2009-11-14 23:56:48
WAM Dubai, 14th Nov. 2009 (WAM) -- Under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 11th Dubai Air Show will get underway tomorrow in the presence of military delegates from across the world and amidst regional and international interest.

Running from 15 to 19 November 2009 at Airport Expo, the Dubai Air show is the foremost aerospace event in the Middle East and the fastest growing air show in the world. The biennial event is promising more exhibition space, plus innovative and technically-advanced aircraft, equipment and systems from the world's leading players in the aerospace industry today.

The Dubai Air show is organised by F'&'E Aerospace, in conjunction with Dubai Airports, the Government of Dubai and in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces .

Around 37 high-profile military delegations from 40 countries including 18 defence ministers, 11 chiefs of staff, 19 commanders of air forces will attend the five-day air event in which 890 exhibitors from 47 countries will showcase the latest technology, products and services in the industry.

About 130 aircrafts will be showcased including 14 for air demonstrations.

To date, the show will host 13 country pavilions from Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Jordan, Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine, UK and USA.

In order to cope with the unprecedented growth of this year's airshow, floor-space has been increased by over 7,000sqm, with the addition of a new hall, and the number of hospitality chalets has risen to 114, with the floor-space of the double-storey chalets enlarged by 40sqm (20sqm on each floor).

Within the Middle East region's commercial aviation market, Airbus has predicted that international air passenger traffic will grow 6.6 per cent over the next decade, making it the world's fastest-growing region for aviation. It added that the number of aircraft serving the region would almost triple by 2028.

Boeing too has asserted that air travel in the Middle East is stronger than in most global regions, reporting that the market is valued at US$300 billion over the next two decades, with a requirement for more than 1,700 commercial jets.

Defence spending in the Middle East region is predicted to exceed US$100 billion by 2014, accounting for 11 per cent of arms orders globally, according to a recent report by analysts Frost '&' Sullivan.

The F-22 Raptor air dominance fighter jet will be the star attraction at the Dubai Air Show. The F-22 Raptor combines the expertise of Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Pratt '&' Whitney and the US Air Force.

The Dubai Airshow has confirmed the showing of an awe-inspiring range of aircrafts such as the advanced jet trainer Falcon L-15 from China-based AVIC, and a full-scale replica of the Eurofighter.

In the exhibition halls, the EADS stand will showcase an array of the group's exhibits, including two impressive full-scale mock-ups - the Airbus A350 XWB cabin, in which visitors can watch the "Shaping Efficiency" audio-visual presentation, and Eurocopter's 16-seater civilian helicopter, the EC175.

The Italian Airforce's Frecce Tricolori and Patrouille de France aerobatic teams will display the capabilities of the Aermacchi and the Alpha Jet trainers, respectively, in the daily flying display.

WAM/TF