The fifth edition of AERO South Africa was held from 25 to 27 June 2025, this year for the first time at Lanseria International Airport. The previous four successful editions of this premier general aviation exhibition had all taken place at Wonderboom Airport in Tshwane.
Organised by Messe Frankfurt South Africa in partnership with fairnamic GmbH-a joint venture between Messe Frankfurt and Messe Friedrichshafen-AERO South Africa has firmly established itself as Southern Africa's leading event for the general aviation industry. Once again, AERO proved to be the ultimate platform for showcasing the very best this dynamic sector has to offer.
I arrived early on a cool, breezy opening day at Lanseria. A series of well-placed banners directed me to a dedicated parking area reserved for visitors and exhibitors. From there, it was a short walk to the shuttle service, which efficiently transported guests to the exhibition grounds and returned them safely to their cars, neatly arranged under rows of carports.
I was already impressed by the organisation, and even more so when I reached the two entrance booths-one for VIPs and one for general visitors. Having pre-registered, the check-in process took no more than two minutes. With my entry pass in hand, it was just a short walk to the heart of the event. Imagine my surprise when the first person I met was Peet Mostert, organiser of the May 2025 Kalahari Goerapan Helicopter Safari, which I had the honour of attending.
Two things immediately struck me: the neat, well-planned layout that allowed ample space between rows of exhibitors, and the variety of displays on show. Not to mention the large food court, VIP ablution facilities, and a unique exhibit-a BidAir Cargo Boeing 737-400F, which with auxiliary power on and stairway deployed, was open for visitors to explore.
Arriving early allowed me to photograph our loyal and regular advertisers-without whose support we wouldn't be able to do what we do-and to connect with potential new supporters, all without interfering with their primary focus: showcasing their products and services.
A pleasant surprise was the presence of Heliserve, a UK-based company specialising in helicopter spares, sales, and services. Their stand was staffed entirely by members from their UK office-an impressive vote of confidence in the show and a definite feather in the cap of the AERO South Africa marketing team.
The official opening address took place in one of ExecuJet's hangars, with Neil Piper, Head of Marketing and Content at Messe Frankfurt South Africa, kicking things off. He was followed by Michael Denn, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa.
AERO South Africa 2025 once again highlighted the latest innovations, developments, and regulations within the South African general aviation industry. Building on previous successes, this year's event delivered an even more engaging experience with workshops, product launches, and most importantly, high-quality business matchmaking opportunities.
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