Aero India 2011 News

Bangalore: It was a blend of marketing blitzkrieg and aerial theatrics that capped the five-day Aero India show.
The concluding day here was marked by flagging off of India’s old refurbished warhorse, Pushpak on a 11,000 km expedition.
The huge civilian turnout today was also greeted to some stunning mid-air manoeuvres by both Indian and foreign military aircraft.
Aerial displays by homegrown Tejas , Indian aerobatic team, Suryakiran, the Indian helicopter team, Sarang enthralled several. The Czech based team today left several gaping as the Flying Bulls presented their complex manoeuvres.
Military state-of-the aircraft from Sweden, France, US Europe, Russia also displayed their prowess mid-air.
The aeroshow received both national and international attention, with the participation of nearly 75,000 business visitors this year as against 50,000 in the previous event, according to CII officials.
In all nearly two lakh visitors it to the aero show which witnessed some fierce competition with major international aerospace players bidding for the USD 10 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft contract in India, which is expected to be finalised next year.
Over 600 exhibitors from across the country and the world showcased their components and technology at the event.
The highlight of the event was handing over of ‘Cheetah’ to Namibia and signing of Joint Venture between L and T and Cassidian.
13/02/11 PTI/Economic Times

Bangalore: The Indian Air Force Station at Yelahanka was abuzz with people from all over the world on Saturday. The crowd was not limited only inside the station but on the road to the Bangalore International Airport as well. Hordes of travellers waited to get a glimpse of the marvellous display in the skies.
Speaking about his experience, Abhishek Chatterjee a native of Lucknow said: “It’s a onceinalifetime opportunity to watch the best of our aircraft and those from other countries like the US, Europe and Russia performing at a show. It was worth travelling down from my hometown,”.
A group of Americans who called themselves the “Flying Freaks” said: “We have watched many such shows back home and in other countries. The Aero India is certainly one of the best. Only that we couldn’t get to see the F22 performing here which is very disappointing,” said Bryan Philip, a member of the unofficial team.
Though visitors had to take a long walk to reach the entrance and had to go through security checks they did not complain about anything. “From the P8 parking, I had to walk more than two kilometres but as the show began my weariness was gone,” smiled Swapna Padgaonkar, a techie.
13/02/11 Chokkapan S/ExpressBuzz

Bangalore: Roaring metal birds and theirntricate manoeuvres were the cynosure of all eyes at the Aero India show here which was opened for public viewing today.
The crowd was eager to have a first hand experience of flying displays from top-notch aerobatic teams like ‘Surya Kiran’, ‘Sarang’ and ‘Red Bull’.
The breathtaking flying sorties drew thunderous applause from the gathering.
According to preliminary estimates from authorities, the fourth-day of the Aero Show today attracted at least 50,000 people and the numbers could swell on the last day tomorrow.
The visitors were vying for a vantage spot to witness the take-offs and pilots manoeuvring the jets.
The crowd was treated to a dazzling display from medium multi-role combat aircraft team of Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Boeings Super Hornet F/A-18, Gripen of Saab and Rafale of French Dassault and Thphoon of Eurofighter.
12/02/11 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

Be sure to lather on some sunscreen lotion before you head out to enjoy the aero show. The February heat is sharp, and the first three days of the show have seen at least 100 cases of sunburn besides some of dehydration on the ground.
The other worries of the medical staff are fractures and skin abrasions among civilians. A majority of them are reported to have occurred while watching the aerobatics. The medical staff also confirmed a head injury at the public air display viewing area (ADVA) on Thursday, when the person slipped unexpectedly while trying to watch the show. On Friday, there were two minor cases of fracture. One of those injured was a sergeant from the Air Chief’s Staff while the other was a civilian.
12/02/11 Times of India

