Technology and innovation take centerstage at Singapore Airshow 2020

The biennial Singapore Airshow returns to the Changi Exhibition Centre from 11 – 16 February 2020, with an expected 45,000 trade attendees and over 930 participating companies from more than 45 countries/ regions. In view of the evolving 2019 novel CORONAVIRUS SITUATION, Singapore Airshow has introduced Enhanced Precautionary Measures to safeguard the well-being and safety of all attendees. These include enhanced cleaning and refuse management to maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness, availability of hand sanitisers to attendees, deployment of a team of doctors and medics to attend to visitors who feel unwell, temperature screening at access points at Singapore Expo and Changi Exhibition Centre and seat tagging at all seated events.

Singapore Airshow 2020 is also adopting a ‘NO-CONTACT’ policy and encouraging attendees to adopt alternative business greetings instead of the conventional handshake throughout the event added Mr Leck: “The safety and well-being of all attendees is our priority, and we remain alert and prepared to implement further enhanced measures as required by the authorities.” Singapore’s recent travel restrictions and stricter company policies on non-essential employee travel during this period have resulted in the withdrawal of approximately 8% of overall participating companies. 

Technology and innovation continues to take centre-stage at the Singapore Airshow 2020, which will present advances in areas ranging from electric, hybrid and unmanned craft, to data analytics, AI, and the digitalisation of MRO services. Visitors will be challenged with new concepts from disruptive technologies including autonomous flight systems and hybrid or electric propulsion technologies from new-comers such as Equatorial Space Industries, Smartflyer and established firms like Airbus, Boeing, Embraer and Thales.

Tapping on the potential resulting from the aviation industry’s transformation, the second edition of What's Next @ Singapore Airshow will present an expanded pool of over 60 companies from 10 countries who will be pitching revolutionary technologies that promise to disrupt, and potentially transform the face of the aerospace sector. Budding start-ups of less than five years of established operations – including CargoAI, NEO Aeronautics, Foresky, Silver Wings, Transkinect - will be vying for potential customers and partners. New to this edition is the participation of corporate accelerators such as Airbus BizLab and SIA KrisLab who will be showcasing their stable of start-ups and innovations.

The business forum - “Next Generation MRO in a Digital World” - will continue to challenge leaders and push the envelope, while in sharing a common mission of technology innovation in the global aviation industry, the Singapore Aerospace Technology and Leadership Forum 2020 will explore themes of “Digital Aviation and Aerospace Sustainability”. Eminent speakers from leading OEMs of commercial aircraft, engines and components, as well as MRO companies, will share their insights on the directions of research and development in the aerospace industry in this edition of SATFL 2020. 

Spectacular aerial displays 

Visitors to Singapore Airshow 2020 can also look forward to a total of five flying display performances from three countries. Participating for the first time are China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aerobatics team Ba Yi, the United States Marine Corps’ F- 35B Joint Strike Fighter, and the United States Pacific Air Forces’ F-22 Raptor. The line-up also include the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s aerial display team of an F-15SG fighter jet and two AH-64D attack helicopters, and a flyover by the United States Air Force’s B-52 Stratofortress on 15 February. 

Supporting a sustainable future

In support of the global movement towards mitigating the effects of climate change, Singapore Airshow 2020 will be held under a fully solar-panelled roof for the first time in its history. The total of over 15,000 solar panels that were fully installed on the roof of Changi Exhibition Centre produce almost 8,000 megawatt hours of power annually, providing renewable energy to power the Singapore Airshow 2020.