Air show begins at CIAL

NEDUMBASSERY: The executive business jet aircraft service has tremendous possibilities in Kerala, Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) Managing Director C G Krishnadas Nair said here on Saturday.

He was inaugurating a static display of business jets at the MRO building of the CIAL. At present, around 100 executive business jet aircraft are being used by corporate and business magnates in the country. Orders have been given to procure around 130 more such aircraft. It is expected that at least 500 business jet aircraft will be sold in the future, Nair added.

The CIAL plans to set up a dedicated terminal for the operation of private jet service, close to the main airport, which will provide parking and maintenance facilities. A permanent construction of parking bay for such private aircraft is expected to attract more such aircraft. The terminal is now available only in Chennai and Bangalore.

The air show, though market-oriented, would also boost the brand name of the CIAL, Nair said. The two-day static display organised by the CIAL in association with the Titan Aviation, a Dubaibased Aviation Service Major, will conclude on Sunday.

Presiding over the function, Titan Aviation chairman and managing director Zakir Sheikh said they would like to associate with the CIAL in other activities also. Titan has already identified around 250 potential buyers in Kerala to procure business jet aircraft. The aircraft which are specially designed to attract High Networking Groups can carry six to 10 people on board. The cost of the aircraft will be around Rs 20 crore.

Phenom 100 Light Business Jet, King Air C 90 B Turbo prop, Cessna 172 Piston Engine, Lear 60 X R Private Jet, Micro light and Embraer are displayed. The organisers could not display more aircraft owing to some technical problems related to customs and import duty in displaying aircraft brought from international destinations. The organisers were asked to remit import duty to the customs office for an aircraft which had been brought to the Kochi airport from Sri Lanka, forcing the organisers to stop other manufacturers from bringing their aircraft from Dubai and Singapore.

Airport director A C K Nair, CIAL ED(Engg Services) A M Shabir, Titan Aviation CEO Sajad Mohammed and consultant Titan Aviation Wing commander Chandrasekhar spoke.

The stalls of Embraer, Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna, Air Works India, Bombardier, SS Aviation, Empire Aviation Group and CIAL Academy have been set up at the show.