The United States, Brazil and Turkey are the focus of interest at the FIDAE aerospace show in Chile

The 2022 edition of the important International Air and Space Fair in Santiago de Chile closes its six days of exhibitions, conferences and air shows with a weekend of open doors.

Better known by its acronym FIDAE, this year's edition opened its doors on 5 April and will keep them wide open until Sunday, 10 April. Chile's new president, Gabriel Boric, 36, leader of the left-wing coalition Apruebo Dignidad, opened the show on the second day of its celebration, because until less than 24 hours earlier he was in Argentina on an official trip, his first trip abroad after taking office on 11 March. 

He could have delegated the presidency of the inaugural ceremony to the Minister of Defence, Maya Fernández. However, Gabriel Boric has recognised the importance and international impact of FIDAE for industry and the domestic economy. Fresh from his 72-hour trip to Argentina with President Alberto Fernández, he opened the 22nd edition of the veteran show on 6 April and toured its pavilions and the open-air aircraft exhibition. 

FIDAE is held in one of the wings of Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. Over a total surface area of 90,000 square metres, seven large covered pavilions have been set up to house the latest developments in the sector. And its outdoor platform has been set up for the static display of more than 70 helicopters and civil and military aircraft of all types, most of them from the Chilean Armed Forces.

With the 2020 edition cancelled due to the impact of COVID-19, 420 companies from 45 countries attended the reopening of the most important aerospace and defence show in Latin America and the Caribbean. Data provided by its organisers indicate that the fair was visited by more than 200 official delegations from the Americas, but also from Africa, Europe and Asia, despite the very strict anti-pandemic measures in place to gain access. 

Growing interest in cybersecurity in aeronautics

The United States has made a strong showing at FIDAE 22 and is the most heavily represented nation at the event. Its national pavilion is headed by the giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin and brings together the majority of the more than 70 US companies attending. Washington's support is manifested by an official delegation led by the Chief of the 12th US Air Force, Air General Barry Cornish, 130 airmen, a B-52 bomber and a fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighter, which performs spectacular flight demonstrations.

Washington's representation is followed in importance by that of Brazil, whose aerospace and defence sector has come to FIDAE with 40 companies under the leadership of the manufacturer Embraer, which, together with Telebras, is responsible for the SDGC strategic communications satellite programme. Turkey has attracted attention by showcasing the new technologies of 17 companies grouped in a national pavilion.

The business participation of Spain (16 companies) and Argentina (13) is higher than that of Canada, France, Israel, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden and much higher than that of Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru. By decision of the Government of Santiago in retaliation for the war in Ukraine unleashed by the Kremlin, the usual Russian companies at FIDAE, which had already contracted exhibition space, have not been allowed to attend.

The Spanish Defence Ministry delegation was headed by the Deputy Director General for International Relations of the Directorate General of Armaments and Material, Rear Admiral Nicolás Monereo, who held talks with the Chilean Defence Minister. The national businessmen who have chosen to attend FIDAE 22 have noted the "large influx of professionals" and have perceived that the sector has taken on a "renewed degree of confidence" that will be able to materialise in the medium and long term. 

Cybersecurity products and services linked to the air transport, aerospace and defence industries were particularly prominent. A seminar organised by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) explained the possibilities offered by the website of the European Centre for Cybersecurity in Aviation (ECCSA), which provides information, assistance and operational resources to aviation professionals to deal with cyber attacks and cyber threats from cyber criminals.

FIDAE, Chile's big bet on its aerospace sector

FIDAE 22 also hosted the so-called Space Summit. A dozen meetings in virtual and hybrid format held from 6 to 8 April dealt with the questions of space governance, the use of satellite information in the decision-making process, and how the new business model contributes technological and social value. Of particular interest was the review of space policy and the Chilean National Satellite System, a project shared by seven ministries.

As is to be expected, the largest presence at FIDAE is that of Chilean industry, largely small and medium-sized enterprises, with around 140 stands, 33 percent of the total. With the support provided by the acquisitions of weapons systems and equipment by the Chilean Army, Air Force, Navy and Carabineros, the business community is taking advantage of the attendance of companies from third countries at the show to try to reach collaboration agreements and boost their activity. 

On the opening day, the executive director of Empresa Nacional de Aeronáutica de Chile (ENAER), Henry Cleveland, showed President Boric the new single-engine two-seater Pillan 2. ENAER is waiting for the government to authorise the contract that should lead to the engineering work and development of the new aircraft, which is due to take over from the T-35 Pillan at the end of the decade.

The first Airbus has unveiled for Latin America is the A220, an airliner for the 100-150 seat market that reduces its noise footprint and carbon dioxide, CO2 and nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 per cent. It also flew an A330-300 MRTT to Santiago, which is being converted to an in-flight refuelling and cargo configuration at its factory in Getafe (Madrid). 

Since FIDAE's origins 42 years ago, its organisers have devoted special attention to the aircraft exhibition area. The Embraer KC-390 Millenium transport aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is one of the big ones, in contrast to the small gyroplanes of the Spanish manufacturer ELA, which markets its products in more than 40 countries and can be useful for forest and border surveillance.

The main flight demonstrations were given by the Halcones aerobatic patrol and a FACh F-16 fighter. The FAB's Escuadrilla da Fumaça, the Argentinian Ia-63 Pampa III advanced training aircraft and the impressive airborne evolutions of the fifth-generation US F-22 Raptor fighter, which closed FIDAE until April 2024, attracted attention.