PPRuNe Forums - Bahrain AirShow 2010

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Bahrain AirShow 2010

Bahrain wants to make a name for itself within the airshow arena come 2010 it would seem. This fresh out of Farnborough.

I'd say attracting 40,000 visitors is a slightly optimistic (unrealistic?) figure considering the Dubai AirShow pulled in just over 45k punters last year.

Certainly a step in the right direction for Bahrain though.

So where exactly are they going to park all the planes? Can the country (and GF) afford to have the airport closed while the airshow is going on (unless they intend to use the military airport)

Good question. The capacity at OBBI is rather limited.. Where would they house their indoor airconditioned exhibits & pavilions? I can't think of any large enclosed areas at the airport. Then you've got your outdoor static displays, flying display, chalet units etc.. plus 40k human bodies :}

They could use the airfield down by the F1 circuit. It has a good runway and there would plenty of room for parking aircraft. The F1 track would provide good options for hospitality etc, and plenty of parking as well.

That said I am very sceptical of the whole thing.

Bahrain is a group of tiny islands, yes, but that is not an excuse that the country can’t make an air show. Singapore, congested country with (707 Km2) is larger than Bahrain (665 Km2) by few square kilo meter and did a great air show last February.

Indeed it is a step in the right direction

Sounds to me like a typical case of trying to keep up with the Jones/ Sheiks

What about sheikh Isa base?? Seems to be the best option.

I think you are spot on Gypsy, however we don't have an indoor ski slope yet....or the Louvre ;)

Chao

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Singapore, congested country with (707 Km2) is larger than Bahrain (665 Km2)

Bahrain's landmass is actually on the increase because of continued land reclamation with projects such as Durrat Al Bahrain, Amwaj island, Bahrain Bay etc - but you can't compare the two based on geographic landmass.

Singapore has a thriving and diverse aviation industry. Does Bahrain?

Not yet!
But you can bet someone is working on it...back in 1972 the "Experts" said.... Only one VC10 service a week would support all the Gulf traffic to London...Bahrain thought differently and went ahead with Gulf Air in 1974 look at the traffic and all the airlines flying up to the UK today.

Well the experts weren't totally wrong as most of the traffic going through the Gulf States airports is transfer traffic, probably a 75/25 mix in favour of transfer pax.

I am very objectives when dealing with facts and figures; Classifying countries being fit or unfit for high-net worth projects based on a single reason is a narrow-minded mentality. I prefer to examine the big picture in terms of diverse factors without any bias to anyone including Shaiks. Claiming that I try to ‘keep up to Jones / Shaiks” is a cheap communication option of weak people when failing to argue politely and logically, because bankrupts do not have anything to convince except nothing. (I do have enough criticism to Shaiks and I never behave like a trumpet in my life)

When Bahrain government signed a contract for an air show, it knows very well it has to meet all requirements. Alike of formula 1, lots of hassle and nonsense came by, and the country proved it subsequently able to sustain every year.

Now, Are we talking here about the area needed or the level of aviation industry in a country? Saying that a country must have a thriving and diverse aviation as pre-requisites to make an air show is completely absurd argument and nonsense.
Countries may use other sources of strength / reputations they enjoy to leverage their presence and attract investments with view to current resources (and in case of Bahrain as Banking & Financial Centre of the Middle East). And as far as the landmass is concerned, Dubai’s landmass is different from Singapore’s too and did several air shows too. I am ready to give list of names if you are interested.

Some people here has to try krill oil !!

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and in case of Bahrain as Banking & Financial Centre of the Middle East

I find that somewhat hard to believe considering the Global Financial Centres Index report published four months ago placed Dubai FIFTEEN places ahead of Bahrain on the tables.

Again I deal with some people who are narrow-minded and have extreme low exposure and thinking ability. You switched from air show case to banking. You came across my speciality and I have to make a response as a Banker.

à There are several index published in terms of best financial institutions and I can supply many for your review and selection where the credibility of these report is often questionable. This reminds me of the hospitals and medications case in North America.

à While I acknowledge Dubai is a commercial world centre and has relatively more global exposure than Bahrain, it is not an advanced financial centre. In an evidence to that, best stock exchange in the Gulf is in Kuwait, not Dubai. Moreover, there are more banks operating in Bahrain (embracing all types) than in Dubai. In fact, while Bahrain continues to grance licenses to foreign banks to operate in the country, Dubai does not, because authorities there consider Dubai banking system is saturated. (again monopoly to leverage empower banks alike of Emirates monopoly policies). Please read local press today, Bahrain announced granting a permit for an offshore Italian Bank to operate in the country. That of course due to the continuous process of reforms started more than 50 years that is able to attract financial institutions strongly, not the case in Dubai banking system.

