The CAS has expressed concerns about the military nexus between China and Pakistan, while the incoming Chief talks about ‘people and mission’ focus and delves on how the IAF is transforming itself

The first three days of the 49th International Paris Air Show it rained. The next three days it ‘rained’ aeroplanes. Airbus picked up 730 orders worth $72.2 billion; ATR notched up 88 orders to the tune of $2.8 billion; Boeing managed 142 purchases at $22 billion, besides a few other deals. The show at Le Bourget, however, was not just about big-ticket deals, but also about the growing environmental concerns and the industry’s response to it. Aptly, the show organisers had invited, Solar Impulse, the revolutionary small aircraft powered by solar energy, as special guest. The ‘green theme’ at the show was pronounced.

In this issue, R. Chandrakanth, who was part of the SP’s Aviation team at the Paris Air Show, gives an overview of how the civil aviation sector is on a rebound mood, while military spend has decreased in the West, but is growing in the East. From the show, there are interviews with ITT on air traffic management initiatives and with CAE on simulation and training programmes in India. In the article on emerging regional aircraft, the author writes about how new players from China, Russia and Japan will be cutting into the share of the two big regional players, Embraer and Bombardier, although it may take some years.

The cover story is on Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, the omnirole fighter aircraft, which is one of the finalists in the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) acquisition programme of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Those campaigning for Rafale are talking about how ‘combat proven’ the aircraft has been in the theatres of Afghanistan and Libya. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin’s Communications Director has created a flutter by revealing that the company was prepared to offer the F-35 joint strike fighter for the IAF, subject to clearance by the US Government. Whether any official moves have been made from either side is not known.

From the US, LeRoy Cook writes about the benefits of business aviation and how the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) slogan “No Plane, No Gain” is catching up as many corporates understand how using an aircraft adds to competitiveness in businesses.

The two interviews—one with the outgoing Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik who retires on July 31 and with the Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal N.A.K. Browne who takes over, make interesting reading on the thought processes of the leaders at the helm. The CAS has expressed concerns about the ever-growing military nexus between China and Pakistan, while the incoming Chief talks about ‘people and mission’ focus.

The VCAS delves on how the IAF is transforming itself into a potent strategic force with full spectrum capability in keeping with our national aspirations. In the coming decade, the IAF envisions itself to be a modern force with cutting edge technologies; flexible, adaptable and nimble.

With IAF’s transformation, there is a move to pressure the Ministry of Defence to appoint an Air Marshal as the Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after the present incumbent Ashok Nayak retires on October 31. This, Air Marshal Bhatia points out, may bring increased synergies between the two interdependent organizations.