Singapore Airshow 2010

Every 2 years, our tiny island hosts an airshow. For many years, it used to operate under the name of Asian Aerospace until the local big fish nudged it out and gave birth to their very own Singapore Airshow. Another name, another place but samo samo. For me (because of my day job), it's a time of 'headachey' meetings and tasks. Quite sceptical that there's real networking. I came across many 'foreigners' looking to be reps instead. Big contracts closed at the airshow? Anyone who's closed contracts knows what it entails and how long talks could drag. Any big contracts signed have been in the making a long time prior.

The airshow is not called a 'show' for no reason. Sheesh. I'm waiting for the news to present optimistic numbers and values. I think if you watch Mediacorp's The Noose (which my family loves by the way!!!), it's closer to the truth. Hey, hey, I'm no political critic. Just a fan of The Noose and just a human who enjoys laughing at herself! (BTW, you can google for excerpts of The Noose for a good laugh).

Anyhow, The Singapore Airshow is jolly good fun for the kids if their idea of fun is to queue for hours in the scorching heat, run around for the free plastic pens and plastic bags (???), gape at the aerial display then stand in the heat again to queue for the static display. For me, I told my now 13yr old son, 'No way am I bringing you this year'. It's always the same thing. I know the boy's a bit disappointed but hey, Mummy rules. It takes me 3 months to get over the tan I always get from attending the airshow. No thank you.

The Singapore Airshow runs from 2 to 7 Feb 2010. Couldn't have come at a worse time if you ask me. Chinese people need to clean house, buy pussy willow, bak kwa and get their bums squashed in Chinatown....in preparation for our upcoming Chinese New Year. What were the organisers thinking?
(edited 2/2/10: Was at the airshow today and saw a sign from the organisers who said the next airshow will be from 14 to 19 Feb 2012 - hmm....what a 'romantic' Valentine's Day to be talking shop)

The first few days of the show is opened to trade visitors only. That means, Mummy and Daddy who want to visit to grab freebies for their kids at home, can go if they have access to the trade visitor passes. In the past, many exhibitors I knew, closed their booths and ran off back home even before the last trade day. So the public is actually short changed in a way. But of course, there's still enough left to make the kids happy and the adults tired and grumpy.

Tip 1 : If you know any exhibitors, do go with them because it'll make for easier access in and out of the site.
Tip 2 : If you drive, I personally feel you should pay a bit for the car pass. There's some package being sold for 2 adults and 2 kids including a car pass. At the end of a tiring day, the last thing you wanna do is to queue again for public transport. Trust me. Been there, done that. And I speak of course, the noose. I mean, the truth. (I think you cannot buy tickets onsite so do check out details of ticket sales first)

Here are some old pics from my 'heyday'. Now older already lah. Not as excited and not much interest (never liked flying) and thank goodness probably not much running around the airshow anymore (budget cuts from foreign companies mean only a pathetic number of our ang-mohs coming down). But wait....I still dig free pens.

Showing off SIA's A380 during Asian Aerospace in Singapore in 2006.

That's me during Asian Aerospace 2006 in Singapore. Why am I wearing a jacket in the hot sun? Actually, the jacket's to shield me from the sun (just make sure it's not black). Honestly, you'll feel much cooler all covered up instead of going bare back.