ILA begins under the sign of climate crisis and war
Created: 06/20/2022, 17:53
Berlin's Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey and Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke at the ILA.
© Wolfgang Kumm/dpa
There is still a long way to go before climate-neutral air traffic;
the trade fair at BER is now giving an update.
The armaments suppliers are more in focus than usual.
It has to do with Ukraine.
Schönefeld - For the first time since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, the most important trade fair for the German aerospace industry is beginning again near Berlin: the ILA.
Around 550 exhibitors will present their solutions for the future of aviation and space travel in Schönefeld from Wednesday to Sunday.
In addition to ways to reduce pollutant emissions in air traffic, the military part is particularly in focus this time because of the Ukraine war.
"Anyone who has values and wants to defend values must also be able to defend them," emphasized the Federal Association of the Aerospace Industry (BDLI) on Monday.
The industry is keeping an eye on Germany's planned additional military spending of 100 billion euros.
As always, the Bundeswehr is the largest individual exhibitor at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA).
Future combat aircraft and helicopters of the Bundeswehr will be on display.
Combat aircraft and military helicopters will take off for air shows, as well as the double-decker A380 passenger plane and the Airbus transporter Beluga.
The fair will be opened on Wednesday by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are trade visitor days.
On Saturday and Sunday, up to 15,000 private visitors can visit the exhibition center in the Selchow district of Schönefeld right next to Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER).
In 2020, the ILA was canceled due to the corona pandemic.
Participation in the previous edition in 2018 was greater than this year: 1100 exhibitors were able to show their products to a total of 180,000 people - at that time without a visitor limit.
Before the start of the trade fair on Wednesday, the heads of government of Berlin and Brandenburg, Franziska Giffey and Dietmar Woidke (both SPD), visited the site on Monday.
"We have to ensure that our soldiers have sensible equipment and sensible technology," emphasized Woidke.
Peace is not only kept through good words, but also through investments in defence.
Technical development did not stand still during the pandemic, said Giffey.
"You could see a lot through the keyhole of the future here." The state governments wanted to be partners to the companies.
They visited booths of engine manufacturers and satellite operators from the region.
BDLI General Manager Volker Thum assured that the future of flying will be climate-neutral.
Industry has been working on electricity-based alternative fuels, hydrogen use and electric drives for years.
Battery-powered small aircraft will also be on display at the ILA.
According to the Federal Environment Agency, flying is still the most climate-damaging type of transport.
also read
Forest fire in Brandenburg: difficult conditions for emergency services – “detonations have already occurred”
Forest fires in Brandenburg: Rain provides the first relaxation - hundreds of residents are returning
"My heart rises," said Berlin's trade fair boss Martin Ecknig, who can now organize a large trade fair in person again.
It is also the first ILA since the opening of BER.
The companies present their aircraft on taxiways next to a runway.
dpa