Despite the unfavourable global developments, indications are that participation is likely to be as good if not better than in 2007

Not many may recall that the globally acknowledged international air show Aero India commenced in 1991 as a privately organised aviation exhibition by Delhi-based company Convex essentially with a view to rejuvenate the Indian aviation industry. Appropriately dubbed a Trade Show, the exhibition comprised a handful of stalls at Hotel Ashoka. This pioneering effort of Convex proprietor Anand Sethi was repeated two years later on a much larger scale in the form a full-fledged air show called Avia India at Air Force Station, Yelahanka.

As the business of aviation in those days was dominated largely by the military and the public sector, it is not surprising that this aviation related activity was soon appropriated by the government. The next air show held in 1996 was rechristened Aero India and organised by the Department of Defence Production & Supplies under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) duly supported by the Indian Air Force (IAF), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), Department of Space and the Government of Karnataka.

Aero India 1998, held in December that year, witnessed substantially enhanced participation from foreign aerospace companies—174, to be precise. With only 20 Indian companies participating, it was literally a token representation. Nevertheless, a beginning had been made. On account of the sanctions in the wake of Pokharan-II, participation by American companies was restricted to the commercial divisions of Boeing and Bell Helicopters. Both these companies were supporting large fleets operating in India in the regime of civil aviation.

Dictated by considerations of weather, for future air shows, it was decided to shift the event to February, a month known for moderate temperatures and clear skies. Hence, the next air show was held in February of 2001. US sanctions continued to inhibit the event and as such, the number of participants in Aero India 2001 did not register significant increase over the air show in 1998—194 to a mere 229. Representation by Indian companies, however, multiplied threefold.

Aero India 2003 had 250 Indian and foreign participating companies, once again dominated by the aerospace industries of Russia and France. There was a marginal increase in American presence possibly inspired by the news of India’s forthcoming mega tender for 126 Medium Multi-Role Aircraft (MMRCA). Lifting of sanctions, move towards globalisation of the Indian economy, favourable policy changes related to Foreign Direct Investment and the incorporation of the Indian private sector in the defence manufacturing activity paving the way to joint ventures, injected a new spirit into the air show. The Prime Minister of France, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, visited the air show.

By Aero India 2005, Air Force Station Yelahanka had been selected as the permanent venue for this international event. The 2005 event was marked by the presence of a large American delegation and aerospace majors with a distinct military bias signaling a clear shift in US policy towards India. There were 380 exhibitors representing the world’s leading aerospace industries. There was also a healthy growth in the participation by the Indian private industry. Aero India 2007 witnessed a ballooning in the number of participants to 500, with the strength of Indian companies rising to nearly 200. Multi billion dollar programme to modernise the IAF and the unprecedented boom in the Indian civil aviation industry, presented exciting opportunities that drew aerospace majors from around the world to Yelahanka, boosting the status of Aero India as one of the major air shows in the world.

Aero India 2009
With a track record of six successful air shows, Aero India is now acknowledged as the fourth largest air show in the world bringing together players in the global aerospace industry, big and small, to showcase their products and capabilities and to explore new opportunities for collaboration. More importantly, the exposition would provide a unique platform for the Indian aerospace industry, both in the public and private sector, for networking and integration with the global aerospace industry. Aero India 2009 is expected to provide an insight into the latest developments and technologies in military and civil aviation including systems and sub-systems. There would a range of military and civil aircraft participating in flying and static display. One would get to see the latest in the regime of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), especially the miniature UAVs from Israel.

The new events added this year include Vintage Aircraft Show, Space Pavilion, Business Meetings and Aerospace HRD Focus. As usual, this year too, this prestigious international air show is being organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO) under the MoD with the management of the event entrusted to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Defence Public Sector Undertakings are expected to participate in strength in the exposition with their best foot forward.

Ominous Shadows
Logically speaking, Aero India ought to have larger number of exhibitors than the previous show two years earlier. However, Aero India 2009 is being held in the shadow of a few ominous events. Firstly, the global economy is in the midst of perhaps the most serious crisis in recent history and despite the rhetoric, the end is not yet in sight. The civil aviation industry is consequently in turmoil. Over 31 airlines of which many in the US, have closed down and the remaining severely mauled by the unprecedented rise in the price of ATF and fall in traffic in 2008, are engaged in a desperate struggle for survival.