Glorious summer weather and a strong turn out of visitors helped to make the first UK Business & General Aviation Day (BGAD01) a considerable success, both for exhibitors and the show organisers. The BGAD concept is to mix business with a pleasant summer day out, and the show achieved just this, with an estimated 500 plus visitors enjoying the exhibition area, meetings, static display and excellent refreshments.

Signature Engineering’s James Dillon Godfray described BGAD as “A low-key, friendly and affordable format with the right kind of people with minimal hassle for the exhibitors attending.”

Despite last minute changes, a wide range of aircraft graced the static display area, with helicopters, props from Piper and Cessna, and Citation, Gulfstream, Falcon and Challenger jets. The veteran De Havilland Dove – formerly the private aircraft of HRH Prince Philip completed a line up of nearly twenty aircraft.

The exhibition area was located right inside Marshall Aerospace’s corporate aviation hangar, with the wings of long range business jets visible beyond the fifty exhibition stands. The layout of the area allowed exhibitors and visitors to do business either on their stand or in one of the open spaces within the hall itself.

One of the clear advantages of the BGAD format has been the opportunity for smaller specialist companies to join the show on an equal footing to the very largest. Ian Westwood, of Aerospace Interiors Solutions said: “Having had the chance to consider the show we can confirm that we are pleased to have participated. The event provided a superb opportunity for us to launch ourselves on the unsuspecting industry, and within a budget that could be managed. I feel this is a significant aspect of today’s shows. Many are far too expensive for companies such as ours to consider.”

The BGAD organising team is now considering the future planning for the show. But it is apparent that the one day localised format is a winner, and the show will be developed along these lines in years to come. BGAD is not designed to rival other pan-European events – it exists to recognise the problem that many in our industry face in attending show a long way from their base where a commitment has to be made to spend several days away from the office. The very essence of business aviation is to fly on demand.

We look forward to bringing you more BGAD news as soon as it is available. If you have any questions, or would like to consider hosting a BGAD, either in the UK or other European countries, please contact me on +44 (0) 1279 714509 or email mark@stanstednews.com

Mark Ranger, BGAD organiser