On November 25, 2023, Prime Minister Modi’s historic sortie on the indigenously developed LCA Tejas showcased unwavering support for the Indian Armed Forces. This marked the first instance of an Indian Prime Minister flying a fighter aircraft sortie, and was a reflection of Modi pro-actively engaging with the defence forces and defence matters of the country in addition to reinforcing the government’s commitment to military well-being and operational readiness. By entrusting himself to Indian Air Force pilots and the capabilities of an indigenously developed fighter, Modi instilled pride and confidence in both the armed forces and the nation. The Tejas sortie by the Prime Minister also brings about a set of responsibilities over the India’s domestic aerospace players to inherit a pre-requisite culture of “zero compromise”. The global impact of the Tejas sortie sent a clear message of India’s growing military prowess and ambitions towards technological advancements, which will in turn serve as a deterrent to potential adversaries and highlighting India’s rising stature globally.

Continuing with the military contents in this issue of SP’s Aviation, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd) analyses the shifts and challenges in military drone technology and explores evolving trends in military unmanned aerial systems. A special feature on Embraer Defense & Security pioneering innovative solutions for the defence and security challenges worldwide, done by Rohit Goel, is also a part of this issue.

Year 2023 continued to see worldwide growth in civil aviation, witnessing a flurry of orders and deals at major global airshows and beyond them too. This has set an optimistic tone for the aviation industry, in the times to come. A report by Ayushee Chaudhary looks back at some of the key events and what faired among the fixed-wing players in the civil aviation industry.

One of the crucial concerns for the Airline Industry has been the pilot shortage. A report by Rohit Goel highlights that navigating pilot shortages in commercial and business aviation will require a collaborative approach by all stakeholders. In another report, he underlines the onset of online training programmes and how much they have emerged as a dynamic and accessible solution, offering cockpit crew a flexible and convenient avenue to hone their skills and stay current with industry standards, all from the comfort of their homes or offices.

One of the major airshows that happened this year was the Dubai Airshow which featured more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 95 countries and presented a spectacular display of 190+ aircraft and some of the biggest deals. The Dubai Airshow was a pivotal glimpse of the global aviation industry, especially the Middle East. The second and final part of the show report has been included in this edition.

Middle East has been the catalyst in the context of Business Aviation industry. The region has been witnessing significant growth, especially in business aviation driven by tourism and large-scale global events. The Middle East has clearly demonstrated the ways and approach enabling not only the sustenance but a consistent curve of growth of business aviation fraternity. Certain hubs like Dubai maintain robust activity, driven by a notable rise in high-net-worth tourists, escalating the demand for private aviation and propelling global business aircraft sales. A report by Ayushee Chaudhary highlights the growth of BizAv in the Middle East.

All this and more in this issue of SP’s Aviation. We wish all our valuable readers a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year 2024!