Global slowdown fears overshadow Singapore aviation show

Aerospace leaders gathering for this week's Singapore Airshow face conflicting pressures as they juggle growing concerns over jetliner demand while keeping record production plans on track. Worries about the effects of a faltering global economy and tensions in the South China Sea overshadow the 2-yearly event in Singapore. For now, airline traffic continues to grow rapidly, spurred by continued growth in Asian household incomes, while airline profits also benefit from low oil prices. But as aerospace industry shares fall in step with tumbling global markets, analysts increasingly question the durability of an aerospace expansion cycle now in an unprecedented eighth year. "All the thoughts that this is no longer a cyclical industry have disappeared. We are due for a down-cycle," said one aerospace consultant. <br/>