The Singapore Airshow 2020 began on 11 February, with the challenging coronavirus situation affecting the participation of both exhibitors and display teams at the 7th edition of this biennial event – the first of the new decade. With a focus of a no-contact approach at the event, exhibitors and attendees were encouraged to adopt other means of alternative business greetings, such as clasping hands or a wave. Temperature screening at access points, seat tagging at events, and enhanced cleaning and refuse management were implemented to ensure the well-being and safety of all at the event.
Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia Events
Despite the present situation, the industry has a strong robust growth, especially in the Asia Pacific region. At a media conference on 9 February, Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia Events presented key data in which the region is forecasted to account for 44% of the projected growth in global air passengers from 2017 to 2037; 39% of global new aircraft deliveries by 2038; and USD$3.5 trillion worth of complementary MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) services by 2038. He also highlighted how the Singapore Airshow continues to transform Asia’s aerospace and defence industries through four key thrusts for the 2020 edition:
1) To create and facilitate strategic conversations and thought-leadership to set the direction for development and change;
2) Creating a platform where global business leaders from the civil and military sectors congregate to network and forge strategic partnerships to leverage on opportunities;
3) Creating new ideas and innovations, and introducing them to the aviation industry to explore creative solutions; and
4) Nurture and grow talent which can be infused into the industry to sustain the forecasted growth.
Singapore Airshow 2020 will have a host of strategic forums, such as a Business Forum touching on MRO and digitalisation, an Innovation Forum on Urban Air Mobility, and the co-located Singapore Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum, and Aerospace Media Awards, which is making its Asian debut. With over 930 participating companies from more than 45 countries, and an expected 45,000 trade attendees from 140 countries, the Exhibitor-Delegation Meetings and Hosted Buyers Programmer will help to establish networks and connect business opportunities around the world.
Introduced in the 2018 edition, the What’s Next @ Singapore Airshow 2020 will see 60 start-ups from 10 countries showcasing their latest innovations in the domains of Sustainability/Smart Ttransport, Automation/Smart Manufacturing, Digital Solutions/Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security. In addition, key corporate accelerators from Airbus Bizlab and Singapore Airlines Krislab will also participate at What’s Next, showcasing their own startups directly to the industry. The Singapore Pavilion, organised by the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore), will see more than 20 small and medium aerospace enterprises participating, with more than half of them being new participants.
Mr Tan Kong Hwee, Assistant Managing Director, Economic Development Board
The Singapore Airshow Aero Campus will also return, fostering interest and providing industry insights for students and young working adults to understand what the aviation industry is, the educational options available and the opportunities for a career change. A new initiative, in partnership with Kallman Worldwide Inc, is the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Space Camp Challenge, which seeks to foster a greater interest and inspire trhe next generation of innovators, explorers and leaders in the global aerospace industry. 15 teams from 9 local schools submitted their proposal videos to launch and build a colony on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. The top 3 teams have been shortlisted, and the winner will be announced on 12 February at the Singapore Airshow, winning an all-expenses paid trip to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama from 16-21 August 2020.
Although the static display has had withdrawals from companies such as Boeing, Viking Air and De Havilland, the Embraer E-195 E2 in TechLion livery with make its debut appearance in Southeast Asia, and the Dassault Falkcon 6x will make its airshow debut in Asia Pacific. The flying displays will feature the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) integrated display with a single F-15SG Strike Eagle and two AH-64D Apaches, the United States Air Force (USAF) F-22 Raptor Demo Team, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B Lightning II and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) August 1st Aerobatic Team. The USAF B-52 Stratofortress will also perform a flyover on Saturday during the flying display.
For the first time in the history of the Singapore Airshow, the exhibition will take place under a fully solar panelled roof, comprising of more than 15,000 solar panels producing over 7480 megawatt hours of power annually. This contributes to approximately 2% of Singapore’s official annular solar taget of 350,000 megawatt hours by 2020, and is equivalent to powering over 1,750 four-room HDB flats for a year.
Touching on the withdrawals by some exhibitors from the Singapore Airshow 2020, Mr Leck highlighted that over 70 companies have decided to withdraw from this year’s Singapore Airshow, which accounts for less than 8% of the total number.
