Hamburg and the ILA Berlin Air Show

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From 1 to 4 June, 2016, one of the world’s most important aerospace trade fairs is opening its doors once again: the ILA Berlin Air Show.

From 1 to 4 June, 2016, one of the world’s most important aerospace trade fairs is opening its doors once again: the ILA Berlin Air Show. As Germany’s biggest civil aviation location, Hamburg has a leading role. Alongside major companies like Airbus and numerous suppliers, the city itself will also be in attendance. Both Hamburg’s First Mayor, Olaf Scholz, as well as State Councillor Dr. Rolf Bösinger, will attend and tour the event on 2 June. This year’s air show will also be characterised by north German solidarity: at ILA 2016, for the first time, the northern states of Germany will be exhibiting together at a joint stand. And on the second day of the air show, Ministers and Councillors for the Economy in Germany’s five northern states will also be signing a cooperation agreement for cross-border promotion of research, development, and innovation.

The north closes ranks
The northern German states of Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bremen and Lower Saxony have a stronger presence than ever before at this year’s ILA, in the ExpoCenter at Berlin-Schoenefeld. Companies, research institutions and networks such as the Hamburg Aviation cluster have a platform that crosses state borders at the joint northern German stand (Hall 3/608). The aim is to present northern Germany as an interlocking competency region. And in another first, the states also have a joint presence with long-term partner Bavaria in a chalet in the open aircraft exhibition area at the trade fair site (West/11-13). The two stations will be important points along the way for Hamburg’s First Mayor, Olaf Scholz, and the city’s State Councillor for the Economy, Dr. Rolf Bösinger, as they tour the air show on 2 June. Together with ministers and state councillors from the four other states, Bösinger will sign a joint declaration, strengthening cooperation across state borders in research, development and innovation.

The First Mayor of Hamburg, Olaf Scholz, underlines the leading role played by the city in this field: “The recently opened ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research clearly demonstrates Hamburg’s great competence in the dynamic aviation industry. As the world’s third-biggest location in the global aviation industry, Hamburg sets the pace for innovation in Germany – with innovations that will be seen in tomorrow’s aircraft. It is therefore completely natural and consistent for the city’s presence to be especially strong this year.” As part of his tour on 2 June, Scholz will meet with high-ranking representatives of Airbus and the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

ILA highlights from Hamburg
Hamburg companies and products will be strongly represented at ILA 2016, too. Airbus will be presenting its efficient long-haul A350 XWB airliner, with essential components coming from the metropolitan region, to trade visitors and the general public (1-4 June). Europe’s largest aircraft manufacturer will also be present again with the flagship A380, sporting the Emirates livery (1-2 June, for trade visitors only). The ILA will even feature a freshly printed Airbus: The manufacturer is presenting something of the future of aviation with THOR (“Testing High-Tech Objectives in Reality”), a miniature aircraft almost completely produced with a 3D printer, and “Bionic Partition”, a bionic-based, 3D-printed cabin partition wall. Lufthansa is presenting an Airbus A320neo to visitors (4 June). The company’s Hamburg-based subsidiary, Lufthansa Technik, will have a stand at the airshow, too. And at the International Suppliers Center ISC (Hall 6), suppliers will once again have the opportunity to network at a marketplace that encompasses the complete range of product lines. Numerous small to medium-sized Hamburg enterprises will be represented, such as Treo, a company specialising in environmental simulations.

ILA focussing on innovations
Started as long ago as 1909, the world’s oldest air show will be reorienting itself this year, with the focus to include innovation areas such as Industry 4.0, Additive Manufacturing, and Sustainable Aviation. A pioneer in the field of 3D printing, Hamburg’s LZN Laserzentrum Nord will also be amongst the exhibitors. On 2 June, for the first time, there will be a Startup Day, offering young companies in the industry the opportunity to network with established players and present their ideas. The Airbus BizLab will also be represented here by way of the Hamburg startups Ideas for Aviation and Synergeticon.

Events and perspectives
This year, once again, the ILA CareerCenter will be the port of call for pupils, students, graduates, specialists and career changers. Here, in Hall 1, on 3 and 4 June there will be information on job opportunities and training possibilities. The career and personnel development portal skyfuture.de, in conjunction with HCAT+ (Hamburg Centre of Aviation Training), an association specialising in aviation training in Hamburg, is inviting 50 young aerospace enthusiasts to “Flying High!”, a comprehensive guided tour of the CareerCenter on 3 and 4 June (further information is available at www.skyfuture.de/hochhinaus).

About the author

Avatar of Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen Thomas Steinmetz has continuously worked in the travel and tourism industry since he was a teenager in Germany (1977).
He founded eTurboNews in 1999 as the first online newsletter for the global travel tourism industry.

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