For the first time in its history, the Farnborough International Exhibition has created a separate showplace for business aviation. Planned to run from Monday, July 19 to Wednesday, July 21, the idea of the Business Aircraft Park is twofold: To enable owner/operator visitors to view the industry’s wares all in one place rather than trudging around the whole show to find them; and to provide exhibitors with a specially designated platform from which to showcase their products.

The reasons why organisers SBAC felt the need to make this move, are clear. While shows like NBAA and EBACE have given business aviation in America and Europe the perfect opportunity to celebrate and promote the industry, others like Paris and Farnborough have begun to lose sections of their business aviation following, because of their aviation diversity.

Whether you run a corporate flight department, fly your company’s Citation Excel or oversee the day-to-day running of your FBO, I’d hazard a guess that you do not have time to visit shows at which business aviation is only one of several other aviation concerns.

Time is clearly a commodity in short supply and here at EBAN, we are in regular contact with pilots and operators who would love to visit more shows and exhibitions but simply don’t have the time or remit.

Therefore, when given a choice of which shows to attend, both exhibitors and visitors have previously been of the same viewpoint – that the Parises and Farnboroughs must take a back seat, when considered in the same breath as the NBAAs and EBACEs.

That said, it was only last year when Paris Air Show marketing director Fabrice Galzin was telling EBAN: “We’ve been looking at the possibility of developing new shows at other times of the year, probably to be held at Le Bourget. We could then focus independently on each different form of aviation appearing at the major show.”

In the same year as this comment was made, Paris had already taken the first steps towards a

more exclusive show by introducing a ‘sectorisation’ programme, which separated the different

fields of aviation into their own designated areas.

Farnborough has rightly followed suit and this is clearly the way forward for all shows which endeavour to look after several sectors of the aviation community at once.

In light of this, EBAN has decided to get behind Farnborough’s Business Aviation Park and as the official sponsoring journal behind the move, will be co-ordinating the booth and static display sale.

Available for purchase are a limited number of standard-sized shell scheme booths within the Park chalets and ample space on the static for aircraft to be displayed and demonstrated.

A separate marketing campaign is now in motion to bring a high quality audience to the booths and aircraft, and once at the show, exhibitors will be able to take advantage of Farnborough’s corporate hospitality facilities to enhance their key contacts. In addition, there is a balcony directly outside the Business Aviation Park chalets from where the afternoon flying display can be enjoyed.

Neither Paris nor Farnborough can challenge the likes of EBACE as a business aviation show. However, those also with an interest in the wider diversity of Farnborough, might be well advised to sign up for an event which is now – more than ever – ready to provide a platform which befits the importance of business aviation.

Mark Ranger will be delighted to discuss the Business Aircraft Park further, either on +44 1279 714 509 or at mark@ebanmagazine.com

Richard Evans, EBAN editor

richard.evans@ebanmagazine.com