WHAT'S HOT? –– ANALYSIS OF RECENT HAPPENINGS

PARIS AIR SHOW 2001 –– An Exclusive IDC LIVE Report. 

New Delhi, 17 June 2001 

IDC is happy to offer Defence Consultancy and Data Upgrades as a National Service

Despite Economic Slow Down Paris Air Show Is Amazing And Big

This is IDC reporting live from the Paris Air show on Sunday 17th and the show is without doubt the biggest in the world. IDC had attended the Faranborough show and it is not a patch on what one sees at the Le Bourget airport close to Charles De Gaulle, which for years has been made compatible to host a show of this magnitude. And the French do it in true Parisian style. Hotel space is not available. It is a professional's delight and the rain has kept away, so this Sunday the place is chock a block full.

Jets like the Rafael and civil aircraft are performing with test pilots. Its very big and it is exciting and AERO INDIA looks like small chappati, compared to this family nan type of affair. As the organisers say even they get lost because there are 1700 exhibitors and 250 aircraft on display. No wonder the show lasts 9 days.

Exhibitors and other visitors definitely get lost and get engrossed. One has to plan what to do and when to do it or nothing will get achieved. The only Indian company HAL is tucked away in a small stall No 10 in hall No 4. Hormuz Mama India's expert is here, Cukkoo Paul of ET and Pushpinder Singh and son and brother-in-law team, Jayant Baranwal of SP's and the Sen's of Indian Aviation, were seen walking around and looking for notes from the IDC rep and interacting at the lovely lunch hosted by Airbus at their five star chalet. The Chablis was worth tasting and so was mingling with Janes’ German rep and professionals from around the world. It is a privilige to report this event live and give  viewers a feel of this Air Show.

India's interests are mainly with British, Russian, Israeli and French aviation in the military field. Beginning with biggest showing of THALES and French Dassault, which is suppyling the 10 Mirage 2000s, they also have the Rafael on offer. SAGEM has the ring laser gyro and other GIFAS companies have the SNECMA engines for India including avionics and missiles like the Magic 550 with the Indian Navy and the Air Force.

On the civil side the press conference of AIRBUS was absolutely fantastic, with their dynamic CEO Mr. Noel Foreguard going hammer and tongs at Boeing, as the latter in an earlier Press Conference had pooh poohed Airbus. But Airbus explained they have 45% of the world's market and 56% of the economic content so they do not care. They have orders for 1660 repeat 1660 aircraft. Now EADS and BAE systems are their shareholders, so they are easily supplying 350 aircraft per year with confidence, despite a soft landing in the world.

Watch out this week -- Europe is clearing the A 400 Military transport aircraft for European armies, so the Lockheed C 130 may be in jeopardy. And for the first time in history, Boeing has stiff competition as AVIC and CATIC of China and three other airlines are looking at ordering 1700 civil aircraft in the next ten years. It is only at such shows that one realises where China is headed, when their deals are revealed. Noel Foreguard was in China two weeks ago.

Back in India one does not want to believe that China has moved way ahead of us and a two aircraft order makes big news in India. In the corporate jet area sharing of jets via airline companies has begun and twenty top executives are at the Paris Air Show in their own executive jets. Airbus has sold nineteen 25-seaters.

The Israelis have shown the ARROW missile system with the Green Pine Radar, in which India is interested and the Phalcon mock up is on site. The Python missile in which the IAF shows interest is here.

Once again the Russian MIG company displayed the MIG AT AJT with the French THALES and held a combined Press conference. The customer aimed at -- definitely looked like India as the BAE AJT deal is languishing. The rest of the Russian space and aviation industry including the huge AN 224 is at the show. Its younger and smaller version is going to Hainan to pick up the crash landed EP3 ORION which Lockheed is breaking up to take back to USA.

Maj Gen Charanjit Singh of the Indian Army is expected, Air Marshal Asthana DCAS with a team from the IAF is here and Subir Datta Secretary Defence Production and Supplies is expected. The Navy delegation was turned down but one officer is expected with the combined delegation.
This is an on the spot live report. IDC will do a larger write up with pictures shortly.

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