Interview: Diego Muñoz of FEDIAC Is Encouraged by All the Signs of Resilience in the Colombian Aviation Industry

Every two years, the largest aviation event in Colombia takes over the skies to the delight of the record-setting crowds that seem to grow and grow with each spectacular aerial exhibition.

Naturally, with the pandemic derailing public events for several years, there was a slowdown in the excitement for the pared-down remote edition held in 2021. But this year’s five-day F-Air 2023 event once again wowed the nation with high-flying showcases and engineering marvels that hadn’t been seen since before Covid rocked the world.

Diego Muñoz, president of the governing board of the Colombian Federation of the Aerospace Industry (FEDIAC) and CEO at the Colombian Aerospace Cluster in Antioquia (CAESCOL), is always at the center of the festivities.

The organizations, which represent the industry at the national and department level, respectively, have a significant presence across the sector, so Finance Colombia Executive Editor Loren Moss recently sat down with Muñoz to find out more about the their mission and how important F-Air is for the industry.

Loren Moss: You work for both FEDIAC and CAESCOL. They are both unions, correct? What do these organizations do primarily?

Diego Muñoz: Yes, they are two unions. FEDIAC works at a national level as a union that represents the aerospace industry in different areas of the value chain. Currently, we have six “clusters” unionized within the federation. Each one of them represents a specific region or department, including Antioquia.

So, we represent and work across the different areas of the value chain. Which ones? Engineering, design, manufacturing, maintenance, airship preservation, load, passengers, airport infrastructure, air navigation services, certification, education, training, promotion, disclosure, investigation, and development.

“Colombia has demonstrated resilience to recover from the difficulties that the sector has encountered, especially in passenger cargo movement.”

– Diego Muñoz o FEDIAC

Loren Moss: Can you tell me a little more about F-Air? I know it’s not only the most important aviation exhibition in Colombia but one of the most significant in the region. How important is this event for the sector, Colombia, and Antioquia?

Diego Muñoz: Undoubtedly, the aerospace industry suffered a decline during Covid-19. We’ve been recovering. Colombia has demonstrated resilience to recover from the difficulties that the sector has encountered, especially in the passenger’s cargo movement. And, when there is some difficulty in the passenger’s cargo movement, we also see difficulty in the other areas of the value chain that I mentioned earlier.

However, not having an exhibition, or having a pause from hosting it was — while not catastrophic — obviously more difficult. Because this is the place where all the activities from the value chain gather and meet each other. It’s where all our friends, allies, potential clients, and suppliers meet to continue boosting our sector — not only in Colombia but from across the the world and Latin America.

For us, this year’s F-Air aviation exhibition is a sign of resilience from our country. We see how we’ve exceeded our expectations, closed deals, and established commercial and institutional relations to continue boosting our sector.

Loren Moss: Tell me about the industry in Colombia. It has lots of services but also manufacturers. What does Colombia have to offer in terms of the aviation sector?

Diego Muñoz: Loren, it’s a very good question. Undoubtedly, one of the biggest challenges to identify why Colombia hasn’t developed a 100% industrial dynamic is the fact that there aren’t really first or second-class manufacturers located in the territory. This would facilitate traction in the whole supply chain. Taking into account that we have very good air connectivity and good airport infrastructure, we still need backing companies that work hand in hand with suppliers.

So, how are we working under that reality? Currently, companies with resilience in Colombia are developing skills related to air support equipment, training through simulations and virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), air support equipment including special tools for airship maintenance, tests benches, up and down platforms for hangers, maintenance processes, and online maintenance. These are just a few examples.

Why highlight these example? Because they are products and services. There, in the whole range of products and services I’m mentioning, we see fewer barriers to entry than with, for example, aviation components to put in an airship, which require a certification that guarantees airworthiness or flying safety.

There are still several restrictions. But that’s the goal of the negotiations that we are doing through established national and international agreements.

For example, we have a two-sided agreement with Mexico, between the Mexican Federation of the Aerospace Industry and FEDIAC. In this case, we have lots of expectations too, because with the Brazilian delegation, all the entrepreneurs that came to the exhibition, we hope we can establish commercial relations and see how we can complement and supplement the supply chain to boost the industry in Latin America.

Loren Moss: If someone wants to know more FEDIAC, where should they go and how they can communicate with the organization?

Diego Muñoz: We have several channels. For FEDIAC, the Twitter account is @FEDIAC and our Facebook fan page is Federación de la Industria Aeroespacial Colombiana. The LinkedIn page also shares the same name.

Besides, each one of the clusters that represent each region has its digital platforms and websites. For example, the cluster representing the Antioquia department has its own page at Cluster Aeroespacial Colombiano and Twitter @clustercaescol.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Photo: F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss)