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2009, May 28
Clear acknowledgment of Berlin/Brandenburg as venue for ILA
1,000 special guests commemorate 100th anniversary of ILA in Berlin
- Politics and business recognise this trade show as a shop window for
technological and industrial skills
Berlin, 28 May 2009 – The future of the International Aerospace Exhibition in Berlin/Brandenburg is assured. This was the unanimous view of all the speakers at the ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the world’s oldest air show. The occasion was celebrated by some 1,000 guests from politics and business, as well as media representatives, on Wednesday evening at the Palais am Funkturm in Berlin. The evening also featured the presentation of a commemorative coin and postage stamp, which will be issued on 4 June 2009 by the German government to mark “100 years of the ILA”.
Because it “just shaded our French colleagues” in 1909, the ILA has become known as “the precursor of all modern, international air shows”, according to the President of the German Aerospace Industries Association, Dr. Thomas Enders. The BDLI, together with Messe Berlin, is responsible for organising the show, which transferred to its current location in Berlin-Schönefeld in 1992 following German reunification, a move which, in Enders’ words, gave it “additional momentum”. “The ILA has always been, and still is the shop window for displaying the techno-logical and industrial skills of the entire sector”, combining tradition with a response to the new challenges, as the head of the association pointed out. As one of the three leading European air shows it benefits from a highly effective concept and has enhanced its reputation as a result of its many technical conferences on topical issues, and also because the subject of space features more strongly than at any other event anywhere in the world. The partner country concept, introduced in 2006, has also proved highly effective. Enders also emphasised the importance of the ILA in attracting newcomers to the industry. Without it the industry would have found it even more difficult to attract qualified engineers.
As Enders pointed out, the current economic downturn is also having an effect on the aerospace industries, making it even more important to prepare products now for the future. There are reasons optimism about continued growth for the industry once the crisis is over. “For us the ILA still is and will remain an indispensable component in our efforts to safeguard the future”, the President of the BDLI stated, and paid tribute to the partnership with Messe Berlin. “We are totally committed to preparing for the ILA 2010 and hope that this event will remain in Berlin-Schönefeld for many years to come”.
“We want the ILA to remain at this location at the BBI and that it will enjoy ideal conditions here”, said the Berlin Mayor and Senator for Economics Harald Wolf. The intention is that it should “not only retain but also expand” its position as Europe’s third largest aerospace trade show. Steps have been taken to ensure that, next year, this event, which is responsible for bringing some 160 million euros into the region, will take place “in its usual form”, despite the major construction work that is taking place at the site, and that it will again “send out all the right signals”.
As Brandenburg’s Minister for Economics, Ulrich Junghans, pointed out, the fair has four main foundations: the region’s strong traditions in the field of aviation and its innovative capabilities, based on scientific and research networks, the growing economic strength of this sector, and the construction of the BBI. “The ILA only has a future if it remains in Berlin/ Brandenburg”, the politician added. “We want to retain the ILA at this location and we want to see it featuring both civil and military aviation.”
The State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Rüdiger Wolf, praised the ILA as “the national shop window” for an industry which “has always been a trailblazer for technological development, enabling it to repeatedly present some fascinating products”. The extensive involvement by Germany’s armed forces in this trade show is “evidence of an unequivocal acknowledgment of the capabilities of the domestic military technology industry”, especially in the aviation and space sectors.
“The ILA represents an industry which plays an important role in encouraging growth and employment”, explained the Federal Govern-ment’s Aerospace Coordinator and Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Peter Hintze. It also “reflects innovation and outstanding technical developments”. In the medium and long term aviation, which is a vital lifeline for the globalised world, will resume its stable growth pattern. It is technological progress which provides the decisive impetus for economic development. The aim of industrial policy is therefore to ensure “that there is a future for research, development and industrial production in our country.” Support for aviation research helps to achieve this objective.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Karl Diller, presented the official 10 euro commemorative coin and special postage stamp marking “100 Years of the International Aerospace Exhibition”. With this rare combination the German government pays tribute to “a very special event” as it hands over the first copies to politicians, organisers and supporters of the ILA.
The centre of the commemorative coin, which was designed by the Berlin artist Bodo Broschat, shows a passenger aircraft on the runway, while diverse aspects of the aerospace sector from Otto Lilienthal’s flying machines to the International Space Station ISS are featured around both edges. Inscribed into the smooth rim are the words “Faszination Fliegen – Tradition – Innovation” (the fascination of flight - tradition – innovation). Up to 1.85 million of the coins will be issued on 4 June, and a maximum of 200,000 of them will be of the highest quality, known as “proof-like”.
Designed by the Wuppertal graphic artist Andrea Voss-Acker, the stamp has a face value of 55 cents and shows the poster for the first ILA in 1909, when the abbreviation stood for “Internationale Luftschifffahrt Ausstellung” (International Airship Show). It will also be available from 4 June and 8.8 million will be issued initially, as adhesive stamps. On 1 January 2010 a further 2.5 million rolls will be issued, each containing 100 self-adhesive stamps, making a grand total of 258.8 million of these special commemorative stamps.
Press contacts:
Messe Berlin GmbH
Michael T. Hofer
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Wolfgang Rogall
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Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
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Fax:+4930 3038-2287
rogall@messe-berlin.de
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BDLI
Christopher Bach
Press and
Public Relations Director
Tel.: +4930 2061-4014
Fax: +4930 2061-4016
bach@bdli.de
