The 15th edition of the Dubai Airshow, beginning Nov 12 through Nov 16ght be the biggest ever, with over 160 aircraft and 1200 exhibitors…writes Bikram Vohra
Today the Dubai air show ranks right up there with the best of them. In fact, it can be said that the four-day air-fest now considered the benchmark for the industry’s bi-annual get together.
The 15th edition of the Dubai Airshow, beginning Nov 12 through Nov 16ght be the biggest ever, with over 160 aircraft and 1200 exhibitors.
The exhibition, to be held from November 12 to 16 at the Dubai World Centre, will have more than 1,200 exhibitors – including 100 taking part for the first time – and over 160 aircraft on display during the show.
Among the new dimensions given to the show are the Space Conference and the display of the Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Besides aircraft, the fresh emphasis is also on space exploration and keeping in mind the UAE involvement in the Mars mission this aspect is being given precedence this year. Between that new dimension and the Airport Solutions segment as well as the cargo conference things are certainly going to be exciting.
Of great interest to fans of the Apollo missions will be the presence of Captain Al Worden who piloted Apollo 15 and will be addressing a select audience on his experiences along with an audio visual presentation.
With a high of 75,000 visitors expected as against the 66,000 in 2017 the sales may not touch the high of 2013 when major orders fuelled the bottom line but will probably rise higher than the 20125 billion edition which saw over $37 billion in orders. If one recalls, the major carriers in the region had placed huge orders in 201 and these are still being completed so there would be a natural slow down until the deliveries have been done.
One of the major points of interests will be the air taxi concept in which Dubai held a trial run in September. These autonomous air vehicles will be introduced into service sooner than one thinks and will transport passengers at will through short distances.
According to the official data from the organisers the “Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit, a two day dedicated conference taking place within the Dubai Airshow, has released its agenda for the event on the 14 and 15 November 2017. Covering the past, present and future of UAS within the aerospace industry, the conference will be moderated by Air Marshall Philip Sturley CB MBE RAF (Retd).”
Among the 160 aircraft on display will be the offerings from Boeing and Airbus, the Bombardier bizjet fleet, the Hondajet, the Gulfstream family, Embraer’s Legacy 500, a select choice from Cessna and the top seven fighter aircraft from the Sukhois to the Rafale to the perennial F16 Block 60 and the Mirage 2000.
There will be a daily air display in the afternoons.