The 4th Edition of AERO South Africa

The fourth edition of AERO South Africa, held from July 3rd to 5th, 2024, was a real wing-dinger for the Southern African general aviation sector. Presented by Messe Frankfurt South Africa in cahoots with Fairnamic – the masterminds behind Europe’s largest general aviation show, Aero Friedrichshafen – this year's event didn’t just aim high, it flew circles around expectations.

Highlights and Hilarity

This year's shindig was a jam-packed 3-day affair featuring industry expert panels, visitor Fly-Ins, demo flights, and a Youth Development program that had kids buzzing louder than a Cessna on a sunny day. The General Aviation Indaba made its debut, drawing over 2,900 visitors from 22 countries, all eager to chew the fat with the top dogs and eggheads of the aviation world. Hot topics included the new General Aviation Indaba, the Women and Drones panel (no, not talking about drone moms), the Safety First Aviator session, and riveting talks by Airbus and ExecuJet, among others.

Exhibitors and Visitors

The event’s popularity soared with over 71 exhibitors, including 11 international stars. The crowd was top-notch, with 640 pilots gracing the event – 233 commercial pilots, 335 recreational pilots, and 70 business pilots. Throw in 47 Fly-Ins and 140 business matchmaking meetings, and you've got a party that firmly established itself as the annual meeting spot for the Southern African General Aviation sector.

Youth Development Program

The Youth Development Program once again hit it out of the park. Starry-eyed students keen to dive into the aviation world had the chance to hear from industry pros. This year’s lineup included Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering, Drone Training, and Pilot Navigation. Let’s just say, these kids left with more than just a bag of peanuts.

Looking Ahead

Louise Olckers, the Show Director, couldn’t hide her pride (or her smile) as she said, “As we wrap up the 4th edition of AERO South Africa, I am over the moon about the progress we’ve made in highlighting the innovation within the General Aviation sector. The enthusiasm and support from our exhibitors, visitors, and partners have been nothing short of fantastic. Looking ahead, we are committed to building on this momentum and making AERO South Africa even bigger and better, driving growth and fostering connections within our vibrant aviation community. We look forward to welcoming you to the 2025 edition and continuing this exciting journey together.”

Christiaan van der Wath, Deputy Director of Aerospace Sector Support for the City of Tshwane, chimed in, saying, “The City of Tshwane is optimistic about expanding the local general aviation sector as the AERO General Aviation Exhibition successfully concluded on Friday, July 5th.”

Save the Date

Get your calendars out and circle the dates! AERO South Africa will return from June 25th to 27th, 2025, for its fifth edition. With this year’s show setting the bar high, next year promises to be an aviation enthusiast's dream come true.

In short, the fourth edition of AERO South Africa wasn’t just an event; it was a high-flying celebration of the general aviation sector’s resilience, growth, and future potential. If this year's spectacle is anything to go by, the 2025 edition will be a blast!

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