Despite the cloud hovering over the aviation industry, there is considerable interest, expectation and excitement over the forthcoming India Aviation 2008 at Hyderabad.

The launch of the current issue of SP’s Aviation coincides with India Aviation 2008, a civil aviation air show organised by FICCI together with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, India and Farnborough of England, the latter as the overseas partner. The air show is scheduled to be held from October 15 to 18, 2008 at the old civil airport at Begumpet, Hyderabad.

After a period of impressive growth, the civil aviation industry in India is currently passing through turbulent times, buffeted by financial upheavals. This issue of SP’s Aviation has attempted to explore the various issues, areas of concern and problems afflicting this sector that call for urgent attention at different levels.

Undoubtedly, problems also create opportunities and so it is in the current scenario in which the aviation industry offers exciting possibilities, be it mainstream airlines, non-scheduled operators, corporate aviation or regional operators as also the upcoming players from the private sector in the regime of airport development and management.

This issue of SP’s Aviation also offers a comparative study of progress in the development of aviation infrastructure in China vis-à-vis in India. While both the heavily populated nations have many things in common, the difference lies primarily in the process of decision-making, execution of the planned projects and the synergy amongst the concerned agencies.

Even the mega projects undertaken in China are invariably completed with in the stipulated time frame. Unfortunately, this is not the case in India. There is no doubt that plans drawn up in India are brilliant but it is in the process of implementation that we are inclined to go awry especially in terms of time frame. Air Marshal B.K. Pandey, the Editor of our sister publication SP’s Airbuz, has looked at the subject offering some thought provoking inputs.

Regular contributor to SP’s publications Group Captain A.K. Sachdev has presented a comprehensive overview of the Indian civil aviation scenario. While there are serious difficulties plaguing the aviation industry at this point in time, there are also reasons to be optimistic about better times in the future.

Despite the cloud of uncertainties hovering over then aviation industry, there is considerable interest, expectation and excitement over the forthcoming event at Hyderabad. The planned display at the air show by the A380 of Airbus Industrie which Kingfisher Airlines has chosen for its international operations is expected to be a major crowd puller. Besides, many of the other players have evinced keen interest in participation in the air show even though it is the first of its kind in India.

We at SP’s offer our good wishes and compliments to the participants and the organisers of India Aviation 2008.