WAM Dubai, Nov 16th, 2009 (WAM)--By Jamal Al Majaida-- Swiss Pilatus is displaying its business transport aircraft PC- 12 and military trainer aicraft PC- 21 at Dubai Air Show. Col. Andr M. Schreier, Defence Attach at the Embassy of Switzerland in Abu Dhab

WAM Dubai, Nov 16th, 2009 (WAM)--By Jamal Al Majaida-- Swiss Pilatus is displaying its business transport aircraft PC- 12 and military trainer aicraft PC- 21 at Dubai Air Show.

Col. Andr M. Schreier, Defence Attach at the Embassy of Switzerland in Abu Dhabi, has lauded the relationship between UAE and Switzerland as excellent in most sectors.

Speaking to Dira' Al Watan magazine, on the occasion of the Dubai Air Show from November 15 to 19, Schreier, said that the Swiss defence services and products were gaining more ground in the Middle East market.

''Even the size of the Swiss defence industry is quite small, states in the Middle East like the UAE disposes already now over Swiss systems like Pilatus training aircrafts, Oerlikon anti aircraft guns or armored howitzers," he noted.

Schreier said, the relationship between UAE and Switzerland in most all sectors is excellent. Since June this year Switzerland has new permanent defence attach residing in Abu Dhabi, which is a strong signal of intensifying the bilateral relations also in the field of defence.

Pilatus is the most well known Swiss aircraft manufacturer. Over half of the Swiss aircraft industry is maintenance companies.

The heat shield of NASA's space shuttle was produced in Switzerland and actually RUAG is manufacturing the outer fixed trailing edges for the Airbus A380, the world's largest civil passenger jet. Pilatus is attending the Dubai Air Show with its top models PC-12 (business transporter) and PC-21 (military trainer). The PC-21 can even be watched flying in the air. It is one of the world's best basic trainers.

Schreier noted that "Even the size of the Swiss defense industry is quite small, states in the Middle East like the UAE disposes already over Swiss systems like Pilatus training aircrafts, Oerlikon anti aircraft guns or armored howitzers. Beside there is also an increasing number of participants from the Middle East in courses of the Geneva Center for Security Policy GCSP or the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining GICHD.

'Nearly all Swiss defense systems are produced by private companies. For them Middle East is together with Europe one of the most important market, especially in future", he added. On the government side is the intention to deepen the already excellent relationship in future. The posting of a permanent defence attach in Abu Dhabi maybe the first, but important step.

WAM/MN