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The second Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) proved to be a flyaway success with more than 60,000 visitors attending the three-day event at the Sakhir Air Base … and its reservations books are looking healthy for the next edition in 2014.
The show attracted 37 companies including international and regional major players such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, GE, Gulf Air and Lockheed Martin, and executives were full of praise and looking forward to repeating the experience in two years time.
Former Commander of US 5th Fleet and Lockheed Martin’s regional president for the Middle East and Africa, Vice Admiral Charles W. Moore, said: “BIAS is one of the best international aviation exhibitions thanks to its location and excellent organisation.
“Despite its small size, it reflects the same beauty of other bigger air shows because it meets the needs of participants, has most of the planes people enjoy seeing and includes amazing air displays.
“Lockheed Martin, which is participating in BIAS for the second time in a row, will take part in the next exhibition because it is a great show that offers it an opportunity to meet customers and strengthen ties with them.”
There were also more than 35 countries represented at the show amid the 20,000 trade attendees. This year’s event saw an increase of more than 10,000 visitors from 2010.
According to show organisers, Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) of Bahrain, the feedback they have received from participants and visitors has been positive.
Captain Al Gaoud, Undersecretary for CAA and senior member of the Supreme Organising Committee for BIAS, said: “A high percentage of the participating companies have already expressed commitment to return to Bahrain for the next airshow in 2014.
“In addition, one of our headline sponsors, Batelco, has signed a memorandum of understanding during the show to continue with its sponsorship of BIAS in 2014.”
Captain Al Gaoud also stated that they have already recorded $850m in business deals and among them were companies aiming to set up operations in Bahrain in the near future. Later reports suggested the figure had risen to $1 billion.
He added: “Bombardier’s announcement of its order of five C Series aircraft by PrivatAir and the option of a further five aircraft – in a deal worth potentially up to $650 million – is welcomed news and we have positive indications that many further deals will be announced in forthcoming days and weeks as a result of contacts made during BIAS 2012.”
Bahrain Air is also considering bringing on board between three to five SSJ-100s, according to chief executive officer Richard Nutall.
He said: “We are looking at acquiring aircraft able to seat between 100 and 130 passengers. We’ve been studying the SSJ-100.”
He also added that Bahrain Air will make its decision by the end of March.
Captain Al Gaoud revealed plans to increase the size of the event by at least 50 per cent in 2014, by building a new car park and a larger public and trade area.
UK event organisers, Farnborough International Ltd (FIL), have been working with CAA to produce the show. Its exhibitions and events director, Amanda Stainer, is confident that BIAS will continue to improve and strengthen its position in the international air show calendar.
She said: “BIAS has established itself as an event that delivers exclusive networking opportunities in an intimate, welcoming environment. The unique strength of this event is in the calibre of the attendees and the convivial atmosphere, which together create an environment highly-conducive for forming and cementing quality relationships and cultivating potential for business.”
This year’s show featured 84 aeroplanes taking part in the static and flying displays including an appearance by an Emirates A380 landing for the first time at Sakhir.
The Al Fursan aerobatic demonstration team of the United Arab Emirates Air Force thrilled the crowds with their colourful smoke formation and manoeuvres.
Arguably the highlight of the flying display was the all-Bahraini formation flight of a Gulf Air A330 flanked by three Royal Bahraini Air Force F-5s and four F-16s.
Russia’s latest 100-seat civil airliner the Sukhoi Superjet also made its Middle Eastern debut along with the much-talked about SU-27 formation team, the Russian Knights.
Static aircraft displays included a Typhoon from Saudi Arabia, a twin-jet combat Rafale and a group from the US Navy.
There was the slight hint of a smile as he fired the missile from the F18 Hornet flight simulator. At 84, Tony ‘Baron’ Crosse still had the flying skills that helped him survive 140 combat missions over North Korea in 1952.
His Royal Navy flying career continued until 1967 and included time flying helicopters and jet fighters.
He also joined an Antarctic expedition and had the ‘Crosse Passage’ named after him – a channel described as a small passage leading South East from Adelaide Anchorage between Henkes Islands and Skeen Rocks, off the southern end of Adelaide Island.
It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee (UK-APC) in 1963 for Lieutenant Commander Anthony G. Crosse, Royal Navy, First Lieutenant of HMS Protector used by the Hydrographic Survey Unit in charting the area in 1961-63.
He ‘went civilian’ in 1967 and after four years in Kenya joined Gulf Air (then known as Gulf Aviation), flying VC-10s, then L1011 Tristars until 1987.
Happily retired, the opportunity to fly again, even in a flight simulator, was something he just could not resist.He thanked the people at McDonnell Douglas for making it possible.
Tony, now retired to the English county of Somerset, is visiting family in Bahrain. His son Jonty, an investment banker, is president of Bahrain Rugby Club.
