It all AADs up to an expo double

Everything that is good about the aerospace, aviation and defence industry can be discovered in just one week in September as the Africa Aerospace and Defence show (AAD) and the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition take place in Tishwane and Sandton respectively.

The Aviation Africa Summit brings regulators, airline leaders, MRO, major associations such as AFRAA, AFCAC and AfBAA, banks, and aviation services together under the one roof at the Sandton Convention Centre September 16-17, with AAD taking place at the Waterkoof Air Base from 18-22.

Being a biennial expo, the AAD show was hard hit by the Covid pandemic. AAD’s marketing and communications manager Nakedi Phasha said that the recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic has varied across sectors and regions, with the aerospace and defence industry being no exception. “However, recognising the importance of AAD 2024 as a catalyst for growth and collaboration, our primary objective is to reverse this trend and make the upcoming expo the biggest and best yet,” Phasha said.

There is a large presence expected from across Africa. “By actively engaging with stakeholders across the continent and implementing targeted strategies to attract attendees, we aim to foster a vibrant environment for knowledge exchange, networking, and partnership development,” she said.

Among the major OEMs attending are Airbus, Embraer, Leonardo and Russian Helicopters.

“We have a significant increase in general aviation support compared with previous years.” Phasha said. “We have introduced several new hubs designed to showcase the latest innovations.”

For two days ahead of the AAD show the Aviation Africa summit will be in full swing. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the South Africa Civil Aviation Association (SACAA) the award-winning event comes to South Africa for the first time.

“We are expecting record turnouts for this show,” said Mark Brown, managing director of Times Aerospace Events, the event organiser.

“We are working closely with SACAA and other organisations like the AFCAC, African Union’s specialised agency for all civil aviation matters; African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA); the African Airlines Association, (AFRAA); the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) and CAASA in a partnership to get an idea of the key issues affecting not just South Africa, but the whole of the continent.

Aviation Africa has teamed up with the Aviation Week Network to deliver an MRO segment to the conference. And when it comes to the issue of training, then the event will feature a debate led by the leading training data and reporting business ATM and its managing director Maximilian Buerger.

“Aviation Africa is always a big networking event. We are expecting numbers to top 1,800 this year,” Brown said. “We have more than 130 exhibitors coming from around the world, looking to partner or work with African countries.”

Registration is now open at www.AviationAfrica.aero/register

As well as the main Summit agenda, which will feature airline CEOs from across the continent, major manufacturers, directors general of civil aviation authorities, airport leaders and business aviation operators, there will also be an insight theatre on the exhibition show floor which will be open to all attendees.

“We are issuing a call for papers for slots at that theatre,” said conference director Mark Pilling. “There are some great sessions already lined up for that. But we hope it will be used effectively by companies with projects like future aircraft, sustainability, special services or some adventurous GA flying missions.”