RIYADH, 11 July 2006 — A Saudi aviation group will take part in a weeklong UK air show beginning on Monday to scout for foreign joint venture opportunities.
The Al-Raha Group for Technical Services (RGTS), which has headquarters in Riyadh, will play a key role in the promotion of the Middle East’s aerospace at this month’s Farnborough airshow in Britain - one of the top four events of its kind in the world.
RGTS specializes in supply chain management, the repair and refurbishment of aerospace ground support equipment and special purpose vehicles, systems design, integration and training. The company will be one of the main exhibitors at the largest ever Middle East pavilion to be mounted at any international air show.
“RGTS had a highly successful showing at the Dubai Airshow last November and is now expanding its reach in other geographic areas,” said Alison Weller, director of the aerospace sector of Fairs and Exhibitions (F&E) - the company which organized the Dubai Airshow. Weller highlighted the fact that RGTS is looking toward Farnborough to secure joint ventures among global aviation players and added that the Middle East pavilion is a non-profit initiative set up by the F&E.
The pavilion at Farnborough, which runs from July 17-23, will be triple the size of the launch edition that burst onto the aviation scene two years ago.
“We anticipate further growth in demand for our services, due to regional expansion and since technology has become an essential requirement to sustain high standards for military and commercial aircraft spare parts, supply chain management systems, data management and personnel training,” said Bud Schlageter, the vice president of RGTS.
The 150 square meter Middle East pavilion at the Farnborough International Airshow will be in hall 3 at stands D28 & D32.
Other pavilion partners include the Academy of Technical Training; Dyncorp International; Aviation Gifts and the Small Engines Overhaul Division (SEOD) of the UAE maintenance giant GAMCO; Jordan Aeronautical Systems Company; Jordanian Private Jets Services and the Pan Arab defense magazine Arab Defense Journal.
“The pavilion will be next to a major participation by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and the two combined will represent the biggest ever showing of the Middle East aviation industry outside of the Dubai Airshow,” SEOD executive Mike Sweeting said.