At least two manufacturers of business jets sold aircraft in
South America as a result of contacts made at FIDAE 2002, Latin
America's only broad-based aerospace trade exhibition, according
to show CEO Alonso Lefno.
The chief executive of FIDAE 2004, to be held in Santiago, Chile,
from March 29 to April 4, is here at NBAA talking up the potential
of the region as a market for business and general aviation, as
well as helicopters.
The Chilean air force, he points out, uses Gulfstreams, Cessna
Citations, Learjets and King Airs, and many other military and
government agencies in the region need similar multi-use utility/training
and VIP transport aircraft. Further demand will stem from Chile's
recent signing of a free trade agreement with the U.S. as corporate
executives in Chile and surrounding countries meet increasing
travel demands, Lefno told Show News.
Staged by the Chilean air force, the show has outgrown its military
origins to achieve a 60-40 mix of civil aviation to defense. It
also incorporates space, and airport flight, ground and security
equipment. This broad base-plus a government endorsement-ensures
attendance by ministers, chiefs of staff, top-level military and
commercial delegations, businessmen and decision makers from throughout
Central and South America. A strategic IATA conference on the
future of air transport will bring CEOs and top executives from
most airlines in the region to the FIDAE exhibition.
"FIDAE is the only show in Latin America to attract decision
makers from all users of aviation," Lefno said. "Airline
and corporate CEOs, government ministers and top level military
delegations will all be there." An added attraction is a
new conference at FIDAE for the logistics managers of all South
America's armed forces.
Lefno reports the show's interior space is already 90% sold out
some six months before the event, and he believes achieving that
last 10% is a realistic goal. The U.S. Pavilion, run by Kallman
Worldwide, is also nearing capacity, he added.
The FIDAE team can be found here at Booth 1627.
Aviation Week & Space Technology and Aviation Week
Show News are official publications for the show.
