Soaring higher

Seeing someone plummet towards the ground but just in the nick of time pull up in a graceful arc and charge back up into the sky is invigorating, especially when you were convinced that this time the pilot had gone too far. Watching the aerobatics teams at the Dubai Airshow is awesome. And this year the event is back, promising for this show to be the biggest ever.

From November 13 to 17 at the Airport Expo, enthused spectators will once again gather to gaze at the sky. Beating the last instalment in 2009, the show is expecting to welcome more than 55,000 trade visitors. This figure translates into around 4 per cent growth, something the show's organisers are thrilled about, especially when considering the sluggish global economy.

"We're very happy with 4 per cent growth, especially when we think about the size of this region where the population is not that big," says Alison Weller, Managing Director, F&E Aerospace. "A main reason for this is that the aviation industry is expanding. There may be a recession going on but the industry is certainly getting bigger. You just need to have a look at Etihad and Emirates' aircraft orders to see this. Therefore, this growth is bringing in a lot more people to Dubai."

Crucial platform

It's bigger than big. The Dubai Airshow is the biggest of its kind in the Middle East. But it's a key event on the international aerospace calendar, too. Delivering key buyers and decision makers while offering unsurpassed access to the regional market, the show has become a crucial platform for industry players.

Spanning 325,000 square metres means this is Dubai's largest show. It includes three exhibition halls, 103 chalets, 11 pavilions and a static display area that accommodates 100 aircraft.

Highlighting the significance of the airshow and Dubai in general is the number of foreign trade visitors. According to Weller, 20 per cent of this year's attendees are from abroad, but with all eyes on a very attractive Dubai, it's easy to bring in foreign industry players. "It's not difficult to attract people when you've got an emerging market that's buying. There are plenty of markets out there that have stagnated a bit and I feel that people look to Dubai as somewhere that they want to invest."

Where are these visitors from? "Our biggest attendees are from the Middle East; first from the UAE and second from Saudi Arabia. From abroad, the UK, US and France are our biggest international visitors. We also have a lot of people from India and the rest of Asia," says Weller.

Innovation is key

After running the show for 22 years, the organisers know that innovation is everything. Without it, growth simply can't be sustained, says Weller. New to the show is a celebration for the UAE's 40th National Day, the Futures Day and the Gulf Aviation Training Event (Gate). All the new activities complement each other and Weller expects the line-up to be well received. "Certainly for the Emiratis the National Day theme will go down really well. It's always nice to be patriotic about your country and we feel that the Dubai Airshow is enhancing this," she says.

Marking the country's 40th anniversary provides an opportune time for reflection but this is not the sole order of the show, explains Weller. "We've come so far in aerospace, so it's a great opportunity to reflect on this. But the fact is this isn't a historic show so we don't want to just be looking back; we're actually all about the future. From this we introduced the Future's Day. We know that there is an issue here, with carriers buying a lot of fleet but there aren't enough people to crew and fly them. So we're trying to use the airshow to get the kids interested. There is nothing like seeing an actual aircraft or meeting a real pilot to get you enthused about having a career in aviation."

Futures Day

Education and training nurtures an interest in aviation, explains Weller. "From the Futures Day and the interest it creates Gate [Gulf Aviation Training Event] came about because we need to be ableto train those that are keen. We need to be able to offer the latest in training because we're dealing with modern aircraft."

This year's Dubai Airshow will see the launch of Futures Day, an initiative done in cooperation with Rolls-Royce as gold sponsor, and Boeing and Dubai Air Navigation Services as silver sponsors. Scheduled to take place on the final day of the airshow, Futures Day is hoped to generate interest among the nation's youth in order to help build the next generation of aviators.

Once an interest in aviation is created, education is key. The Gulf Aviation Training Event (Gate) has brought together recruitment policy makers tasked with finding solutions to the shortage of flight crew in the Middle East. Gate will offer the required education and latest training to those interested in becoming pilots and flight crew.

Making history

Unique to this year is the aerobatics opener. For the first time ever, the flying display will begin with Al Fursan, the UAE's own aerobatic team flying Alenia Aermacchi aircraft. Patrouille de France will also take to the sky in the team's Alpha sets. The opening act is something not to be missed, says Weller, adding that it's her personal highlight of this year's installation. "Al Fursan taking part this year couldn't have come at a better time seeing as it's the country's 40th anniversary. I think it will make everybody feel extremely patriotic and fond of the UAE," says Weller.

In addition to the aerobatic show, the event will showcase state-of-the-art technical demonstrations and a variety of aircraft in the static park display. Helicopters are also a main feature this year with companies Russian Helicopters, Sikorsky, Bell, MD Helicopters and Quest taking part.

Quest is expected to generate some additional excitement as it's set to launch its maiden programme which will see helicopters being built in the UAE.

If you've never attended a show before, then this is the one for you to make your first appearance, says Weller. "Whether you're a regular attendee or not, 2011's event can't be missed because it's going to be the biggest ever. For this reason alone I think you should come. If not, I think everyone should come to celebrate the National Day along with our Emirati friends. It's a special occasion."

Cool aircraft to look out for

• Bell/Boeing V-22 Tilt Rotor: This bad boy's USP lies in being able to perform both vertical and short take-offs and landings.

• MA600: While China's 60-seater won't be up in the air, it is making its first international static debut.

• Business jets: Companies Gulfstream, Bombardier and Cessna are displaying their impressive business jets.

• Apache MH-60: The US government is showcasing its Apache MH-60 at the airshow's static park, where you will also see an F-18, F-15, C-17 and C-130J.