Showbiz: Aeroexpo Marrakech 2010
A place to show
Morocco’s growing aerospace ambition

While Europe’s traffic infrastructure was suffering from the displeasures of winter, the Moroccan town of Marrakech in North Africa was basking in sunlight to welcome aviation visitors from around the world. Aeroexpo Marrakech is Morocco's national showcase for civil & military aviation, technology and services. Trade visitors, military delegations and journalists took the opportunity to visit the expo and at the same time enjoy the wonders of one of Morocco’s oldest cities.

This years’ Aeroexpo was held from 27-30 January 2010 at Marrakech Menara Airport. The biennial show was the second edition in what the organisers IEC and several Moroccan Government Agencies plan to be a regular. Previously, there were air shows and open houses at air bases around the country, but no dedicated trade shows.

After the first edition in 2008, the focus of the Aero Expo was sharpened even more, and the success of the ‘North Africa’ and aerospace technology theme was expanded. The country of Morrocco, under the leadership of their charismatic King Mohammed VI, is being transformed from an inward looking Kingdom to a modernized regional economy, with several technology spearheads, aerospace being one of them.

Identification of the aeronautic industry in Morocco as a promising asset for the Moroccan economy has led to the creation of an industrial area “Nouasseur Aeropole” next to Casablanca International Airport. Almost 20 aerospace companies - amongst them Boeing, EADS and Dassault - are already operational. Morocco specialises in subcontracting, performing maintenance work being done according to the manufacturers requirements, with a labour cost base more suited to the region. Allowing for the easy import and export of goods and offering tax benefits, a new Free Trade Zone has been created in Tangiers as well.

The combined military-civil airport of Marrakech Menara houses the Aviation School of the Force Aérienne Royale Marocaine (Royal Moroccan Air Force - RMAF) and a modern civil aviation terminal used by a steady stream of airliners bringing European tourists and Moroccans visiting relatives.

Aeroexpo was opened on Tuesday 27th by the Prime Minister of Morocco, Abbas El Fassi, signalling the support for the event on a national level. Military delegations from all over Africa were welcomed both by RMAF senior commanders and aerospace companies as well.

Helicopters  SA-342L CN-ACX (photo: Ronald de Roij) SA-330L CN-ARY (photo: Ronald de Roij). CH-47C CNA-LH (photo: Ronald de Roij).

The business side of the Aero Expo was split in two areas: the exhibition in the three main RMAF hangars and a temporary hall and the aircraft ground display ranging from smaller private/utility aircraft to bizjets and military hardware. After decades of intensive use in regional conflicts the aircraft fleet of the RMAF is in need of an upgrade. At the moment there are several new acquisition programs ongoing, for fighters (F-16C/D), trainers (T-6C), transports (C-27J) and helicopters (CH-47D). Still to come are replacing or upgrading the substantial fleet of C-130s (a shining new USAFE C-130J from Ramstein supported Lockheed Martin in its efforts), VIP aircraft and light attack helicopters.

Almost all of the major producers of biz-jets took part in the show, aiming at both RMAF’s VIP fleet replacements as well as the growing GA market on the African continent, be it Government agencies or local IT- or telecom entrepeneurs. Claiming a separate area on one of the taxi-tracks were smaller aviation companies, offering propjets, crop-dusters, air-taxi’s and helicopters. Some aicraft were already on one of the African registers, other (mostly French and Spanish companies) simply introducing the type to potential customers. All in all, the Aeroexpo offered a complete overview of aircraft, save for the largest jetliners -, maintenance and component products.

The RMAF sent in one example of almost each aircraft in its inventory, ranging from the local trainers (AS202 Bravo, T-34C and T-37B) to the fighters (F-5E and F-1EH), helicopters and transports. An important role in border control in Morocco is performed by the Gendarmerie Nationale (National Police Force), which operates a substantial fleet of aircraft. A display of the Escadron Aérienne of the Gendarmerie Royale showed a FLIR-equipped AS355 Ecreuil, an SA330L Puma in air ambulance outfit and a Trinidad Tobago liaison aircraft and a mobile command post.

Demo flights

Demonstration flights were made with a T-6B of Hawker Beechcraft Corp. RMAF being the launch customer for the new T-6C model aircraft, this latest model boasts an integrated glass cockpit, advanced avionics suite and a hard point wing to allow for external fuel tanks or light armament for the COIN role.

Fighters  Air refueling: KC-130H and F-5E (photo: Ronald de Roij) Mirage F1 (photo: Robert Nispeling).

Also, a company demonstrator of the Gulfstream V in AEW outfit was displayed and took to the skies with dignitaries for a flight across the Moroccan mountains at the close of the trade days.

One of the highlights for the Moroccan hosts was a company demonstration of a Lockheed Martin F-16C, ‘leased in’ from the South Carolina ANG (‘Swamp Foxes’) flown by a Lockheed Martin test pilot. The presence of this aircraft mirrors a 24 aircraft order for the Block 52 F-16C/D model, which was selected over the French Rafale. This FMS-order represents a further succes of this well-equipped version, comparable to recent Greek, Polish and UAE deliveries. Besides a very comprehensive equipment package the deal also includes four Goodrich Corp. DB-110 airborne reconnaissance pods, allowing real-time day or night imagery transfer. Two F-16’s were flown in especially for the Aeroexpo, escorted by a KC-135R of 191 ARS (Utah ANG).

The F-16C/D’s will be introduced at the end of 2011 and most likely be stationed at Ben Guerir Air Base, 60 km to the north of Marrakech. The new aircraft will be in addition to the current fighters in the RMAF inventory. Preparing for this new aircraft will put a lot of pressure on the RMAF, from maintainers to pilots and staff. In 2009 a visit was organised to Greece, a long time F-16 operator in the Mediterranean. It is expected that this version of the F-16 will be offered to more countries in the region like Tunesia and Egypt, but also to young European NATO partners like Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania.

Conclusion

One cannot compare this well-organized regional show with it’s larger cousins like Le Bourget, Dubai or Singapore, but it offers a good overview of the market demands for the region, the Moroccan Air Force and the capabilities of the local aerospace services market. Due to the growing civil aviation traffic at Marrakesh, the daily flypasts of C-130s – one with 2 F-5F’s with dry-hookup -, Alpha Jets, parachutists and Marche Verte aerial demonstration have to be squeezed in. Some more regional participation would be a welcome addition to both the flying program and the static display, although this might not be in synch with the objectives of the Moroccan Government.

The timing of the Aeroexpo makes for an excellent excuse to escape the European winter and as Marrakesh has always been an open city for its (foreign) visitors, both the trade show and the surroundings are well worth a visit. There is some word that this show will have to move to another airport in 2012, but we will have to wait till then to be sure.

RMAF C-130H Hercules CNA-OG over the Aeroexpo (photo: Robert Nispeling).

Netherlands, March 24th, 2010

Headline photo

General view of Marrakech 2010 Air Show (photo: Robert Nispeling)