Stage was set for the opening of the ‘India Aviation 2016’, the five-day prestigious International Exhibition and Conference on civil Aviation. President Pranab Mukherjee will be formally inaugurating the country’s biggest show of its kind at Begumpet Airport on Wednesday.
With India emerging as one of the world’s biggest aviation markets and number of air travellers from the country burgeoning several top airlines and aircraft manufacturers from across the world will be participating in the event.
Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad will be among the airlines of the Gulf region to participate in the event where the first three days will be open for the business and corporate activities and on the last two days general public will be allowed to visit the exhibition of the assortment of the big and small aircrafts.
This is the fifth edition of the biennial event in which 250 exhibitors and 30 aircrafts are participating. Wide body twin aisle Airbus A350 which was recently launched will dominate the Tarmac and the skies during show. This will be a maiden trip of the aircraft to India courtesy Doha based Qatar airways, the launch customer of the aircraft.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said that his organisation was proud to showcase its A350 for the first time in India. He exuded confidence that the event will benefit the civil aviation industry as a whole.
"India, as one of the world's largest aviation markets, continues to command respect. The focus this year on growing the manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses in India is commendable", he said.
Another major airline from the Gulf, Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways has also brought its proud possession, a Boeing 787-9 passenger jet and Boeing 777 Fighter Aircraft for static display during the show.
Earlier Air Bus A380 had also made its Indian debut at Hyderabad Air Show in2008.
Aerobatic flying display by world famous performer Mark Jefferies and his team will be highlight of the inaugural event.
The team will put up its breathtaking aerobatics twice every day during the event.
Interestingly the aerobatic performance during the Hyderabad Air Show was discontinued after an aircraft crashed killing the pilot four years ago.
Mainly organised by the Ministry for Civil Aviation and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry the event has Telangana as the host State and two airlines as partners.
United States and Canada were the partner companies and delegations from more than 25 countries like France, Jamaica, Mauritius, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, South Korea, Greece and Singapore are participating in the show.
Boeing, Airbus, Textron, Embraer, Gulfstream, Agusta Westland, Dassault, Bell Helicopters, Russian Helicopters, Airbus Helicopters and engine manufacturers like CFM, UTC, GE Aviation and Rolls Royce will be among the major participants.
During the conference the experts, policy makers, Government officials and industry leaders from civil aviation sector will deliberate on the theme of “India's Civil Aviation Sector potential as Global Manufacturing and MRI hub”.