When you're running a trade exhibition, you need to get the message across to potential exhibitors and visitors quickly,
efficiently and clearly. Air transport industry exhibitions command an increasingly global audience - so precision in marketing
is vital.
Relevance is also critical, so 'hats off' to a growing number of exhibitors in the business aviation sector who
are using the .aero domain to emphasize their community credentials. Three examples of this trend recently came to our attention.
EBACE
is the only major European exhibition and conference dealing solely with business aviation.
The event is jointly hosted by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), founded in 1975, and the National Business
Aviation Association (NBAA), the leading body for business aviation in the US, founded in 1947.
This year's EBACE (held from 19-22 May) attracted more than 440 exhibitors over 36,000 square metres of covered
exhibition space at the PALEXPO centre in Geneva. A further 18,000 square metres of static display area featured 60 aircraft.
There was record attendance, with some 15,000 visitors from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North America, as well as Europe.
Subjects covered in the conference varied from a session on business aviation and the environment to the vexed question of business
aviation landing rights at commercial airports.
Presentations from the conference, podcasts, photos and other news stories are available for this event, and for
previous years, at www.ebace.aero.
London and Prague
AeroExpo
is now running two general aviation exhibitions in Europe. Between 13-15 June, some 20,000 visitors
were drawn to Wycombe Air Park to the west of London for Europe's largest event of its kind this year. Scores of exhibitors covered
every element of the general aviation market, including: very light and entry level jets, turboprops, single and twin piston aircraft,
light sport aircraft, very light aircraft, microlights and kits. Visitors could even pick up tips on home build!
This year also saw the first
AeroExpo Prague
which took place from 25-27 April. The organisers explained that
Prague was the natural venue for a mainland European-focused event, since 70% of all European general aviation is based within a
500-mile radius of the capital. "We wanted to create a venue that would attract and benefit all the region's key players. With
business aviation burgeoning in the region and light sport aircraft becoming a reality, it was the logical next step," commented
show director Paddy Casey.
The show took place at Pribram airfield, near Prague, which offers brand new covered exhibition space with
adjacent apron, plenty of hard-static display area and almost unlimited open air ground suitable for general aviation aircraft.
More details of both events at www.expo.aero.
Meanwhile, in February, this year's
ABACE
Forum took place in Hong Kong, attracting vendors, industry leaders
and experts to the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre to discuss a broad range of topics, including the emerging Asian market.
Presentations from the event, together with other details are available at
www.abace.aero.
