Historic Singapore Airlines Event Marks the A380’s First Commercial Flight

Singapore Airline’s First Flight carried a crew of 30, including 4 pilots, and 455 passengers, some of whom bid tens of thousands of dollars in a charity auction for a spacious seat in aviation history. Flight SQ380’s charity auction helped raise approximately AUS $1.4 million for Sydney’s Randwick & Westmead Children’s Hospitals, Community Chest of Singapore and Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders).

The Super-Jumbo arrived in Sydney at 5:20pm on Thursday 25 October to tumultuous passenger applause after a 7½ hour flight that launched a new era in international travel. The big challenge Showcorp faced was to make the First Flight arrival celebrations live up to the massive sense of anticipation Singapore Airlines has created around the entry of the revolutionary Jetliner.

The aim was to make the event as special for the airlines’ 500 guests as the experience was for the 455 passengers who had disembarked just over an hour before. When approaching the creation and delivery of what has already been heralded as ‘the event of the decade’, Showcorp drew on their unparalleled resources to fashion a unique experience for clients, dignitaries and invited VIP guests alike. Focused on the art of applied imagination Showcorp’s event production team worked closely with Singapore Airlines to optimise the impact and success of every aspect.

“Appreciating the significance of the A380’s first flight in the context of Singapore Airlines long history of firsts was pivotal in establishing this event as yet another historic aviation milestone achieved by the airline,” explains Colin Baldwin, Showcorp’s managing director. “Singapore Airlines have a record of firsts, and the A380 Super-Jumbo’s first flight was the latest in a long history of aviation and customer service achievements. The Airbus A380’s Sydney arrival was an occasion to celebrate a proud aviation heritage in addition to marking the end of the almost 37 year reign of Boeing’s 747 Jumbo Jet as the world's most spacious passenger aircraft.

To set the scene, arriving guests were welcomed by iconic “Singapore Girls” who ushered them through a specially constructed ‘Firsts Air Bridge’. To emphasise the event’s context 2 metre tall illuminated panels within the air bridge collectively illustrated the chronology of Singapore Airlines firsts over their 60 year aviation history. Leaving the air bridge, the expectant guests entered an 875sqm clear span Hoecker softly lit in Singapore Airlines’ corporate colours, blue and yellow.

Furnished with cocktail tables, ottomans and illuminated planter boxes, the presentation area featured fully operative examples of all three Singapore Airlines A380 travel classes. This was the guests’ first opportunity to sample some of the luxury features inherent in the Jetliner, and view examples of the in-flight cuisine Singapore Airlines passengers can look forward to when flying on the Super-Jumbo.

Dominating the area was a 12 metre x 3 metre Showcorp Multivision projection screen displaying a recognition loop, produced in-house by Showcorp Video Services (SVS), acknowledging those organisations who had worked with Singapore Airlines to create the First Flight.

Whilst guests were treated to canapés and drinks, and their attention was diverted by the Airbus’ amazing seating and gourmet showcases, Showcorp were coordinating the clandestine relocation of the world’s largest passenger aircraft from its arrival gate at the Kingsford Smith’s international terminal, to the bay 98 event venue, at the opposite end of Sydney Airport. There in darkness and silence, the AUS $345 million, 7 story high, double-decker giant was carefully edged into position, just feet from the unsuspecting audience.

Stealth was the modus operandi as unbeknownst to the adjacent guests Showcorp’s airside team of ‘Great Outdoor Lighting Company’ technicians and production engineers replicated what they had rehearsed with a 747 Jumbo just once, a week before. Setting up the exterior flood-lighting along the A380’s 73 metre long towering fuselage, laying red carpet and establishing A380 entry and exit walkways was promptly completed, whilst airport ground staff manoeuvred the A380 access stairs into position.

Inside the marquee, John Meillon, Showcorp's show director awaited confirmation that all was prepared for the main event to proceed. Following the official formalities that included presentations from Chew Choon Seng, chief executive of Singapore Airlines, Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Mark Vaile MP and Sydney Airport Chairman Max Moore-Wilton, Ross Greenwood the event’s MC took the stage and directed the audience’s attention to the vast screen as the house lights dimmed to black. On cue the Multivision screen came alive with vivid images of Singapore Airlines’ milestones. Presenting a dynamic amalgam of historical images and vintage film skilfully choreographed with animated CGI graphics, narrated and set to an inspiring soundtrack Showcorp’s Multivision transported the audience through six decades of aviation milestones, culminating with the latest, Singapore Airlines’ introduction of the A380 Airbus.

A huge true to life 3D animation of the Super-Jumbo flew into view to an actual recording of Sydney air traffic control announcing landing clearance to SQ380. A view down its simulated Sydney runway accompanied by thunderous audio effects gave the audience the illusion of being on the tarmac as the A380’s final approach occurred directly overhead. Following landing and as Sydney air traffic control provided instruction, the on-screen Jetliner taxied toward the applauding audience, then turned and came to a halt replicating the relative position of the actual Airbus outside.

The presentation and event theme "Travel In A New Light" was then superimposed as the accompanying soundtrack reached a crescendo. An animated flash of light then broke through the imagery and was echoed by bright white blinders around the screen. Momentarily the dazzling white light obscured the audience’s vision, as simultaneously the sound track reached its finale and the screen and flanking curtain drapes instantly vanished to reveal the imposing illuminated aircraft through clear marquee skin.

The audience roared as the new A380 was so dramatically revealed. “The audience were obviously not expecting the screen to disappear, or to see the giant aircraft sitting in the very same position as the projected A380 had been just moments before," commented Colin Baldwin - event producer. “Ross Greenwood, our MC then invited the audience to board the aircraft, the rest is now special event’ history!” Colin concluded.

Showcorp apply the same level of creativity to every project big and small, relying on an innate ability to interpret each client’s brief and construct an original and fitting approach to meeting each project’s commercial objective.