Bahrain International Airshow 2010: Is the aviation sector on revival path?

Filed in archive Airshows on January 23, 2010

It seems the aviation industry is finally coming out of the recession cloud with the debut of Bahrain International Airshow 2010 at the Sakhir Airbase. Aerospace manufacturers from around the world will be exhibiting 76 aircrafts to delegates from 45 countries over the next three days. Surprisingly the airshow has not seen any significant participation from UAE companies creating doubt in minds that still all is not well out there.

As per the organizers, around 40 US and European aviation companies are expected to participate in the event and some of the big names will grace the show including the likes of Airbus, BAE Systems, Bell Helicopter Textron, Boeing, Cessna Aircraft Company, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, Sikorsky to name a few. All of them will be aiming to gain a share in the increasing defence and civil aviation market of the country.

This airshow is expected to offer a different experience from traditional air shows with commercial participation being restricted to only forty companies from business, civil and defence sectors of the global aerospace industry. It has been designed for creating a business to business environment and will also be including flying displays by Jordanian and Saudi Air Force display teams. You could get a chance to feast your eyes on fast jets and Saudi Hawks including the likes of Sukhoi SU27 SKM, US Navy F18 and French Air Force Raphale. Even full sized Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones as they are popularly known will be put for the first time on public display.

One of the exclusivity of the airshow is that it will be held in purpose built individual chalets as compared to traditional exhibition halls which would enable participating companies to not only display their aircrafts in front of the clients but also offer them immediate flights for demonstrating their products, something which may not be possible at other air shows.