Plans for the very first UK Business & General Aviation Day have proceeded well since their first announcement in November. BGAD01 is being presented jointly by EBAN and Marshall Aerospace on June 14, 2001.

The exhibition area will now feature full shell scheme booths for around fifty key suppliers to UK business aviation, and the static aircraft area (directly outside the exhibition hangar) will offer a full line-up of aircraft.

The organisers are also putting together a series of meetings during the day, with trade associations represented alongside technical presentations.

“I am delighted with the reaction we have had to BGAD” said organiser Mark Ranger. “It is clear that our plans have struck a chord with many exhibitors who are looking for a fresh approach to reaching the business aviation market,” he added.

BGAD is strictly a trade show which will be attracting visitors from three distinct groups – owners and operators of business aircraft, potential fractional owners and those business executives who are interested in the concept of using business aviation.

The Business Aircraft Users Association (BAUA) will be holding a full operations briefing meeting during BGAD, with a large number of aircraft operators anticipated to attend. BAUA ceo Derek Leggett told EBAN: “We are delighted to be involved in this day, and will be giving it our full support as well as urging members to attend our meeting.”

Despite having the appearance of a normal exhibition area, BGAD is really quite different to other business aviation shows. The day has been created as an opportunity for companies and their customers to ‘network’. To allow as many companies as possible to take part, the exhibiting cost for a three metre by two metre booth is only £300, inclusive of all elements except electricity. “All of the booths are of a standard format, and exhibitors will not gain access to the exhibition area until the morning of BGAD,” explained Ranger.

“This is the only way we can keep the costs down but provide exhibitors with a way to display their products in the style to which they have been accustomed at other shows. After all, you visit a show primarily to talk to exhibitors,” he added.

Exhibiting aircraft will not be charged landing fees, and subject to operational considerations, will be able to undertake demonstration flights during BGAD. There are other plans to offer interesting side attractions, which include historic aircraft and top-end luxury cars from Marshalls’ numerous dealer-ships in Cambridge.

Mark Ranger concluded: ‘In November, when we first announced our plans for BGAD, we suggested that we are packing three days into one. That’s exactly it, and that is why I believe we have an attractive event for both visitors and exhibitors.”

Companies wishing to enquire about exhibiting at BGAD should contact Mark Ranger on +44 (0)1279 714 509, fax +44 (0)1279 714 519 or email mark@stanstednews.com. If you are interested in attending BGAD, tickets will be mailed later this Spring in copies of EBAN.