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| Aviation Exhibition Corporation | |
|---|---|
| Name | Aviation Exhibition Corporation |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Aviation, Exhibitions, Event Management |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Key people | John Reynolds, Maria Santos, Akihiko Tanaka |
| Area served | Global |
| Products | Airshows, Trade Fairs, Static Displays, Flight Demonstrations |
| Num employees | 420 (2023) |
Aviation Exhibition Corporation is a private company specializing in the production, management, and promotion of large-scale aeronautical events, air shows, and aerospace trade exhibitions. The organization organizes international showcases that bring together manufacturers, operators, regulators, and enthusiasts from across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Aviation Exhibition Corporation is known for staging integrated demonstrations involving historic aircraft, contemporary airliners, aerobatic teams, and unmanned aerial systems.
Aviation Exhibition Corporation was founded in 1987 amid a surge of public interest in air shows following the rise of organizations such as Experimental Aircraft Association and events like the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and Royal International Air Tattoo. Early leadership included organizers with backgrounds at Boeing, Lockheed, and Grumman who leveraged ties to exhibitors such as Rolls-Royce Holdings, General Electric (GE), and Pratt & Whitney to secure displays. Throughout the 1990s the company expanded its portfolio by staging events in partnership with municipal hosts like Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and military participants from Royal Air Force, United States Air Force, and Canadian Forces. During the 2000s Aviation Exhibition Corporation adapted to developments in the aerospace sector, coordinating exhibitions featuring OEMs such as Airbus, Bombardier, and Embraer, and integrating emerging technologies from firms like DJI and Northrop Grumman. Notable milestones include inaugural international summits held in collaboration with the Farnborough International Airshow organizers and cultural programs developed with institutions such as the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Aviation Exhibition Corporation provides event management, logistics, marketing, and operations services for air shows, trade fairs, and static museum loan programs. The firm negotiates display agreements with entities like United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and historic operators such as Commemorative Air Force while coordinating regulatory clearances with agencies including Federal Aviation Administration and civil aviation authorities like Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). The company offers turnkey solutions—site planning, aircraft recovery coordination with Airbus Helicopters, crowd management in liaison with Transportation Security Administration, and contingency aviation rescue planning with International Civil Aviation Organization guidance. Ancillary services include sponsor relations with corporations like Lockheed Martin, media partnerships with outlets such as BBC News, and educational outreach developed with universities including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cranfield University.
While Aviation Exhibition Corporation does not operate a commercial airline, it maintains a roster of demonstrator aircraft, display platforms, and support equipment. The demonstrator list has included vintage types maintained by organizations like Collings Foundation and modern demonstrators affiliated with Boeing Phantom Works programs and aerobatic teams such as the Blue Angels and Red Arrows. Ground equipment comprises mobile hangars sourced from AAR Corp. supply chains, fuel servicing units compatible with Shell Aviation standards, and mobile control towers produced in collaboration with companies like Saab AB. The organization contracts specialized aerial vehicles from operators including Textron Aviation, Pilatus Aircraft, and UAS providers such as Skydio for remotely piloted demonstrations.
Aviation Exhibition Corporation stages events at major airfields, convention centers, and historic aerodromes including Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Farnborough Airfield, Le Bourget Airport, and Meigs Field-style waterfront venues. It develops temporary infrastructure—spectator grandstands, VIP pavilions, and exhibit halls—working with contractors like Ainscough Crane Hire and Turner Construction Company. For indoor trade shows the firm books venues such as McCormick Place, ExCeL London, and Halls A and B of Paris Le Bourget Exhibition Centre while coordinating ground transport with local authorities like Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The company has produced signature events that pair military demonstration teams, civil airliner displays, and historic flight reenactments, partnering with organizations such as International Council of Air Shows, Aerospace Industries Association, and cultural partners like Royal Aeronautical Society. Strategic partnerships include collaboration with OEM marketing arms at Airbus Defence and Space, sponsorship programs with Raytheon Technologies, and joint educational initiatives with museums such as Imperial War Museums and National Museum of Flight. Aviation Exhibition Corporation has also co-hosted forums on topics like sustainable aviation with stakeholders including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-aligned initiatives and green fuel developers like Neste.
Safety management is conducted under frameworks influenced by standards from International Civil Aviation Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Aviation Exhibition Corporation maintains Safety Management Systems (SMS) aligned with best practices used by Boeing and Airbus and coordinates emergency response planning with agencies such as Red Cross and local fire services including London Fire Brigade. The company ensures compliance with noise abatement procedures, airspace restrictions administered by National Air Traffic Services, and hazardous materials protocols endorsed by International Air Transport Association.
Aviation Exhibition Corporation is governed by a board of directors with members drawn from aerospace, finance, and cultural institutions, including former executives from Boeing, Airbus, and investment firms such as BlackRock. Executive leadership includes a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Safety Officer with advisory input from academics at Stanford University and University of Cambridge. The company maintains corporate policies on ethics, sponsorship acceptance, and diversity modeled on guidance from organizations like World Economic Forum and reporting frameworks such as Global Reporting Initiative.
Category:Aerospace companies