Dubai Air show 2017 is not all about the display of aircraft but it’s about the future travel – travel to Mars, unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly referred to as drones) and a numbers of features and programs.
The 15th edition exhibition will have more than 1,200 exhibitors together with 100 taking part for the first time and over 160 aircraft on display during the show.
The exhibition will be conducted at the Dubai World Central on November 12 this year till November 16. The show will focus growth areas, airport solutions, space and cargo. The exhibitioners will have their separate conference including both manufactures and regulators.
“The new features that will be introduced this year will be Space Conference, Airport Solutions Dubai, Unmanned Aerial Systems among other activities related to the aviation industry. More than 60 industry executives will shed on light on these topics during the show Michele van Akelijen, managing director, Tarsus F&E, Middle East,” said Michele van Akelijen, managing director, Tarsus F&E, Middle East.
The aircraft manufacturers will be displaying their 787-10X test aircraft. In the meantime, Emirates will expose its new first class for the newly configured 777-300ER whereas Flydubai will have a new 737 MAX on display.
“The new stuff we have is related to space industry which is very important for the UAE considering its missions to Mars which we are doing in conjunction with the UAE Space Agency. We have secured Captain Al Worden, too, who was pilot of Apollo 15 to address the conference and give a presentation. We have airport solutions to showcase what the GCC region is doing for airports. We have the cargo conference and exhibit as well. UAS summit and exhibition will address the issues about unmanned vehicles related to commercial, military and public side,” added van Akelijen.
“The RTA [Roads and Transport Authority] is [testing] unmanned vehicles for taxis, so it’s both on the military and the civilian side. People are using drones for deliveries, people are using drones to get camera shots, and it’s becoming more and more of the norm. There are issues with airspace that need to be addressed, and that’s why we’re having the conference,” she said.
The expectations of exhibitors and visitors of Dubai Air Show 2017 are more compared to last version of the events in 2015. The events will welcome 1,200 exhibitors with 72,500 visitors where in last event 2015 drew 1,003 exhibitors and just about 66,346 visitors. The 40 per cent visitors are expected from GCC, 30 per cent from Europe, 20 per cent from America and 1 percent from the rest regions in the exhibition.
Approximately $37.2 billion worth of deals (the 4th highest) were witnessed in 2015 almost one fifth of the more than $200billion worth in 2013 show.
“Dubai Air Show concentrates more about covering the issues that are in this region and giving this region the ability to do business without having to travel to Europe,” van Akelijen said.
Staff Major General Pilot Abdullah A. Al Hashmi, assistant undersecretary for support services, UAE’s Ministry of Defence, said, “around 180-190 delegates from around the world are expected to attend the air show while UAE Armed Forces will announces some orders at the shows.”
Source: khaleejtimes.com
By: Pinkey Rai
