Pics: Naveen Frank
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Source: dubaiairshow.aero
Dubai, Nov 11: Dubai Airshow – the world’s fastest growing aerospace exhibition – was officially opened on November 8 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony, before taking a tour of the site with Michelle van Akelijan, Managing Director of Dubai Airshow organisers F&E Aerospace. Beginning his tour with a visit to the liveried search and rescue helicopter fleet of the UAE Joint Aviation Command, he then greeted the pilots of the UAE Air Force aerobatics team, Al Fursan. The team, which flies seven Aermacchi MB-339A jet trainer aircraft, will be taking part in daily demonstrations during the Dubai Airshow 2015, displays which will be open to the public at the event’s Skyview arena.
Commenting on the official opening, Michelle van Akelijan said: “It is an honour to welcome Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to officially open this year’s event. With exhibitors coming from 61 countries, we are expecting to see some exciting and innovative additions to the show this year.”
A total 1103 exhibitors at the show will receive 65,000 trade visitors are expected to attend throughout the Dubai Airshow’s five days at DWC, Dubai Airshow Site, which for the first time will feature a 3D print pavilion, 3D Printshow Dubai, and an exhibition by the newly formed UAE Space Agency.
Dubai Airshow has been organised under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in co-operation with Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, Dubai World Central and the UAE Armed Forces.
Nearly $30 billion in deals agreed on day two of Dubai Airshow
Orders at the Dubai Airshow flowed in thick and fast on Monday, as deals worth almost $30 billion were agreed.
Among those agreeing new purchases at the world’s fastest growing aerospace event were Boeing and Jet Airways, who signed a deal worth approximately $US8 billion which will see the manufacturer build 75 new 737 MAX aircraft for the Indian carrier, a partner airline of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad.
Speaking upon the signing of the deal, Jet Airways Founder Naresh Goyal highlighted the need for new aircraft to service a growing customer base, with more than 30 million Indians now overseas and a domestic market predicted to grow to around 140 million passengers in the next ten years.
He said: “We work extremely well and very closely with Boeing and we would like to expand that relationship further. We believe now is the time to take that partnership to new heights.”
Ray Conner, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, added: “This has been a tremendous partnership for well over 20 years now, and it’s a partnership built on trust, friendship and a deep understanding of what’s necessary to be successful in a market that is extremely tough and competitive. These aircraft are the tool with which Jet Airways will compete in a very dynamic market and the 737 Max, we believe, is the right aircraft to enable them to do that.”
Elsewhere at the Dubai Airshow, the UAE Air Force unveiled a deal with Swedish aerospace firm Saab worth US$1.27 billion. The deal will see the UAE purchase two new Global 6000 long-range surveillance aircraft, while a further two Saab 340 jets already in UAE ownership will undergo systems upgrades.
Meanwhile, UAE national carrier Etihad signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Abu Dhabi investment and development firm Mubadala worth a potential US$1billion. The ten-year agreement covers a range of new contracts and would see Etihad appoint Mubadala’s SR Technics as its preferred service provider.
In addition, national carrier Emirates announced the signing of a $16 billion OnPointSM solution agreement with GE Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the GE9X engines that will power the airline’s fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft over a period of 12 years. This is Emirates’ largest single engine MRO contract to date.
As trading continued on day two of the event, Michele van Akelijen, Managing Director of Dubai Airshow organisers F&E Aerospace, said: “We have always said that the Dubai Airshow is the place for leaders in the aerospace industry to do business. Today’s purchases are proof that continues to be the case in 2015.”
Knowledge offsetting programmes under spotlight at Dubai Airshow
The role of foreign investment and industrial co-operation in creating knowledge-based offsetting agreements specifically aimed at the UAE’s emerging space programme was the focus at the 2015 Technology Co-operation & Investment Conference, which took place on day two of Dubai Airshow.
The country’s ongoing commitment to developing local talent and Emiratisation goals is already impacting the space race with the UAE Space Agency home to some of the nation’s sharpest minds.
“We want to give opportunities to people with scientific skills and show them that they can play a big part in the programme and contribute to building the scientific community in the UAE,” said Omran Sharaf, Project Manager for the Mars mission at the UAE Space Agency.
According to Stan Ramirez, Vice President, Industrial Co-operation, Lockheed Martin International Corporation, industry partnerships with offset benefits are not just about connecting foreign investment.
“These programmes are quite expensive, and the infrastructure requirement is huge. When you think about the programmes involved in interplanetary exploration, you measure that in years and decades. The commitment is therefore on a scale that is often beyond regular companies, and so the investment.
“Where the offset play is, it needs to have a focus put on a specific area so that you can measure the value you are going to bring, and be able to create a value strain that is sustainable for that long-term commitment to space exploration.”
Ramirez also emphasised the fact that space exploration is not a profit-making business, but a science and discovery endeavour.
“You can’t measure it in terms of value to a country that's involved in the partnership on the basis of profits and exports alone. The idea is that space will push technology into areas that haven’t already been explored or had the capabilities before, and so the space programme itself will eventually bring that technology closer to commercialisiation. Then it’s up to industries to figure out how to turn those things into commercial applications,” he said.
In May 2015, US-headquartered aerospace manufacturer and defence industry company, Orbital ATK, signed an MoU with Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (YAHSAT) and Masdar Institute for a four-year programme that has elements of education, investment plus technical support and actual launch services for two QSat satellites.
James Grzella, UAE Country Executive for Orbital ATK highlighted the evolution of offset programmes from the traditional transfer technology model to one based on knowledge transfer and education.
“Providing a contribution for a new chair or scholarships, those are the types of activity that can really help grow capabilities over time. Even when Tawazun looks at it, they are really interested in what you can deliver that creates sustainment for the economy and the country,” he noted.
“The recently announced Space Research Centre in Al Ain will also help build the UAE science community, but was also launched with the aim of developing partnerships with local and international firms,” said Khalid Al Hashemi, Director of Mission, UAE Space Agency.
“At the moment we are working with the UAE University to develop a science and technology roadmap to define what the projects will be, and the role of the space agency is matchmaking with investment, and R&D, to hopefully create some spin-offs and build the commercial space industry in the UAE,” he added.