Paris Airshow opens to a wet start

15th June 2009, all roads at Paris led to the picturesque Le Bourge, and teeming crowds braved lashing rains and thunderstorm to be there before the inauguration. It were umberrelas and raincoats which kept the spirit of the centenari celebration alive, at the biggest air show. Pavillions from countries and corporates all over the world displaed their air power to the hilt and despite the wet start, the show attracted huge crowds at the halls. It was business which took precedence. Manufactures were meeting clients, press meeting all who mattered and customers gathering information. It is going to be deals signed, joint ventures announced, promotion drives and attracting customers, at the business hours from 15-18 June for press and trade visitors; 19-21 June for the general public. With more than 2000 companies, public sectors, government departments, ministries and all planes whether fighters or commercials, the international airshow is definiteli the biggest aero power conglomeration in the world.

Aviation manufacturers sought Monday to lift the gloom hanging over the recession-hit airline industry, foreseeing better days ahead and announcing new orders. Latest aerospace and defence industry products are on show. Daily flying displays lasting three hours or more, plus special show by Patrouille de France aerobatics team on 20 and 21 June will be major attractions to the show. USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, India, UK, China, Japan are some of the countries who have led official delegations to the show. Press is being briefed and companies are announcing future plans in avionics.

SP Guide, is at Hall 3, C 38 and has been receiving a lot of visitors, both Indian and foreign. Adieu till tommorow.

India at Le Bourge

1. CII delegation of 9 corporate members visited the Paris Air Show and was accompanied by the State Minister of Defence , Mr. Pallam Raju.

2. The Chief of Air Staff India, Air Chief Marshall P V Niak visited the Sukhoi pavillion at the show.

3. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has signed an agreement with the Tata Group for the manufactureing of S-92 helicopters cabins in India. Tata Advanced Systems Limited will produce the cabins at a new facility to be built in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. First cabin is slated for delivery in late 2010. "India's aerospace market is poised for significant growth, and we are thrilled to have the opportunities to support that growth and to tap into the capabilities of India's highly skilled aerospace workforce," said Sikorsky President Jeffrey Pino.Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata said the agreement is a first step for India to become "a global hub for aerospace manufacturing".The agreement strengthens the existing partnership between Tata and Sikorsky parent United Technologies Corp., the companies said.

4. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed a contract to supply a HAROP Loitering Munition (LM) system to a foreign customer, believed to be India. The contract is estimated to be worth over $100 million. Itzhak Nissan, President and CEO of IAI said: "HAROP is an extremely impressive system, and everyone at IAI is proud of this accomplishment. This is a state-of-the-art loitering munition system, which features accurate detection capabilities and minimizes collateral damage to the surrounding area".HAROP is a long endurance LM which can be launched from a variety of platforms, and is equipped with tactical UAV capabilities: high performance FLIR/ color CCD EO seeker with 3600 hemispherical coverage. It searches, detects, attacks and hits high value re-locateable, time critical, land or sea-based, moving targets with pinpoint accuracy at long ranges. A HAROP unit is comprised of LM launchers and a Mission Control Shelter (MCS) that enables missile control with a Man in the Loop operation, engagement or abort attack capability in real time, avoiding collateral damage. The HAROP can be applied to a variety of battle scenarios, including low and high intensity conflicts, urban warfare and counter terror operations.Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been awarded multiple orders of 34 units by India of its advanced Multi-Mission Radar (MMR) type EL/M 2084. ELTA Systems Ltd., a group and wholly owned subsidiary of IAI, is the prime contractor and developer of the EL/M 2084. ELTA's MMR addresses an emerging requirement to include all land-based radar functions in one operational unit. MMR combines a Weapon Locator Radar and an Air Defense Radar. The radar detects Surface-to-Surface medium- and short-range missiles, rockets and mortars, calculates the anticipated impact and launching points, and provides target data to air defense weapons systems.

5. Boeing has been shortlisted by Indian Air Force for C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift transport aircraft, according to media reports. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik said that the aircraft had been chosen after a thorough study because of its capability to take off and land on short runways with heavy loads, long range, and ease of operation. IAF was looking at acquiring ten C-17s initially through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, and a proposal in this regard was being considered by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), he said adding that the aircraft should come in about three years after a contract is signed.

6. The Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighter, performed its demonstration flight, during the 48th Paris Air Show, on Tuesday June 16, 2009.

SP Guide aboard US Airforce C 130J

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] officials briefed reporters at the Paris Air Show about the proven capabilities of the C-130J Super Hercules, all of which are key components in aiding global security. Giving an insight into how the C-130J meets 90 percent of the world’s airlift needs, how the aircraft is used today and its future capabilities, the press was offered an hour in the demonstration flight, on 18th morning . A twenty plus strong press contingent travelled aboard the flight for an hour. Sangeeta Saxena, chief special corresspondent SPGuide publications, who is in Paris to cover the show, was a part of this contingent.

The hour long soujourn included sitting in the cockpit to understand the functioning and ATC interactions. A treminal was provided to each journalist along with an ear phone to listen to the conversation between the pilot and the control towers. The navigator gave a running commentary and asked the scribes to follow the flight technically on the terminal provided to them. A demonstration of how supplies are dropped in areas of requirement was given mid flight.

Air forces worldwide are lining up to take advantage of the C-130J’s unique mix of agility and performance to deploy troops, transport supplies and provide disaster and humanitarian relief to the most remote and austere areas of the world.