28 delegates formed this mission trip to Germany that encompassed a visit to the Aircraft Interior Expo, conference and exhibition, held from the 7 to 10 April.  A total of 12 companies participated excluding the representatives from the AAIS and government agencies, such as CAAS, IE Singapore and SPRING, who were present to continuously lend support to the local industry and the companies who are looking to continue exploring opportunities in aircraft interior industry.

The programme began with a full day conference on the 7 April. The morning delved into airline perspectives of the future and the challenges ahead that are charted by the new directions to differentiate the passenger experience. Concurrent breakout sessions, were held in the afternoon on two topics – IFE and Hospitality & Service.  The conference concluded with an evening industry networking party, filled with good food and drink within the same venue as the conference.

Over the next two days of the exhibition, the delegates were free to walk the show ground and arrange meetings with the exhibitors. Notably, the team were hosted at their booth by Diehl Aerospace, Hanse Aerospace, Hamburg Aviation, JAMCO and ST Aerospace. Introductions to key personnel and a short tour, where possible, at their booths took place.

The remainder of the mission programme comprised of site visits to the Hamburg Centre of Avation Training (HCAT) and the Airbus plant in Hamburg. At the HCAT, the tour was led by Prof Gordon Konieczny within the HCAT building and cabin labs to learn about the how the centre is supported and funded by the industry and institutes, includeing a look at their training facilities and the courses available. Lunch was also kindly hosted by the HCAT.

A three-hour long guided tour on foot was one of the highlights of the trip, where the team got an insight to manufacturing facilities and the final assembly of the A320s.