Yet another successful event for the Indian  Airport industry. Aerodrome India 2006, the 2nd edition of the international exhibition & seminar on airport infrastructure and security concluded on a successful note with the exhibitors, visitors and delegates expressing satisfaction of the three-day event, which is growing from strength to strength.

The significance of the event can be gauged by the fact that Shri. Praful patel, Hon'ble Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Government of India inaugurated the event and Dr. Vijay Mallya, Hon'ble member of Parliament, Chairman, Kingfisher Airlines addressed the inaugural gathering. The dignitaries who were present on the dais during the inauguration were; Dr. Robert.J.Aaranson, Director General, Airports Council International (ACI), Mr. Alexander ter Kuile, Secretary General, Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), Mr. Arun.K. Rao, Director-Aerodromes, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Dr. K. Ramalingam, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, Mr. Ajay Prasad, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Mr. Viswapathi Trivedi, Chairman & Managing Director, Indian, Dr. Krishnadas Nair, President, Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries (SIATI) and Mr. Pradeep Devaiah, CEO, PDATF.

The most important feature of this edition of Aerodrome India exhibition was, that apart from both the Greenfield Airport Companies (viz) Hyderabad International Airport Limited & Bangalore International Airport Limited, the upgradation airports, Delhi International Airport Limited & Mumbai International Airport Limited, consortiums (viz) GMR & GVK respectively also participated projecting their development plans and schedules.

Choosing New Delhi, as a Venue was with a specific purpose of ensuring a representative visitor profile consisting of decision makers from the Ministry of civil Aviation, Airport Authority of India the Airlines, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), visit the exhibition. A big contingent from Airports Authority of India, which included all the Executive Directors visited the exhibition and interacted with the exhibitors. It was heartening to note that representatives from the Ministry, DGCA & BCAS not only visited the stalls but also were having lively discussions with the exhibitors. Apart from the visitors from the Ministry of Civil Aviation & its Departments, there were sizeable visitors from the Ministry of Defence (DRDO & AIR HQS), CSIR & DST.

Based on our own interaction with the exhibitors, we are happy to state that holding the exhibition in the Capital served its purpose leading us to decide that the next show, should also be held at the Capital, at the same venue in 2008.

The unprecedented upsurge in Indian Civil Aviation market and the future trends necessitated the creation of a platform that would foster optimum utilisation of current technologies/services to ensure a highly satisfied and user-friendly airport industry. It is also imperative that the market is well-balanced leading to a synergy between industry, the authorities and the airlines. Therefore the emphasis in the seminar was directed towards Air Space Management and Airline Operations.

The focus areas of the Seminar were the Plenary Session, where the Civil Aviation Policy and its implementation were presented followed by keynote addresses on AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT (Keynote address delivered by SECRETARY GENERAL, CANSO and a talk by Representative from FAA on “Dynamic & Flexible use of Airspace”); AIRPORT CAPACITY (Keynote address by Director General ACI); The other technical sessions were TERMINAL MANAGEMENT; AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT & AIRSAFETY MANAGEMENT (Keynote address on Airport Certification, delivered by ICAO representative); and AIRPORT CONNECTIVITY.

The highlight of the Seminar was Airport/Airlines synergy, a panel discussion involving leading airlines and infrastructure providers, A special commercial session devoted to  ‘Business Opportunities, provided ample scope for airport infrastructure builders like AAI, GMR (DIAL & HIAL), GVK, and BIAL to indicate their equipping plans to enable prospective vendors to interact with them, with reference to the requirements projected.
 
The Seminar ended with an ‘ADD-ON’ Workshop conducted by ACI (with Separate registration) on the topic “AIRPORT FINANCIAL BENCH MARKING” which was well attended.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation actively participated in the Seminar, generating lively discussions. The major delegate contingent to the Seminar was nominated by the Airports Authority of India apart from the major exhibitors like GVK, GMR, INDIAN. M/S GVK were sponsors of the technical sessions of the Seminar.

WE THANK ALL OUR EXHIBITORS, VISITORS, DELEGATES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, SUPPORTERS, PATRONS AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE SHOW for their contributions in making AERODROME INDIA 2006 A GREAT SUCCESS