INAUGURAL SINGAPORE AIRSHOW BEGINS

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong opened the inaugural Singapore Airshow on 19 Feb. The show will be held from 19 to 24 Feb at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

Touted as Asia's largest aerospace event, the Singapore Airshow brings together 225 overseas delegations, 21 airline chief executives, 10 transport ministers, 12 defence ministers, three heads of government, and the heads of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

According to Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director of the event s organisers Singapore Airshow and Events, the show expects 30,000 trade visitors and 50,000 aviation enthusiasts.

As such, the Changi Exhibition Centre was custom-built to handle the extraordinary amount of traffic expected, as well as to cope with the landing and take-off requirements of aircraft on display.

The 30-hectare site, built on reclaimed land, features a 40,000-sqm exhibition hall, as well as a 90,000-sqm static display area.

The Singapore Airshow will be open to trade visitors from 19 to 22 Feb, and to the public on 23 and 24 Feb.

Flying displays, a highlight of the Singapore Airshow, will be conducted daily. Visitors who intend to catch the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s Black Knights in action can do so from 12.15pm onwards.

In addition to the aerospace exhibition, the Singapore Airshow programme includes a series of conferences, which were attended by more than 120 defence delegations from some 40 countries.

For more information on the Singapore Airshow, please visit the official website at www.singaporeairshow.com.sg