25/09/2026
Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) Expo 2026 drew to a close on the 20th September and Henley Air extends its sincere appreciation to the organisers, the South African National Defence Force, the South African Air Force, Armscor, AMD, CAASA and everyone who contributed to bringing Africa's aerospace and defence community together at Air Force Base Waterkloof, 16-20th Sept.
Over the duration of the expo, an important message emerged.
Africa's future aerospace and defence capability will not be defined by platforms and technology alone. It will be determined by the people we develop, the skills we retain, the industries we sustain and the partnerships we build.
We were particularly encouraged by the emphasis placed throughout AAD 2026 on sovereign capability, skills development, industrial growth, regional cooperation and creating meaningful pathways for the next generation of African aviation and defence professionals.
For Henley Air, these are more than exhibition themes.
Across flight training, operational aviation, aircraft maintenance, component repair and overhaul, our focus remains on developing capability that can be built, supported and sustained in Africa.
AAD also reminded us that no organisation, industry or nation builds that capability alone.
Our sincere thanks therefore go to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, the Chief of the SANDF, the Chief of the South African Air Force and the many South African and international delegations who took the time to engage with industry during the week.
To our existing clients and partners who visited us, thank you for your continued confidence in Henley.
And to the many new colleagues, organisations and representatives from across Africa and beyond whom we had the privilege of meeting: thank you for the conversations, the exchange of ideas and the possibilities that now follow.
Perhaps most importantly, it was encouraging to see thousands of young South Africans exposed to aviation, engineering, technology and defence during AAD. The aircraft and technologies on display may inspire them today; the responsibility of industry is to create credible pathways through which that inspiration can become tomorrow's capability.
We left AAD 2026 proud of what South Africa and the African continent can offer, conscious of the work still to be done, and more convinced than ever of the value of collaboration.
African capability is ultimately built by African people.
Precision. Passion. Excellence.
