Brexit is going to be the talking point at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) to be held from July 11 to 17. The aerospace industry, both civil and military, will seriously deliberate the implications of Brexit on the sector. Already some airline operators from the United Kingdom have expressed serious concerns of Brexit on their operations. As Brexit unfolds, the impact will be felt throughout Europe in the months to come. However, is bracing itself for the show with Brexit in the foreground. Though the organisers have not talked about it or have placed it on the agenda, Brexit will be the focal point.

Elaborating on the details of the show, Commercial Director Amanda Stainer indicated that they were hoping to repeat the success of FIA14. With exhibition space in halls already sold, positive sales reflect the continued strength of the international defence and commercial aerospace industry and the value that FIA brings to aerospace business.

National Pavilions

Further proof of the airshow’s standing was reflected in its continued international participation. 22 nations from Europe, the US, Canada, South America, Russia, Korea and Japan will be setting up national pavilions at the show. The show will also welcome for the first time, a Chinese pavilion which will include companies such as AVIC, COMAC, Aviage Systems and other Chinese supply chain companies that will look for opportunities to promote China’s growing aerospace industry. Stainer noted that Chinese participation was at its largest with a dedicated Chinese pavilion representing a 103 per cent increase in footprint and a 98 per cent increase in spending compared to the 2014 show.

Strong international attendance is also expected by way of delegations. The civil and commercial programme is exceeding expectations with representative groups already confirmed from the UK, Australia, Italy and the Middle East.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with two of its variants will be on display at the Farnborough Airshow

A major highlight of the show will be the appearance of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with two of its variants, the F-35A and F-35B, on display. For the many commercial aerospace organisations involved in the development of the aircraft, the F-35’s appearance is also a major opportunity to promote their achievements in the making of the aircraft to an international trade audience. Pratt & Whitney, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Martin Baker, Esterline, Kongsberg Gruppen, Alenia Aeronautics and Ultra Electronics to name just a few, are all part of the F-35 global supply chain and will be present at the show. For Lockheed Martin, the F-35’s appearance marks over a decade of development and will be central to its participation at the show this summer.

Networking and engagement was also noted as a key feature of the show with an increased number of briefings and workshops taking place. Apart from a host of ADS-led events, SAE International will be running MRO workshops and Aviation Week, a commercial manufacturing briefing. Furthermore, the EU Project Innovation Centre (EUPIC) will be hosting a conference regarding aerospace business opportunities in China. Alongside the popular ‘Meet the Buyer’ event and ‘Welcome Reception’, the show is expected to provide excellent business networking across all five days of the show.

Strong Military Event too

Strong international attendance is also expected via the civil and military delegations programme. The team is in discussion with all key emerging markets including the Middle East, North and South America, India, Australia and Europe and is working with all FIA exhibitors regarding engagement with the RAF and the UK MoD. The Civil and Commercial programme is also ahead of the game with five delegations already confirmed from the UK, Italy, Serbia and the Middle East.

22 NATIONS FROM EUROPE, THE US, CANADA, SOUTH AMERICA, RUSSIA, KOREA AND JAPAN WILL BE SETTING UP NATIONAL PAVILIONS AT THE SHOW

Amanda Stainer said, “National pavilions are an excellent opportunity for aerospace companies to participate at the show alongside their Tier-I and Tier-II counter parts. They serve to develop business relationships across borders and we are delighted that they choose the Farnborough International Airshow to do this.”

She further added, “We are really excited at how FIA16 is shaping up. We are delighted to see the F-35 at the show which will be the first opportunity for those involved with the programme to showcase their contribution. The Space Zone is also looking really exciting and we expect to see lots of future aerospace technologies on display in the Innovation Zone. The seminar and event programme is also building up as is the civil and military delegations programme. As we move closer to the show, we look forward to announcing more features and attractions.”

The show will also coincide with Boeing’s Centennial Celebrations on July 15, 2016. While full details are still under the wraps, FIA will form a core part of the aircraft manufacturer’s 100-year anniversary.

Airlander Demonstration

Hybrid Air Vehicles will demonstrate its Airlander, the world’s largest aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow

Apart from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, other aircraft anticipated to be either on flying or static display include Antonov 187, Airbus A350, Bombardier C-Series, Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet and Boeing C-727. Hybrid Air Vehicles is also hoping to demonstrate its Airlander, the world’s largest aircraft which is currently in the earliest stages of a flight test programme.

Drone Awareness Weekend

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and Association of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (ARPAS) have joined forces with the UK Drone Show and Farnborough International Airshow to create a Drone Safety Awareness Weekend to be hosted during the public weekend of the airshow.

Following an increasing number of incidents involving public drone flying, the purpose of the Drone Safety Awareness Weekend is to educate recreational drone pilots and the general public about the laws relating to operating unmanned aircraft in the UK, as well as give sensible advice regarding safe flying and possible dangers.

The CAA along with NATS and ARPAS have confirmed that they will be speaking at Farnborough International Airshow this year, which attracts up to 80,000 visitors over the public weekend, to cover the important aspects of drone flight to be aware of before piloting a drone. This will offer a rare opportunity to listen to industry UAV and flight safety experts on topics of drone safety and to see presentations on the future of the drone industry and beyond, an event not to be missed.

As well as safety awareness, the UK Drone Show will also allow visitors at the FIA to experience live first person viewing drone racing, wearables, specialist software, pilot training information, UAV gadgets and product demonstrations. Around 70 exhibitors and drone manufacturers will be in attendance, many of whom will be retailers with the latest drone technology being sold directly from their stands.

No Red Arrows

For the first time in 52 years, the Red Arrows will not be performing at Britain’s biggest air show because of safety fears after the Shoreham disaster. Eleven people were killed when former British Airways pilot Andy Hill attempted a loop manoeuvre at Shoreham Air Show in a 1950s Hawker Hunter jet in August before it crashed onto the road below in a fireball. The no-show by Red Arrows is going to be a disappointment to the 80,000 visitors expected at the show. However, this is not going to stop the organisers from going all out in their bid to attract the best of the best.