BIAS chief visits Farnborough Airshow, signs agreements

London, July 17 (BNA): Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS), HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has lauded Bahrain’s success in attracting mega civil and military aviation companies during the past four BIAS editions, as well as the good reputation enjoyed by the show at the regional and international levels. This outstanding success is the fruitful outcome of the sound directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the first BIAS supporter, to hold the prestigious biennial aviation event, he said. He said that BIAS crowns Bahrain’s long history of aviation as it has contributed to the progress of the industry since the beginning of the 19th century thanks to its strategic location, linking the East and the West, expressing Bahrain’s pride in hoosting the fifth edition of BIAS on November 14-16, under the auspices of HM King Hamad. HH Shaikh Abdulla was speeking while visiting the 2018 Farnborough Airshow, at the official invitation of the Farnborough International Ltd. Bahrain is participating in the Farnborough Airshow, held on July 16-22, with a special pavilion to promote BIAS 2018. HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad signed a participation and gold sponsorship of BIAS 2018 with Lockheed Martin, the giant American military aircraft manufacturer, and one of the largest companies in the aerospace, defence, security, and technologies industry. He also signed a participation and silver sponsorship of BIAS with BAE Systems company, which is a British multinational defence, security, and aerospace company. Its headquarters are in London in the United Kingdom and it has operations worldwide. It is among the world's largest defence companies. BIAS chief also signed agreements with Etihad Airways Engineering, Mark Stewart Productions, London-based television production company, specialising in commercials, high-end corporate films and broadcast documentaries, to provide video footage of BIAS 2018, and the Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) company. He said that the BIAS spaces allocated for mega companies, as well as those of the 10,000-square metre-exhibition hall have been sold out. He added that preparations to receive airshow teams and other planes have been completed, noting that BIAS 2018 will feature the participation of the US Air Force with the latest military aircraft of all types, including, hopefully, the fifth generation ones, in addition to aircraft from the UK Royal Air Force, French Air Force, the U.S Navy, and other civil, military and businessmen’s aircraft from the GCC States and other countries. HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad commended the efforts exerted by the Bahrain Defence Force, the Royal Bahraini Air Force, and the Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to prepare for BIAS 2018, praising the close cooperation of the UK Farnborough company in this regard. He also extended thanks and appreciation to all organising committees for their work and strategic plans and programmes to ensure the success of this year’s edition of BIAS.