Aero Friedrichshafen, which runs from April 8th to 11th, is defying the economic gloom with more than 450 exhibitors from 25 countries having booked space in nine halls. Outdoor exhibit space is fully booked, and more than 50% of the exhibitors come from outside Germany. Aero has grown exponentially since it was first held, and from this year it will be an annual, rather than a bi-annual, event.
IAOPA will have a major presence at Aero and is included among the event sponsors, and the AOPAs of Germany and Switzerland have joined together to take substantial exhibition space. The IAOPA-Europe quarterly Regional Meeting will be held in conjunction with Aero, and IAOPA President Craig Fuller will be attending and addressing a conference.
Aero showcases every facet of GA from hang gliders to business jets. Project director Thomas Grunewald says this year’s strong showing is due to the fact that in a recession it is even more important for manufacturers to market their products aggressively. ‘For many of our customers, Aero is a persuasive reason not to take cover and react to these challenging economic times in an anti-cyclical manner,” he says.
Aero is held at Friedrichshafen airport, with a free shuttle bus running between the terminal and the show.
AOPA members will receive a significant admission fee discount. For information, see
www.aero-expo.com/aero-en/visitors/news.php.