Let me start this 2009 with the aviation calendar of events for the month of January that I have rounded up from different aviation organizations around the world.

Photo Credit: Beige Alert

Dominican Republic on January 15 - 20
Fly-In Adventure in Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo and El Portillo

The Bahamas Fly-In on January 16 - 19
3-day aviation event hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism with a registration fee of $75 at Pelican Bay Hotel and Suites

U.S. Sport Aviation Expo on January 22 - 25
Sebring, Florida, United States of America
I have posted a whole article about this event, click here.

1st CANSO at Jeddah , Middle East on January 26 - 28
The 1st Canso or the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation Middle East ANSP Conference at Le Meridien Hotel in Jeddah. If interested to participate, you may call Marc-Peter Pijper, the Manager Marketing & Events at +31 23 568 5386 or email him at marcpeter.pijper@canso.org 

Great Lakes Aviation Conference & Expo on January 30 - 31
It will be the 9th aviation event that will feature aviation related items from 150 different exhibitors such avionics, pilot gears, aircraft parts, software and the like at Novi, Michigan.

Photo Credit: Great Lakes

Calling all LSA or Light Sport Aircraft aficionados! On January 22 – 25, 2009 go to Sebring Regional Airport in Florida and join the fun in the 2009 U.S. Sport Aviation Sport Expo.

There will be a showcase of numerous light sport aircrafts or LSA’s. If you have plans of buying or selling aircrafts, this expo is the best place to do it. Aside from aircrafts, there will be plenty of aircraft accessories, parts and pilot must-haves in the different dealers that will be participating in the event.

This is also an opportunity to mingle with co-aviation enthusiasts. You can get tips from veteran aviators and a chance to be informed in the latest aviation electronic gadgets. There are forums and workshops to be conducted by aviation experts and from the FAA that will deal with different important matters such as choosing the best flight schools, aviation insurance, aircraft service and maintenance, pilot lessons and the like.

If you are flying in to the event, make sure that you check the official website so you can be informed of their latest requirements and special air traffic procedures. Click here for more details.

Price for daily admission is at $10 but if you are an EAA member you get a discount of $2. I suggest you get the 4-day event package pass which is only at $30 for non EAA members and $25 for the members.

Photo Credit: Sport Expo

Aviation business in the Middle East proved to be resilient as a total of $1.5 billion deals were inked among buyers and manufacturers at the recent Middle East Business Aviation Expo in Dubai last November 16-18, 2008.

While the aviation industry in some other parts of the world is experiencing heavy loss and difficulties, the Middle East proved to be quite unaffected by it judging from the way orders was announced during the 3-day event. It is absolutely great news for the industry because it would probably save up some jobs in the production department.

The organizers of the Expo was extremely happy with the result especially when exhibitors said that there are more people that went to the Expo which tripled last year’s event.  The partnerships and agreements that were made between aviation companies during the event were made possible because of the financial security that the Middle East aviation business is enjoying right now.

The business climate in the aviation industry in the Middle East is way different from what we are seeing in the West. Cessna for one must be rejoicing since they took home a deal worth $90 million comprised of 3 Cessna Columbus, two CJ’s, a Citation and a Caravan. At this global economic slump, orders like these are hard to come by.

Photo Credit: MEBA

If you want to stay updated, see some new aviation innovations or just mingle with fellow aviators or flying enthusiasts, fly to San Jose California and participate in the 2008 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo.

This aviation event will start tomorrow, November 6 and will last until the 9th. The AOPA made sure that the expo will surely make it worthwhile. A bunch of seminars are scheduled for every single aircraft owner and pilot so they can be updated on the latest on general aviation technology and key issues affecting the aviation world.

The second day of the Expo, all the guests and the participants can get a thrill on watching an IMAX presentation, entitled “The Magic of Flight”, which will feature the history of flight starting from the Wright Brothers invention up to the different air shows that we have this year.

Another perk during the Expo is the chance to get into different interactive software and try the Microsoft Flight Simulators to help enhance your flying skills. Not to mention get an in-depth first hand look of various aviation products and services that will be exhibited there.

However, if you are not available to fly over at San Jose this year, you can get view all the latest happenings on the AOPA Expo by visiting their official website.

Photo Credit: AOPA

This coming November 5 - 8, 2008, AVEX Air Show, one of the most exclusive aviation expo and air show in the Middle East, will unfold at the Sharm El Sheikh International Airport in Janub Sina’, Egypt.

