display, exhibitors will be able to use their aircraft to provide demonstration flights to their customers.
Source: Flight International
