Tuesday, February 3, 2009
These are indeed turbulent times, not just on ground but in the sky as well. Asia’s biggest airshow, the upcoming Aero India 2009 is the latest to be be bitten by the recession bug, as several aerospace and defence companies, including the big players, are feeling the heat of the global economic meltdown. Companies which in the past used to flaunt their products in a big way and some which resorted to massive publicity campaigns have tightened their budgets for the air show which is to be held at the Air Force Station at Yelahanaka, between February 11 and February 15.
The cost cutting measures are not just restricted to clamping down on basic expenses, but also on product displays. “Starting from a cut on travel expenses to publicity campaigns, we have been asked to tighten our budgets. Many HR related activities like training of staff and giving them cultural exposure before a big event like Aero India used to take place earlier, now its all about cost cutting,” an official from European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) told Expresso. During the last Aero India held in 2007, apart from making the affair a predominantly military one, there was mix of leisure as well. On the aircraft display side too, which is the main attraction of any airshow, this time companies are not going all out. Rumour has it that companies like the Sweden’s SAAB, French Dassault and Russia’s MiG Corporation will not be sending their aircraft for flight display.
Defence sources said that it is surprising to see that the SAAB, Dassault and MiG Corporation not flying in their aircraft despite being in the race to bag the contract for the 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MMRC) from the Indian Air Force.
02/02/09 Hemanth C S/ExpressBuzz
The cost cutting measures are not just restricted to clamping down on basic expenses, but also on product displays. “Starting from a cut on travel expenses to publicity campaigns, we have been asked to tighten our budgets. Many HR related activities like training of staff and giving them cultural exposure before a big event like Aero India used to take place earlier, now its all about cost cutting,” an official from European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) told Expresso. During the last Aero India held in 2007, apart from making the affair a predominantly military one, there was mix of leisure as well. On the aircraft display side too, which is the main attraction of any airshow, this time companies are not going all out. Rumour has it that companies like the Sweden’s SAAB, French Dassault and Russia’s MiG Corporation will not be sending their aircraft for flight display.
Defence sources said that it is surprising to see that the SAAB, Dassault and MiG Corporation not flying in their aircraft despite being in the race to bag the contract for the 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MMRC) from the Indian Air Force.
02/02/09 Hemanth C S/ExpressBuzz
Labels: General: Arrangements, General: Participants
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