Stage set for India Aviation 2014 in Hyderabad

The stage is set for India Aviation 2014, country's largest event on civil aviation, which begins here Wednesday with the theme "enhancing air connectivity". More than 250 aviation companies from 18 countries would be exhibiting their products and services at the five-day international exhibition and conference.

As many as 18 aircraft including world's largest passenger airliner Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be on static display at the fourth edition of India Aviation, to be held at Begumpet airport or the old airport located in the heart of the city.

While Emirates will showcase their in-service A380, Air India will bring the Dreamliner. G. Ashok Kumar, joint secretary, civil aviation, told reporters Monday that there will be 12 chalets and 200 stalls covering 20,000 square meters.

The exhibitors include manufacturers of commercial and cargo aircraft, business jets, helicopters, airlines, airline services, air cargo, aircraft interiors, aircraft machinery and aviation skill development institutions.

The US will be partner country at the biennial event, which will be inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh. There will be bilateral meetings between India and the participants from US, Singapore, Russia and other countries. The official was confident that many business deals and MoUs would be signed between the participating companies.

Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Beechcraft Corporation, Dassault, Gulfstream, Embraer, Rolls Royce, Russian Helicopters and Piaggio among leading business and commercial aircraft manufacturers will participate in the show. At the CEO forum, the CEOs of leading companies aviation sector will get an opportunity to interact with the minister for civil aviation.

Being organized by the ministry of civil aviation and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the first three days of the event would be open for business visitors while it would be thrown open to the public on the last two days.

lt. Col. Vivek Kodikal, regional director (trade fairs), FICCI, said the exhibition, conference, CEO Forum, chalets, static display, demonstration flights and media conferences would be the components of the show.

Eminent speakers, policy makers and experts will address a conference on civil aviation with focus on policy issues and business aspects. He made it clear that it is purely a business event aimed at attracting investments in the aerospace sector, into the country in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular.  "This is not a mela," he said.

Ashok Kumar said for the first time there would be a special session on helicopters with focus on heli-tourism and helicopter emergency medical services. Movies relating to difference aspects of civil aviation would also be screened.