The Virtual Airport Celebrates Itself
(Exclusive Berlin)—“People of this world, look upon this place and realize that you may not and cannot extradite this city.”

   These words were spoken by Ernst Reuter, the first governing Mayor of West Berlin, at the Republic Square in front of the Reichstag on September 9th, 1948.
   The Reuter speech, although lesser known today, electrified Germans and also the editors of Time Magazine, which featured Mayor Reuter on its cover with the simple words: “Herr Berlin.”
   It was Reuter who convinced the three western WW II allies—the US, Great Britain, and France—to establish the so-called “Berlin Airbridge” after the Soviet Union and its Eastern German puppet state had blocked all surface connections in and out of “western” Berlin.
   So began an unprecedented initiative, the daily needs of more than two million West-Berlin citizens were airlifted into Tempelhof airport.
   Berlin Airlift, as we all know, moved coal to coke, from toilet paper to potatoes—the “raisin bombers” (Rosinenbomber) played an important part in making the German citizens realize that integrating postwar Germany into the Western alliance and rebuilding a nation in accordance with the American nation model was the best option. (Angela Merkel, pictured here with Rosinenbomber Gail Halvorsen at ILA last year, would likely call this decision “without alternative,” which is indeed a favorite term of the current German chancellor, but political decisions are never without alternative. Alternating political options and opinions is what characterizes a democracy, and Reuter and his compatriots at that time had well understood this fact.)
   The ongoing droning of aircraft engines was present 24/7, and the Berliners appreciated it.
   The Berlin Airlift was not seen as noise, but as a strong commitment of the western allies, and mainly the U.S., who shouldered the largest part of this operation; this might best illustrate how times have changed as the big air show ILA takes place.

Ready When You Are But BBI Vexes

   We think the German air transport website says it best: The ILA Berlin (German acronym for the Internationale Luftfahrt – Ausstellung), internationally known as the Berlin Airshow, “demonstrates that air transport in Germany is not only about discussing noise emissions, but attracts in excess of 200,000 visitors.”
   The last ILA was held in Berlin from September 11th to September 16th, 2012, and had been pushed back by three months in the anticipated opening of BER.
   Now, two years later, the German capital airport still has not fully opened.
   Many of BBIs underlying issues have not even been identified or resolved, so the question is whether all this unfinished business will cast a long dark shadow over this event.
   As you read this in mid-May 2014, the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BBI) has not yet been able to announce a full opening date, but costs have exploded from 1.7 billion Euros (2.33 billion US$) to well over 5 billion Euros (6.85 billion US$).
   Now latest reports figure BBI may eventually cost in excess of 8 billion Euros (10.96 billion US$).
Berlin Mayor Wowereit, also chairman of BER Airport’s supervisory board, has come under fire amidst claims of misinforming the public while the Budget Office for the state of Berlin-Brandenburg has accused Wowereit and other shareholder representatives of “lack of oversight.”

Up Close & Personal At ILA Berlin

   So what is the 2014 Berlin Airshow all about?
   Of course there are a multitude of air transport related meetings between the various stakeholders.
   These stakeholders will also take the opportunity to wave their flags; Emirates sends a brand-new A 380; a Volga-Dnepr AN124 freighter is on display as well as MSN004; and a new Airbus A350, displaying the colors of the A350 launch customer Qatar Airways.
   In total, ILA Berlin 2014 includes 252 different aircraft types, but while the ILA is certainly an important event for the German aviation industry it lacks the reputation and importance of similar events, such the air shows in Farnborough or Le Bourget.
   In some part the acceptance and support for ILA Berlin may be owed to the ambivalent approach the Germans have toward their air transports system and its infrastructure.
   “Noise terror” and “waste of public funds which should better be distributed in improving rail systems and bicycle lanes” are the comments that most often make the headlines here.
   And although FRAPORT has managed to make FRA the number one air cargo hub in Europe, surpassing competitors SPL and CDG and making FRA Germany’s largest employer, such news is nothing more than an oft repeated footnote in German air transport-related publications.
   While the ILA moves in closed circles (open to the various delegates from air transport related businesses only from May 20th to May 22nd), May 23rd to May 25th belong to the public.

On A Wing & A Prayer

   ILA 2014 moves into full swing at a cost of 22 Euros per person per day for the public to attend.
   The air show does not come cheap, and it is questionable whether ILA will attract much more attention than the usual suspects.
   But suspend disbelief a bit and join hands for a celebration of aviation in Germany; it’s always a big story and occasionally inspiring, with the potential (if the weather cooperates) to be a lot of fun.
   Down on the ground ILA Berlin probably illustrates the “yes, but” approach Germans have towards their air transport system.
   Everyone wants to fly far and for less, and everyone expects that spare parts for that shiny new Japanese compact car as well as January strawberries are readily available. While Dutch, French, or Hong Kong Chinese citizens beam with pride about their air transport hubs and their importance for the national economy, Germans tend to complain that there is too much noise in the barbecue yard.
   But can we shelve all of that for the next week?
   Everybody who loves aviation here hopes for a wellspring of aerobatics, wing walkers, walk-throughs, and a couple days in the sun for better & wurst!
   Off we go!
Jens

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