{"id":4559,"date":"2014-05-16T12:00:45","date_gmt":"2014-05-16T11:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?p=4559"},"modified":"2023-05-08T04:36:35","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T03:36:35","slug":"a-balance-sheet-for-fidae-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/a-balance-sheet-for-fidae-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"A balance sheet for FIDAE 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Boeing <\/a>
Boeing 737-800 PR-GXJ (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"USAF <\/a>
USAF C-130H 85-1363 taxies by FACH C-130H 995 (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div>
\"Aeroservicios <\/a>
Aeroservicios Parragu\u00e9’s OA-10A Catalina CC-CDT posing as FACH 405 “Manutara” (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Renato <\/a>
Renato Werth’s Rans S19 CC-AAC (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Aerocenter <\/a>
Aerocenter Harmony LSA CC-AMI (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Legacy <\/a>
Legacy 650 N650EE, as exhibited by Embraer (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Chilean <\/a>
Chilean Army SA-330L Puma H264 “Mount Rucatalca” (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Helitrans <\/a>
Helitrans AS350B3 Ecureuil CC-AFL (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

If we were asked to summarize\u00a0FIDAE 2014 with a classical quote, we’d definitively go for “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”.\u00a0From\u00a0trends\u00a0and perceptions initially perceived\u00a0in 2012, opinions about the\u00a0fair seem to fall into two openly opposing perspectives: Outright approval or\u00a0outright condemnation, with\u00a0nothing in between. In other reports and in our comment footers, fellow correspondents and readers have expressed\u00a0critical points of view tagging\u00a0FIDAE 2014 with epithets ranging from “boring” to “disastrous”, from “decadent” to “shamuflly expensive” , from “unattractive” to “unattentive to [the specialised] public”…<\/p>\n

But organizers and most other\u00a0media celebrated FIDAE 2014 as a quite successful event. Post-fair figures (not all of them supplied by the organizers) seem to underwrite\u00a0their perspective, as exhibitors<\/strong> grew 4% to 587, participating nations <\/strong>expanded\u00a0to 43 (including\u00a0newcomers Indonesia, Lithuania, Malaysia and Slovenia), aircraft on display<\/strong>\u00a0increased 11% and attending\u00a0public<\/strong>\u00a0purportedly grew\u00a025% to 150,000 people,\u00a0a noteworthy figure when compared to the 160,000 people collected\u00a0by music festival, Lollapalooza Chile,\u00a0which took\u00a0in Santiago coinciding with FIDAE 2014’s air show on 29 and 30 March.<\/p>\n

FIDAE also continued to strengthen its positioning as a key centre for high-level air and space\u00a0conferences and simposiums<\/strong>. As anticipated in our show preview (see “FIDAE 2014 preparing for launch: One month and counting down!<\/a>“), FIDAE again\u00a0hosted the\u00a0South American Air Force Logistics Commanders Meeting (XV edition),\u00a0IATA’s\u00a0Wings of Change International Aviation Summit (VII edition)\u00a0and the Chilean Air Force-sponsored\u00a0Space Conference (II edition). But it was newcomer, aviation entrepreneur\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0rockstar,\u00a0<\/span>Bruce Dickinson<\/strong>, who caught most media attention with the\u00a0two \u201cCreative Business and Innovation\u201d lectures he gave on Friday 28.<\/p>\n

\n
\"FIDAE <\/a>
FIDAE 2014 Chief Executive Officer, FACH colonel Jos\u00e9 Ignacio Nogueira (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Argentine <\/a>
Argentine aerobatic team speaker, Luc\u00eda Mart\u00edn, interviewed by Chilean TV anchor and model, Monserrat Torrent (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Airbus <\/a>
Airbus A380 crewmember disembarking after landing in Chile (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Chilean <\/a>
Chilean President Michelle Bachellet attended FIDAE 2014’s opening ceremony with (from right to left) Defence Minister Jorge Burgos, FACH Commander-in-Chief, General Jorge Rojas and House of Representatives Second Vicepresident, Rodrigo Gonz\u00e1lez (photo: Fernando Puppio). <\/div> <\/div>
\"Ostensibly <\/a>
Ostensibly exploiting his “savoir faire” for media interviews, Airbus Rafael Alonso talks to the press at the A380 arrival in Pudahuel (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div>
\"FACH <\/a>
FACH puts up a honour guard for the departing Argentine defence minister, Agust\u00edn Rossi (photo: Fernando Puppio). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Entrepreneur <\/a>
Entrepreneur and heavy metal singer, Bruce Dickinson, caught most media attention with two business lectures (photo: Luis Quintana). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Three <\/a>
Three Texas Air Guard pilots and five of their flight-line mechanics approaching FIDAE 2014’s control tower (photo: Fernando Puppio). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