Bangalore: Are you looking forward to see the high action-packed air show at the Yelahanka Air Force Station? Well, don’t raise your hopes too high. Not only are the chances of you not getting tickets for the show high; you might also end up buying fake ones.
DNA on Thursday found out that miscreants in the city are selling Aero India 2011 tickets in the guise of ‘DRDO officials’. Authorities of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of the main event managers of Aero India 2011, have confirmed that ticket sales have been withdrawn from all outlets but the CII counter near Gate 1 of the Air Force Station. Tickets are sold through the official website of Aero India 2011 as well.
Despite this, there are miscreants out to make a quick buck. DNA on Thursday conducted a reality check and discovered that a popular mall in the city’s central business district—which was initially keeping air show tickets for sale—is now directing the Aero India 2011 ticket-seekers to a person named Kiran with a mobile no (9844785965).
Interestingly, Aero India organisers had earlier made it clear that tickets should not be bought from anywhere else other than the authorised counters at designated malls, State Bank of India branches or at the venue itself after the air show has commenced.
11/02/11 HM Chaithanya Swamy/Daily News & Analysis

Bangalore: Not just an accident, but this time around, the disaster management cell is well prepared to tackle any terrorist, chemical or biological attack on the ongoing Aero Show. The new inclusion in the disaster management team this year is that of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, the team has trained a total of 600 members from different sectors in order to tackle any unprecedented disaster. The aero show has already witnessed about six accidental bush fire accidents, because of the Nilgiri groves surrounding the area. Thanks to the quick reaction team, the fire was doused at the earliest.
MK Aiyappa, deputy commissioner, district disaster management cell (urban) said, “We have five emergency respondent teams set up around the venue at Gates 8 and 9, Gantaganahalli village, MVIT College, Chikajala police station and at the control room outside the venue. All the data is collected in one centre and the concerned team is alerted during an emergency.”
The NDRF team has been included to tackle any possible chemical, biological or even terror attacks. “Our team is prepared to respond to as many as six disasters simultaneously. Any disaster first affects the area outside the venue, which is why we have strategically placed these static squads at different places,” said K Pradeep, nodal emergency liaison officer.
11/02/11 Rakshita Adyanthaya/Daily News & Analysis

Bangalore: India’s biggest air show Aero India 2011 began on a bright sunny on Wednesday in this aerospace hub with a spectacular fly-past and breathtaking aerobatic formations by the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet of aircraft and helicopters. Defence Minister AK Antony declared open the eighth edition of the biennial aerospace and aviation trade expo at the IAF base in Yelahanka on the city’s outskirts in the presence of 40 foreign delegations, dignitaries, officials and top executives of global aerospace majors.
Organised by the defence ministry in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the five-day event is the largest ever being held in South Asia.
09/02/11 Indo-Asian News Service/Hindustan Times

Bangalore: Union Defence Minister A K Antony will formally inaugurate the Aero India 2011 at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka on Wednesday.
Touted as the biggest event in Asia, the present day version of Aero India began as a modest display of a few aviation assets as AviaIndia in 1993. The biennial air show, renamed AeroIndia since 1998, and has become bigger and more popular that must rank among one of the largest attended air shows in the world.
But this was a reputation that the organizers of the show had to build over the years. Discounting AviaIndia 1993, the growth in Aero India Show since 1998 to 2005 was marginal. It began showing a quantum increase in the gross exhibition area only from the 2007 edition. During the early years, the space ranged between the 7,00018,000 sq mts mark from 1998 to 2005. But it grew sharply to 30,000 sq mts in 2007 and 44,000 sq mts in 2009. Added to this the organisers are living up to the theme of the show that this is truly a global event as there are over 380 organisations that will be participating in this event.
09/02/11 ExpressBuzz