Mr Tan Kong Hwee, Assistant Managing Director, Economic Development Board (EDB), presented on EDB’s efforts in developing the aerospace sector in Singapore, with more than 130 companies covering the domains of manufacturing, aftermarket services and MRO. Between 2015-2018, the sector had a compounded annual growth rate of 10%, contributing S$4.2 billion, or about 1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and created more than 1,000 jobs within the same period of time. These results have been possible due to the strong partnership with the industry in the areas of enhancing competitiveness, driving innovation and developing talent.
The long term prospects for aerospace remains bright, especially in the Asia Pacific region, with the EDB projecting a 6.3% civil aviation growth rate over the next decade. The Asia Pacific fleet will also be the largest globally by 2038, accounting for 41% of new aircraft deliveries and a growth rate of 5.7% for MRO spending over the next decade. Looking ahead, the EDB will continue to capture growth opportunities and strengthen partnerships to further develop the local aerospace sector.
Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (right) and Mr Vincent Chong, Chairman, Experia Events (left)
Industry Resilience
In his welcoming address, Mr Vincent Chong, Chairman, Experia Events, said, “The success of the Singapore Airshow, as Asia’s largest and most influential aerospace and defence exhibition today, can be attributed to the continued growth of the industry in Asia Pacific. Singapore’s strategic geographical location, world-class infrastructure, pro-business policies and strong regulatory environment, has enabled Singapore to ride on this growth trajectory. We have seen how the aviation industry has in the past been able to rebound strongly against challenges such as 9/11 in 2001, the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003 and the global financial crisis in 2008-2009. With resolve and determination on the part of all stakeholders (governments, corporations, national and international bodies), I am confident that the aviation industry will once again overcome the challenges and emerge stronger than before.”
He added, “2020 heralds the start of a new decade that presents new opportunities and challenges in the aerospace industry. It seems only yesterday when technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, big data and 5G solutions were new concepts and ideas. Today, they are already key considerations among governments and businesses. For example, drone and unmanned technologies have created new business models and new markets such as urban air mobility, which are being explored and developed. We are standing at the cusp of transformation. As we position ourselves for the decades ahead, we need to constantly challenge current mindsets to stay relevant and sustainable.”
Mr Vincent Chong, Chairman, Experia Events, giving his welcoming address
Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, said in his opening speech, “I similarly confident that the global aviation sector will weather this coronavirus outbreak, much like how you recovered and emerged stronger from September 11, the Global Financial Crisis, SARS and MERS. Hence, even as we focus on dealing with the immediate consequences of the outbreak, we must also set our sights on the long term, for the future of the aviation sector remains bright.”
Innovation as a Key Growth Driver
“Innovation has opened up many possibilities in the aviation sector. Additive manufacturing, big data, and automation are transforming how aircrafts are built, operated and maintained. Innovation has also disrupted business models in ways we would never have imagined. Over the last decade, budget airlines made air travel more affordable and accessible. In the future, the concept of “air taxis” or “urban air mobility” can dramatically change how people travel and how we design our cities, just as how the invention of automobiles created the suburbs. Singapore is therefore committed to building a strong ecosystem of academics, businesses and other partners, locally, with the region, and beyond, to promote research, innovation and enterprise, to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas and translation of ideas into action,” said Mr Heng.
Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance giving his opening speech
“To support the many new areas of innovation, we must have a skilled work force. Industry partners have a strong role to play. They must work closely with schools and institutions of higher learning to ensure that the curriculum is up-to-date, and the skills imparted are relevant. Lastly, we need sustained investment in infrastructure to support a widening global air transport network, and an increasing volume of air travel. If innovation is the engine of an aircraft, and a skilled workforce are the pilots; infrastructure is the fuselage – the body of the aircraft: it is the structure that makes flight possible.”
Concluding his speech, Mr Heng said, “The future of aviation is bustling, dynamic and filled with opportunities. And this industry has been resilient to setbacks and surprises that have come your way. We must make adjustments to our business plans and step-up our safeguards in response to the coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, we must continue to invest in innovation, skills and infrastructure, to harness the opportunities and realise the growth potential of this sector.”
Mr Heng Swee Keat and Mr Vincent Chong officially opening the Singapore Airshow 2020
Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence (left) and Dr Khaw Boon Wan, Co-ordinating Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Transport (right)
Dr Ng Eng Hen and Dr Khaw Boon Wan officially cutting the ribbon
Dr Ng Eng Hen and Dr Khaw Boon Wan shaking hands after the ribbon cutting ceremony
Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence (centre)
Dr Khaw Boon Wan, Co-ordinating Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Transport (2nd from left), and Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia Events (2nd from right)
Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office (left)
Mr Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
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