With a history that can be traced back to 1909, the (ILA) can claim to be the oldest event of its kind in the world. Ed Hill discovers how this year its emphasis is set firmly on the future. The ILA is one of Europe's most important trade fairs for the aerospace industry. From June 1 to 4 this year exhibitors will be displaying the latest aerospace products and technology at the city's ExpoCenter Airport. According the organisers, the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) and Messe Berlin, the duration of this year's international aerospace exhibition has been improved and reduced to make the event even more effective. Trade visitors will be able to inspect the displays at the ILA on all four days. In addition to the technical sections of the exhibition, the display of aircraft and a programme of conferences to accompany the trade show, industry representatives from Germany and around the world will also be given numerous opportunities for networking and establishing new business contacts. The event will be open to the general public on the last two days (Friday and Saturday). The organisers say they have responded to requests from exhibitors and trade visitors to restructure the running time of the event in the interests of improved efficiency. In 2014 approximately 227,000 visitors attended the bi-annual event held at the 250,000m² venue, with 120,000 of those made up of trade show attendees. So far this year ILA has 900 registered exhibitors from around 35 countries with more than 200 aircraft of all types and categories expected to be on display. Conferences and consultations Among the areas covered by ILA 2016 are: civil aviation; space; defence and security; unmanned aircraft systems; equipment; engines and materials together with the associated International Suppliers' Centre (ISC), helicopters, the ILA Career Centre and conference programme. The programme of conferences available at the ILA this year is said to reflect the energy and innovative strengths of the industry. Leading international speakers and experts from all aspects of the aerospace will focus in particular on sustainability and technological innovation, to ensure that the next generation of products and processes is even more efficient and eco-friendly. A number of events will deal with the subject of 3D printing and the many opportunities for its application in the aerospace industry: starting with the conference on Energy Efficient Aviation Solutions, which will look at the ways in which 3D printing and new materials can be used to achieve weight reductions in aircraft construction. The talk is being staged by the Berlin-Brandenburg Aerospace Alliance and the Brandenburg Plastics and Chemicals Cluster the day before the start of the ILA. On June 1st and 2nd an international symposium on Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace (AMA) 2016 will provide a comprehensive overview of the current trends and challenges in the field of additive manufacturing, and the ManSYS Project is a workshop that will address issues concerning the 3D printing supply chain on June 3rd. Aside from additive manufacturing there will be numerous other conferences dealing with all the other areas of the industry, such as the future of cabin comfort and new types of eco-efficient helicopters (June 3rd). This conference provides an opportunity for the Airbus Bluecopter to be presented for the first time at the airshow. Airbus is using this demonstrator to develop a quieter and more fuel-efficient helicopter of the future. There will also be a conference on unmanned civil aviation and the ILA Space Day will provide a high level conference on space flight at the ILA space pavilion with international contributors on June 3rd. In total some 40 conferences, meetings, workshops and lectures will be taking place in Hall 1 at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport. Other conference facilities in Berlin and Brandenburg will also be participating. Rotor revelations This year at ILA there will be a particular focus on the helicopter industry. The emphasis of the helicopter displays will be on civilian and border duties, i.e. offshore operations, commuter flights, air rescue, aerial work, border patrol and police operations, as well as the key military areas of transport and combat search and rescue (CSAR). Dr Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, Germany, and member of the BDLI committee comments: “A visit to the fair is a must for everyone involved in helicopter design, construction and operations as well as new technologies. There will be impressive displays of innovative products on the ground and in the air, including the Bluecopter, which represents a new technology platform. “A conference on June 3rd will be devoted to new types of eco-efficient technology in helicopter construction and flight operations and areas of civilian and military use. For the first time, lectures and discussions will address the latest helicopter-related topics at the HeliLounge, which will provide an outstanding platform for dialogue and information.” On June 2nd the airshow will stage its first ever Start-up Day. With this new ILA event the organisers aim to promote innovative start-ups and enable them to network with key players, to facilitate the integration of new technological solutions into the aerospace industry's innovation processes. The aim is to attract mainly technology-oriented start-ups, but also companies involved in hardware, production, IT and in particular B2B, with expertise in areas such as production, Industry 4.0 and digitisation. “The ILA is an important European exhibition of the hi-tech aerospace industry and its suppliers,” affirms Brigitte Zypries, German Aerospace Coordinator. “Start-ups can find out about the latest product and process innovations, and at the Start-up Day in particular can make direct contact with industry companies, present their work and promote themselves." The Start-up Day will take place in Hall 6 in the International Suppliers Centre. Admission is reserved for registered trade visitors only. Some of the companies attending include: Airbus, OHB System, Lufthansa Technik and Rolls-Royce. Advanced research Lastly, aerospace research will be highlighted at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) exhibit in Hall 4. Three research aircraft will be on display including an Airbus A320 ATRA aircraft, Airbus BO 105 helicopter and Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. These aircraft are being used to demonstrate research that is being conducted into aerodynamics, low-noise approach flight and remote sensors. The Airbus A320-ATRA (Advanced Technology Research Aircraft) is the largest aircraft in the DLR research fleet and has been deployed since the end of 2008. The research body says it is a modern, flexible flight research platform which has set new standards in the area of European aviation research. “At the ILA 2016 the DLR is presenting interdisciplinary approaches to some global challenges in the interests of society as a whole,” says Professor Pascale Ehrenfreund, chairman of the DLR Board. “With its wide-ranging international impact ILA provides a high profile platform for an exchange of scientific and technical information and for intensifying our international networks, because science and research provide a link between people that transcends national borders.” www.ila-berlin.de/ila2016/home
