Farnborough to get largest Mid East pavilion

At 150 square metres, the pavilion is triple the size of the launch edition which burst onto the aviation scene at Farnborough two years ago.

'Pavilion benefits are taking hold amongst regional industry players and this year we are partnered by companies from throughout the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia,' explained Alison Weller, Director - Aerospace, F&E.

'The pavilion will be next to a major participation by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and the two combined will represent the biggest ever showing of the Middle East aviation industry outside of the Dubai air show.'

Returning to the pavilion this year is one of its launch members, the Small Engines Overhaul Division (SEOD) of the Middle East's maintenance Repair and overhaul (MRO) giant GAMCO.

SEOD executive Mike Sweeting is solid in his support of the pavilion initiative which he believes lives up to its initial rationale of giving the Middle East's aerospace industry a significant voice at an international level, but, he says, even bigger support is needed.

'I think the Middle East aviation market is growing fast but it needs to support the Middle East pavilion so that all the industry, including the big players, are all together in one hall, in one pavilion, so that the rest of the world knows we are there and mean business.'

Organisers F&E will use the pavilion to promote the Middle East Business Aviation conference (MEBA), which is now an annual event and will be held on 31st January and 1st February 2007 in Dubai. The company will also use Farnborough to launch its International sales campaign for Dubai 2007 - the tenth international aerospace exhibition, which will be held from 11 - 15 November at the Airport Expo Dubai.

This year's Middle East pavilion participants are: Jordan Aeronautical Systems Company, the Academy of Technical Training (ATT), Jordanian Private Jets Services (J.P. Jets), GAMCO-Small Engines Overhaul Division, Dyncorp International - multifaceted professional services and project-management company that which offers end-to-end solutions for aviation, including direct aviation support, logistics and contingency support, security, and technology, the Al Raha Group For Technical Services, Arab Defence Journal - the leading defence magazine of the Arab world, the UAE's Aviation Gifts - specializes in the supply of promotional merchandise and in-flight retail products to the Aviation Industry - and, of course, Dubai 2007.

Jordan Aeronautical Systems Company (JAC) will concentrate on attracting international customers for the company's MRO services.

'Our team has extensive experience and the key skills required to support complex structural repairs, non-destructive test inspection and airframe, avionics and electrical systems management,' said Amjad Melhem, Commercial and Business Development Manager, JAC.

'We are keen on targeting the European market as JAC is expected to receive the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification soon.'

JP Jets, one of the first private handling services providers and charter sales companies in Jordan, is looking to Farnborough, its first international air show outside of the Middle East, for face-to-face client meetings and to spread brand awareness.

'The aviation sector is booming in the Middle East and we expect more business to come,' said the company's Business Development Executive, Yara Abu Afifeh.

Meanwhile, ATT, based in Dubai's Knowledge Village, is using the Farnborough pavilion as its international exhibition debut.

'We are specifically hoping to meet the various heads of military missions from the Middle East with a view to promoting our academy and its courses,' said Robert Cambrensis, ATT's General Manager.

ATT organises a variety of aviation courses from basic to advanced level with refresher and orientation courses. It has a highly qualified faculty, including Ph.D holders.

Saudi Arabia's Al Raha Group for Technical Services (RGTS), which anticipates a growth in demand will use the show to meet industry leaders looking to set up joint ventures in the Kingdom.

'RGTS specialises in supply chain management, repair and refurbishment of aerospace ground support equipment and special purpose vehicles, integrated logistics support, systems design, integration and training,' said Bud Schlageter, Vice President of the company.

The Middle East pavilion is in Hall 3, Stands D28 & D32 at Farnborough International Airshow.