According to statitstics based on our exclusive inventory of attending aircraft (see “FIDAE 2014 participating aircraft<\/a>“), the total number of aircraft<\/strong> noted in Pudahuel\u00a0rose 11% from FIDAE 2012. But the increase concentrated only on sports aircraft (ultra lights, experimentals and light sport aircraft) since the number of military, executive and general aviation aircraft\u00a0remained the same and commercial aircraft decreased 25%. In addition to illustrating relative growth factors, statistics make it evident that civil aviation is slowly eroding the pervasiveness of military aviation\u00a0in FIDAE, since civil aircraft participation increased from 38% to 44% between 2012 and 2014.<\/p>\n

The analysis by airlift segments highlights a relevant expansion in rotary wing<\/strong> participants, increasing 24% over FIDAE 2012 figures and capturing a noteworthy\u00a025% of all aircraft on display. Although retaining an overwhelming majority at 74%, the fixed-wing<\/strong> aircraft segment recorded only a 7% increase over 2012 figures\u00a0and gliders<\/strong> remained unchanged at 1%, although doubling the number of gliders on display (namely, two Chilean Air Force Januses).<\/p>\n

Novelties on display<\/h3>\n

Ostensibly curtailed by fiscal shortages and diplomatic constraints, there was a distinctive shortage of international military<\/strong>\u00a0exhibits. Only the Argentine, Brazilian and United States air forces attended (and only with the same or a lower number of aircraft than in 2012), all Chilean guests services did so with exhibitions mirroring or resembling those from FIDAE 2012 and the Chilean Air Force supplied the remainder of military aircraft on display.<\/p>\n

\n
\"USAF
USAF Kratos BQM-167A target drone (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Italy's
Italy’s Elettronica exhibited the ELT\/800, a passive maritime surveillance electronic electronic warfare system (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div>
\"SOM
SOM Stand Off Missile scale model in the Roketsan booth (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Alenia
Alenia Aermacchi and Sukhoi exhibited the SuperJet single-aisle airliner in their individual and combined booths (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Russia's
Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation exhibited the BE-200 water bomber, the MC-21 airliner and other offerings in their product line (photo: Michel Anciaux). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Turkish
Turkish Aerospace Industries offerings included the “Anka” medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV, the “Hurkus” basic trainer and the T129 “Atak” attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Although
Although showing no demonstration aircraft, Canada’s Viking Aircraft rented this highly-visible shack (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Trent engine model (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In spite of the gloomy\u00a0outlook above, military manufacturers<\/strong>\u00a0managed to produce a number of models day viewing at the show, including AgustaWestland’s AW139M, Beechcraft’s AT-6 Texan II, Bell’s 406GT and Boeing’s AH-6I. Although not entirely new to the show, we also recorded\u00a0recent additions to existing\u00a0fleets in the Chilean Army (AS532ALE Cougar and Citation Sovereign), the Chilean Air Force (Cirrus SR-22 and Extra 300\/L) and the Argentine Air Force (electronic warfare Learjet 35A).<\/p>\n

In\u00a0one of its dullest FIDAEs in several years, the commercial air transport<\/strong> segment was indisputably dominated by the week-long exhibition of Airbus’ flagship model, the A380. Boeing only presented battle in the single-aisle sector by exhibiting the Gol Linhas A\u00e9reas 737-800 that performed Brazil’s first bio fuel-powered flight\u00a0(additionally re-positioning the brand\u00a0in preparation for the airline’s return to Chile); while Airbus promptly responded by showing one of LAN’s newest, sharklet-equipped, A320s. All else said, the segment’s only two novelty items were Bombardier’s lastest evolution of the Dash 8 series (the Q400 Next Gen) and Cessna’s ultimate Model 208, the Grand Caravan Ex.<\/p>\n

Lower segments, higher expansions<\/h3>\n

Contrary to the upper segments in the industry, corporate, general and sports aviation added life and spice to the fair. Executive aviation<\/strong> manufacturers and vendors from different parts of the World swarmed into Pudahuel to show their most enticing offerings, including rotary-wing novelties such as the first South American AW119Ke and the AW109SP GrandNew by AgustaWestland, the first Chilean EC130T2 and a luxurious EC155B1 Dauphin by Airbus Helicopters and the Model 429WLG and Model 505 Jet Ranger X by Bell Helicopter. Biz jets newcomers to the show included the Learjet 75 by Bombardier, the CitationJet M2 by Cessna, the Eclipse EA500, the Legacy 650 by Embraer and the G280 and G550 by Gulfstream.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Weekend
Weekend visitors waiting patiently to visit the A380 behemoth (photo: Michel Anciaux). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"FACH
FACH SR-22 Cirrus 236, one of two delivered between the last two FIDAEs (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div>
\"FACH
FACH F-16A Fighting Falcon 753 demonstrating a full afterburner climb and generating vapour trails (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"FACH
FACH F-16C Fighting Falcon 856 landing in FIDAE 2014 (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"FACH
FACH KC-135E Stratotanker and F-16A Fighting Falcon simulating an in-flight refuelling mission (photo: Fernando Puppio). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Stuntman
Stuntman Yves \u201cJetMan\u201d Rossi takes off for one of his shows ob bard FACH Bell 412 H-55, flown by femaly pilot call sign “Pantera” (photo: Diego Rojo). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pudahuel's
Pudahuel’s military tarmac, populated by static displays and the general public, on a weekend day (photo: Michel Anciaux). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Airbus
Airbus A380 F-WWOW and the public reflecting in Pudahuel’s military control tower windows (photo: Michel Anciaux). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

