Africa Aerospace and Defence 2012 (AAD2012) is the largest defence and aviation showcase ever to be held on the African continent, with thousands of people expected to attend the five day exhibition from 19 to 23 September at the Air Force Base Waterkloof. The exhibition space is already sold out, but there are still numerous sponsorship opportunities available.

“The last event, AAD2010, attracted 93 000 people at Air Force Base Ysterplaat,” says Vhongani Shumba, marketing and PR manager for AAD2012. “AAD2012 has moved back to Waterkloof after the base’s renovation and upgrade, and we will make the best possible use of the much bigger space here.

“The increased exhibition space indoors and outdoors is already completely sold out, which gives an indication of the high esteem in which the exhibition is held in the industry. This year’s show will have many more exhibitors and exhibits over a much larger area, and we are confident that this year’s attendance will break all previous records.”

Visitors will include local and international defence and aviation trade visitors on the first three days, with members of the public gaining access for the air show over the weekend, where there will be lots of entertainment for the whole family, static displays of aircraft, trucks and armoured vehicles and an entertainment park for children.

“Visitors on the public days tend to come with their families, and we have purposefully made the ticket price affordable (R50 adults and R40 children under 12 and pensioners, R10 discount for prepaid tickets) to encourage this,” Shumba adds. “Visitors spend the day with us, because there is simply so much to see and engage with – we know that the exhibition holds their attention for much longer than more conventional exhibitions.”

Shumba points out that while the funding for the event is arranged by the organisers, the exhibition runs on a tight budget each year. “We want to provide the best possible experience for our trade and public visitors, and are still seeking sponsorship partnerships with companies who want to engage with our sizeable audience in order to expand the activities we can offer,” she says.

Sponsorship opportunities range from the supply of memory sticks for VIP delegation and media, to business centre. “There are several different packages to meet varying budgets, and we look forward to engaging with potential sponsors to establish the best way for them to benefit from the exhibition,” she says.

Companies interested in engaging with the AAD2012 audience should contact Vhongani Shumba on marketingpr@aadexpo.co.za or call her on 084 840 3214.

For more information about AAD2012, visit www.aadexpo.co.za.