By Bikram Vohra
Much like the grand slams in tennis, the world’s airshows have categories. For Wimbledon read Farnborough, for Roland Garros read Le Bourget and for Dubai and Singapore read airshows directly though both have robust tennis tournaments. These are the four Grand Slammers in aviation with several lower-tier aspirants, prominent among them MAKS (International Aviation and Space Salon). MAKS is held biennially at Zhukovsky International Airport near Moscow, Russia. It is one of the largest airshows in Eastern Europe, featuring demonstrations of advanced military and civilian aircraft, as well as space technologies and aviation-related equipment. Surprisingly it just does not get the bells and whistles assigned to the top four. What started as aerial entertainment grew into a major display of civil aviation initiatives and military firepower.
The “Internationale Luftschiffahrt-Ausstellung” was first held in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from July 10 to October 17, 1909, later becoming the Internationale Luft- und Raumfahrtausstellung (ILA) and as such can lay claim to being the oldest aviation show in the world.
There is also another major event that often flies under the radar. Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In Expo is an annual event that takes place in Lakeland, Florida, and is one of the largest aviation gatherings in the United States. It features airshows, aircraft displays, workshops, forums, and educational programs, attracting aviation enthusiasts from around the world. While it might not have financial overtones or be bed-rocked in global sales, for sheer aeronautical excitement it is tough to beat.
The top four share a more hard-core centre in that these are venues where the mega deals are done. There have been some schools of thought that suggest the deals are done much earlier and off the grid with the heavy-duty announcements are actually amplified window dressing. That is not always the case though doing one’s homework makes sense.
That so many airshows have become stereotyped and follow a predictable pattern in which the slanging match between Boeing and Airbus is the most awaited newsbreak is not so relevant now. There is always one large order that is announced and that sets the tone of the event. Things have changed though and with supply chain difficulties and Boeing’s heartbreaking issues with the Max series, there is this year a sombre overlay. In these circumstances, an airshow like this one in Singapore is a coming together for the industry where they can be face to face in seeking solutions. Sustainability, new fuels, the carbon footprint, these are issues that do not get press coverage like aircraft sales do but are now imperatives in deciding the future course of aviation per se.
It is not just civvy street that is given a boost but also the military sector that allows the demonstration of new equipment as well as upgrades and introduces new technologies.
For example, the experimentation in power plants and the breakthroughs is now a very high priority.
The next week here underscores the renewal of faith in this wonderful world of aviation.
In total, just over 500 airplanes were ordered, committed or announced during the 2022 Farnborough Airshow. This was just after the post-Covid era and in July 2024 it will spike. At Le Bourget in 2023 we saw a blockbuster 500 aircraft order from IndiGo. Air India then followed up by firming its 470 aircraft order the next day.
” The total orders – including Firm, MOUs, LOIs and Options – reached 1,303 aircraft, worth US$72.4bn based on 2023 current market values.”
Singapore and Dubai have rapidly matured since their inception in 2008 and 1989 respectively. The Dubai Airshow 2023 has solidified the emirate’s position as a global aerospace hub. With over $101 billion in deals announced and a remarkable 30% hike Dubai has promised a massive showing in 2025. Commercial orders accounted for $1.5 billion in sales at Changi in 2022 reflecting the continued recovery in the airline industry.
With India now a major player in the region and the board leader with over 1000 aircraft on order the two domestic venues for airshows with Wings India at Hyderabad and Aero India in Bangaluru both are poised to show more muscle.
Briefly, these airshows provide valuable opportunities for industry professionals, aviation enthusiasts, and the general public to witness the latest developments in aerospace technology, engage in networking and business activities, and experience thrilling aerial displays by some of the world’s most advanced aircraft.
The Singapore Airshow is Asia’s largest aerospace and defense event, held at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore. It features a wide range of aircraft, aviation technologies, and defense systems, and provides a platform for companies to showcase their latest innovations and conduct business transactions.
The event seeks to showcase India’s strengths in the aviation space and its rise as the third-largest civil aviation market in the world.
Air shows can be exciting venues that showcase the capabilities of modern aircraft and provide entertainment for spectators. However, they also come with certain advantages and disadvantages that should be considered.
One of the less touted advantages of air shows in various parts of the world is the awareness they generate through media to the public and becomes an education in itself. The close-up intimacy through personal visitation with all kinds of aircraft and viewing the flying display makes for excellent PR and is also often discounted.
On the military side, such displays of firepower generate career excitement and attract young men and women to seek recruitment. It also serves as a bridge between those in uniform and the general population by allowing them access to the armed forces ‘bubble.’
Perhaps most importantly the top echelons of not just the top aircraft manufacturers but the hundreds of subsidiaries and allied component makers to sit across each other and collectively resolve problems, clarify doubts and introduce innovative concepts.
There is another corollary and that is the emphasis placed on air safety and the awareness created through safety demonstrations and briefings can raise awareness about the importance of following aviation rules and regulations. Air shows can have a positive impact on the local economy by attracting tourists and generating revenue for nearby businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and retail shops. They also create job opportunities for event staff and vendors.
These positives far outweigh the possible risk of low-level demos or the environmental impact from the noise and emissions from powerful jet engines.
The one arguable downside is the cost factor. Organizing and participating in air shows and maintenance and operation of aircraft for display, as well as the logistical and administrative expenses, can be substantial with no guarantee of a deal at the conclusion.
The times we live in the issue of venue security does arise with a school of VIPs and senior personnel especially at military shows all congregated in one place.
There is also a disruption of normality in the nearby townships who often face inconvenience.
But all said and done airshows are mandated for the industry on both sides of the aviation coin to stand on the stage and perform. It is a week of wonderment and fun where the industry does leave the surly bonds of earth and rises high to touch the face of God.
Bikram Vohra is the Consulting Editor of Indian Aerospace & Defence.
