Sunday, 7 September 2014

Clock ticking to opening time for AFRICA AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE 2014

THE NORMAL daily routine at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, near Pretoria, will see a dramatic change in the next few weeks as gangs of workmen move on site to begin erecting chalets, stands, food and refreshment stalls and the hundredand‐ one other fittings in readiness for the opening of this year’s Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition on September 17.
The five‐day event, the largest of its kind in Africa, in expected to attract up to 60 000 people on each of the public days with anything up to 10 000 or more on each of the Trade Days which will include military, civilian and government delegations from many countries around the world and especially from Africa.
Exhibitors themselves will be coming from over 30 countries with obviously the biggest contingent being from South Africa. The overseas exhibitors will be coming from (in alphabetical order): Argentina, Australia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and Uganda. Countries with national pavilions are Argentina, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jordan, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. At the time of writing – six weeks ahead of the show’s opening – 99,97% of the indoor exhibition space had been booked with only a handful of small stand space still available. In all, there will be seven hangars used for indoor exhibits – one more than in 2012 adding over 2 000 square metres of space.
aad 2014
Subject to aircraft availability, there is a strong chance that the Sukhoi SuperJet SSJ100 will make its African debut at AAD 2014.
Outdoor space used mainly for the static display of aircraft and equipment, still had a 15% availability, but even this is likely to be snapped up in the coming weeks.
If the number of lavishly‐equipped and fullyserviced chalets – 46 in all – is anything to go by, AAD 2014 will likely to be one big party from beginning to end with breakfasts, luncheons and, in some cases, even dinners being offered to invited guests with the odd dozen cocktail parties thrown in for good measure.
The companies tasked with servicing these chalets are beginning to have nightmares waiting for confirmation on just how many drinks – “hard and soft” – cups of tea and coffee to order, not forgetting the literally tons of food of all varieties which will be consumed during those five days.
Stand contractors, too, are worrying about when they can expect finality on the plans they have drawn up for the various exhibitors so they can start ordering materials and begin making up the sections which will all come together in the last days before opening time to reveal both elaborate and simple, though effective, display venues.
Then there are the thousand‐and‐one things to be organised, such as car parking areas for VVIPs, VIPs, exhibitors, the media, special guests and, of course, the general public. Tickets and passes have to be printed and then distributed; the police – both military and SAPS – have to organise their routines, arrange duty times and do some on‐the‐site training in advance of September 17. Emergency services both on and off‐base also need to be prepared for any eventuality. All people attending the exhibition must be prepared for extra tight security, not forgetting that the show’s venue, Waterkloof AFB, is South Africa’s number one air force facility.
This has already apparently affected the United States Air Force contingent which was recently banned from inspecting the runways, taxiways and hardstands in preparation for bringing a Boeing B‐52 strategic bomber, as well as other aircraft, to the show (see Flarepath in the July edition of World Airnews). At the time of writing, this perhaps “overthe‐ top” action by whoever was responsible for the banning, was still being discussed among diplomats, air force senior officers and other interested parties in the hope that the B‐52 – never before seen in southern Africa – would still make it to Waterkloof AFB because, without doubt, this will be the biggest crowdpuller and the star of the show.
Even the exhausts from the aircraft’s eight massive jet engines which give the B‐52 the nickname of “Ole Smokey” will be forgiven for their emissions by the most stringent “green protagonist” just to be given the chance to see this icon bomber in action overhead and close up on the ground. Other USAF aircraft which hopefully will be on display pending permission of the “powers that be” could include the giant C‐17 heavy lifter which may bring some helicopters in its huge belly. There is also the possibly of a US Coast Guard Lockheed Martin C‐130J Hercules, which is thought to be a contender for the SAAF’s transport requirements.
Italy’s C‐27J Spartan, seen performing at the previous two AADs, may well make another welcome appearance and it is also on the cards, or so we believe, that SAAB may once again present its SAAB 340 maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
One wonders, too, whether Airbus Defence and Space will field a C295 maritime patrolcum‐ transport‐cum‐any‐role‐you‐may‐care‐tomention at the show, let alone its now‐in‐service giant turboprop heavy lifter, the A400M which the manufacturer is continuing to present to South Africa’s defence authorities.

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