Tim Ripley
Attempts to bring order to the increasingly chaotic aerospace and defence show circuit may flounder through the non-participation of France's GIFAS, the Paris airshow organiser.
Yesterday many of the key figures on the airshow scene met in Singapore to lay the foundations of the International Association of Aerospace and Defence Show Organisers. Participants included 25 show organisers, 10 exhibitors and 10 contractors.
Those present included representatives of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (Farnborough), Fairs and Exhibitions (Dubai) and shows in China, Malaysia, Turkey, Thailand, Australia and South Africa.
One of the prime movers behind the idea, Tom Kallman of Kallman Associates, denied that the idea was to form a 'cartel' to control the burgeoning number of shows. Kallman says "within five minutes" of the start it was apparent "-everyone saw the benefits" of an association. "It was surprising that we did not have an association like this before."
Denied
The meeting agreed to set up an executive committee, made up of Kim Scott (SBAC), Tom Kallman, Jimmy Lau (Asian Aerospace), Bernie Cramer (Lockheed Martin) and Roger Walker (International Exhibition Logistics Association). Other committees are to look at education, exhibitor liaison, contractor liaison, standardisation/accreditation issues.
Kallman says many of those who could not attend the Singapore meeting had said they would attend future meetings elsewhere.
The proliferation of shows in Asia has led to talk of show "overkill".
The Paris airshow team refused to attend yesterday's meeting because they were "-not interested". Bernard Nicolas, managing director of GIFAS says: "We don't understand the need for a such an organisation.
"In my opinion the only way to reduce the number of shows is to get the agreement of the aerospace associations of the world, GIFAS in France, IAA in USA and SBAC in Britain. Even then it will be difficult to control who would attend. It is a free world."
Source: Flight Daily News