In Perhaps the most earth-shaking event on the global aviation and aerospace scene in the recent past, NASA has recorded a major success by its mission to Pluto that has provided the clearest images so far of the dwarf planet. Hopefully, these will help unravel the mystery that surrounds this heavenly body in solar orbit and located billions of kilometres away from it.

Another leading global aerospace and aviation event, the Paris International Air Show, was held at Le Bourget in the third week of June this year. This week-long 51st edition of the event was marked by record-breaking participation by over 2,300 companies from 48 countries. There were as many as 26 national pavilions and 130 aircraft, a mix of large airliners, regional jets, business aircraft, UAVs and military platforms on display. While the presence of military aerospace was noteworthy, the thrust of the air show appeared to be greater on the civil aviation industry.

As expected, the air show was marked by rivalry between the two global aerospace giants, Airbus and Boeing, who clearly dominated the scene. This is something that has become a characteristic feature of such events held in most parts of the world. Apart from the orders booked for $130 billion, the air show surpassed all other records set in the previous air show at Paris in 2013.

While overall, Indian presence at the air show was at a low key which has usually been the case, two Indian aerospace companies in the private sector, the Mahindra Group and OIS Aerospace, in conformity with the ‘Make in India’ philosophy of the government, concluded contracts with foreign manufacturers. The Mahindra Group bagged a multimillion-dollar aerospace deal with Airbus for the production of aero components and OIS Aerospace announced two joint ventures with Rafaut and LH Aviation of France for manufacturing advanced weapons-to-aircraft interface devices and multi-sensor tactical UAVs. As for the fifth-generation fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force, the Chairman of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation announced that the full R&D collaboration contract would be signed in 2015 with New Delhi for joint work on the derivative Indian version of the PAK FA T-50 fifth-generation fighter jet. A notable feature at the air show was that Pakistan showcased the JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft manufactured in collaboration with China and reportedly signed a contract with an unnamed Asian country for the supply of a certain number of these platforms with delivery commencing in 2017.

This issue of SP’s Aviation has comprehensive and detailed coverage of the event by R. Chandrakanth. Closer home, a number of favourable developments have or are taking place. The sordid saga of the scam related to the acquisition of VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland seem to be coming to an end with the latest judgement by an Italian court that has exonerated all those who were accused of wrongdoing in the VVIP helicopter contract. In the procurement of military hardware through the DPP, the government of the day appears to be veering around to the fact that blacklisting of aerospace and defence companies and cancellation of contracts following allegations of impropriety, are counterproductive and in the final analysis, impinge on national security interests. The government must therefore distinguish ‘offence’ from ‘contract’ and deal with the offence without jeopardising the contract.

On the civil aviation scene, the global airline industry is witnessing an interesting development. Embraer of Brazil, in an effort to break new ground, is charting a new course as it moves forward to redefine capacity to match the growing demand and now offers the next-generation E-Jets E2 with 70 to 130 seats. This is their new metrics of success!

All this and more apart from the regular features. Welcome aboard and happy landings!