General aviation<\/strong> offerings were equally active at FIDAE 2014, day viewing newer variants from existing types, including\u00a0the SR-22T GTS by Cirrus and Aerocardal, the AT-802 Fire Boss by Air Tractor and AgSur, the Diamond DA40 by Diamond and Aviasur, the TTx Corvalis by Cessna and the SVH-4 helicopter training simulator by Cicar\u00e9 and Vertical Helicopters. But it was sports aviation<\/strong> the one attaining the largest leap by entering FIDAE in full force. Not only did it provide the only aerobatic team displaying at the show (more later), but it also featured a flock of ultra-light and experimental aircraft as well as three\u00a0offerings in the LSA\/light sports category (Harmony, Skyleader and Pipistrel).<\/p>\n

The show must go on!<\/h3>\n

As anticipated\u00a0in our pre-show musings, FIDAE 2014 lacked two of its most traditional attractions, namely the Brazilian Fuma\u00e7a<\/strong> and the Chilean Halcones<\/strong> military aerobatic teams. The Brazilians were undergoing conversion to the Super Tucano while the Chileans were rebuilding the team after loosing one of their pilots, one mechanic and one plane in March last year (the replacement aircraft was in fact exhibited at the fair, but only statically). Covering the double vacancy,\u00a0an Argentine civil aerobatic team<\/strong> exhibited their\u00a0 three RANS experimentals in what team leader and founder, C\u00e9sar Falistocco, defined as “a team changing experience”.<\/p>\n

Away from\u00a0the days when jet fighter noise represented\u00a0“the sound of freedom”\u00a0(as a\u00a0Boeing Defense & Space executive put it), environmental, safety and insurance restrictions turned most flying displays<\/strong> into dull,\u00a0heavily-restricted\u00a0demonstrations,\u00a0both in minimum\u00a0altitudes,\u00a0duration\u00a0and spectacularity. Even though\u00a0military exhibitions continued to\u00a0dominate an estimated\u00a060% of the flight schedule, manufacturer demonstrations fell to one of their lowest perceived levels (about 20%) and the\u00a0only true\u00a0innovations came from Swiss stuntman, Yves “JetMan” Rossi<\/strong>, Chilean wing suit sportsman, Sebasti\u00e1n “Ardilla” \u00c1lvarez<\/strong>, and C\u00e9sar Falistocco’s\u00a0aerobatic team.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Mauricio
Mauricio Vel\u00e1zquez Sonex experimental (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Transportes
Transportes Heli Chile R-66 Turbine CC-AKQ (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div>
\"Servicios
Servicios A\u00e9reos San Esteban PA-46-500TP Meridian CC-AKE (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"FACH
FACH Janus C V-18 (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Chilean
Chilean Carbineers’ Airbus Helicopters EC135P2+ C-26 (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Impomak\/Jihalavan
Impomak\/Jihalavan JA-600 Skyleader CC-AHB (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cessna
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Ex N595EX (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"FACH
FACH F-16A Fighting Falcon 744 and FAA IA-63 Pampa II E-820 preparing for demonstration flights (photo: Carlos Ay). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

All things said, it may be concluded that FIDAE 2014 was absolutely faithful\u00a0to its two main target audiences. Running\u00a0an event which catered exactly for aerospace and defence professionals during the Trade Fair\u00a0and\u00a0the Chilean general public during the Air Show\u00a0seemingly paid off, as attested by figures\u00a0listed above. And, with 9 companies from\u00a0Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ucraine, Bielorussia, Italy\u00a0and\u00a0India reserving\u00a01,722 square meters in FIDAE 2016 stand space before leaving the 2014 show, business is ostensibly expected to “go\u00a0on\u00a0as usual”…<\/p>\n

No matter how much “hard core” aviation enthusiasts have complained for the shortage of “heavy metal” (F-16, T-50 or at least a Venezuelan Sukhoi!) or legitimate cutting-edge innovations\u00a0or\u00a0how much the attending public suffered\u00a0queuing to enter the fair, queuing to access the A380, queing for restrooms,\u00a0queing for food or queuing to exit the show\u00a0(essential services\u00a0remain a notorious FIDAE\u00a0weakness, and general media is becoming increasingly critical about it), the fair is unlikely to change meaningfully in the foreseeable future. Regardless of trends and complains, Gaceta Aeron\u00e1utica will continue to\u00a0cover\u00a0the fair with the dedication demonstrated in the last five editions (see our complete “FIDA\/FIDAE<\/a>” index for past reports and reprints from legacy publications Pista 18, Vuelo Rasante and other media).<\/p>\n

See you in Santiago 29 March to\u00a03 April, 2016!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Additional\u00a0FIDAE 2014 coverage by Gaceta Aeron\u00e1utica:<\/h3>\n