France is to be the Feature Country for the 2016 Singapore Airshow, organizer Experia Events announced here at the Paris Air Show this week. The French Pavilion for the event, which is to be staged from February 16-21 next year, will be in a prominent location in the exhibition hall. French exhibitors will have access to a dedicated “Deminar” area where they can conduct demonstrations and seminars. They also will enjoy special access to VIP delegations.
Experia Events has sold 80 percent of its exhibit space for what will be the fifth Singapore show to be staged at the Changi Exhibition Center, boosting expectations that the size of the 2016 edition will eclipse the record-setting attendance at last year’s show. In 2014 the show attracted 45,000 trade attendees and more than 100,000 public visitors, as well as 1,000 participating companies from 47 countries. The event also drew 274 official delegations from 76 countries/regions and nearly 70 CEOs, presidents and chairmen from various airlines and industry associations.
For 2016, Experia plans several new and improved exhibition zones and industry forums, including a broadened Training and Simulation Zone, which it said will address increasing demand for military training and simulation in particular. Projections call for air forces to account for the biggest users of training and simulation, representing a total marketshare of 50.5 percent in 2021. Significant and complex combat platforms and new procurements in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Central Asia markets will drive the growth, said Experia.
Another zone, dedicated to emerging technology, offers a platform for exhibitors to showcase products and offerings in aerospace manufacturing and information technology. Devised to allow exhibitors to showcase innovations ranging from additive manufacturing to next-generation MRO information technology and real-time in-flight monitoring, the Aerospace Emerging Technologies Zone will include exhibits dedicated to intelligent automation, “big data” analytics and “augmented reality.”
Meanwhile, the Business Aviation Zone addresses increasing growth and interest in private flying in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2014, new business aviation exhibitors included Alpha Star Aviation from Saudi Arabia, Aero AT Aviation Technology from China, Execujet Aviation from Switzerland, Hong Kong’s Jetcraft, Indonesia’s Premiair and the UAE’s UAS International. Organizers report still more interest in the 2016 show from companies such as Hongkong Jet and Quest Aircraft from the U.S.
Plans also call for a return of business forums, during which participants will get the chance to examine and deliberate on the latest developments and challenges in civil aviation, defense and the technology sectors. The Aerospace Emerging Technologies Business Forum, the Training and Simulation Business Forum and the Asia Business Forum will all make their debut at next year’s show, said Experia.