It's all business at the aviation show this year

Exhibition will not have aerobatics, flypasts regularly done by Navy and Air Force personnel

Boeing stall at the Old Airport at Begumpet in Hyderabad as part of “India Aviation 2012” in Hyderabad. The 3rd International Exhibition and Conference on Civil Aviation is to be held from March 14 to 18, 2012, in Hyderabad. Photo: G.Ramakrishna

The third edition of India Aviation 2012, the premier civil aviation exhibition and conference that will be formally inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh at the Begumpet airport here on March 14, will not have the aerobatics, flypasts and other acrobatic manoeuvres that are regularly done by the Navy and Air Force personnel.

The last edition of the event witnessed a fatal accident, killing two pilots, when an Indian Navy's aircraft crashed into the Bowenpally area soon after the inauguration of the Aviation Summit. FICCI, one of the organisers of the event along with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, however, claimed that the accident in the previous edition had nothing to do with the decision to put off the aerobatics show.

“Only the Navy and Air Force are permitted to perform aerobatics. This is purely a business-oriented civil aviation event and there is no requirement of a service element in the show,” FICCI regional director (Trade Fairs) Vivek Kodikal said. There would, however, be customer demonstrations by aircraft manufacturers who are expected to engage in negotiations at the 18 chalets provided at the venue.

Enthusiasts are also likely to be disappointed as the Boeing's Dreamliner will not be on display on March 17 and 18, the two days when the exhibition will be thrown open to the public. The Dreamliner will arrive at Begumpet on March 14 and leave once the business sessions are through.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 and Phenom 300 & 100 business jets of Embraer along with helicopters of Eurocopter, Augusta Westland, Sikorsky and Bell will be on display. Replying to queries, Lt. Col. Kodikal said that Kingfisher will not participate in the event for “obvious reasons”.

He said the air show was primarily meant to promote business and the State was an obvious choice as it had a dedicated SEZ for aerospace with players like Tata-Sikorsky and GMR leading the way for other companies to invest here. “People should not see it as a mela and not treat it as a family day out,” Lt. Col Kodikar said.

The Begumpet airport is being spruced up to provide comfort to the visitors, primarily business delegations from across the globe. A 400-seater conference hall comprising state-of-the-art facilities has been developed at a cost of Rs.3.5 crore at Begumpet.