BIAS2018 sees biggest participation of U.S. aviation, aerospace companies

Manama, Oct. 29 (BNA) The Organising Committee of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2018 has announced details of the largest ever U.S. participation, including the visit of Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot, Col. Al Worden, USAF-Ret., who will be visiting Bahrain for the first time as a goodwill ambassador for the U.S. aerospace industry. A total of 35 U.S. companies from across the aerospace and defense sectors will be joining the inaugural USA Partnership Pavillion, which is being organized by the show’s new U.S. representative, Kallman Worldwide, Inc. Kallman Worldwide has worked closely with a number of U.S.. government agencies to select and attract American aerospace and defense companies looking to build on strong economic and security partnerships with the Kingdom of Bahrain and the larger regional market. Pavilion participants include Harris Corp, Northrop Grumman, and Pratt & Whitney to small-and-medium-sized enterprises supporting a broad range of military and commercial equipment, components, technologies and services. Speaking about the newly introduced USA Partnership Pavillion, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, said, "We are extremely pleased to see this large interest from U.S.. companies operating in aerospace and defense to attend BIAS 2018. With our longstanding relationship between Bahrain and the U.S., including a free trade agreement between the two countries, U.S. companies looking to do business in the region with Bahrain as their base have many compelling reasons to do so, and our airshow will serve as an ideal platform to engage with potential partners and explore possible opportunities." Justin H. Siberell, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain said, "Bahrain's aviation sector is growing rapidly, and the Kingdom offers many potential opportunities for U.S. companies in the defense and commercial sectors. The U.S.-Bahrain security partnership is one of the oldest in the region, with the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet based in the country. "Commercial opportunities in Bahrain are also expanding, with a number of major projects taking shape. U.S.-made aircraft, parts and service companies have the expertise to compete in this commercial aviation market. I am confident that BIAS will facilitate opportunities to develop new contacts, build on existing relationships, and to further our already strong bilateral commercial and security partnerships". In addition to the pavilion participation, U.S. – Bahrain partnership will be further emphasized with Col. Worden’s four day schedule; Worden will address the Second Manama Air Power Symposium, which will be attended by Chiefs of Air Staff from around the world on the eve of the airshow, make official appearances in both the trade show and the public area, as well as make presentations to the Royal Bahrain Air Force and a Bahrain University audience. The Apollo 15 mission flew in the summer of 1971, and is widely regarded as the most scientific manned flight to the lunar surface. Among Worden’s accomplishments on that flight, he performed the first deep space Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) a "spacewalk" 196,000 miles from Earth. "As one of just 24 people to have flown to the Moon only 12 of whom are still with us on Earth Col. Worden’s first-ever visit to Bahrain creates new opportunities to encourage sustainable science, industry and business partnerships between our countries," said Kallman President and CEO Tom Kallman. Looking ahead to his first visit to the country, Worden said he sees clear parallels between the successes of Apollo and Bahrain’s aerospace ambitions. "Just as Apollo’s success was the result of a collective, sustained national effort, Bahrain’s investments in engineering excellence and infrastructure, including BIAS and its National Space Science Agency, affirm the Kingdom’s long-term goals and commitment to achieve them," said Worden. "Nation-to-nation, generation-to-generation, I believe we share the same values for discipline, risk-taking and partnership to break through barriers." U.S. military aircraft will be another highlight at the show, with expected participation from F-16 (Static and Demo), MV-22 (Static and Demo), and B-1B, and F-15E, AV-8B, , CH-53 and MH-60S in the static display at the show, which is expected to have a total of around 110 civil and military aircraft displayed from different countries.