The four-day event will gather the who’s who in aviation world and it will no doubt be swarming with ultra high net individuals plus some members of the Royal families.  The Middle East aviation business is booming and so it can be expected that a lot of aviation manufacturing companies will participate and showcase their products.  Apparently as of this writing there are around 80 aviation exhibitors has signed up for the event.

It will be another event wherein one can view different magnificent aircrafts from leading aircraft manufacturers in just one place. Every single flying enthusiast will clear their schedule in the next two weeks just to attend this event.

The first couple of days dubbed as the “trade days” will mainly focus on the business side of the air show and is restricted from public visitors.  This is where negotiations and contracts are solidified.

The last two days is where all the fun begins.  Public visitors are invited to see different international aircraft aerobatic team such as Red Bull’s Flying Bulls, the Egyptian Silver Stars and the Royal Jordanian Falcons will display their spectacular aerobatic skills.

Avex Air Show Teaser Video

If you are interested to go to AVEX Air show and Aviation Expo, and you can’t decide where to stay, you might want to check the following hotels, the organizers of the event are recommending them: Savoy Hotel, Domino Coral Bay Hotel & Resort, Crown Plaza Sharma El Sheikh Hotel, Millennium Sharm El Sheikh Hotel, and Sierra Sharm El Sheikh Hotel.

Photo Credit: Avex06

The National Business Aviation Association, Inc. or NBAA started its 61st Annual Meeting and Convention yesterday at the Orange County Convention in Orlando. Around 30,000 participants are expected to participate in the event. A thousand of exhibiting companies were seen setting up their booths a day before the opening.

It started with the opening general session then followed by a kick-off breakfast with the participating media personnel. They also unveiled the new Wright B Flyer. It is a replica of the aircraft that the Wright Brothers flew that fateful day and started the aviation industry.

During the 3-day convention, aviation leaders are going to discuss aircraft safety issues more specifically on the single-pilot training for Very Light Jets and also they will be giving out awards and recognition for those who helped the aviation industry this past year.

One of the highlights of the event will be a showcase of advanced state-of the-art aircraft development and systems that will help and uplift the aviation business especially during these uncertain times.

If you missed the opening day, you still have today and tomorrow to view all the exhibits that are being displayed during the convention. You may check out the schedule of activities on their website.

Photo Credit: NBAA

The very first private aviation show in Singapore will take place on September 26-27, 2008 dubbed as MillionaireAsia First Private Aviation Show at Singapore Seletar Airport.  This ‘by invitation’ only event will showcase various types of private jets and different types and ways of owning or chartering one.

Photo Credit: Global Jet

The global aviation industry seeks potential Southeast Asian buyers as the private aviation market in Singapore is on the rise.  This event caters to the business tycoons and ultra rich people in Singapore and the Asian region who prefer to fly via private jets. Well, talk about the ’essentials’ of being rich…so more Singaporean jetsetters coming up.

Aviation industry watchers believe that there would be around 12% increase on corporate jet usage in Asia in the next 8-10 years and this is the best way to start introducing different aircrafts ranging from USD$5-30M. Statistics shows that aside from China and India, Singapore has been producing more millionaires recently and this is just the right time to give them the effective tools in their businesses.

Photo Credit: Marcin Wichary

There are so much potential in Singapore that there are more people who are planning to build FBO’s soon just like the Singapore Seletar Airport.

There were a lot of concerns regarding this year’s AirVenture Oshkosh event due to economic reasons particularly the fuel prices, however, the love for aviation prevailed and it was a very successful event held on last week of July until August 3.

By now, all the notes, photos and videos that shows the highlights of the air show are all available for everyone to see and relive each amazing moment in the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008, which was participated in by an estimated crowd and participants of 540,000, around 10,000 aircrafts, 797 commercial exhibitors, 2,128 registered international visitors from 71 countries, around 37,000 campers and 865 registered media people.

It was truly a success and so everyone is looking forward to the 2009 event.

Here are some of the stunning photos during the weeklong event:

Check out these awesome videos:

Arrival of Aircrafts 01

Arrival of Aircrafts 02

Rocket Race

More photos and videos can be viewed at EAA Airventure Oshkosh site.

Photos & Videos Credit @ EAA