Today’s Airshow Theme: Civil

The Farnborough organizers are promoting themed days for the duration of the trade show, including civil, defense, space, security and STEM. My plan is to follow along with their theme and bring you what I see as the most exciting news that matches the theme.

Keeping with that idea, today's theme is civil. (The U.K. blokes are calling this AeroSpace, which seemed a little vague to me.) Even though airshows like Farnborough are traditionally a venue for military aircraft to strut their stuff in dare-devil aerial displays, civil aerospace may be equally breathtaking this year:

• The 787 took breaths away as it came in for its first international landing yesterday morning, and enthusiasts are queuing up for a glimpse of the partially-outfitted interior.
• Emirates, already the world's largest 777 operator, announced an order for 30 more.
• GECAS (the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric) announced an order for 40 Next-Generation 737-800s.

Keep in mind the first day of the show hasn't even ended while I collect my thoughts, but it is clear that the next few days will be breathtaking. The orders announced today are worth billions of dollars, but despite the spectical of it all, Boeing's take is that competing for airshow order announcements is largely irrelevant when it comes to the bottom line. (Read Randy Tinseth's interesting blog post on this.)

Commerce lunch brings together industry and administration officials

Commerce lunch at AIA chalet

In what has become a tradition in recent years, AIA hosted a forum for member companies to engage with officials from the Commerce Department.

Joining our members today were the acting Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, Nicole Lamb-Hale, and Fred Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

After initial introductions of the participants, the conversation opened with a series of Q&As for the officials. Of major interest to participants were the export control modernization efforts and the nuances of aircraft financing.

Fred Hochberg addresses the crowd

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

AIA and Kallman Worldwide open U.S. Pavilion

The U.S. Pavilion officially opened at the Farnborough Airshow this morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The tone of the opening was remarkably more optimistic than last year’s ceremony in Paris. Despite a still-fragile global economy, there are strong indications of recovery for the aerospace and aviation industries.

Cutting the ribon

Marion C. Blakey noted that, while AIA’s tagline is “Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift America,” the level of American participation in Farnborough lent itself to a new slogan: “Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift the Globe.”

Another higlight: Buzz Aldrin, of Moon landing/Dancing with the Stars fame, was presented with a special token of appreciation marking the third show he has attended.

Buzz Aldrin takes the mic

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

NASA Administrator Bolden pays morning visit to AIA chalet

NASA chief Charles Bolden participated in a space industry breakfast this morning just before the official opening of the Farnborough Airshow Monday morning.

The meeting, organized on the heels of the newly released National Space Policy, was designed to improve dialogue between industry and administration officials. AIA largely saw the new policy as helping advance U.S. global leadership in space and ensure continued competitiveness and innovation.

Bolden reemphasized the importance of international cooperation, saying that ISS-like models for space partnerships are essential.

Space industry dialogue

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

Beautiful start to the show