An international biennial event, the Singapore Airshow serves as a global marketplace for the world aviation community. Several agreements, deals, declarations marked the Airshow 2010.

The biggest Aerospace and Defence Exhibition in Asia, the Singapore Airshow 2010, brought together about 800 exhibitors from 48 countries from across the globe. And despite the warm and humid weather, more than 100,000 visitors including trade day visitors and public day visitors thronged the six day Airshow organised from February 2 to February 7. The Airshow, however, seemed to have failed to suffice the hopes of the visitors who were expecting many more spectacular flying displays at the exhibit.

Highlights

A mix of military and civil aviation showcases, the Singapore Airshow 2010 gave an opportunity to the visitors to watch the RAAF F-111 Aardvark fighter-bomber due for retirement from the Royal Australian Air Force in December 2010. Australia is the only country using this classic from Vietnam War, and the Singapore Airshow was the last time the F-111 showed its ability to dump fuel, lighten it up with its afterburner, and trail it.

Business Deals

An international biennial event, the Singapore Airshow serves as a global marketplace and networking powerhouse for the world aviation community. This time too, several agreements, deals, announcements marked the Singapore Airshow.

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (NGES) announced that they have received a form DSP-5 from the US Department of State Office of Defense Trade Controls (ODTC) for the Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) program. The DSP-5 is the export license necessary to begin technical discussions with potential foreign customers.

Eurocopter declared that it is about to sign a major order for EC725 helicopters with Malyasia and expects sales in the Asian region to rise in 2010. The company expects major growth in China and Vietnam, and several major military procurements in India.

Japan’s entry into the regional jet transport market is on target for a 2012 first flight and service entry two years later, stated a programme update delivered at the show. Preliminary design of the MRJ (Mitsubishi Regional Jet) has been completed with the benefit of feedback from potential customers; the external shape fixed; and sizing of major structural elements undertaken.

Singapore based Stratech Systems announced launch of a JV with Aeronautics Ltd to market the Israeli firms’ unmanned systems in the Asia Pacific market and develop new surveillance technologies to be sold globally. The JV will both market and manufacture aeronautics products for the Asian market.

Lufttransport AS and RUAG Aviation signed a sale and purchase agreement for one Do 228 New Generation aircraft. The aircraft will be used for passenger and cargo transport between Longyearbyen and gravel airfields at Svea and Ny Alesuand on the island of Svalbard Norway. Lufttransport AS will thus be the launch customer for the Do 228 New Generation in Europe. Do 228 New Generation is a multipurpose turboprop aircraft. Besides having the capacity to transport upto 19 passengers, the aircraft can be configured for various special mission roles like maritime surveillance, border and fishery patrol, oil pollution control and environmental research.

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and CFM International announced that the advanced new LEAP-X1C engine has been selected as the sole western power plant to launch the new C 919 single-aisle aircraft scheduled to enter commercial service in 2016.

Product Exhibits

Global players across the globe showcased a range of their products. Hawker Pacific showcased Hawker 4000 and new Hawker 7550. The Hawker 4000 offers a top speed of 482 knots, a range of 3,200nm, a six foot standup cabin and one of the most advanced avionics suites in any business jet. Likewise, the new Hawker 750 is a high performance, ultra-comfortable light-midsize business jet, offering the best range and payload performance in its class. The aircraft features a large cabin with internal and external baggage compartments and state-of-the-art Collins Pro Line 21 avionics.

Selex Galileo focused its attention on a number of key capability areas relevant to Southeast Asia. In the EW rotary wing arena, SELEX Galileo promoted the combat proven Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (HIDAS), which delivers world class protection. In the maritime awareness domain, there were solutions ranging from its EO turrets integrating the leading ERICA Plus camera and radar, to the complete mission system Airborne tactical and Observation System (ATOS). The Company’s other displays included Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) comprising a family of surveillance radars for large platforms and light weights and compact solutions for UAS and helicopters such as PicoSAR.