angalore: Air shows in this country have traditionally been more Russian than Indian, the skies crowded with the Indian Air Force’s fleet of Sukhoi and MiG fighters, Mil helicopters, and Antonov and Ilyushin transport aircraft. But that is changing. Aero India 2011, which will be inaugurated in Bangalore on Wednesday, will showcase a major Indian and American aeronautical presence.
As the first generation of Indian-designed and built fighters, trainers and helicopters nears the end of tortuous development processes, the country’s premier air show will include air displays from the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA); the hitherto unnamed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH); the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) flown by the IAF’s renowned Sarang heli-batics team; and — a surprise inclusion — an aerobatics display by the Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT).
America’s growing share of India’s aircraft market will be evident from the presence of the IAF’s recently delivered C-130J Super Hercules, the first of a billion-dollar order of six of these transport aircraft. Also participating will be the KC-135 Stratotanker refueller, and the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter. New Delhi is processing a $4-billion purchase of 10 Globemasters with the US government. Rounding off the US presence will be the F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-16IN Super Viper, both of which are competing for India’s $10-billion tender for medium fighters.
09/02/11 Ajai Shukla/Business Standard

Bangalore: What began as Avia-India, a modest display of a few aviation assets in 1993, is now set to be a chartbuster in its modern, sleek avatar. The biennial air show, the biggest in Asia, was renamed Aero India in 1998, and has only become better and popular. It’s among one of the best-attended air shows around the world.
According to statistics given by the organizers – the Department of Defence Production ( DDP) under the ministry of defence – the online request for registration of general visitors this year has already exceeded the 1.75-lakh mark, 1 lakh more than the official 75,000 footfalls in 2009. The organizers are expecting the figure to reach 2.75 lakh, with enquiries and requests not showing any signs of abating.
The growth in Aero India since 1998 to 2005 was marginal. It began showing a quantum increase in the gross exhibition area only from the 2007 edition. While it hovered between the 7,000-18,000 sqm mark from 1998 to 2005, it rose sharply to 30,000 sqm in 2007 and 44,000 sqm in 2009. This year, the organizers have increased the gross area to 75,000 sqm, a significant 70% increase over 2009.
This edition, there are 675 exhibitors, registering a 16% increase over the last edition, that had 581 in all. As with all previous editions, this time around too, international exhibitors score over domestic ones in terms of participation. In 2009, the gap was marginal, 303 against 289. This time, the figure is 380 and 295, a growth of 25% for international exhibitors, against a mere five for domestic exhibitors.
With 30 countries set to participate this year, including India, official representation from 60 countries number 350, a three-fold plus increase in the number of delegates, both official and business, with USA leading with 250, Germany 35, Italy 10, and 35 from remaining countries.
Defence minister A K Antony will formally inaugurate Aero India 2011 today, at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka.
09/02/11 Prashanth G N/Times of India

Bengaluru: All eyes are on the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru as the world’s biggest military aircraft makers put on show their magnificent machines for the Aero India show over the next five days, hoping to swing some big deals from India as the country prepares to spend billions of dollars on defence purchases over the next decade.
Amidst spectacular air displays, twice each day, event organisers — the ministry of defence and the CII — are expecting a number of partnerships to materialise, as India’s private companies enter defence business.
The US is leading the charge of participating nations, pressing ahead with some 250 officials and business delegates as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the world’s two largest military equipment companies vie for the $10 billion medium combat jet deal from India.
India will put on display its first indigenous fighter jet, Tejas, its first combat helicopters the LCH and the Dhruv, its first unmanned aerial vehicles.
09/02/11 Deccan Chronicle

ndia’s air show in Bangalore will be the largest ever with 29 countries bringing their aerospace products, including fighter jets and transport aircraft, for showcasing at the five-day event which begins February 9, 2011.
The biennial AeroIndia-2011 will for the first time witness the civil aviation sector overtaking military aviation. The air show will see 54 percent of the aircraft, helicopters and aerospace systems from the civilian sector compared to 46 percent from the military sector.
To be held at the Yelahanka air force station, this year’s show has been oversubscribed in terms of exhibition space and the Defence Exhibition Organisation has had to refuse further bookings.
09/02/11 msn.com