Wichita Exhibitors: Traffic Up At NBAA

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Oct. 12--BY MOLLY McMILLIN The Wichita Eagle

LAS VEGAS -- Wichita exhibitors at the National Business Aviation Association's annual convention said Tuesday there is increased foot traffic and a better mood at this year's event.

More than 1,000 exhibits are set up inside the Las Vegas Convention Center for this year's show, which opened Monday.

Sherwin-Williams' colorful exhibit of its aircraft coatings next to Bombardier's display was busy Tuesday. On Monday, traffic beat that of 2007, before the recession hit, said Julie Voisin, Sherwin-Williams product manager.

In fact, the exhibit had more traffic by 3:15 p.m. Monday than they had predicted for the entire show, she said.

"We don't know how it will translate to sales," she said. "But we have aggressive follow-up."

Sherwin-Williams has added more colors and metallics and micas -- which add "bling" to an aircraft's exterior -- to its product line, Voisin said.

The company's aftermarket business is on an upswing, she said, while business with new aircraft is stagnant.

When it comes to maintaining an aircraft, the plane's exterior is important.

"You're protecting the asset," Voisin said.

Craig Harris, outside sales representative at Aero-Mach Labs, said traffic was up over last year as well.

"Everybody is upbeat and interested in business," Harris said.

Like Sherwin-Williams, Aero-Mach's aftermarket business is doing well. In fact, 75 percent of the company's business is service.

"The service side is doing excellent," Harris said. New sales are slower, however.

When planes are flying, they're going to need service, he said, and people are using their aircraft for business.

Matt Farrell with Aero-Mach Labs said the mood is better at NBAA this year than in 2010, when customers were breathing a sigh of relief after a tough couple of years.

"Everybody knew they were going to make their numbers," Farrell said. "It was a low number," but it gave businesses confidence in what business was like.

At the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition's booth, Trevor Ball with Metal Finishing in Wichita said he had made some new contacts at the show.

"And that's... the goal," Ball said.

Traffic at the booth was busier Monday than it was Tuesday, he said.

"We got a lot more traffic with (U.S. Rep. Mike) Pompeo here," Ball said. On Monday, the GWEDC held a reception attended by Pompeo, other government officials, businesses and others.

Winglet Technology unveiled elliptical winglets as a retrofit for Hawker Beechcraft's Premier I and IA business jets, which added traffic to the company's exhibit.

The winglet, along with one it has designed for the Citation X, was on display.

Having two products on an aircraft has added a level of excitement and traffic, said Bob Kiser, president of Winglet Technology. The winglets improve the planes' operating performance in a range of conditions, Kiser said.

Reach Molly McMillin at 316-269-6708 or [email protected].

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