The fourth edition of AERO South Africa, held from the 3rd to the 5th of July 2024, was a showcase for the Southern African general aviation sector. Presented by Messe Frankfurt South Africa in partnership with Fairnamic – the organisers of Europe’s largest general aviation show, Aero Friedrichshafen.
The event this year featured a comprehensive 3-day program with leading industry expert panel discussions, visitor Fly-Ins, demo flights, a Youth Development program, and an introduction to the General Aviation Indaba, and attracted over 2900 visitors from 22 countries. The visitors had the opportunity to engage in important general aviation-related talks with key figures and experts in the industry. The diverse schedule of topics was very well received, with highlights including the new General Aviation Indaba, the Women and Drones panel discussion, the Safety First Aviator session, and talks by Airbus and ExecuJet, among others.
The event continues to grow and evolve and attracted over 71 exhibitors, including 11 international exhibitors. The quality of visitors was most notable attracting 640 pilots which included 233 commercial pilots, 335 recreational pilots, and 70 business pilots with 47 Fly-Ins, with 140 business matchmaking meetings taking place which all underscore the importance of the event and it has firmly established itself as the annual meeting platform for the Southern African General Aviation sector.
The AERO South Africa Youth Development Program proved very successful once again. Students passionate and eager to venture into the world of general aviation had the opportunity to hear from multiple speakers in the industry. This year’s program featured curated topics specifically prepared for the youth in attendance, such as Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering, Drone Training, and Pilot Navigation.
Louise Olckers, the Show Director – “As we conclude the 4th edition of AERO South Africa, I am immensely proud of the strides we have made in showcasing the vitality and innovation within the General Aviation sector. The enthusiasm and support from our exhibitors, visitors, and partners have been truly inspiring. Looking ahead, we are committed to building on this momentum and making AERO South Africa even bigger and better, driving growth and fostering connections within our vibrant aviation community. We look forward to welcoming you to the 2025 edition and continuing this exciting journey together.”
Christiaan van der Wath, Deputy Director : Aerospace Sector Support for the City of Tshwane stated that “The City of Tshwane is optimistic about expanding the local general aviation sector as the AERO General Aviation Exhibition successfully concluded on Friday 5 July.”
Aero South Africa looks forward to welcoming the sector back from the 25th to the 27th of June 2025 for the fifth edition of AERO South Africa.
