Aerospace Executive Service (AES) Program
FIDAE International Air Show
March 31 – April 6, 2008

MISSION STATEMENT

Mission Description : The Commerce Department is leading an Aerospace Executive Service (AES) matchmaking mission to the FIDAE International Air Show 2008 on March 31 – April 6, 2008. The International Trade Administration’s (ITA) U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) Post in Santiago, Chile; Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team, and the Office of Global Trade Programs will organize this matchmaking mission. The mission will include representatives from a variety of U.S. aerospace and defense industry manufacturers and service providers. These mission participants will be introduced to international agents, distributors, and end-users whose capabilities and services are targeted to each U.S. participants’ needs in their particular market.

Commercial Setting: The FIDAE Air Show is Latin America’s premier aerospace and defense technology event. A biennial air show in Santiago, it is the only event of its kind offering individuals with commercial business interests in the region key opportunities to play a major role in this important region. At the FIDAE 2006 Show, 400 companies exhibited from 35 countries with 41,282 visitors attending the event. Also, there were a total of 128 aircraft on display during the six-day air show. In 2008, it is expected that 400 exhibitors from more than 50 countries will participate in the show. Attendees and visitors to the FIDAE Air Show include government officials, senior company managers, and high-level executives involved in the aerospace and defense markets in Latin America and the Caribbean.

While there has been a slight decline in defense spending in Chile and the rest of South America, the commercial aerospace sector is growing again in terms of private and business ownership of airport, airlines and general aviation. For example, USCS reports that Chile saw an unprecedented growth in its airline sector in 2006, surpassing the previous record of 6.4 million passengers set in 2000. International flights showed the largest growth, rising 5 percent from 2006 to 2007, reaching 3.63 million passengers flying in and out of Chile. This presents enormous trade opportunity for the airport, ground handling, air traffic control, general aviation, aircraft maintenance, and security sub-sectors.

Mission Goals: The goal of the Aerospace Executive Service at the FIDAE International Air Show is to facilitate an effective presence for small- and medium-sized companies without their incurring the major expenses associated with purchasing and staffing exhibit space.

The AES Program enables U.S. aerospace and defense companies to familiarize themselves with this important trade fair, to conduct market research while attending the show, and to explore export opportunities through pre-arranged meetings with potential partners. The Aerospace Executive Service also allows U.S. companies to have a presence at the show in the form of an AES Information Booth, providing participants with an enhanced image and level of engagement in which to interact with the Show’s visitors. Knowledgeable ITA and Commercial Service staff that is focused on furthering their company-specific objectives supports them.

Mission Scenario : ITA Trade Specialists will promote the FIDAE AES in collaboration with CS Chile, ITA Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team, and in cooperation with the Office of Global Trade Programs. This promotion will take place nationwide and will largely be handled by the ITA Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team. Companies interested in the AES will apply to the program, and once accepted (see ‘Criteria for Participant Selection’) will work with the AES coordinator to develop their business goals at the FIDAE International Air Show.

U.S. Export Assistance Center trade specialists and the Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team will recruit and counsel prospective participants for the FIDAE International Air Show AES. The companies will forward company information and literature to CS Chile in advance whereupon CS Chile will begin the partner search, management, and logistical coordination of the program.

Company literature and promotional material will either be shipped to CS Chile or brought by the participant for display in the U.S. Pavilion.

Effective communication between the AES coordinator and all U.S. participants will be essential to the success of the AES program. Email and periodic conference calls will be used to guarantee that this is accomplished. CS staff will be available for information and assistance throughout the duration of the AES at the 2008 FIDAE Air Show.

Prior to the end of the AES program, CS staff will advise and counsel participants on appropriate follow-up procedures.

In summary, participation in the AES Program includes:

• Pre-show Counseling by Team, Global Post and USEAC staff
• Pre-show Outreach and Press Release by CS Chile
• Pre-show Briefing by CS Chile staff
• Two days of pre-scheduled meetings with potential partners, distributors, and/or end-users
• Individual company promotions (includes space for catalogs and marketing by CS Chile)
• One show entry pass per company representative
• One invitation to the show organizer’s Welcome Reception per participant
• Access to Official U.S. Pavilion amenities, including business center, lounge and shared office suite when not in use for one-on-one FIDAE International Air Show appointments

Shared 18sqm booth to use for meetings and to display company literature (includes tables for the AES participants to hold meetings, as well as a catalogue space for each one to display their product literature).

• Copy of the official FIDAE International Air Show Exhibitor's Directory
• On-site AES program coordinator assistance to AES companies.
• Transportation to and from the show each day.

Mission Timetable: ITA Aerospace & Defense Technologies Team members will arrive in Santiago prior to the show. The proposed programs is below:

• Sunday, March 30 - AES Participants Arrive
• Monday, March 31 - Pre-show Briefing and Show Organizer's Welcome Reception
• Tuesday, April 1 - Show Opens (AES meetings - pm only)
• Wednesday, April 2 - Business Day (AES meetings - full day)
• Thursday, April 3- Business Day (AES meetings - am only)
• Friday, April 4 - Business Day
• April 5-6 - Public Days

AES participants are welcome to attend the remainder of the FIDAE Air Show on their own, from April 4-6, 2008.

Criteria for Participant Selection: Each applicant to the program will be screened for the following:

• Relevance of the company’s business line to the mission’s goals;
• Acceptability of product area/sector for exhibition in the FIDAE International Air Show in the US Pavilion according to the trade fair rules, which can be found at http://www.kallman.com/.
• Timeliness of company’s signed application and participation agreement including fee of $3,500 for the AES, which does not include airfare, lodging, or most meals. The cost is $800.00 for each additional representative;
• Provision of adequate information on company’s products and/or services, and company’s primary market objectives, in order to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners;
• Certification that the company meets Departmental guidelines for participation:

A company’s products or services must be either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished product or service.

Any partisan political activities (including political contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Recruitment for the mission will begin in February 2008 and conclude on March 10, 2008. Target recruitment for the AES Program is 7 companies. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applications received after the deadline will be considered only if time and space constraints permit.

Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including posting on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar at www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/ tmcal.html - and other Internet websites, publication in domestic trade publications and association newsletters, mailings from internal mailing lists, faxes to internal database aerospace clients, email to aerospace distribution lists, posting in the Federal Register, and announcements at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. Aerospace and Defense Technologies Team members, U.S. Export Assistance Centers and the Office of Global Trade Programs will also promote the AES Program.

Contact Information:

ITA Aerospace & Defense Technology Team:

Mark Weaver, Director and Senior

International Trade Specialist

Aerospace and Defense Team
U.S. Export Assistance Center -USCS

808 Throckmorton Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102-6315
Tel: (817) 392-2673
Fax: (817) 392-2668
Email: mark.weaver@mail.doc.gov

US Commercial Service in Santiago:

Isabel Valenzuela
American Embassy, U.S. Commercial Service
Av. Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes
Santiago, Chile 755-0006
Tel. 011-(56) 2-330-3402
Fax 011-(56) 2-330-3172
Email: Isabel.Valenzuela@mail.doc.gov