Nearly 1,000 People Visited The Airport, Including Over 200 Pilots

Organizers of The Southeast Aviation Show held on October 29 at the Greenville Downtown Airport (KGMU) in South Carolina say the event was an unqualified success, with nearly 1,000 people visiting the airport including over 200 pilots. The event was hosted by the SCAA and showcased the latest aviation products, had a static aircraft display and educational sessions.

"The turnout for the Southeast Aviation Show far exceeded our first year's attendance goals," said South Carolina Aviation Association (SCAA) President Eric Ramsdell. "Nine hundred and seventy three people were out at the Greenville Downtown Airport for the event, two hundred and twenty seven of those registered were pilots," Ramsdell added. "Many others in attendance had careers in aviation or enjoy it as a hobby," Ramsdell noted. "SCAA is very happy with the turnout and we feel that these numbers prove that our suspicions were right and that this region has enough of an aviation community to warrant having this event become an annual show at the Greenville Downtown Airport."
 
Greenville Downtown Airport director Joe Frasher said several exhibitors told him that the Southeast Aviation Show was a much more productive venue for them than some national events they have attended, because so many aviation peole came to the show. He said many exhibitors plan to attend next year's show, which will help build momentum for the event. "Many exhibitors said that we can count them in for next year," he said.

Frasher said several groups were unable to attend due to an early bout of winter weather that moved through the northeast the weekend of the show, which is affecting planning for next year. "The event's planning committee met last Friday and their recommendation to the SCAA board would be to definitely have the event again next year at the Greenville Downtown Airport but to move the date from the end of October to maybe the last weekend of September which would help address future weather issues," he said.
 
"The SCAA board will meet on November 18 to discuss the committee's recommendations but I feel strongly that the board will approve moving ahead with plans for a Southeast Aviation Show in 2012," Ramsdell stated.

FMI: www.scaaonline.com/content/southeast-aviation-show-0, www.greenvilledowntownairport.com