Singapore (VNA) – The fifthꦍ Singapore Airshow, Asia’s largest, and one of the most important aerospace and defence exhibitions in the world, kicked off at the Changi Exhibition Centre on F🌠ebruary 16.

The biennial event is taking place until February 21 this year to introduce to the public the latest aerospace equipment and technologies, alongside the developments of the global aviation industry. The Singapore Airshow 2016 has attracted more than 1,000 top aerospace companies from 50 countries around the world, including Airbus, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce. Also present at the event are an unprecedented number of high-level military and government delegations as well as representatives from airlines, airport operators and related industries worldwide. According to Boeing, Asia will account for approximately 40 percent of new aircraft deliveries while North America and Europe will make up 21 percent and 19 percent, respectively. This will make Asia’s fleet size the largest in the world by 2034. This rate of growth emphasises the need for regional investment to support and expand aviation infrastructure, and the corresponding increase in demand for maintenance, repair and operations, and other auxiliary services and industries. Strategic conferences will be held during the show – The A*STAR Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum, and the Singapore Aerospace Technology and Engineering Conference. The event will also feature three special zones within the exhibition site namely the Aerospace Emerging Technologies Zone, the Business Aviation Zone and the Training & Simulation Zone. Speaking at the show, Paul Nef, Director of Air Traffic Management (ATM) Initiatives, Asia-Pacific of US-based Honeywell International Inc, a producer of aerospace systems, said the aviation industry in Vietnam has seen robust growth in recent years. The conglomerate hopes to continue supplying the latest solutions and technologies for its partners in Vietnam, including aerospace control systems, aircraft auxiliary power units (APU) and CCTV electronic security systems, he added.-VNA