30.05.2014 - 10:50
The Igualada-Odena airfield, located in central Catalonia has been the home to an aeronautical fair called Aerosport since 1992. While some towns organize more events related to airplanes, this is the only one dedicated to the leisure market. Its objectives are to put customers and companies in contact, to help people discover leisure air activities and to put the Igualada-Odena airfield on the map.
This year Aerosport received more than 6,000 visitors, 200 aircraft and 30 exhibitors over last Saturday and Sunday. Besides the exhibitors stands, aerobatics shows and conferences were also held. Visitors came mostly from Catalonia and Spain but there were also foreign fair goers from France and Portugal. Many people arrived at the fair with their own airplane and the organization gave them a small gift for doing so. Many plane spotters go to the fair and are allowed to get closer to the planes.
Communicating to the public
The President of Fira d’Igualada, the entity which organized the air fair in Igualada, Joan Domènech, said that there is a huge lack of communication between the sector and the wider public. “The majority of people think that flying is an expensive hobby and sometimes it is difficult to attract people, but the ones who come here are very happy.” Joan Garcia, exhibitor of Aerosport, explains that visitors are often misinformed with regard to many aspects of aeronautical activities. Other exhibitors claim that people know what they want to do, but there is a lack of money available to invest in their ideas. The fair received support from the City Councils of Odena and Igualada and the Catalan Government.
