From the Newsroom
São Paulo – From April 15 to 17, São Paulo will host the second edition of the largest Latin American event turned to executive aviation: the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition, Labace 2004.
The event will offer pilots, mechanics, technicians, and businessmen the chance to become familiar with what is new and most advanced in business aviation worldwide.
Labace provided an impulse to the aviation business after its first edition, in 2003, seen in the arrival of new large sized aeroplanes, such as the Gulfstream G550, Embraer Legacy, Boeing BBJ, Airbus ACJ, and Cessna Citation Sovereign in Brazil.
Executive Aviation is especially important in Brazil as it reaches many destinations not serviced by commercial aviation. There are over 2,200 landing strips in the country, and less than 120 of them are used by commercial flights.
Throughout Latin America, the importance of this market may be seen in countries like Venezuela and Argentina, both owners of important fleets, and in those where the sector is developing rapidly, such as Colombia and Chile.
It is therefore not surprising that large producers and their aeroplanes are disputing the world market inch by inch. In Brazil alone, the yearly executive aeroplane market is greater US$ 300 million, registering a constant 5% growth.
Makers such as Dassault, Raytheon, Bombardier, Embraer, Gulfstream, and Cessna, this last represented by airline TAM Jatos Executivos, have confirmed presence at the event, and it is possible that Boeing, Airbus and Helibras, to represent Eurocopter, may be present.
Apart from these makers, companies responsible for services, financing, insurance, parts production, accessory supply, technology, and maintenance will also be present at the event.
The event
Labace 2004 will take place in two strategic points of the city of São Paulo. Talks and conferences will take place at Transamérica ExpoCenter, where around 300 suppliers will establish their stands in an 8,000 square meter area.
At Congonhas Airport, the most important in Brazil with regard to executive aviation, around 30 aircraft by various producers will be shown on the ground.
Among other activities included in the Labace program, special attention must be paid to the seminars about Maintenance and Operation (M&O). These are specific meetings for each type of aircraft, making it possible to exchange information with suppliers and clients. Over 3,500 visitors are expected, all professionals in the area of aviation or operators of executive jets.
The event is a partnership between the Brazilian General Aviation Association (ABAG) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the largest executive aviation association in the world, based in Washington, USA. The first edition of Labace, last year, attracted 2,876 visitors and 86 exhibitors, from Brazil and abroad, to Transamérica ExpoCenter and to the ground exhibition at Congonhas Airport.
"The objective of Labace 2004 is to proceed with the gradual process of professional improvement in the sector, supposed to significantly improve the public image of private aircraft," explains Adalberto Febeliano, executive vice-president of Abag.
Contact
E-mail: info-br@labace.org
Site: www.labace.org
Brazilian General Aviation Association (ABAG)
Telephone: +55 (11) 5032-2727
