Biggest guns in global aviation headed for Indian air show

Judging from the preliminaries, including a display of aerobatics by international pilots in their flying machines today, the Indian Aviation Show 2014 that starts in Hyderabad on Wednesday will be a dazzling affair.

The latest 787 Dreamliner acquired by Air-India from Boeing is being flown from Delhi to Begumpet near Hyderabad for the fourth edition of the show. Among other passenger aircraft to be displayed during the five-day event will be the Airbus-380, the world's largest passenger aircraft.

The first Indian Aviation Summit in 2000 ended in disaster, as an Indian Navy HJT-16 Kiran Mk2 trainer carrying out aerobatic stunts crashed into a residential building.

But with India becoming the world's largest aviation purchaser, the subsequent three Indian air shows have been highly successful.

The air show being organised by the ministry of civil aviation along with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Briefing the media here on Monday, Asok Kumar, joint secretary in the civil aviation ministry, said that big deals were expected to be signed during the event.

He said aerobatics display would be conducted twice daily by the UK-based Mark Jefferies Air Shows and display aerobatics from the United Kingdom.

In a first, Kumar said a job fair would be conducted to counsel final year students in aeronautical engineering. Also, an 'aviation theatre' would screen films on all the five days of the show.

Getting down to business, as many as 18 aircraft, including business jets, helicopters, commercial aircraft, cargo lifters, motor gliders and aircraft machinery would be showcased by more than 250 exhibitors. Major international players like Bombardier, Rolls Royce, Dassault, Embraer, Gulfstream, Piaggio and Russian Helicopters will have a big role at the show.

The United States is the partner while France is the guest country.

Chief executives of leading companies would interact with the Indian ministry and discuss ways to make air connectivity sustainable. A video conference would be held with American companies, while a special session on helicopters would focus on promoting heli-tourism and emergency medical services.

An Airbus release said an Emirates Airline A-380 would be on display for the first three days of the show to demonstrate the readiness of India and airports like Hyderabad for A-380 operations.

FICCI representative Vivek Kodikal said the air show was open only for business visitors on the first three days. The general public would get a glimpse of the jamborre on 15 and 16 March at a cost of Rs300 a ticket.