President to inaugurate "India Aviation 2016"

Hyderabad, Feb 24 (INN): President of India Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the 5th International exhibition and conference on Civil aviation "India Aviation 2016" to be held from March 16th to 20th at Begumpet Airport. The President will also witness aerobatic display as part of the event.

Union Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey held a high level meeting with the Chief Secretary Dr. Rajiv Sharma and other officials and reviewed the arrangements being made for the successful conduct of India Aviation show. He said that for the first time the President is coming to inaugurate India Aviation show and as such steps should be taken to conduct the event in a fool proof manner. He said that unlike the past, this time due to the construction of metro rail there are lot of restrictions and as a result the city police has to ensure that the construction of metro rail should not be an impediment for the smooth conduct of the aviation show.

As the approach road has become very congested, arrangements should be made in a manner which doesn't cause much inconvenience. He asked FICCI who are the partners of the aviation show to take up extensive publicity through display of hoardings and flags. He directed the Joint Secretary Civil Aviation Anil Srivastava to visit Hyderabad again and hold a detailed meeting with the officials and review the arrangements. He also asked the officials and FICCI to be ready with the list of invitees for the event by 29th of this month.

The Chief Secretary thanked the centre for making Hyderabad a permanent venue for the aviation show. He asked the CISF and local police to coordinate Security and Traffic arrangements.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation secretary along with the Industries secretary Arvind Kumar visited Begumpet Airport and enquired about the parking and other arrangements being made for the event. He went round the inaugural hall, conference hall, lounge, static display area, exhibition area and the place from where the President would watch the aerial display.

The five day event will begin on the 16th of March. The first three days will be business days. The show will be opened to the public on the 19th and 20th. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju will inaugurate the International Conference and Exhibition on the 2nd Day.

The stake holders include aircraft manufacturers, aircraft machinery and equipment manufacturers, skill development and training institutions, airline services and air cargo operators, airport infrastructure developers, space industry and operators. More than 200 major participants are expected to attend the India Aviation show. While the USA and Canada are the partner countries , delegations from more than 25 countries like France, Jamaica, Mauritius, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, South Korea, Greece, Singapore and other countries will participate in the show.

Leading aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, Textron, Embraer, Gulfstream, Dassault, leading helicopter manufacturers like Agusta Westland, Bell Helicopters, Russian Helicopters, Airbus Helicopters , major engine manufacturers like CFM, UTC, GE aviation and Rolls Royce, major airline companies like Qatar, Emirates and Etihad will be participating in the event. State governments of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh will also participate in the show. The theme of the India Aviation 2016 is "India's civil aviation sector: potential as global manufacturing hub".

Senior IAS officials including M.G. Gopal, Adhar Sinha, B.R. Meena and B. Venkatesham and other officials attended the meeting.