à In terms of competence, Dubai is one of best global centres of money laundering and as much as 70% of cash flow comes from that process because of poor legislation and systems. To detail, Bahrain which managed to establish first internet banking in the Gulf (in fact even first internet access in the Gulf) has legislation for anti-money laundering since 1970s. On contrary, Dubai just introduced the legislations in the end of 2003 after heavy criticism that all funding of 11 September terrorists came from banks in Dubai (not from Abu Dhabi, Al-ain, .etc specifically Dubai; please watch aljazeera award wining documentary and read reports of Newsweek and Times magazines) !!

à Successful banks always have excellent outputs, I have two personal contacts of professionals Bahraini bankers headhunted as CEOs in 2 European banks, one is based in Stockholm, Sweden and another in Zurich, Switzerland. I wonder who manage banks in Dubai!

à There are many amazing stories about Dubai's banking and financial system such as Dubai sovereign funds which operate partially on political grounds to make financial gains, alike of the one operated by Kuwait. (An American independent body for monitoring souvenir funds ranked both Dubai and Kuwait as inefficient in control and surveillance few weeks ago).

à When Dubai financial system is poor in basics, it makes wonder about the claim that Dubai has achieved rank 15. It must be -15

à To be very objective, there are many negative aspects that Bahrain needs to change. Middle East Economist Intelligence Unit in UK ( well-know and trusted consultancy body) said a year ago in a report that Bahrain has an advance banking and financial system and aluminium smelter (ALBA) that compete with American and European Banks, but at the same time, it has a backward construction and manufacturing sector that compete with Bangladesh, Pakistan, .etc and needs comprehensive reforms"

I feel a bit amazed of some expatriates living and working in Bahrain and showing contempt to the country and I don't know. I am not against any expatriates, they are very welcome but there is Lebanese say" bedee meno tefo alaih'

Try to clear your grudges.

What's wrong with an airshow in Bahrain and if they need to build a new facility there is lots of land south of the island that is just barren.
I agree with Shazar that you need to think beyond the 'keeping up with the jones/sheikhs'.
Perhaps they will build a new runway and facility and then use it as a cadet pilot training base? Makes sense when you have neighbours ordering 100s of jet and it needs pilots so why not position Bahrain as the home of gulf/ME cadet training?

Oh, perhaps we may get a nice beach to watch the airshow from?:)

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What's wrong with an airshow in Bahrain

Nothing. Like I said, it's a step in the right direction.

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Perhaps they will build a new runway and facility and then use it as a cadet pilot training base?

I'll be dead and gone before that ever materializes. There's no infrastructure to accommodate general aviation let alone flight training. The most basic PPL requirement, your qualifying solo x-country where you make two full stop landings at aerodromes different to that of your point of departure can't even be met - heck, you can't even fly over bahrain because it's airspace (sans OBBI) is restricted from the SFC to UNL!

None of Bahrain's educational establishments offer air transport/aerospace training courses or qualifications. Why? supply & demand. If Bahrain wants to make a name for itself within the aviation industry today, it's got to reform its national aviation authority and set the stage. At the moment, it's nothing more than a side dish.

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I can supply many for your review and selection where the credibility of these report is often questionable.

Funny how the very same "questionable" indices are used by the financial services industries themselves, not to mention government policy makers.

Guys, it seems that we are all narrow minded here, except for one genius guy among us, its great to have him among us :cool:

let them have a go of it. there is no point in ridiculing ambitious undertakings, especially if you're an expat. big projects create jobs for them too. let the results speak for themselves.

Maybe this thread will get dug up again in 2 years time :}

shazar

I am confused. In May 2008 on another thread you said you were in HR. Now you are telling us you are a Banker. Which is it then??

As for people who are narrow minded you are living in an area renowned for such a trait.

Running a Formula 1 event is simply a matter of doing what Bernie Eccleston wants. Totally different to an Airshow which costs a small fortune for exhibitors who need to be sure that it is worth their while. Time will tell on that one.

Putting on an Airshow is not a simple matter of whether there is room. As Aero rightly said Bahrain does not have an Aerospace industry. It also does not have the varied economy that Singapore has, nor the population.

I have lived and worked in Kuwait,Bahrain and Singapore and if I was an exhibitor I would not be interested in Bahrain compared to Dubai or Singapore.